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Little Venice, Grand Union Canal (GUC - Paddington Arm) London, England, UK

Little Venice is the nickname for part of the Maida Vale area of central London - We moored at the British Waterways 14 day visitor moorings in Little Venice, near Paddington, London (MAP) at the end of May, beginning of June 2010

Little Venice History - The two canal toll stops at Little Venice were used for gauging boats. This is the junction of the Regent's Canal and the Grand Junction Canal. Close to this point is Paddington Basin; the basin itself is the terminus of the Paddington Arm of the original Grand Junction Canal, now the Grand Union Canal.

Little Venice Houseboats - The southern part of Maida Vale around Paddington Basin, a junction of the Grand Union Paddington Arm and the Regent's Canal with many houseboats, visiting narrowboats and widebeam craft. The area is known as Little Venice or Little Venice Marina.

Little Venice Visitor Moorings - The VMs stretch from Ha'penny Bridge towards the BW facilities near the the Regent's Canal junction adjacent to Delamere Terrace W2. Breasting up of narrowboats is permitted on these very popular 14 day London visitor moorings. The BW facilities by the Old Canal Office at Little Venice include visitor moorings, toilets and BW card operated pump out, household rubbish disposal and recycling.

Please note that Little Venice Visitor Moorings cannot be reserved as they are run on a first come, first served basis.

Little Venice's Nearest Mainline Railway Station is at Paddington - 1km (MAP)

Little Venice's Nearest London Underground / Tube Station is at Warwick Avenue - 500m (MAP) on the Bakerloo Line

Little Venice's Nearest London Bus - No 18 buses run towards Marylebone Road (Euston, Madame Tussauds and Baker Street) from the bottom of Blomfield Villas by the eastern end of Westbourne Green (park) 300m (MAP).

Little Venice Garden Centre / Plant Nursery - MAP - We visited Clifton Nurseries at 5a Clifton Villas, W9 2PH about 400m from the road bridge by the BW facilities to buy a couple of hardy shrubs for the middle of two new 'gas bottle' planters. www.Clifton.co.uk - We bought a Buxus 20cm ball, Buxus sempervirens (Common Box or European Box; native to western and southern Europe, except far southwest and a Leucothoe fontainesiana 'Carinella' - also known as Leucothoe carinella, Leucothoe fontainesiana 'Zebekot' or Fetter bush.

Little Venice Festival - The Canal Cavalcade, organised by the Inland Waterways Association takes place annually over three days of the May Bank Holiday weekend. This colourful annual Bank Holiday event brings all the fun of the country fair into the heart of the city. Narrowboats travel from all over to attend the Canalway Cavalcade, Little Venice, London boat rally to fill the hidden gem of London that is Little Venice Pool. Organised by the Inland Waterways Association (www.waterways.org.uk), there’s plenty of music, stalls selling real ale, crafts and food, as well as activities for children and an illuminated procession of boats on Sunday evening. MAP - 1st to 3rd May. Nearest tube stations are Warwick Avenue or Paddington.

Little Venice Canal Boat Trips - Jason's Canal Trips operates a 36 seat trip boat between Blomfield Road, Little Venice and Camden. Tel: 0207 286 3428. Trips departing from Little Venice at 10.30, 12.30 and 14.30. NB Jason is an authentic 100-year-old canal boat which was originally used as a cargo vessel on the canals before being fitted with a diesel engine and converted to passenger-carrying duties. This Little Venice canal boat trip takes about forty-five minutes each way or one and a half hours round trip. On the leg from Little Venice up to Camden there is a live commentary from a trained guide who will tell you all about the canal's history from the start of the 19th century to the present day. Parking: Meter parking in Little Venice.

Little Venice Waterbus Service - London Waterbus Co. operates a 50 minute service to Camden Locks on the Regent's Canal via Regent's Park Zoo with an hourly service both ways in summer from10.00 to 17.00 (reduced service in winter). Tel: 0207 482 2660. Parking: Meter parking in Little Venice.

Little Venice Canal Walk - This is an 'easy' 4.5 mile walk, around 2hours 30 mins. that starts and finishes at the picturesque Little Venice (Warwick Avenue London Underground Station) and takes in the scenic Regent's Canal along the tow path and adjacent roads. Flat surfaces, although some areas are unsuitable for wheelchairs! Parking: Meter parking in Little Venice. See / Print the BW Portable Document Format (PDF) - Other walks available in this series besides the Little Venice Canal Walk: Walking the East Ends Canals; Islington to Limehouse Walk; Walking around Hanwell; Walking in the Lea Valley; Walking in Harlow; Walking in Broxbourne.

Little Venice Restaurants and Cafes - Restaurants and Cafes within easy walking distance of Little Venice. Parking: Meter parking in Little Venice.

Ben's Thai - Thai Restaurant 420m at The Robert Browning Pub, 15 Clifton Road, London W9 1SY - Tel: 020 7266 3134.

Boathouse - Modern European Restaurant 230m at 60 Blomfield Road, Little Venice, London W9 2PD - Tel: 020 7286 6752 - A canalside restaurant that has been around for years.

Clifton Kitchen - Cafe 230m at 5a Clifton Villas, London W9 2PH - Tel: 020 7289 2442.

Maguro - Japanese Restaurant 475m at 5 Lanark Place, London W9 1BT - Tel: 020 7289 4353 - Japan landing in Maida Vale.

Mandalay - Burmese Restaurant 500m at 444 Edgware Road, London W2 1EG - Tel: 020 7258 3696 - Authentic Burmese.

Pearl Liang - Chinese Restaurant 250m at 8 Sheldon Square, London W2 6EZ - Tel: 020 7289 7000.

The Summerhouse - Cafe 175m at 60 Blomfield Road, London W9 2PD - Tel: 020 7286 6752 - The Summerhouse is located by the waterfront of Little Venice.

YO! Sushi Paddington Station - Japanese Restaurant 450m at The Lawn, Paddington Station, London W2 1HB - Tel: 020 7262 7408 - Yo! Sushi is a cheap and cheerful restaurant.

Zizzi Paddington - Italian Restaurant 400m at Unit 2, 17 Sheldon Square, London W2 6EP - Tel: 0207 286 4770 - Pasta dishes and pizzas straight from a wood-burning oven.

Little Venice Pubs and Bars - Parking: Meter parking in Little Venice.

The E Bar - 370m at 2 Warrington Crescent, London W9 1ER - Tel: 020 7432 8455 - Tapas, cocktails & terrace overlooking the canal.

Idlewild - Bar 470m at 55 Shirland Road, London W9 2JD - Tel: 020 7266 9198 - Laid back pub-restaurant.

Prince Alfred & Formosa Dining Rooms - Gastropub 400m at 5a Formosa Street, London W9 1EE - Tel: 020 7286 3287 - Lavish Victorian styling with partitioned snugs that make up the pub.

The Waterway - Gastropub 430m at 54 Formosa Street, London W9 2JU - Tel: 020 7266 3557 - Decked alfresco area. A great spot overlooking the canal.

Little Venice Police - In the event of the requirement for Police attendance for a non-emergency, telephone the Met Police Control Room on 0300 123 1212.

Outside link - www.DoFreeStuff.com/London