On the Paddington Trail...or stalking "The Bear" (part one)

I think everyone has heard of Paddington, the lost bear from Peru with his blue coat and red hat, who found himself at Paddington Station in London. To celebrate the release of "Paddington Bear" the movie (which I intend to see soon) 50 plus Paddington Bear statues were cast and then designed by various famous personalities such as Kate Moss, Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. They are all over London. When I found out about this I decided it would be a fun way of revisiting my favourite places in London and discovering new ones. However the pressure is on as the bears will be gone the afternoon of December 30th. They will then be auctioned off with the money going to a Children's Medical Charity This is why this is Part 1 - Part 2 to come next month!!

Normally my first day in London I do the Westminster to Tower of London walk sanctioned by the British Walking Federation. It is a wonderful 10 km walk that takes in all my favourite tourist sights. However I have decided to do that on January 1st instead. (or as much as I can do...)

This time it was all about The Bear. So come along and see this sweet little fellow in all his painted glory. And I didn't have to kick too many children off statues to take these photos!

Golden Paws near Canada Gate in Green Park - designed by David Beckham.

Good News Bear - Parliament Square

Dapper Bear by Guy Ritchie - Notting Hill tube station

Taste of Peru - Borough Market

Fluttery by Emma Watson outside Harrods

Paddington the Explorer - Piccadilly Circus

Special Delivery - Covent Garden

Paddington Lloyd Webber - (designed by Andrew Lloyd Weber) Chinatown

Sherlock Bear designed by Benedict Cumberbatch (of course) - Museum of London

Shakesbear near the Globe, BANKSIDE

Good Morning London - Guildhall

The Journey of Marmalade - Hyde Park

Wonders of the World - London Bridge station

These are not all that I saw - just my favourites. I think you have to be pretty hard hearted not to be touched by these sweet statues. As of this writing I've seen 25 of them. And before you think I am strange ..there are a few of us about...one couple I saw at the "Good Morning London"statue were at about 25 as well but were working on 17 that day...Hope you enjoyed seeing these bears as much as I did!

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