Next in our series exploring BE Offices’ business centre neighbourhoods, we uncover Paddington and its history…
Paddington is a vibrant area of London, with a growing workplace scene. Famed for its world-famous anthropomorphic bear and transport hub, its recent revamp has led many businesses to establish their headquarters in the area.
For anyone looking at a thriving central area for an office in London, our workspace in Paddington is an excellent choice. BE Offices offer flexible monthly memberships and private offices for all workspace needs.
Equipped with superfast internet connectivity and occupying the top four floors of a stunning building in Paddington’s Merchant Square, this workspace is also perfectly placed close to several key transport links.
See Paddington’s history and culture
Paddington’s past is quite fascinating, with the area starting out as a medieval parish before becoming a metropolitan borough, integrating with Westminster in 1965.
As well as being conveniently located for business, Paddington also offers some great opportunities for soaking up local culture and experiencing history.
Paddington Station, just around the corner from BE Offices Paddington, was created by the legendary English civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Responsible for innovative transport solutions, Brunel designed the station for its opening in 1854. You can take a look around the station and discover more about its history on a lunch break.
You can also visit locations significant to the delightful story of Paddington Bear, ‘from deepest, darkest Peru’, named after the station he was found in. Take a picture with the statue of this much-loved fictional character on platform one of Paddington Station, or perhaps pop along to Archive Bookstore to browse and see if you can find some second-hand Paddington books.
There’s also the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum, commemorating the discovery of life-saving penicillin in Paddington’s own St. Mary’s Hospital. It’s open during lunch break hours only, making it a perfect trip for something a little different in your work day.
Reinvigorating coffee breaks
Paddington has plenty of places for a gourmet coffee break. Why not try the Department of Coffee and Social Affairs, which serves single-origin coffee for an ethical cup of joe. There’s also Beany Green, a lovely Australian coffee outlet, and the stylish Kioskafé, offering fabulous print media and delicious coffee.
Delicious things to eat
Paddington’s new Merchant Square offers several places to eat for workers in the area, from street food to dine-in eateries. The monthly Kerb market and the twice-weekly Crave street market offer interesting street food experiences for lunch. There’s also the famously Lebanese-focused range of restaurants near Edgware Road, not far from Paddington itself.
Delightful bars for drinks
Paddington has a delightful mix of trendy and historical places to drink for workers in the area. New addition KuPP in Merchant Square brings the best of Scandi living to London, and the 19th century pub The Victoria offers well-polished wood bars and traditional decoration.
Alternatively, there’s the super fun bar Heist Bank, which offers a free pool table and foosball for a post-work drink and game with your colleagues.
After-hours fun
There are plenty of post-work activities in the area for something a little different to do with your colleagues.
Why not relax in the floating pocket park, the first floating public park in London on the Grand Union Canal? You can have a drink or simply soak up the sun when it shines. If you fancy more active sailing, why not try a GoBoat, which lets you hire a self-driven boat for a fun tour of London’s waterways?
There’s also Paddington Street Gardens, which hosts small festivals, live music shows and outdoor cinema screenings throughout the year. For art-lovers, there’s the Démodé Gallery, the Lisson and Cube galleries in nearby Marylebone, or the Maddox Gallery in neighbouring Westbourne Grove.
If you’d like to combine an after-work drink with a group activity, there’s The Duke of Kendal pub, which offers a lively quiz and musical evenings where singing and dancing is encouraged.
Paddington is quickly becoming one of London’s most sought-after neighbourhoods for business expansion, with rapid and extensive transport links. To see more about how this location could work for your business, have a look at BE Offices’ Paddington options for high-quality, contemporary office spaces.
Images courtesy of Press Association
