Christmas School Holidays fun activities: Get lost in London with Paddington Bear in the Paddington Trail

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Published on Thursday, 27 November 2014 11:00

Last Updated on 27 November 2014

Monica Costa

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Christmas School Holidays are almost upon us. They are very long for exhausted parents at the end of the year who still need to entertain kids with fun activities. Here are some ideas on how to keep children busy this Christmas without spending any money at all! Hurray! Get lost in London with Paddington Bear, well literally, read here how….

 

The  Trail

There are 50 colourful Paddington statues across London to celebrate the arrival of  Paddington in cinemas on 28 November 2014. From 4 November to 30 December you can get the kids to play explorers’ game and get them on a fun mini trail. Going by public transport is the best bet to get close to the bears.  Apart from the transport costs, you get a packed lunch and the activity is free. Make sure you have a camera as the bears are located in key venues with landmarks on the background, ideal for photograph taking. Each of the statues was created by artists, designers and celebrities with the trail following the travelling bear’s favourite places in London.

 

 

 

I learnt all about the origins of Paddington Bear from a spokesperson at Selfridges. The famous store is where Paddington’s creator Michael Bond bought a small bear on Christmas Eve in 1956 as a present for his wife, and named him after the nearest railway station to which they lived. I was very impressed with the special in The Paddington Curiosity Shop at Selfridges Oxford Street. There is an exclusive collection of miniature Paddington Trail bears, Michael Bond’s Paddington,  Emma Watson’s Flutterby, Stephen Fry’s Paddington, and Goldiebear by Kate Moss, which also features as a full-size bear in the Selfridges’ Christmas windows. The proceeds from the sales are in aid of the NSPCC and its ChildLine service. From 10 December 2014 to 7 January 2015 there will be   an online auction in association with Christie’s for some of the statues. All of the proceeds will go to charity. The sum expected to be raised from The Paddington Trail and associated activities is over £500,000 for the NSPCC.

 

 

Curiosities & Facts about Paddington

1. Paddington was born in 1956. He’s from Peru. He loves marmalade. And here in Britain, we can’t get enough of him.

The Paddington tales have sold more than 35 million books worldwide and been translated into over 40 languages.

2. Paddington is originally from Darkest Peru where he was brought up by his Aunt Lucy. He now lives in London, England.

3. When Paddington first arrived in London he was found on Paddington Station by the Brown family which is how he acquired his name. He was wearing nothing but an old bush hat and a label on which Aunt Lucy had written the words “Please Look After This Bear. Thank You”.

4. Paddington now lives with the Brown family at 32 Windsor Gardens, not far from the Portobello Road.

5. Paddington’s favourite food is marmalade and he usually wears a blue duffle coat and carries his important belongings in a brown leather suitcase.

6. Ahead of Paddington hitting the big screen on Friday, online marketplace eBay has seen sales of Paddington Bears rocket this month as our love affair with the Brown family’s furry friend reaches new heights. Sales of Paddingtons have more than doubled this month (up 120%) and more Paddingtons were sold in the week before the film opens than in the entire month of September.

7. Searches for “Paddington Bear” have shot up 300% in the last month, rising to one every three minutes while “Vintage Paddington Bear” is also trending with a 250% increase in searches.

Here are some of the other great bears from the Paddington trail. FREE MAP OF THE TRAIL FOR FREE TO DOWNLOAD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paddington Film Reviews

Read London Mums’ exclusive reviews of the movie:

Film review (an adult’s perspective): Paddington

Film Review (a child reporter’s perspective): Paddington

 

The best clips from the Paddington movie

“Meet The Browns”

 

The trailer

 

Tea Room 

 

 

Geographer’s Guild

 

Premiere Highlights

 

 

Buckingham Palace 

 

Cast Featurette