Best Things To See And Do In Maida Vale

If you’ve ever passed through Maida Vale, you may have been fooled by its calm and tranquil demeanour. It may look like any other residential suburb or neighbourhood in London, with lots of beautiful houses and nothing to do. However, it actually has a lot to offer those who are willing to take the time to explore.

View All Trips

Street Art

Shop

Street Art

When looking for street art, you would usually expect it to bedeck the streets of Shoreditch or Camden Town. But surprisingly enough, Maida Vale has its very own gem, painted on the side of the kitchen and bathroom shop Day True. Elgin Avenue became a much brighter place once the owners commissioned street artist Findac to create a bold and beautiful piece of artwork in celebration of the shops first birthday.

Day True, 128 Elgin Avenue, London, UK

Little Venice | © Jose A/Flickr

Little Venice

Building, Park, Market

Picturesque waterside views, decorative canal boats and a whole host of welcoming restaurants are just some of the things that visitors to Little Venice will experience. You may choose to grab a coffee at one of the waterside cafés whilst taking in the scenery. Or you may opt for a relaxed ride in one of the canal boats, exploring the winding waterways that extend to ZSL London Zoo, Camden and beyond. Whatever you decide to do whilst in Little Venice, you are sure to get some amazing photos and wonderful memories.

Paddington Recreation Grounds

Sports Center

If you’re in Maida Vale on a sunny day and just fancy sitting and watching the world go by then the Paddington Recreation Grounds is the perfect place to do so. With its beautiful, secluded rose gardens, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the day in the park. Or if you’re more into exercise than relaxation, the grounds have a running track that’s free to use for the public. And if you prefer to complete your workout on the grass, the park is made up of 27 acres; therefore, there is an abundance of room for that too.

Puppet Theatre Barge

Having been open for over 30 years, the Puppet Theatre Barge has hosted thousands of puppet performances to those all around London. Every summer, the theatre tours the River Thames, and over the Christmas period, a number of festive performances are held at the theatre in Maida Vale. And what’s even more special about this venue is their commitment to education. The Puppet Theatre Barge also runs programmes in schools, making this theatre not only a great place to visit in Maida Vale but also an educational experience.

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.

CentralAmerica

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

CentralAmerica

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.

CentralAmerica

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.

SouthAmerica

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

SouthAmerica

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.

Europe

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Europe

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.

Europe

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.

Asia

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Asia

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.

Asia

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price

Africa

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Africa

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.

Africa

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.

Puppet Theatre Barge, 35 Blomfield Road, London, UK

BBC Maida Vale Studios

Building

For those of you who are fans of the BBC’s radio shows, you will have heard of Maida Vale Studios before in passing. Live sessions of classical, pop and rock music have been performed here, including the likes of The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie. Since the BBC first began in Maida Vale in 1934, it has been an important venue for music and remains this way today. You won’t be allowed in the building, but you never know what musicians you’ll find hanging around.

Canal Café Theatre

Looking for a night full of one-man shows, music and cabaret” Then look no further than Maida Vale’s Canal Café Theatre. Located on the Little Venice canal and set above the Bridge House Pub, this 60-seat venue is the perfect spot to enjoy an evening of entertainment whilst in the area. For those comedy buffs among you, the theatre won’t disappoint. Every week from Thursday to Saturday, the Canal Café hosts NewsRevue, the world’s longest running live comedy show. Keep an eye on the calendar for their latest shows and performances because you really don’t want to miss out.

Canal Café Theatre, Delamere Terrace, London, UK
By Sage Fitzpatrick

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points

See Our Culture Trips

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.