A private tour in a Mini Cooper showcasing Paddington Bear's London celebrates two British icons at once.
“Everyone loves Ada,” Chris Le-Thorn says, smiling as he introduces me to his Mini Cooper, the tiny but iconic British car. A true Londoner and a tour guide with Small Car Big City, Le-Thorn is poised to take me on a private tour into the charming world of Paddington Bear.
First published in 1958, A Bear Called Paddington is a beloved children’s book by Michael Bond. It chronicles the adventures of a mischievous, marmalade-loving bear from Peru who finds a new home with London’s Brown family. Bond was inspired to create Paddington on Christmas Eve in 1956 after purchasing a toy bear from Selfridges in London.
Over the years, Paddington has become synonymous with London, as iconic as Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, or Harry Potter. Since 2014, two popular films have been released, and a third, Paddington in Peru, is set to premiere later this year. Many scenes from the first films were shot throughout the city. Even Queen Elizabeth famously filmed a scene taking tea with Paddington in 2022 to mark her diamond jubilee on the throne.
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The three-hour Paddington’s Marmalade Trail tour takes participants to various sites associated with the endearing bear. Guides are available to pick up clients from any central London location, including hotels, and will return them to the same spot—or another location of their choosing.
While primarily aimed at children, the tour delights adults too, particularly fans of the series. Le-Thorn is known to greet families using bear language, mimicking Mr. Brown’s growl from the films. Children receive a classic red Paddington hat and a pop-up book highlighting key landmarks. Each family is also gifted a toy bear, a marmalade sandwich, and a jar of marmalade, all presented from a specially designed suitcase in the back seat.
“Americans love the taste of marmalade,” says Le-Thorn. “But I often ask the kids whether they have already tasted it in their hotels, and they don’t realize it’s there with all the jams for breakfast each morning.”
Another treat is an iPad loaded with a map of Paddington landmarks that ties into the movie scenes. As we pass behind Buckingham Palace, a tap on the iPad brings up the famous tea scene with the Queen. Passengers can interact with the device to access information and stories about the sites they visit. The journey is also accompanied by a selection of music, ranging from Paddington themes to tunes for Swifties.
While the tour highlights key Paddington locations, such as the Natural History Museum—where the villain Millicent Clyde, portrayed by Nicole Kidman in the first film, works—Le-Thorn also enthusiastically points out other London attractions. He explains the unique architecture at Seven Dials, the composition of the lion statue on Westminster Bridge, and much more, demonstrating his vast knowledge of the city.
“In the Strand area, there’s 1,000 years of history within just 100 meters,” he explains.
Driving a Mini Cooper–which is significantly smaller than a typical car but surprisingly spacious inside–is an enjoyable way to navigate London. Though without air conditioning, the windows and roof remain open on warm days, which can add to the charm of traveling in this eye-catching British icon.
As the Mini zips through Knightsbridge and South Kensington, it turns heads. A woman even steps out of her Porsche and gives the Mini a thumbs-up, clearly impressed. At traffic lights, other drivers inquire about the car, curious if it’s an automatic—it’s not; it’s a manual. Designed by engineer Alec Issigonis in the late 1950s as an economical vehicle, the Mini quickly became a cultural icon, famously featured in The Italian Job. Le-Thorn shares that Small Car Big City’s fleet includes several Minis, named after notable figures such as Ada Lovelace and the late Queen Elizabeth, known as Lilibet.
The Mini is ideally suited for navigating the narrow backstreets and avoiding congested main roads. A tour highlight is the exploration of local communities that might otherwise be overlooked by visitors. In Notting Hill, film locations for Love Actually and Notting Hill are pointed out, along with Alice’s Antique Shop, which doubles as Mr. Gruber’s Shop in Paddington 2. Although there’s no train set tea service, the shop offers an array of teapots for sale. The bohemian-style artwork and vibrant murals along Portobello Road and the pastel-colored houses of Primrose Hill, which stand in for Windsor Gardens where Paddington lived with the Browns, add to the magical atmosphere. As visitors stroll these streets, it’s easy to imagine Paddington himself walking alongside or being watched from a window by Mr. Curry, the neighborhood watch leader.
“All these places are local communities, so you’ll find the bakery, the greengrocers, the florists, and independent cafes here,” Le-Thorn says. “People came together a lot more during COVID, so these shops thrived as locals didn’t need to go far, and visitors love them. I often lose people for 25 minutes as they want to wander around and explore the area.”
Ultimately, no Paddington tour would be complete without a visit to Paddington Station, where the bear was famously discovered and where some of the filming occurred. Visitors have time to explore platform one, see the Paddington statue and book bench, and snap a selfie. The tour also includes views of London’s picturesque canals–where Paddington was chased while riding a wolfhound–and the original underground station where he rode the escalator with a chihuahua.
Despite having lived in London myself, I even discovered new places and gained fresh insights on this tour, making it a delightful experience. It inspired me to revisit the Paddington books and films, marmalade sandwich in hand.
How to Organize a Tour
All tours must be booked in advance through the company’s website. Each car accommodates up to three passengers, and guides will contact clients the day before to confirm pickup and drop-off details and inquire about any special requests or needs. Tours can be customized for special occasions or specific interests. While the cars do not accommodate equipment like wheelchairs, guests should discuss any specific needs before booking so that possible adaptations can be made. SmallCarBigCity also offers other themed private tours, including Harry Potter tours, crime tours, or gin tours. The Paddington Marmalade Trail tour costs £470 per car.