Last Updated on 14 June, 2025

A Little Venice in London is our very own hidden gem on the Regents Canal. With plenty of things to do in Little Venice from boat trip taking you from Little Venice to Camden, to exploring nearby Abbey Road, to great food on the London’s grand canal I will take you on a little trip exploring London’s Little Venice. Read on!

Unlike Italy’s Venice, you won’t find gondolas in Little Venice(update!!! We now have them! – Will post soon) the whole village doesn’t float on water like Venice, but nonetheless, Little Venice has a certain charm about it. You can take canal boat trips and navigate through the picturesque routes along Regents Canal in this affluent part of London.

It’s a haven for beautiful architecture, restaurants offering to din with views of canal boats floating by. With its close proximity to Abbey Road, recording studios don’t be too surprised if you spot a musician or two in the area. For staying locally check out hotels in Little Venice here.

ALSO SEE: 34 Things To Do In Camden

Little Venice Boat Tour | Quick Guide To Little Venice In London - Plus things to do in Little Venice #London #hiddengem #traveltips #uk #england

London hasn’t been blessed with much of a summer this year but when we took Little Venice on a Sunday afternoon for a late breakfast it was just perfect! Nothing better than a Sunday spent chilling on a canal-side cafe, bright sun glimmering on the waters and offering some much-needed reflections of warmer tones.

Water boats floating by, Londoners taking to paddle boarding and kayakers circling Browning’s island in the center of the canal. We may not have singing gondoliers on gondolas, but the charm of an area opened in 1820, is still just as enchanting now, as it might have been then. This is among the coolest things to do in Paddington.

Public and private moorings with houseboats in an assortment of colours and names to amuse passers-by. Little windows decorated in a range of comical, eccentric and some so elaborate and detailed in design as if to add a touch of elegance to canal boat living.

You may not be able to take a gondola ride but there are plenty of tour boats to lazily cruise you around the canal with a touch of tales of London’s old-time or if you fancy something more intimate there are smaller boats you can hire with your very own captain for you and a few of your posh posse. With some even offering afternoon tea on the water – a floating afternoon tea so to speak.

ALSO SEE: Guide To Exploring the Charm of Marylebone High Street

With the sun was out in its last bid before autumn takes over the show, we took advantage of the bright sunshine when it turned up in London.

So old boy, a teen and myself took to having breakfast on the boat while indulging in a little people watching. We also walked along the canal on our very own tour of the back streets and the moorings. Although there are guided tours available – we opted for a little self-guided.

I love Little Venice as its just busy enough with small crowds on Sundays because not a lot of tourist make their way this side of London. Most go straight to Camden Town and miss out on this lovely little pleasure trove. It’s also a great way to just chill out in the little cafes dotted around the canal.

ALSO SEE: Top 10 Best Brunch Places In Kings Cross

Where is Little Venice in London?

Just minutes from Paddington Station and Warwick Avenue, Little Venice is a beautiful little honey pot location where the Regent’s Canal meets the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal. Little Venice is a little village in the borough of Westminster where Regent’s Canal meets Grand Junction Canal. It’s cut between Paddington, Maida Vale and Warrick Avenue.

Lined with beautiful Georgian and Victorian townhouses, willow trees, and canal waterways. Beautiful architecture, some of which was designed by John Nash who designed the beautiful Regents Park that I showed you over the summer.

The name Little Venice is thought to have been coined by the poet Robert Browning and has now come to mean the whole area to the south of Maida Vale.

How To Get to Little Venice In London

Unlike Venice where visitors will most likely arrive by boats, water taxi or the Vaporetto water buses. You will get to Little Venice by Train or bus if you choose. The nearest tube stations are Warrick Avenue and Paddington Station. You can also get here having explored the Camden area and then jump on one of the long boats to Little Venice.

Get to LittleVenice by tube – the nearest tube station is Warwick Avenue but you can also walk from Edgeware Station, Paddington Station
Get to Little Venice by overground train – Paddington Main Line station
Get to Little Venice by car – Parking in this area is incredibly difficult also expensive. Its a lot easier and easy enough to walk to Little Venice is from the tube stations mentioned above than to drive here.
Get to Little Venice by boat – just past the Toll House canal cottage, there are moorings for narrowboats. Many are pre-bookable moorings. Mant with narrow boats travel around the UK and visit Little Venice.

ALSO SEE: 10 Of Best London River Cruises You Have To Experience At Least Once

Restaurants in London’s Little Venice

There is a vast array of cafes and restaurants in Little Venice ensuring you never leave it long between exploring and refueling. My favourite is the Little Venice Waterside Cafe.

Here you can sit on the boat or on the pavement next to the boat. You can pretend to be in Venice while dining in the many restaurants or gastropub surround in the area; from a Scandinavian-inspired -The Waterwayeatery on the bank of the canal to highly rated dim sum at Pearl Liang.

