'LITTLE VENICE OF LONDON'
dear friends, I just can't help myself but to share my love for a wonderful place in my London: 'Little Venice'. When me and my beau Edward want to escape the crowds for a while , we make our way to the watery oasis of 'Little Venice', yes, 'Little Venice' of our own London! Directly north of Paddington is this tranquil pocket affectionately known as ' Little Venice'. The area is a popular tourist attraction mainly due to the picturesque canals with Narrowboat cruises travelling between 'Little Venice' and 'Camden Lock'. Located in Maida Vale, at the junction of the Regents Canal and the Grand Union Canal, it's the perfect place for a coffee and a leisurely stroll. A paved tow-path runs from Little Venice all the way to Camden Lock and the famous Camden Markets. The walk will take you about 90 minutes, and along the way you will pass by London Zoo and Regents Park. For a more relaxed journey,when I just want to 'decluster' my mind, I take a trip on a canal narrowboat from Little Venice to Camden Lock Market ,and merrily give a 'royal' wave to those walking along the tow-path! (It is free to walk along the canals. A return canal boat trip will set you back about £7.50. )
a view of Regent's Canal
The 14.5-kilometre Regent's Canal is one of London's best-kept secrets. Largely hidden behind buildings, the line sneaks its way through a rich collage of urban landscapes. Starting at the houseboats of Little Venice, it wends its way through Camden Lock and fashionable East London, and bypasses the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games before ending in Limehouse Basin.
Around the canals you can visit the London Canal Museum, the Puppet Theatre Barge, and the Cascade Flooring Art Gallery. Many attractions are along the canal themselves. . If you head a bit south away from the canal junction, you'll run into more contemporary attractions- a few bars, a Subway, a Sainsbury's- among the canal boats. Head north, and you'll discover the tastes of the best view in Little Venice, overlooking the custom-painted boats along the canal. Café Laville, situated at the very end of the neighbourhood, features a selection of pasta, salads, and sandwiches that feed the Italian reference to the area well.
For what may at first look like a simple pond in passing, Little Venice offers a bit more with a nice walk featuring a small selection of quiet entertainment- perfect for a Saturday lunch or a looker's stroll.
Then there's 'BRIDGE HOUSE': our favorite haunt!
Bridge House
Interior of Bridge House
We celebrated my birthday here-just me, my Edward, Autumn and her albert ,Sandra, Anna and Philip,my cousin, who had come specially from Norwich.
Me and this group of mine just love this place! No theatre bar in London can be as convivial as this one. Beneath the Canal Café, the Bridge House ( 13 Westbourne Terrace Road, Maida Vale, London, W2 6NG)comprises a waterside terrace and a spacious, relaxing interior. If it’s sunny, sit outside and listen to the lapping of the Regent’s Canal; when it’s chilly, curl up around the fireplace.
The place has a charged, slightly naughty feel, thanks to velvety banquettes, bright red beaded lightshades and Anna Runefelt’s faintly erotic photos on the wall; even the toilets are concealed behind thick curtains!
In the middle of the room, a bar dispenses ales (Landlord, London Pride and the like) and continental beers (Kozel, Franziskaner, Peroni), plus a list of wines available by both glass and bottle.
An all-day kitchen deals with an extensive and affordable seasonal menu, which is really delicious!
Some places just don’t need to do much to be cool and if you’ve already got a spot a stone’s thrown from the canal and the thriving Canal Cafe Theatre upstairs then you’ve definitely got a head-start. The décor at The Bridge House pub is not to everyone’s taste but its dark, showy feel is well-suited to the faded glamour of a theatre bar. The thing to do is to get here early doors and soak up the atmosphere; if you can, nab one of the lounge-y leather sofas or a space outside, which is bursting with revellers when it’s warm. I recommend chilling with some pre-theatre cocktails and tucking into the food, which is pub-with-a-bit-of-posh, before wandering upstairs to catch a show.
.
a view of canal from Bridge House
What we love most is the activity of 'experimental theatre' which goes on here with much gusto. The crowd is mainly of young people like me and so here's a lot of 'give n take'. I met my beau here only! But that's another story!
