Paddington
No one, not even Kay and Co’s knowledgeable Paddington estate and letting agents, knows where the name ‘Paddington’ stems from. It’s thought to be a combination of the two Saxon words, ‘Paedingas’ and ‘tun’, meaning the place of the Paedingas, in reference to the 7th-century Saxon (and Christian) King Paeda. However, an estate or letting agent in Paddington claims that another theory holds that the name derives from the transportation of heavy or bulky goods via the ancient waterways, whereby heavily loaded boats were pulled by pack horses. ‘Pack horse’ was shortened to ‘pad’ in the south of England; consequently, many estate and letting agents in Paddington believe Paddington stems from the fact that the area was a grazing site for London’s pack horses.
Either way, the area has been inhabited since historic times and has been successfully multi-ethnic for much of that time. According to Paddington estate and letting agents; in recent history, French Huguenots were the first immigrants to set up home here during the 18th century but over the generations, Greek, Jewish, Asian and Arab communities have also been established. The result is the thriving, cosmopolitan Paddington properties and environment we see today.
FAMOUS RESIDENTS
The actor Sir Alec Guinness and the eventer Zara Phillips were both born here. Letting agents in Paddington say that Robert Browning lived in a property in Paddington, and Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in his Paddington property laboratory at St. Mary's Hospital on Praed Street.
LOCATION, LOCATION
Kay & Co letting and letting and estate agents in Paddington operate property for sale in Paddington within the boundaries defined by Westway to the north, Sussex Gardens to the south, Edgware Road to the east and Westbourne Terrace to the west. Paddington and Edgware Road tube stations allow connections to the Bakerloo, District, Circle, Hammersmith & City lines, while Brunel’s beautifully designed mainline station at Paddington now provides fast access to the airport via the Heathrow Express; something many an estate or letting agent in Paddington will boast about.
Neighbourhood view
To the joy of property letting and real estate agents, Paddington offers a dramatic combination of traditional-style London architecture that reflects the building trends of the last couple of centuries, alongside the new, ultra-slick development of the Paddington basin.
And, just minutes away from the residential Paddington property, locals can enjoy the precise point where the rippling waters of the Grand Union Canal merge majestically with those of the Regent’s Canal in an area that Robert Browning dubbed Little Venice. A heady mixture if ever there was one.
ESSENTIAL LIVING
One of the major selling points highlighted by letting and Paddington estate agents in the area (W2) is that Paddington is family-friendly with good access to a selection of nursery and primary schools, and leisure facilities. Hyde Park and the Serpentine are just a few minutes’ walk away and there is a good choice of everyday shops and services. With easy road links to the West End, residents owning or living in property to rent in Paddington can enjoy the best of London living.
Minutes away, the Grand Union Canal merges with the Regent’s Canal in an area that Browning named Little Venice.
Pre- School & Nursaries
Daisies Day Nurseries: 020 7706 8242
Primary Schools
Edward Wilson Primary: 020 7641 4303
Hallfield Infants: 020 7641 6235
Hallfield Juniors: 020 7641 6230
Paddington Green Primary: 020 7641 4122
St. James’s and St. Michael’s: 020 7641 6218
PARKING SOLUTIONS
020 7823 4567
SHOPPING IN STYLE
Our Paddington letting and estate agents assure those that enjoy having their creature comforts near at hand, that the local Marks & Spencer (258 Edgware Road) is one of chain’s larger stores, offering fashion as well as food. High street trends are also on show at Monsoon (Paddington Station), and stylish lingerie is available at La Senza (Paddington Station). Teaspoon, Leluu & Dewdhory (195 Praed Street) is an independent boutique that specialises in Vietnamese-tailored fashion, as well as a delicious range of specialist premium teas (including White, Green, Oolong and Pu-Erh) that you may taste-test before you buy.
Estate and letting agents in Paddington tell us that Paddington Jewellers (131 Praed Street) will repair your jewellery, watches and clocks, while Reem Badda London Jewellers (224 Edgware Road) will design your jewellery and watches, as well as unique lighting fixtures. Paddington property owners who are antiques collectors will enjoy being close to Alfies Antiques Market (13 Church Street), and one of London’s very best garden centers is just up the road at Clifton Nurseries (5 Clifton Villas).
Shopping
Marks & Spencer: 020 7723 5554
Monsoon: 020 7402 2411
La Senza: 020 7706 0322
Teaspoon, Leluu & Dewdhory: 020 7402 0499
Paddington Jewellers: 020 7723 6068
Reem Badda London Jewellers: 020 7723 9100
Alfies Antiques Market: 020 7723 6066
Clifton Nurseries: 020 7289 6851
LOOK GOOD, FEEL GREAT
When it comes to health and beauty Kay & Co Paddington estate and letting agents recommend Contrasti (10 Praed Street), which is one of the leading local hair salons and is located within the Hilton London Metropole. Keep-fit fanatics should check out the facilities at the Paddington Sports Club (Castellain Road) and the Cannons
Health Club (2 Sheldon Square), while yoga enthusiasts might appreciate that the Iyengar Yoga Institute (223a Randolph Avenue) is the only purpose-built yoga centre in Europe.