Food Spots Near Little Venice – Nearby: Edgeware Road

A short work from Little Venice is Edgware Road, where, if you are into your Arab food then there is no need to fly off to Morocco, Egypt or Lebanon to feast or experience the sensation of being in the Arab world. The whole road is lined up with enough choice you satisfy any appetite or craving for a Shawarma or falafel.

ALSO SEE: 14 Most Famous London Stately Homes To Visit

Things to do in London’s Little Venice

Little Venice To Camden

Little Venice is just a short walk away from both Camden Town and Portobello Road – two very different areas that offer a unique shopping experience for foodies and fashion lovers alike.

With over 1000 unique shops, stalls, bars and cafes, Camden Market is a great place for hunting out alternative items and street food, while Portobello is full of vintage trinkets and handmade wares. You can either walk to Camden Town or take a boat trips below which leave from Little Venice to Camden.

Active Sports on the canals

If you are up for something a little more active or perhaps you want to work off a hearty English breakfast eaten from the many foods stops along the canal, then you can work off the calories and take to the water by way of paddle boarding on the canals of Little Venice.

This seems to have made its way to London. In my mind, I always picture this activity in more tropical and sunnier destination. Hey, whatever floats your board! There is also Kayaking in Little Venice if paddle boarding is not your thing.

Little Venice Canal Trip Tours And Museums

Tours: You can either walk or take a boat up the canal, with several operators offering guided boat or walking tours. Check out Get Your Guide for London tours and those in Camden and Little Venice.

There are several boat companies, but one I have personally used with my friends was Jason Canal Trip which navigates the picturesque routes along Regents canal from Little Venice to Camden Lock, passing London Zoo and Regents Park surrounding areas.

The tour also comes with live commentary lasting about 45 minutes. You can buy a single or return ticket if you want a return journey back to Little Venice or you can stay and mingle and check out Camden Market. You can also walk from Little Venice all the way to Camden Lock. The walk is about 30 minutes.

Canal Museum: This is not in Little Venice but still on the canals by in Kings Cross. You can also head to the London Canal Museum which is housed in a nineteenth-century ice warehouse.

The museum looks at the history of the waterways and those who worked in them. It also includes an exhibit of the little-known trade in ice imported from Norway which was once stored in the huge wells beneath the museum. From here you can also walk to Camden Lock or head back to Little Venice

ALSO SEE: 31 Things To Do In Central London: A Comprehensive Guide

More Little Venice London Canal Trips

Other Places of Interest Near Little Venice

Primrose Hill: If time permits you can also combine your visit to Little Venice with a visit to Primrose Hill, which offers some of the best views of London. You can walk to Primrose Hill via the 5 km Regent’s Canal Walk which starts at the picturesque Little Venice and takes in the scenic Regent’s Canal, Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill before arriving at Camden Lock. Wander to the top, check out the views take a few snaps, and then continue back down on the canal.

ZSL London Zoo: Also located along the canal is the London Zoo. A perfect addition for animal lovers and those exploring with kids.

Little Venice Boat Tour | Quick Guide To Little Venice In London - Plus things to do in Little Venice #London #hiddengem #traveltips #uk #england

Little Venice London Map

Below is Little Venice map illustrating showcasing Paddington’s cultural gems such as landmark footbridges, the Grand Union Canal and Little Venice, pretty narrowboats, public art pieces, beautiful park gardens and even daring paddle-boarders to surround Paddington Station.

Little Venice Boat Tour | Quick Guide To Little Venice In London - Plus things to do in Little Venice #London #hiddengem #traveltips #uk #england

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Little Venice Events To Check Out

With warmer weather in London, comes many cool events and one event in Little Venice worth checking out is the Canalway Cavalcade. It is London’s biggest, brightest and best waterways festival.

This unique waterway boat gathering is organised by volunteers and has been taking place at Little Venice since 1983. It an annual event, held on the weekend of the early May Holiday. A waterway event and boat rally with plenty of activities and entertainment.

Its held in London’s Little Venice, the junction of Regents Canal and Grand Union Canal – 3 minutes walk from Paddington Station. Some on-street parking is available but with the event being popular you will have to arrive early to snub the few parking spaces available in the area. For more on the event check out Waterways. You can also see more in the video below.

Little Venice Hotels | Hotels Near Little Venice.

Little Venice sits along the Regents Canal. Its also close to Paddington which is a fairly busy area(due to being close to Paddington Station – one of London’s main transport hubs) and not one that is easy on the budget but you will definitely find something for everyone. For hotels near Little Venice check out the list of hotels in Camden, Paddington, Regents Park and Kings Cross.

If you want to specifically stay on a boat in London then check out The Good Hotel(former dutch prison) and Sunborn Hotel that are both beautiful hotel boats located on the Royal Victoria Docks.

Another one is an Airbnb called Jessie the Narrow Boat. You can get £14 off Airbnb with my link. For a full list of London accommodation option covering all budgets and includes apartments, hotels, hostels, and boats in London check out this list of hotels in London.

Booking.com

Little Venice In London – Dont Miss This Hidden Gem