Little Venice

By Martin Johnson


Little Venice is a residential area of North West London built where the Regent's Canal meets the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal. The postcodes in this area are mainly W2 and W9. It is easy to access by bus or tube, the nearest station being Warwick Avenue on the Bakerloo line. Paddington Station is just one stop away and Oxford Circus can be reached in about 15 minutes.

The streets of Little Venice are lined with trees and have small, secret gardens. The buildings are a mixture of Victorian and Edwardian period structures and some imposing stuccoed mansions. Along the river there are colourful house boats adorned with potted plants. The area is like an oasis in London and it attracts a diverse population of residents.

Before the canals were built in 1801 this area of London was not very pretty. As the canals gained importance and roads were built around it, houses began to appear along the waterside. The Church Commissioners owned a large number of the properties, but the place was still run down and dirty until the 1950s.

After the Second World War, which saw so much destruction in London, this district was updated and slowly became the popular place it is now. Some of the splendid Italianate houses that used to be there have been lost, along with a number of Georgian terraces. The area behind Browning's Pool, which is a very wide section of the canal, has changed meaning there is less water there now. This goes unnoticed by most people, though, as there is still a lovely feeling of open space.

There are plenty of reasons to visit this area, even though it's slightly off the tourist map. You can enjoy long walks along the canal tow paths which stretch to Regents' Park and Camden. Along the way you can feed the swans and geese and take time to sit and watch the local residents. You can get onboard a boat trip from right here into London Zoo if that takes your fancy.

There are some great eateries along the waterfront, from casual caf'es to fine restaurants. There are bars and pubs dotted around here too. If you have children to entertain, nowhere is better than the Puppet Theatre Barge. Comedy lovers will enjoy the Canal Caf'e Theatre that's a little further along.

If you're after some retail therapy then you might be a little disappointed. There are some smaller, one-off shops here with individual styles which are lovely to visit. If you're looking for something larger, or if you crave the better-known chain stores, then a walk to Edgware Road will take you to the kind of shops you want. Six stops on the tube will also take you into Oxford Circus which offers every shop known to man.

Little Venice is a very pretty area with a choice of living quarters and a lovely social scene. It's understandable that house prices here are on the rise.




About the Author: