The Notting Hill Carnival, which is the largest street festival in Europe, will take place in August. With it, plenty of visitors from around the world will flood the area from near our location at Paddington Arts through Notting Hill. The festival is a boisterous event filled with music and local talent. However, throughout the area there is plenty to see. Whether you are coming for the festival or just visiting London, here are some wonderful places to visit to capture the pleasant aesthetics and adorable locals that will impress your social media followers.

Beginning with nearby Paddington Station, a railway and tube station. For Paddington Bear lovers, this is the very location where the fictional character first arrives in London. As such, there are a few tributes that you can take pictures of (and with), including a few statues, a bench, and a store. Paddington Bear can also be found in several other locations throughout London, including other statues and a mural. There are also locations nearby that were used for the  Paddington films such as Alice’s shop that stands in for Gruber’s Antiques. 

While on the subject of movies that we love, there is also nearby Notting Hill. There are photo spots for the Blue Door and The Travel Bookshop from the movie. Additionally, there are the Colorful Houses of Notting Hill that will sure to be your new favorite profile picture. They sit just off of Portobello Road which hosts a huge market that provides many photo opportunities. Though be sure to avoid taking pictures of merchandise. Vendor hosts often prefer that you do not photograph their supply. Still, with wall art throughout the market, the hustle and bustle of the people, and the general atmosphere, it’s a photographer’s paradise. 

Looking for some place calmer than a train station or a market? Look no further than Paddington Recreation Ground. It is a 27 acre park space that has a gym, running track, pitches for multiple sports, tennis courts, and a cafe. Located inside the park is a playground featuring miniature houses that are meant to replicate colorful houses in the area. This serves as a perfect cheat to capture the look within a scale that is easy to frame. 

Take a walk down to Little Venice which as the name implies has a similar ambience to Venice, Italy with its canal and little boats (as seen above). This area is a junction between Grand Union Canal and Regents Canal, with a nearby bridge close to Paddington Arts. It is a beautiful hidden gem that is a moving postcard to behold. Fun Fact: this area was also used for a scene in Paddington 2. 

Finally, there’s Paddington Arts itself. It is a beautiful building easily accessible by tube or bus, and offers opportunities for the community to engage in art forms. It is a colorful, three-level building that offers a welcoming environment. It is also a stone’s throw away from the real Windsor Gardens (not seen in the films) that Paddington Bear lives at with the Brown Family. 

Be sure to come visit the Paddington and Notting Hill area soon!