If you’ve got a Paddington fan or two in your house, why not have a potter around London in Paddington’s footsteps.
It’s very easy to work the main London locations from the Paddington film into other expeditions.
Or you could just pootle about Paddington style and see what you see.
As, I don’t know about you, but I often find small children much prefer pootling about taking the world in at their leisure to dashing from one big activity to another.
Anyway, whichever you decide, these are the Paddington locations in London to look out for.
1. Paddington Station
Everything, obviously, starts at Paddington Station.
And if your little ones love trains that may be destination enough!
They can watch all the trains coming and going and have their picture taken with Paddington in the Paddington shop.
Alternatively, you could tie in a trip to Paddington Station with a visit to the Diana Playground which is 15 minutes walk or one stop away on the tube.
2. Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road is a lovely place to potter.
But it does get busy on the main Saturday market day.
So you’re better off going during the week. Remember it’s half day on Thursday.
Mr Gruber’s shop is at number 86 Portobello Road. And is actually Alice’s Antiques. (Great name!)
Number 86 is about 10 minutes walk from Notting Hall tube.
If you walk back down to Notting Hill you can hop on a bus for a few stops to either the Diana Playground and Kensington Palace or the other way to Holland Park which is a fab place for a picnic and a game of hide and seek.
3. Geographers’ Guild
The Reform Club on Pall Mall served as the Geographer’s Guild.
You can’t go in, but it’s quite impressive looking from outside.
And even better it’s only 4 or 5 minutes from St James Park.
Which you can walk through, to see the changing of the guard on Horse Guard’s Parade.
Better, we think – don’t tell the Queen – than the same at Buckingham Palace.
4. Buckingham Palace
But of course Buckingham Palace is a key stopping point for Paddington.
Remember that sad rainy evening and the sandwiches under the guard’s busby?
So Buckingham Palace is a bit of a must see Paddington location in London.
We would just recommend you tag it onto having a run around in St James Park.
And saying hello to the pelicans.
5. Natural History Museum
If you’re a Londoner you’ve probably been to the Natural History Museum.
But including it in a trip of Paddington locations in London is a great excuse to escape the dinosaurs.
Now don’t get me wrong. We love the dinosaurs. (And the butterflies!)
But heh, so does the rest of London.
And trudging round them nose-to-bum with everyone else on a half-term can be hellish.
So use Paddington as an excuse to check out the mammals or bugs or whales instead.
And if you are following Paddington down to south Ken it’s worth checking out this quick guide to great cheap eats around the museums but away from the noise of the museum cafes.
Do hope you have fun pottering around London in Paddington’s footsteps.
For more ideas for kids days out, in and around London follow Family Fun London on Facebook.
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