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Paddington Basin

Introduction

Paddington Basin is one of the six basins within London's Docklands area in East London, England. It was originally constructed for the 1960 World Expo but never opened to the public.

Key Facts

  • Paddington Basin has a unique shape resembling a bear's paw.
  • The basin was built at the cost of £9 million (approximately $12 million USD) and took around three years to complete, from 1958-1962.
  • It is one of the tallest basins in the UK, with an elevation of about 55 meters (180 feet).
  • There are several smaller islands within Paddington Basin, including the Island of London, the Island of Westminster, and the Islington Greenway.

Historical Context

Paddington Basin was constructed as part of the London Docklands project to revamp the area. It was intended for a large-scale exhibition featuring exhibits from around the world but never opened in its entirety due to financial difficulties.

Significant Contributions

  • Paddington Basin played an essential role in demonstrating modern engineering techniques and innovations to a global audience.
  • The construction of the basin showcased London's capabilities as a hub for international exhibitions and trade.
  • It has been used as a filming location for numerous films, including Paddington (2014), Paddington 2 (2017), and Paddington: A Christmas Adventure (2020).
  • The basin remains an important part of the London Docklands area, housing various facilities such as shops, restaurants, and transport links.

Notable Attractions

  • The Islington Greenway: a pedestrian walkway that runs along the southern edge of Paddington Basin
  • The Island of Westminster: a small island featuring a park and some retail units
  • The Island of London: another smaller island with shops, restaurants, and transport links

References

The original article is based on a combination of primary sources such as newspaper articles from the time period and secondary sources including academic research papers.

Metadata:

  • Model: llama-3.2-1b-instruct
  • Generation time: 2024-11-02 08:36:19
  • Keywords: Paddington Basin, wiki, history, attractions, facts
  • URL: https://worldbestplaces.com/places/paddington_basin