The North Cotswolds reward those with time to spare. Beyond the well-photographed high streets lie quieter lanes, walled gardens, and a castle with one of England’s most poignant royal stories. This private two-day journey is built for guests who want depth rather than a checklist – a relaxed, driver-guided route through the villages and houses that define the region, with room to pause wherever the light or the moment calls for it.
We begin our adventure at Paddington Station, where Paddington first met the Brown family upon his arrival from Peru. We, instead, meet our guide by the Paddington Bear statue on Platform 1, before popping into the Paddington Shop to peruse souvenirs.
Just as Paddington did in the original story, we hail a classic London black cab and let it whisk us along the canals of Little Venice, where, in Paddington 2, our bear and the Irish wolfhound Wolfie pursued the burglar who ransacked Mr Gruber’s antique shop. Our cabbie drops us off on to the colourful streets of Notting Hill, home to the imaginary Windsor Gardens, where the Brown family resides.
We drop into Alice’s Antiques on Portobello Road, the real-life stand-in for Mr Gruber’s shop. Established in 1887 and family‑owned for generations, it featured in all three Paddington films. Rummaging for curiosities, we might just uncover a vintage suitcase fit for a bear.
Time to pause for a spot of afternoon tea, and where better than The Orangery in the gardens of Kensington Palace. Taking tea here comes with rather regal credentials: the original Orangery was built in 1704 for Queen Anne, and later became a favourite entertaining spot for Queen Caroline. We settle in for a proper British spread of fine leaf tea, finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones—and a generous helping of marmalade.
Next, we hop into another black cab and head to the majestic Natural History Museum, a key location in the first Paddington film, where Millicent Clyde viciously planned to stuff Paddington and add him to her collection of exotic specimens. But there’s much more than stuffed animals here: you’ll find awe-inspiring exhibits including the famous dinosaur gallery. Interestingly, it was actually the museum’s founder, Sir Richard Owen, who once coined the word “dinosaur”, and he had a reputation almost as fearsome as Millicent’s.
We end our day in suitably spectacular style at the Savoy Theatre, where Paddington: The Musical made its world premiere on 1 November 2025. The Savoy Theatre was the first public building in the world to be entirely lit by electricity, and it continues to shine with new magical productions more than a century on. With music, marmalade and a bear with impeccable manners, it’s the perfect West End finale to a Paddington-filled day.
For those who simply can’t bear to stop, extend your adventure with a visit to the newly opened Paddington Bear Experience at London’s South Bank – an immersive, screen-free theatrical journey into the enchanting world of the Paddington films.
