Paddington Bear Statue
A bronze of the marmalade-loving bear sitting on his suitcase inside the station that gave him his name, free to find and free to hug.
FREE
The lowdown
Michael Bond imagined Paddington Bear after spotting a lonely teddy on a shop shelf near the station one Christmas Eve, and named him after it. A bronze statue now sits on the real Paddington concourse, the little bear perched on his battered suitcase with his hat and toggled coat, complete with the famous luggage label asking people to look after him.
It is free to find, free to photograph and a favourite with children, who clamber up beside him for a picture. A small, warm-hearted London pilgrimage tucked into a busy mainline station, and a lovely free detour if you are passing through.
The insider tip
The bit we only tell the people on the list. Join free and every insider tip unlocks on this device.
More like this
Get it in your inbox
One email a week with the best free things to do in London this weekend. Before everyone else finds them.