How to get to Paddington Basin and what to expect there

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Paddington Basin

There are lots of famous sights, attractions and spaces that you’ll undoubtedly want to tick off if you’re planning a mini break or longer vacation in London. The classics like the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace are a given of course. Then there’s the entertainment – a West End show perhaps, a gig, sporting event or art gallery.

One great piece of advice from our team at the Park Grand Hotel Paddington is not to forget that London has lots of other attractions to consider that may not seem so obvious at first glance. The city is full of hidden gems, great neighbourhoods and quirky spots and it’s in these more off the beaten path destinations that you’ll find a true taste of the authentic London.

A lesser known tourist spot that we recommend is the Paddington Basin. This might not be as well known as say, the Olympic Park or Hampstead Heath or even Little Venice but it makes for a great addition to any stay with us. It’s also super easy to reach from our hotels near Paddington Station so it’s perfect for those days when you find you have an hour or two to kill and want to get out and experience another part of London.

How to get to Paddington Basin from the Park Grand Hotel Paddington

It really couldn’t be any simpler to get from your beautifully designed hotel room to Paddington Basin. You also have a choice of transportation options, which makes it easier still.

In a cab or ride share, it takes around 15 minutes. Either ask at reception when exiting one of our hotels near Paddington Station and we can call you a car or simply hail a taxi outside the hotel.

It’s an easy 15-20 minute walk (0.6 miles) if you want to set off on foot. When you come out of the hotel, for the shorter route walk north-east and turn right onto Devonshire Terrace. Make a left at Craven hill, walk down Praed Street and turn left at the Basin. You can also take a slightly longer route (0.8 miles), bypassing the Alexander Fleming Museum, walk along Sussex Gardens, skirt round Talbot Square Gardens, turn right onto Praed Street and then make a left to the Basin.

If you fancy getting the bus, walk to Cleveland Terrace bus stop (stop L). Stay on for two stops and get off at St Mary’s Hospital (stop P) then it’s a two minute walk.

What to expect when you arrive

500 metres south of Little Venice, Paddington Basin is a canal basin which has been transformed into a great destination for dining and leisure. Expect plenty of waterfront eating and drinking options around about – we recommend grabbing a coffee to go and having a stroll.

There’s a floating park which adds some greenery to the waterway – this is a 700 metre square space with communal seating if you want to take a few moments to drink a coffee, enjoy the view, or even read or paint.

If you want to get closer to the action, Paddington Basin also has a GoBoat centre where you rent a self-drive boat to sail along the canal without any need to actually skipper the boat.