Natural Herbs (37 Praed Street) is the place to go for herbal medicine, while the Tanning Shop (89 Praed Street) is recommended for a top-up tan, while the Sugar Shop (35 Southwick Street) is, apparently, the perfect Paddington property to go for male hair removal.
Health & Beauty
Contrasti: 020 7616 7394
Paddington Sports Club: 020 7286 8448
Cannons Health Club: 020 7289 4686
Iyengar Yoga Institute: 020 7624 3080
Natural Herbs: 020 7706 8866
The Tanning Shop: 020 7402 4856
The Sugar Shop: 020 7402 1400
ON THE TOWN
With a choice of top-class hotels in and around Paddington it seems a shame not to enjoy the benefits. So, for cocktails and a selection of sharing platters our team of letting and estate agents in Paddington recommend the Steam Bar (Hilton Hotel Paddington, 1 Eastbourne Terrace) as a good place to start. If you just fancy a beer, then The Mitre (24 Craven Terrace) is an increasingly rare example of a traditional London pub with much of its charming Victorian interior intact, something common with many properties in Paddington. Another recommendation from our Paddington estate agents; for fine dining, Nippon Tuk (Hilton London Metropole, 225 Edgware Road) with its tasty Pan-Asian cuisine takes a lot of beating. Our letting agents in Paddington tell us that it’s not just the food that will impress, located on the 23rd floor, the spectacular view will stay with you for quite a while afterwards!
For a more mainstream Chinese menu, Paddington estate agents recommend that you head over to Pearl Liang (8 Sheldon Square), while according to our letting agents in Paddington, those with a yen for a stylish Indian restaurant should try Connoisseurs Indian Tandoori (8 Norfolk Place) or the more modern Jamuna (38 Southwick Street). Levantine (26 London Street) offers good-value mezze menus and The Frontline Club (13 Norfolk Place) serves seasonal British dishes in a reassuringly British fashion.
On a balmy summer’s evening one of the most enjoyable dining experiences is to be enjoyed on the canal-side terrace of the Japanese restaurant, Yakitoria (25 Sheldon Square).
Restaurant & Bars
Steam Bar: 020 7850 0555
Nippon Tuk: 020 7402 4141
Pearl Liang: 020 7289 7000
Connoisseurs Indian Tandoori: 020 7402 3299
Jamuna: 020 7723 5056
Levantine: 020 7262 1111
The Frontline Club: 020 7479 8950
Yakitoria (above): 020 3214 3000
ENTERTAINMENT
The Puppet Theatre Barge (Blomfield Road) is one of London’s unique treasures. The Paddington property which has seating for 50, is fully heated for winter performances in Little Venice, but then tours the Thames with its family shows throughout the summer. If mainland fringe is more your thing, our Paddington estate agents recommend the award-winning NewsRevue at the Canal Café Theatre (Delamere Terrace) is a must. For blockbuster movies, the Odeon Marble Arch (10 Edgware Road) is within reasonable walking distance while the Serpentine Gallery (Kensington Gardens) offers outstanding art exhibitions and is well worth the extra stroll across the park. Meanwhile, our letting agents in Paddington tell us that keen golfers can keep in the swing at the impressive new indoor centre, Metrogolf (19 Sheldon Square).
Entertainment
Puppet Theatre Barge: 020 7249 6876
NewsRevue at the Canal Café Theatre: 020 7289 6056
Odeon Marble Arch: 0871 224 4007
Serpentine Gallery: 020 7402 6075
YOUR LOCAL....
Dry cleaner: Supreme Dry Cleaners, 33 Norfolk Place: 020 7402 6876
Chemist: Boots, Paddington Station: 020 7402 9087
Police: Paddington Green, 2 Harrow Road: 020 7402 1212
Locksmith: Barry Brothers Security, 121 Praed Street: 0800 316 8547
Vet: Village Vets, 6 Clifton Road: 020 7289 1000
Shoe repairer: Distinctive Shoe Repairs, 3 Norfolk Place: 020 7460 6610
Post Office: 128 Praed Street: 0845 722 3344
Taxi service (for Heathrow and West End): A1 Express, 9a Craven Terrace: 020 7262 7281
DID YOU KNOW?
The popular children’s author, Michael Bond, based his Paddington Bear stories on a toy bear he bought from a shop near his property in Paddington at Paddington Station on Christmas Eve 1956. Our letting agents in Paddington tell us that he gave the bear to his wife and just ten days later he had written the first story about one of the world’s most loved fictional characters. Interestingly, our letting agent in Paddington (W2) tells us that the actual Paddington Bear toy that we see every day in this part of the capital was created in 1972 by Shirley and Eddie Clarkson, who made the prototype Paddington Bear as a Christmas gift for their children, Joanna and Jeremy Clarkson.
Yes, that Jeremy Clarkson. And on that bombshell…
If you want more information on any of the Paddington properties for sale available in the borough that was not named after a bear you can contact our Paddington Estate agents (W2), or for information on property available for rental only you can give our letting agents in Paddington a call.