Join City of Westminster Guide Joanna Moncrieff on a virtual tour exploring three contrasting areas – the former working canal area of Paddington Basin, the old village of Paddington now ‘marooned’ on the other side of the Westway and the lesser travelled streets of the tourist hub of Little Venice.

Our virtual tour starts in the area once known derisively as ‘Stinking Paddington’ or the ‘Paddington Alps’ because of the piles of rubbish that awaited transportation out of London.

A bit of imagination is required as we ‘walk’ along the canal surrounded by tall glass buildings and quirky bridges but there is still some evidence to be found of the area’s history.

Names of streets and blocks of flats give more clues although not all the commemorative plaques can be taken at face value.

Our virtual tour includes passing a number of pubs, both long gone and still in business, many with fascinating histories.

The images below show Sarah Siddons' grave and sculptures of Alan Turing and Mary Seacole.

This is a live virtual tour hosted via Zoom video conferencing where your guide will give an illustrated presentation of the tour route with an accompanying talk. There will be opportunities for questions and interaction both during and after the virtual tour.

Some of the lovely comments received after doing this virtual tour in January and February 2021

“… Thanks Joanna, excellent tour. thank you.”

“Thanks ever so much. That was amazing. I'd love to do more London tours (virtually) until we can get down there.”

“Thank you so much Joanna, it was fascinating and we have learnt so much!”

“Fascinating Jo. When it is all over I must go on a Paddington pub crawl.”

“Thank you, we really enjoyed it from the States. We did the Christmas walk with you. Really enjoyed this one, we don’t know this area.”

“Thanks Jo - very enjoyable as usual. Lived in Elgin Ave in 1970s so took me back.”

“We lived in Sutherland Ave in the 1980s too! So this really took us back, thank you very much.”

"Thank you such an interesting tour Joanna"

"So many interesting places to visit when we can get out and about. Thank you!"

"I've walked along the canal several times, but not the wider area so this was fascinating."

And here's a 5 star review of this virtual tour that I led for a private group in December 2020

“Joanna’s “Paddington, Pubs, Penicillin, Pineapples and Plaques” virtual tour is great! We connected with friends from the USA for a private tour that was worth every penny. We followed a route that was crammed full of interesting facts and super photos of an area we had known very little about. … I would thoroughly recommend the tour for a virtual “change of scene” during these difficult times and for you to choose Joanna as your guide. Thank you for a lovely evening!” https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d2062191-Reviews-Westminster_Walks-London_England.html

Click on the following link for other virtual tours being led by Joanna. All walks can be offered as private tours and depending on current restrictions both as virtual and real life tours. Please get in touch via the contact button if that is of interest https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/joanna-moncrieff-footprints-of-london-6750753789