walk/tour
Outside The Quiet Night Inn pub, next to Westbourne Park tube station
This walking tour uncovers the stories of urban redevelopment in Paddington, exploring how successive major infrastructure projects have repeatedly reshaped the historic fabric of the area. We will trace the impact of these transformations, considering the balance between disruption and eocnomic progress, asking who benefited and who was left behind in their wake.
Paddington
Paddington
23, 18, 36, 205
The entire walk is on pavements and tarmac paths.
Uncover the dramatic stories of urban redevelopment on this walking tour of Paddington. We will trace the area's evolution from the late 18th-century canal boom at Little Venice to the explosive arrival of 19th-century "railway mania." We will consider the legacy of post-war transport planning, examining how the construction of the Westway flyover in the 1960s wreaked havoc on local communities. Bringing our reflections up to the present day, we will explore the area's latest massive transformation. We will consider the arrival of the Elizabeth Line and the sweeping regeneration of Paddington Basin, Paddington Central, and Merchant Square to see who holds power in the modern urban landscape.
This tour is led by Elizabeth O'Hara, local resident and graduate of Open City’s Golden Key Academy – a course training up insightful and engaging guides dedicated to explaining London and bringing its many stories to life.
Learn more about the Golden Key Academy here: open-city.org.uk/golden-key-academy
Drop in / Guided tour
religious, community/cultural, gallery
Grade I Victorian Gothic church by G E Street, architect of the Royal Courts of Justice. The recent conservation project reveals the majestic colours of Daniel Bell's painted ceiling, plus Dow Jones Architects' contemporary heritage wing.
G. E. Street, 1867
