Within London’s Maida Vale district is about a square mile known as Little Venice, which as its name suggests, is interspersed with waterways. The name is believed to have been coined by the English poet Robert Browning who lived here from 1862 to 1887.
Little Venice was once home to artists, writers, and others who lived along the fringes of society, but today it consists of about ten tree-lined streets and a more genteel population. The area is full of 17th century stucco homes, shops on Formosa Street, and Clifton Gardens. Proximity to Heathrow, Paddington Station, and Oxford Street make Little Venice a much coveted location.
Little Venice is home to superb waterside restaurants, bars and cafes which lend the whole area a cosmopolitan, laid back vibe. Take a boat trip through the canals, or if you’re looking for a scenic water-side walk, follow the canal route north-east for 2.5 miles until you reach Camden where you can see the Lock and the markets, or you can stroll to Regents Park and London Zoo.
The area is also known for the Canal Cafe Theatre, the Puppet Theatre Barge, the Cascade Floating Art Gallery, the Waterside Café and the Warwick Castle pub. A regular waterbus service operates from Little Venice eastwards around Regent's Park, calling at London Zoo and on towards Camden Town. The Inland Waterways Association also hosts the Canalway Cavalcade in Little Venice.
