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Paddington Basin Moorings - Paddington Basin Visitor Moorings

Paddington Basin is an area of Paddington, London named after the nearby canal basin.The Grand Union Canal Basin at Paddington, London, just around the corner from Little Venice.

British Waterways - BW Paddington Office - "Jena", Paddington Information Boat (black widebeam), moored by Starbucks Café, Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, London, W2 6TT - BW Office Opening times 09:30 - 16:30, Monday to Friday - Tel: 020 7985 7200

Paddington Basin Map

Once you cruise past Bishop's Road Bridge and around the bend, into the new Paddington Basin development you will notice that the canal and moorings, adjacent to private land, owned by European Land. The canal and Paddington Basin moorings at Merchant Square are managed by Merchant Square Estates Management, in partnership with British Waterways.

Paddington Basin Visitor Moorings are generally operated on an up to seven day stay only, with the day of arrival, or part thereof constituting your first day, with no return within 2 months of leaving. Boaters exceeding the seven days will be charged at a rate of £25 per additional day (including VAT).

Craft must only be moored between the visitor moorings arrows to mooring rings provided.

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

The nearest British Waterways (BW card operated) pump out, rubbish disposal, recycling, toilet facilities and water points are located in Little Venice.

A floating merchant trader PJ Wakeham & Son (with Jack Russell X, 'Smee' - named after Captain Hook's right-hand man in J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan) plies the area with a mobile pump out, diesel fuel, bottled gas, coal and logs (Tel: 0770 332 512).

For your safety and security the area is covered by 24 hour CCTV and security foot patrols.

Paddington Basin Canal - The junction of the Regent's Canal and the Grand Junction Canal Paddington Arm is close to this point but the basin itself is actually the terminus of the Paddington Arm.

Paddington Basin History

Paddington Basin was opened in 1801. Paddington was chosen because of its position on the New Road which led to the east, providing for onward transport. In its heyday, the basin was a major trans-shipment facility, and a hive of activity.

A very early construction by IK Brunel was recently discovered immediately to the north of the station. A cast iron bridge carrying the Bishop's Bridge Road over the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal was uncovered after removal of more recent brick cladding during the complete replacement of the adjacent bridge over the railway lines at the mouth of the station.

Paddington Basin Regeneration / Paddington Basin Development

A consortium in partnership with British Waterways began work on the Paddington Basin Master Plan in January 2000 by draining the basin.

The basin is now the centre of a major redevelopment and is surrounded by modern buildings.

The creation of Merchant Square, at the east end of Paddington Basin, is the next phase of the mixed use development expected to total 2 million square feet. This will form one of London's new premier residential, commercial, retail and leisure development schemes around the Paddington Basin Canal extension.

Paddington Central / Amenities / Sheldon Square / Amenities

Paddington Basin Offices To Let / Paddington Basin Future Developments - There is capacity within the outline planning consent for the Paddington Basin site for a further 340,000 sq ft net of office buildings to be provided over the final two plots of land at the western end of the site, which will include a formal garden. Architects Allies and Morrison have been appointed to work up detailed designs for these two plots and detailed planning permission has been obtained.

Paddington Basin Bridge - It is the site of The Paddington Basin 'Rolling Bridge', built in 2004.

Paddington Basin Companies - Marks & Spencer Head Office is now located here after moving from their Baker Street site in 2004.

Paddington Basin Rail Connections - The nearest London Underground stations are Edgware Road and Paddington. London Paddington (GWR) is also a National Rail station.

Facilities within Paddington Station: Hilton London Paddington, Accessorize, Bagel Factory, Body Shop, Boots, Burger King, Café Nero Express, Café Ritazza, Cards Galore, Cashpoints, Classic Clean Dry Cleaners, Costa Coffee, Delice de France, EAT, Flower Store, Impulse Music Store, The Isambard Pub, Journey’s Friend (CTN), Krispy Kreme, La Senza, Mad Bishop and Bear, M&S Simply Food, Millie’s Cookies, Monsoon, Orange, Paddington Bear Shop, Paperchase, Photo Me, The Reef Bar, Sainsbury’s Local, Singapore Sam, Starbucks, Taste Sandwich Bar, Threshers, Tie Rack, Travelex, Upper Crust, Van Heusen, Vodafone, West Cornwall Pasty Co, WH Smith and Yo Sushi.

Things to see in Paddington Station:

The Paddington Bear Statue at Paddington Station, London - The children's book character Paddington Bear was named after the station. In the books, by Michael Bond, he is found at the station, having come from "deepest, darkest Peru" and with a note attached to his coat reading "please look after this bear, thank you". A statue of Paddington Bear by Marcus Cornish, based on the original drawings by Peggy Fortnum, is located on the station concourse, and a small kiosk shop stocks Paddington Bear paraphernalia in the main station area.

Statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel - The main Paddington station between Bishops Bridge Road and Praed Street was designed by Brunel who was later commemorated by a statue on the station concourse (it has since been relocated to Platform 1 by the exit to the taxi rank), although much of the architectural detailing was by his associate Matthew Digby Wyatt. The station opened on 29 May 1854. The glazed roof is supported by wrought iron arches in three spans, respectively spanning 68 feet (21 m), 102 feet (31 m) and 70 feet (21 m). The roof is 699 feet (210 m) long, and the original roof spans had two transepts connecting the three spans. It is commonly believed that these were provided by Brunel to accommodate traversers to carry coaches between the tracks within the station. However recent research, using early documents and photographs, does not seem to support this belief, and their actual purpose is unknown.

Memorial to the employees of the GWR who died during the First World War - On Armistice Day 1922, a memorial to the employees of the GWR who died during the First World War was unveiled by Viscount Churchill (Major Victor Albert Francis Charles Spencer, 1st Viscount Churchill GCVO JP (23 October 1864 – 3 January 1934), known as The Lord Churchill between 1886 and 1902, was a British peer and courtier - He was also chairman and director of several transport companies, including the Great Western Railway and the Grand Union Canal). The bronze memorial, its dominant feature; a large bronze statue of a British First World War soldier dressed in battle gear, wearing a helmet, woolen scarf, and a greatcoat draped over his shoulders. The soldier is looking down, reading a letter from home. The Memorial to the employees of the GWR was sculpted by Charles Sargeant Jagger and stands on platform 1. A slate plaque was added after WWII to commemorate a further 3312 men and women of the Great Western Railway that lost their lives in that war.

Crossrail Station Paddington - Between 2009 and 2015, a new London Crossrail station will be built under London Paddington, serving as a connection to the National Rail and London Underground services. London Crossrail Services are due to start in 2017.

Paddington Basin Restaurants / Sandwich & Salad Bars / Cafés & Coffee Bars

Massis Lebanese Grill & Bar, Paddington Basin - Massis, 9 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, London W2 6DF - Tel: 0207 286 8000 - www.massis.co.uk

Prét a Manger Café, 6 Sheldon Square, London W2 6EZ -
Tel: 020 7932 5258

Pearl Liang Chinese Restaurant Paddington, 8 Sheldon Square, London W2 6EZ - Tel: 020 7289 7000 - www.pearlliang.co.uk

Starbucks Coffee Shop / Café Paddington, 15 Sheldon Square, London W2 6DL - Tel: 020 7289 7381

Subway Sandwich Shop / Café Paddington Basin - Subway Sandwich Shop, 5a Sheldon Square, London W2 6HY - Tel: 020 7266 3027

Tossed Salad Bar, 10 Sheldon Square, London W2 6EZ
Tel: 020 7289 2516 - www.tosseduk.com

Zizzi - Italian Restaurant Paddington - Overlooking a delightful section of the Paddington Basin Canal Section near Little Venice and Maida Vale in London. The Zizzi 'Ristarante' would be great for business lunches or romantic dinners in the evening. Almost in the heart of the Paddington basin, this restaurant is a diamond ready to be discovered by both locals and visitors to the capital. Zizzi's Pizza & Pasta Restaurant, 17 Sheldon Square, London W2 6EP -
Tel: 020 7286 4770

Paddington Basin Apartments / Paddington Basin Flats

The apartments and flats in the Paddington Basin area are being built with a 30% 'affordable housing' allotment as part of their planning agreements.

Paddington Basin Bars / Paddington Basin Pubs

Smith's Bar and Grill. 25 Sheldon Square, London W2 6EY
Tel: 020 7286 9458

The Union, Bar and Restaurant, Paddington Basin, 13 Sheldon Square, London W2 6DJ - Tel: 020 7289 3063

Paddington Basin Hotels

Novotel London Paddington - Accor Novotel New Generation
www.novotel.com

Paddington Basin Offices - The Point Paddington Basin (construction completed) has overflow offices for M&S. The office block by the Paddington Basin Rolling Bridge is the International HQ for Marks & Spencer plc.

Paddington Basin Shops - Sainsbury's, 14 Sheldon Square, London W2 6EZ.

The nearest high street shops to Paddington Basin are on Praed Street, a ten minute walk; following the signs to Paddington Station.

Paddington Basin Bus - The London Transport No.15 Bus runs from a terminus opposite the M&S International Headquarters to Aldwych. The No.23 (from Westbourne Park Station to Liverpool Street (Railway) Station) stops by Paddington Main Line Station.

If you encounter any anti-social behaviour you are asked to report it immediately by telephone to 07958 757 903

Merchant Square Estate Management, The Waterline, 31 Herbet Road, London W2 1JS - Tel: 020 7298 0800