11
JANUARY, 2018
No prizes for guessing what lies at the heart of this tranquil and rather gorgeous slice of relaxed and refined London. Ferraris and lots of opera singing waiters.
Not really, it is of course the canal (although the first part my well be true also).
It feels like a comparative oasis of calm in the city and it seems remarkable that it’s only a short distance from Paddington.
Little Venice in London
Little Venice in London
It is thought the poet Robert Browning coined the name Little Venice and it’s where the Grand Union Canal meets Regents Canal. This convergence has created a floating and waterside community all of its own. Striking mansions provide the backdrop to a hive of activities on and around the water.
Cafes, bars, galleries and entertainment.
Cafes, bars, galleries and entertainment abound, including the Canal Cafe Theatre which has been hosting plays, cabaret and comedy for nearly 40 years. It is home to News Revue which has been poking weekly fun at the news since 1979 and in 2004 it entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running live comedy show in the world. It has now stretched that record considerably!
For those who prefer puppets to people on stage, you can find The Puppet Theatre Barge which has been putting on acclaimed performances for children and adults at Little Venice since 1982. And if you’re looking for any further stamp of approval – its patron is none other than Monty Python legend Michael Palin!