Have a nice spring!
-Portia
dear friends, I just can't help myself but to share my love for a wonderful place in my London: 'Little Venice'. When me and my beau Edward want to escape the crowds for a while , we make our way to the watery oasis of 'Little Venice', yes, 'Little Venice' of our own London! Directly north of Paddington is this tranquil pocket affectionately known as ' Little Venice'. The area is a popular tourist attraction mainly due to the picturesque canals with Narrowboat cruises travelling between 'Little Venice' and 'Camden Lock'. Located in Maida Vale, at the junction of the Regents Canal and the Grand Union Canal, it's the perfect place for a coffee and a leisurely stroll. A paved tow-path runs from Little Venice all the way to Camden Lock and the famous Camden Markets. The walk will take you about 90 minutes, and along the way you will pass by London Zoo and Regents Park. For a more relaxed journey,when I just want to 'decluster' my mind, I take a trip on a canal narrowboat from Little Venice to Camden Lock Market ,and merrily give a 'royal' wave to those walking along the tow-path! (It is free to walk along the canals. A return canal boat trip will set you back about £7.50. )
The 14.5-kilometre Regent's Canal is one of London's best-kept secrets. Largely hidden behind buildings, the line sneaks its way through a rich collage of urban landscapes. Starting at the houseboats of Little Venice, it wends its way through Camden Lock and fashionable East London, and bypasses the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games before ending in Limehouse Basin.
Around the canals you can visit the London Canal Museum, the Puppet Theatre Barge, and the Cascade Flooring Art Gallery. Many attractions are along the canal themselves. . If you head a bit south away from the canal junction, you'll run into more contemporary attractions- a few bars, a Subway, a Sainsbury's- among the canal boats. Head north, and you'll discover the tastes of the best view in Little Venice, overlooking the custom-painted boats along the canal. Café Laville, situated at the very end of the neighbourhood, features a selection of pasta, salads, and sandwiches that feed the Italian reference to the area well.
For what may at first look like a simple pond in passing, Little Venice offers a bit more with a nice walk featuring a small selection of quiet entertainment- perfect for a Saturday lunch or a looker's stroll.
Then there's 'BRIDGE HOUSE': our favorite haunt!
We celebrated my birthday here-just me, my Edward, Autumn and her albert ,Sandra, Anna and Philip,my cousin, who had come specially from Norwich.
Me and this group of mine just love this place! No theatre bar in London can be as convivial as this one. Beneath the Canal Café, the Bridge House ( 13 Westbourne Terrace Road, Maida Vale, London, W2 6NG)comprises a waterside terrace and a spacious, relaxing interior. If it’s sunny, sit outside and listen to the lapping of the Regent’s Canal; when it’s chilly, curl up around the fireplace.
The place has a charged, slightly naughty feel, thanks to velvety banquettes, bright red beaded lightshades and Anna Runefelt’s faintly erotic photos on the wall; even the toilets are concealed behind thick curtains!
In the middle of the room, a bar dispenses ales (Landlord, London Pride and the like) and continental beers (Kozel, Franziskaner, Peroni), plus a list of wines available by both glass and bottle.
An all-day kitchen deals with an extensive and affordable seasonal menu, which is really delicious!
Some places just don’t need to do much to be cool and if you’ve already got a spot a stone’s thrown from the canal and the thriving Canal Cafe Theatre upstairs then you’ve definitely got a head-start. The décor at The Bridge House pub is not to everyone’s taste but its dark, showy feel is well-suited to the faded glamour of a theatre bar. The thing to do is to get here early doors and soak up the atmosphere; if you can, nab one of the lounge-y leather sofas or a space outside, which is bursting with revellers when it’s warm. I recommend chilling with some pre-theatre cocktails and tucking into the food, which is pub-with-a-bit-of-posh, before wandering upstairs to catch a show.
.
a view of canal from Bridge House
What we love most is the activity of 'experimental theatre' which goes on here with much gusto. The crowd is mainly of young people like me and so here's a lot of 'give n take'. I met my beau here only! But that's another story!
Have a nice spring!
-Portia
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