Top Things to Do Near Paddington
Date post added: 4th March 2025
When you hear the word ‘Paddington,’ what’s the first thing that springs to mind? It’s almost certainly one of two things – the train station or the bear from Peru.
Next time you head to Paddington station to catch the midday train to Bristol Temple Meads or jump on the Heathrow Express, you should allow extra time to explore the Paddington area first. It’s undergone some serious changes in the past few years. There are the wonderful attractions that have always been within easy reach of Paddington station, along with many new ones.
Whether you want to follow in the pawprints of Paddington Bear, marvel at the historic architecture of Paddington Station, or explore the wonderful waterways and London landmarks nearby; there’s plenty to do near Paddington. Here are our favourite ways to spend some time in the Paddington area.
London Paddington Station
Is Paddington station worth seeing? It certainly is. Paddington station is arguably the most important railway in the UK.
Why? Paddington station was designed by the renowned civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1847. It’s an absolute marvel of Victorian engineering. Early steam trains terminated here, at the end of the Great Western Railway. And Queen Victoria’s first ever train journey terminated at London Paddington too (it was a mere 20 minute journey from Slough!).
When you’re at the station, be sure to gaze upwards to appreciate the Grade I listed structure. There’s a statue to commemorate Isambard Kingdom Brunel on platform 8 inside the station now.
On platform 1, there’s another worthy statue – that of The Unknown Soldier. It’s dedicated to all the men and women who lost their lives during World War I. The soldier stands proudly in his uniform, reading a letter. It’s a reminder to us all of the tragic losses and heroism of the war.
Paddington Bear
Another monument to check out is the Paddington Bear statue. You’ll find it under the clock on platform 1 – the spot where Paddington himself was found in the story.
Paddington Bear was created by Michael Bond. The idea came to him on Christmas Eve in 1956 when he spotted a lonely bear in a shop window. It inspired him to write the legendary first story of the marmalade-loving lost bear which was published in 1958. The only Paddington Bear shop is located within Paddington station where you can find the books, bears, bags and marmalade goodies. Pick up a Pawprint Trail map here too. It’s a guide around the Paddington area and beyond.
What are some fun activities to do near Paddington station?
You know we love a walk. Well, there are wonderful places to walk to and around in the Paddington area. A canalside saunter along Regent’s Canal provides a peaceful break from the Central London hustle and there’s so much to see along the waterway. You could venture to one of London’s royal parks or green spaces in the vicinity. Kick off your sightseeing from Paddington and head to iconic London landmarks that are within easy reach. Or simply potter round some of London’s best neighbourhoods and enjoy their boutiques and cafe culture. There are plenty of fun things to do in this West London location.
Canalside attractions
Back in July 1801, the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal opened. It joined the Regent’s Canal in 1820, when that was completed at Little Venice.
Nowadays, the waterway is the place to paddleboard, take a boat trip (including the innovative self-driving GoBoats) or kayak. There’s also so much to see as you walk beside the canal from Paddington along to Camden Lock and on to Limehouse Basin.
A few of our favourite waterside sites along the Regent’s Canal towpath are the puppet theatre barge, the Word on the Water floating bookshop, the Cascade Floating Art Gallery and the many beautiful canal boats and barges. Look out for The Darcie & May Green barge which serves up a great Aussie brunch at weekends. You won’t miss it as it’s covered in bespoke artwork by English pop artist Sir Peter Blake.
We have a range of fascinating canal walks by guides who know the waterways like the backs of their hands. It’s the best way to discover their history, geography and intricacies.
London landmarks within walking distance
From its Central London location, Paddington’s a good spot to set off sightseeing.
- Marble Arch: The awesome arch on the corner of Hyde Park was intended to be a grandiose gateway to Buckingham Palace. Up close, you can appreciate the exquisite details of John Nash’s design.
- Kensington Palace: the birthplace of Queen Victoria, Kensington Palace has been home to royals for 300 years. It’s quite something to behold.
- London Zoo: set within the expansive Regent’s Park, London Zoo makes a fabulous day out.
- Notting Hill: it’s best known for its colourful mews houses and Portobello Road Market. This popular neighbourhood is well worth a visit for its luxury boutiques and welcoming cafes and eateries.
- Little Venice: with its pretty canal boats, Little Venice is a quiet and beautiful spot to spend an afternoon.
- Bayswater: enjoy global cuisine, traditional British pubs and some brilliant shopping in Bayswater, W2.
Green spaces
Three of the great royal parks are close to Paddington, namely Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Regent’s Park. They’re well worth exploring.
Right by Paddington Basin, Merchant Square Park has a series of connected floating areas – Floating Pocket Park. Since redevelopment, there are smart offices and eateries nestled beside this green space. It’s a lovely place to relax with your M&S sandwich. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, there are street food vendors to liven up the lunchtime offering. In summer, the enchanting water maze captivates visitors to Merchant Square who have to dodge the jets of water. Also within Paddington Basin, there are two notable bridges to admire – the Fan Bridge and the Rolling Bridge.
Sheldon Square has another a grassy space surrounded by restaurants, but this one’s designed as an amphitheatre. You’ll find office workers gathering here at lunchtimes. But it’s a good space in which to enjoy some outdoor ping pong, and free big screen shows and events in the summer months.
Local heroes
There’s much to celebrate in the Paddington area. In St Mary’s Square, you’ll find statues of three of the greats. Mary Seacole was a Jamaican nurse who cared for the soldiers of the Crimean War. She spent her final years in Paddington. Hence there being a statue in her honour.
Then there’s Alan Turing – he of Enigma fame. The computer whizz and renowned codebreaker is commemorated with a statue in St Mary’s Square. And finally, Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear, whom we’ve mentioned already.
A short walk away, at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, you’ll find a museum dedicated to the work of Sir Alexander Fleming. It’s here that he made his revolutionary discovery of penicillin in 1928. He was awarded a Nobel Prize for his innovative scientific work. Also in this hospital, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were all born.
Walk the waterways with us
If we’ve whet your appetite to explore London’s waterways further, the best way is to take a walking tour with one of our expert canal walk guides. Their knowledge is far-reaching and wide-ranging, just like the waterways themselves. Come walk with us! We’d love to share our passionate insights and amusing stories of London with you.
New this season, our photographer/ London Walks guide, David, will take you on a photography tour of Notting Hill and Portobello Market. And if photography’s not your thing, you can still enjoy a walking tour of Notting Hill and Portobello or pretty old Little Venice.
Pippa Jackson
Pippa is a word nerd and content aficionado with a background of working in TV on both sides of the globe. She loves to discover and share the diverse and wonderful stories of her much-loved London. When she’s not writing blogs and articles, you’ll find her walking beside the Thames or even paddleboarding on it (in the finest of conditions only!) or enjoying a coffee in the sunshine with a good book.
David Tucker
David – the Seigneur of this favoured realm – broods over words, breeds enthusiasms and is “unmanageable.”* He’s a balterer, literary historian, university lecturer, journalist, logophile and lifelong thanatophobe. For good measure, he’s the doyen of London guides.