If you live in Northampton, you’re perfectly placed for cultural escapes. Right in the middle of the country, you’re around an hour from Oxford, Cambridge, London and the Cotswolds.
This first day trip from Northampton to London, makes the most of the golden location of Little Venice, bustling Camden and elegant Chelsea— blending canals, cool markets and classic culture into one very doable day.
🚗 Northampton to Stanmore
Travel time: approx: 1 hour 15 minutes
Driving to Stanmore is an easy option. If traffic is kind, it takes just over an hour. There’s on-street parking in places, or you can park at the station for around £10 for the day.
From there, it’s a simple 30-minute tube ride into central London.
🐻 Paddington & Little Venice
Start at Paddington Station — home to the original blue bear himself, Paddington Bear. The station feels airy and beautifully refurbished, and the surrounding area has had a real urban face-lift in recent years.
Just outside, you’ll find waterside cafés and barges doubling as floating restaurants. Grab a coffee and croissant, then stroll along the Regent’s Canal towpath towards Little Venice.
It’s a gentle and surprisingly tranquil walk — houseboats bob quietly on the water, and it genuinely feels like an urban oasis in the middle of London. We passed by the Puppet Theatre Barge – which was closed – but took a photo anyway.
Continue along the canal towpath towards Camden. You’ll pass ZSL London Zoo, where you can sometimes glimpse the monkey enclosure from the towpath — always a highlight. You may need to briefly leave and rejoin the path, but once back on it, Camden is about a 20 minute walk away. Total time to walk from Paddington to Camden via the canal towpath: 1 hour.
🎨 Camden
You could easily spend hours exploring the labyrinths of markets in Camden. Camden Lock Market is bustling, packed with global street food and independent shops. It feels more curated than in years gone by — still edgy, but slicker and not so grunge-driven. You won’t go hungry as street vendors entice you to buy their ware by offering tempting samples to try.
We stopped at:
Camden Old Time Photos – dress up in vintage gear for a playful souvenir.
Cyberdog – neon outfits, pounding techno and full rave energy.
If you’re into live music and culture, Camden delivers:
KOKO
Electric Ballroom
The Jazz Cafe
Cecil Sharp House
Roundhouse
Camden Arts Centre
Camden is energetic, creative and packed with personality. I could easily have stayed another couple of hours — but Chelsea was calling.
🚇 Camden to Sloane Square
A short tube ride takes you to Sloane Square in the heart of Chelsea.
Here, the vibe shifts dramatically. We walked along King’s Road. Think understated luxury: designer boutiques, impeccably dressed locals, tiny dogs in immaculate coats, and an atmosphere that feels calm, polished and expensive.
If you’ve ever watched the TV programme, Made in Chelsea, you’ll recognise the aesthetic instantly — it genuinely feels like the cast might wander past at any moment. I was fascinated by the people, their clothes and demeanour as well as the shops that dripped minimalistic luxury.
For a treat, stop at Venchi – 29 King’s Road for ice cream. It may be £7 for a small cone, but it’s absolutely delicious.
🏛️ Saatchi Gallery Chelsea
We visited the beautiful Saatchi Gallery, set in an elegant building with a calm garden. The contemporary exhibitions are bold and thought-provoking — and entry is free. The exhibition entitled, “The Long Now,” showcasing the best in contemporary art was worth the £10 entry fee; being immersive and thought-provoking. I even spotted a ‘Damien Hirst.’
Photograph of a painting by Damien Hirst
We walked from Sloane Square to South Kensington Tube station; approximately 25 minutes.
From Sloane Square, you’re also close to South Kensington, home to:
Victoria and Albert Museum – design, fashion, sculpture and inspiration on a grand scale.
Both make excellent cultural add-ons and are free to enter.
The Journey Home
After a full and varied day — canals, markets, music, art and ice cream — hop back on the tube to Stanmore and drive home to Northampton.
It’s one of those brilliantly balanced day trips: peaceful in the morning, buzzing at midday, polished and cultural by afternoon — and entirely doable in a single day. I could have actually spent a whole day in either place and have mental notes to go back and revisit both Camden and Chelsea, London Zoo and Camden’s Electric Ballroom. Enjoy!