Things to do near Paddington?

jobbingmusician

I've got some friends coming to London.  They are staying near Paddington - can anyone think of anything interesting to occupy their afternoon?  They are parents with a 6 yr old boy and 11 yr old girl.  Interested in classical music, if that helps....but I'd quite like to find them something quirky!

Green_hopeful

The planetarium used to be just along at Baker Street. I see it is now part of Madam Tussauds and has the Marvel Super Heroes 4D film in it. I haven’t been to the new thing. 

There is an interesting walk in memory of princess Diana. The walk takes you right round the middle of London through the parks. You don’t have to do it all but it goes through some lovely parks. https://www.royalparks.org.uk/media/676/download?attachment You don’t have to be interested in Diana to do it. You could then get a bus back. 

There used to be bus tours you could download to tour round London on normal buses. I think that is more fun than an organised tour. 

Holland Park is quite close to Paddington. There are woodland walks and an adventure playground. 

Emmia

Quirky things in London are Mail Rail, which is close to Farringdon, and very easy to get to by the Elizabeth Line from paddington. 

Kensington Palace Gardens (10 mins walk from paddington) has an app based trail round the gardens.

Madame Tussauds always seems to have a massive queue outside... So one to do if you like a queue!  The Wallace Collection is free to get into but might not be quite the thing for 6 and 11 year olds.

At Paddington itself there are the Go boats on merchant  square and the canal, or Canal boat trips down to Camden which leave a little closer to Warwick Avenue.

Depending on when they're coming you might find the Albert Hall has a tour, and there might be an artist / rehearsal thing at the Royal Opera House.

Cloth_of_Gold

Madame Tussauds is very expensive and touristy. The cheapest tickets for 2 adults and 2 children will cost £140. The Planetarium is no longer there and the building that housed it is now showing a 4D Marvel Super Heroes film, as someone else said.

Kensington Gardens is beautiful and you can walk around free of course, There are a number of kiosks where you can stop to have a drink and a sandwich or snack. The Serpentine South Gallery re-opens tomorrow and is free. There will be an exhibition on in the gallery, but it doesn't sound suitable for children. There are other, outdoor, things run by the gallery which might be worth a look.  https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/whats-on/ There are a lot of geese, swans, coots and other water birds one the Serpentine itself and you can spend a pleasant half hour watching them.

You can walk round to the Albert Memorial, which is worth seeing close up, and the Albert Hall is right behind (great photo opportunity!) Depending on how much time they have they could get the Number 9 bus down to the Design Museum. It's not the most interesting museum imo but it might appeal to them. Holland Park is right next door, which as someone else said, is lovely. Nearby is Sambourne House (not open on Mondays and Tuesdays), which is a Victorian house with interiors pretty much as they were in the late 19th century. Not for all children but it might appeal, I don't know. https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/museums/sambourne-house

Alternatively, the Natural History Museum currently has the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which is usually very good, as well as the permanent collection, including dinosaur-related things, which most children seem to like. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year.html  Next door is the V&A which also has things on that they might enjoy, and a great shop and a cafe which is expensive but if the weather is good you can sit outside in the lovely courtyard. https://www.vam.ac.uk/whatson

strawb_shortcake

I'd walk up to Little Venice and get the boat to Camden, not classical but you have the music wall of fame in Camden, we always go for a pint in the Dublin Castle some nice art work if their musical tastes extend to Madness.

Lorian

Book free tickets and take them to the science museum. Not quirky and no classical music but it was my favourite as a child. Not far on the tube.

silvercar

annabanana82 said:

I'd walk up to Little Venice and get the boat to Camden, not classical but you have the music wall of fame in Camden, we always go for a pint in the Dublin Castle some nice art work if their musical tastes extend to Madness.

Keep walking. Paddington to Little Venice, then onto Camden Town from their you carry on walking along the tow path to Coal Drops Yard nr Kings Cross. 

gwynlas

As suggested there are walks along the canal but not much else close to Paddington itself however there are numerous tube lines intersecting there so anywhere is easily reachable. You could try searching using terms such as London for children, London for free etc

baser999

Lorian said:

Book free tickets and take them to the science museum. Not quirky and no classical music but it was my favourite as a child. Not far on the tube.

All the major museums in that area and all free and if memory serves me correctly they’re all connected via an underground walkway so if the weathers bad you’re not walking in the rain

Emmia

baser999 said:

Lorian said:

Book free tickets and take them to the science museum. Not quirky and no classical music but it was my favourite as a child. Not far on the tube.

All the major museums in that area and all free and if memory serves me correctly they’re all connected via an underground walkway so if the weathers bad you’re not walking in the rain

The permanent collections are free (which is most of the museum) but there are ticketed exhibitions e.g. the current (sold out) Chanel exhibition at the V&A - the tunnel goes from South Kensington Tube Station to the museums