Little Venice

The basics

Stand on the pretty blue Westbourne Terrace Road Bridge overlooking the confluence and you can admire the weeping willows on Browning Island, named for the Victorian poet and playwright. Stop for a coffee at a café on a burgundy canal boat before wandering along the water toward Paddington, where you'll find brightly painted barges hosting everything from cheese shops to recording studios. Little Venice features on London canal walking tours and some black cab tours, particularly those that focus on West London.

Things to know before you go

• Picnic benches on the banks of the canal let you enjoy snacks while you watch the boats go by.

• There are public toilets in Little Venice.

• Ramps leading down to the water ensure that Little Venice is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.

How to get there

The nearest London Underground station to Little Venice is Warwick Avenue, a small tube station only served by the Bakerloo line. There are more transport connections from Paddington—a 10-minute walk down the canal—which has multiple tube lines, including Elizabeth, Circle, Hammersmith and City, District, and Bakerloo, plus the Heathrow Express.

When to get there

Little Venice is a year-round destination, though it’s particularly pretty on a sunny spring or fall day when the waterfront banks are at their most colorful. The district is at its liveliest during the annual Canalway Cavalcade Festival, which takes place in May.

Where to shop and sip in Little Venice

Little Venice is the ideal place to spend an afternoon wandering between cafés and stores. Stroll past the grandiose townhouses of Warrington Crescent towards the traditional Warrington Hotel and Pub, before browsing the boutiques of Formosa Road. FInish off with coffee and cake at Clifton Nursery, a garden center with a greenhouse café adorned with hanging plants.