Little Venice

As the name suggests, Little Venice is interspersed with waterways, just like the floating Italian city. While you'll never mistake it for the Italian version, it does have some superb restaurants, bars and cafes lending the whole area a cosmopolitan, laid back vibe. When Robert Browning coined the term Little Venice he was describing the point where the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal meets the Regents Canal. However, it now refers to the whole area at the south of Maida Vale which is actually closest not to Maida Vale station but to Warwick Avenue which is 12 minutes on the tube from Oxford Circus.

Little Venice, is one of the more exclusive residential districts in central London but when the Grand Union Canal was opened in 1820, the area was home to artists, writers and prostitutes and you can do a walking tour in the area to hear about its history and the famous people that lived in the area. 

From the canal intersection you have three options one route takes you towards Paddington which eventually runs you into a dead end just off Edgware Road but is a nice walk all the same; one way takes you towards Ladbroke Grove but the most scenic and one we highly recommend is North towards Camden. You can't follow the canal all the way because you will reach a tunnel with no side path; so a mini mission to find the canal the other side ensues but is well worth the effort as when you rejoin you first pass through the canal community that are parked up and then you get views over the canal of some of the most amazing homes in London off Regents Park. Keep going and you get treated to some free bird watching from London Zoo and finally Camden where you can see the Lock and the markets. Another alternative to Camden is to pop into Primrose Hill which is just before and find the Primrose Bakery. The whole walk will take you 40 minutes but alternatively there are regular canal boats that can take you the same route just take a look at LondonWaterBus.com.