Paddington Waterside and Little Venice

Paddington Waterside and Little Venice

Paddington Waterside is a branch of the Grand Union Canal which is 137 miles long and stretches from London to Birmingham. The Paddington branch connects to the canal through an area known as Maida Vale, where it forms a short branch at a triangular shaped junction and flows a short distance towards Paddington Station. This junction is what is known as Little Venice.

To access the Paddington Waterside, follow the signs within Paddington Station directing you to the Hammersmith and City lines. Once you reach them, continue on for a few more yards and out the back of Paddington Station which will lead you right on to the canal.

Along the canal nearest to Paddington Station you’ll find a bustling area with coffee shops, restaurants, waterside cafe bars and pubs.

To the East (or by turning right as you exit Paddington Station), the canal continues on a few hundred yards to Merchant Square. In this area you’ll find the famous rolling and fan bridges along with a floating park.

To the West (or by turning left as you exit the station), it is a five-minute walk along the canal to Little Venice. This tranquil and picturesque area is a wonderful place to relax for lunch, a cup of tea, or even a boat trip! London Waterbus operates an hourly service of canal boat trips from Little Venice to Camden Town and back again.

Along the way to Little Venice, you’ll pass the office buildings at Sheldon Square where you can have lunch at the square’s amphitheater and mix with some of London’s office workers. You’re also going to notice a number of canal boats moored along both sides of the canal. Many of these are floating homes temporarily at the canal side for a limited period. Many of them, (like the one included in the photo slide show at the top of this article) are cleverly decorated and fun to see. Children will find these to be most entertaining.

The Paddington Waterside is an ideal place to take a stroll or a jog and escape from some of the hustle and bustle around the central part of Paddington. Round out your London vacation with a visit to the Paddington Waterside!

As always, I’d greatly appreciate it if you share this article.