By Will Jamieson
Almost 60 years after he was first found at a London railway station, Paddington Bear is returning to the streets of the capital in the form of 50 statues.
A selection of Paddington statues to be unveiled across London | Photo: Joe Pepler
To mark the release of Paddington The Movie and to raise money for the NSPCC children’s charity, 50 statues of the fictional bear are being placed across London.
From 4 November until 30 December, families are being encouraged to grab themselves a marmalade sandwich, don their duffel coats and head out in search of their favourite Peruvian explorer, by following a series of trails.
Designed by artists and celebrities, including the likes of David Beckham, Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Watson, the statues will later be auctioned to raise money for the NSPCC.
NSPCC spokesperson Peter Wanless, said: “It’s so exciting to see the capital being taken over by this famous duffle coat wearing bear, and I hope that Londoners and visitors to the capital alike will enjoy exploring The Paddington Trail over the coming weeks.”
“Paddington was fortunate enough to be found by Mr and Mrs Brown who gave him love and a safe space to grow up – something that every young person deserves,” he added.
The aim of the Paddington Trail is to raise money for and draw attention to the work done by the NSPCC on behalf of young people who are feeling lost or in need of support.
Michael Bond’s classic tales of the much-loved bear from Darkest Peru have sold more than 35 million books worldwide and been translated into over 40 languages.
Paddington will make his big-screen debut in Paddington The Movie – which will be released in UK cinemas on 28 November.
For information on the statues locations and the trail, visit visitlondon.com/paddington, or follow #PaddingtonTrail on Twitter and Instagram.
Watch the official Paddington Trail video below:
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