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Maida Vale is a serene, leafy district of grand mansion blocks in north-west London, best loved for the canal-side idyll of Little Venice. Genteel and green, it offers one of the prettiest waterside strolls in the capital, a world away from the traffic a few streets over.
Where is Maida Vale and how to get there
Maida Vale sits north-west of Paddington. It is served by Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue stations on the Bakerloo line, the latter the natural gateway to Little Venice.
Little Venice and the canals
The jewel is Little Venice, the tranquil pool where the Regent’s and Grand Union canals meet, fringed by willow trees, moored narrowboats and waterside cafes. From here you can walk the towpath or take a canal boat east towards Camden, passing Regent’s Park and London Zoo. The wider district is defined by its handsome Edwardian mansion blocks and quiet, tree-lined avenues.
Eating and drinking
The cafes, pubs and restaurants clustered around Little Venice make a lovely canal-side stop, and the area’s residential streets hide a few well-regarded neighbourhood spots. It is a place for a leisurely coffee by the water.
Good to know
What is Little Venice?
Little Venice is the picturesque stretch of canal in Maida Vale where the Regent’s and Grand Union canals meet, lined with narrowboats, cafes and willow trees. You can walk the towpath or catch a canal boat from here to Camden, one of London’s most charming waterside journeys.
Where to go next
Follow the canal to Camden, or head to Paddington and Notting Hill. Browse all our London neighbourhood guides.
