Little Venice sits at the junction of the Regent’s and Grand Union Canals, and has long been one of London’s most evocative waterside neighbourhoods. With pastel-painted townhouses and tree-lined towpaths, it moves with a slower rhythm than the bustle of Paddington or Marylebone just beyond. This is an area that rewards wandering, where hidden gems are tucked along the water’s edge and behind leafy residential streets. From narrowboats that double as cafés and theatres to secret garden squares and canal-side terraces, Little Venice is among the city’s most underrated pockets to potter through – especially on a sunny afternoon when the city feels a little too fast elsewhere.
Explore the Regent’s Canal Towpath
The towpath leading out from the junction at Little Venice is the area’s spine. Walking east, you’ll pass stunning Regency townhouses with wrought-iron balconies and mature plane trees dipping their branches low over the water. Follow the path towards Regent’s Park and you’ll find painted footbridges, moored narrowboats selling books and coffee, and the occasional glimpse into private gardens. The mile-long stretch to Maida Hill Tunnel is particularly rewarding for photographers.
But the most atmospheric way to explore the waterways is by boat. Canal cruises between the Little Venice basin and Camden Market take around 45 minutes, gliding past Nash terraces, the waterside zoo aviary, and shaded sections of Regent’s Park. Many owner-operators offer guided commentary en route – like your own private barge tour through history. With the gentle chug of the engine and the soft lull of water beneath you, it’s a world away from the noise of the Underground – and easily one of the most relaxing ways to move around this part of the city.
Enjoy A Drink or Dinner With A View
Just off Formosa Street, The Waterway is a longstanding gastropub with one of the best terraces in the area. On sunny days, its canal-side tables are the main draw, set right by the water’s edge and backed by an outdoor bar serving cocktails, craft beer, and wine. It’s one of the few places in London where you can sip a drink as swans glide past at eye level. The menu of grilled fish and seasonal salad is popular with the local boating crowd.
For something more secluded, The Summerhouse is a hidden dining spot tucked into a bend upstream, almost indistinguishable from the Georgian terraces surrounding it – at least from the road. The views here are near-uninterrupted, broken only by the occasional passing boat or bird. Ideal for light lunches or sitting on the terrace with a bottle of wine during the summer months, it lives up to its moniker in perfect fashion.
Browse Paddington Basin’s Floating Markets
A short stroll east of Little Venice, Paddington Basin is where a rotating cast of narrowboats moor to create one of London’s most charming floating markets. These pop-up barges sell everything from small-batch gin and craft coffee to handmade jewellery and vintage books, bringing new life to a centuries-old canal trading tradition. Set between sleek glass offices and still waters, the basin feels like a meeting point between old and new – a modern echo of the working waterways that once powered the city.
It’s also home to some of London’s more unusual feats of engineering, including the Rolling Bridge – a clever piece of kinetic design that curls up into an octagon to let boats pass. For families or groups, Paddington Basin is a great place to rent paddleboards or pedalo boats, offering a relaxed, water-level perspective on this lesser-known corner of the city.
Catch the Cricket At Lord’s
Following the Regent’s Canal towpath through St John’s Wood will lead you to one of the most iconic cricket sites in the world. Lord’s was first opened more than 200 years ago and is the third ground to bear the name of its founder, Thomas Lord – a first-class player and pioneer who helped shape the game’s early expansion in London. Lord’s holds a place in cricketing history akin to that of Wembley Stadium in football. With a capacity of over 30,000 spectators, the ground has an atmosphere that reflects its unique status as the “home of cricket” – not only in the UK, but globally. The sense of legacy is tangible here, whether you're watching a match from the historic Pavilion or simply soaking up the ambience on a quiet day.
The stadium is also home to the MCC Museum, one of the oldest sporting museums in the world, housing a remarkable collection of memorabilia, including the original Ashes urn. It offers a fascinating look at how the sport evolved from village greens to packed international arenas.
Take a Stroll through Rembrandt Gardens
This small but beautifully maintained park sits just above the canal at Warwick Avenue. Formal flowerbeds, shady trees, and manicured lawns have long made it a favourite with residents and visitors looking for a quiet stroll or a peaceful place to sit at lunch. Originally laid out in the 1950s, the gardens were later renamed after the Dutch master painter Rembrandt van Rijn, marking the twinning of Westminster with Amsterdam.
Paths wind gently down to the canal edge, offering one of the best elevated views of the Little Venice basin. In spring, bright tulips nod to the gardens’ Dutch connection, while summer brings out richly coloured roses in full bloom. It’s an ideal spot to pause and watch the boats and ducks bob by – a place to take a breath, soak up the calm, and reflect on the layered history of a city that’s just as compelling in its quieter corners.
