Little Venice Canalside

Following public engagement in April 2025, the Council is developing designs for two priority projects at Little Venice Canalside:

1. Improvements under the two bridges 
2. Stone Wharf - landscape improvements

Under the Bridges at Little Venice

Following engagement feedback, the Council is developing improvements under two bridges at either side of Stone Wharf. The aim is to bring the area’s history to life. The proposals include better lighting and introduction of artworks that can make the area feel safer and more attractive. The design aims to ensure it meets the maintenance requirements of the structural wall it will be fixed on, as well as responds sensitively to the ecological constraints and heritage character of the area. 

A tender and shortlisting process with over 120 submissions resulted in the selection of Such Stories. The artwork has been developed with input from local children, residents and businesses.  

A planning application was approved March 2026. Manufacturing and construction will commence in summer 2026. Find out more here.

Stone Wharf

Stone Wharf is an important green public space along the northern canalside at Little Venice. However, the footpath has become inaccessible and hazardous due to mature tree roots and the space is underused and had issues with anti-social behaviour. This landscape improvement project comprises of two key objectives:

Introducing new uses to the space
Our first priority is to bring a wider range of activities to Stone Wharf, helping diversify who uses the space and reducing the potential for anti‑social behaviour. So far, this has included protecting the mooring space for the Stone Wharf residential boats and supporting and Floating Classroom’s work with children and young people. The Council has also provided a new flexible storage shed on site, enabling the organisation to run more activities and help care for the space in the years ahead.

Designing long‑term enhancements
Alongside this, we’ve been developing proposals for long‑term improvements shaped by the feedback we received during public engagement in spring 2025. A key element is repairing the uneven historic path to make the site safer and more accessible for everyone. We are also upgrading the flexible area on the western side to support a greater variety of uses and to create a more welcoming, community‑friendly space. Importantly, all proposals take into account the needs of the annual Cavalcade, which brings the area to life each May.

We are now finalising the detailed designs, with works expected to begin on site in late 2026.

Collaboration with the Floating Classroom

We have awarded The Floating Classroom funding from the Greening Westminster grant to activate Stone Wharf as an outdoor garden classroom and growing space with local families and children.

The Floating Classroom will be running activities and events across 2026 to test using the space. 

Objectives of the collaboration:

1. A Garden Classroom – empowering residents at a hyper‑local level to take meaningful action on climate change, while creating new opportunities for nature to flourish.
2. A Growing Space – Paddington has many green spaces, yet many are overlooked or underused. Stone Wharf has the potential to flourish into a vibrant urban garden.
3. An Activity Space – our vision is for Stone Wharf to become a lively hub for a wide range of outdoor activities and community experiences, including forest school sessions, outdoor food preparation and shared meals, and an indoor/outdoor studio suitable for activities such as yoga and pilates.
4. An Inactivity Space – nature also offers precious moments of stillness. With thoughtful seating, planting, and landscaping, Stone Wharf could provide a tranquil green retreat by the calm waters of the Grand Union Canal, inviting people to sit, breathe, reflect — or simply just be.