Paddington Visit...Conway Square, Newtownards

Join us for a free family fun day on Saturday 9 November to celebrate the release of Paddington in Peru: more details below!

We're very excited to welcome Paddington to Ards and North Down.

Statues of everyone's favourite bear are taking a seat in locations across the UK and Ireland in early October - with Newtownards being Paddington's only stop in Northern Ireland.

As official hosts of our very own Paddington, we are delighted to offer residents and visitors the opportunity to come to Newtownards and interact with this wonderful new attraction. We know everyone will want to welcome the little hero to the Borough.

Paddington Visits is a far-reaching trail celebrating everyone's favourite marmalade loving bear. Over 20 benches featuring Paddington statues have been installed on benches stretching from John o'Groats to Land's End.

Paddington will be staying with us for a few months, so you've got plenty of time to seek him out and take a seat next to him. If you'd like to visit him, here's what you need to know:

Where is the Paddington Bear bench?

It's in Conway Square, Newtownards, just in front of the Ards Arts Centre.

Take a seat for a picture-perfect selfie moment with the bear in the square!

Make the most of this unique opportunity to hang out with everyone's favourite bear and create special memories for young and old.

Tag us at @ardsandnorthdownboroughcouncil

Make the most of your time in Newtownards

Is there anywhere for a marmalade sandwich nearby?

We can't promise that marmalade sandwiches will be on the menu, but Conway Square is close to lots of lovely family-friendly places to eat and drink. You will be spoilt for choice with a great range of eateries, cafes coffee shops as well as lots of independent shops where you can browse for gifts, fashion, homeware, local produce, as well as all your weekly essentials.

Keep an eye out for some delicious specials based on the little bear's favourite ingredients.

Is there anything else to do in Ards and North Down with kids?

Are you kidding? There's SO much else to do in Ards and North Down with kids! Top free activities include the North Down Museum at Bangor Castle, and fantastic outdoor spaces perfect for a teddy bears' picnic such as Killynether Country Park and Scrabo Tower, Castle and Ward Parks.

Just around the corner, you can enjoy fantastic sports and swimming facilities at Ards Blair Mayne Leisure and Wellbeing Complex. In terms of attractions, you're spoilt for choice, with Happy Town Soft Play Centre nearby, Pickie Funpark in Bangor Airtastic and Eddie Irvine Sports just down the road in the City of Bangor, and The Ulster Folk Museum and Ulster Transport Museum in Cultra.

Find out more about everything to see and do at www.visitardsandnorthdown,com

Call into the local Visitor Information Centre located handily beside Newtownards Bus Station where our friendly team are on hand to help you make the most of your time here.

Ards Visitor Information Centre
31 Regent Street
Newtownards
Co.Down
BT23 4AD
Telephone: 028 9182 6846 | Email: ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Diary date

To celebrate the release of Paddington in Peru, there will be a family fun day in Newtownards on Saturday 9 November from 11am to 3pm. There will be face painting, storytelling, crafts, music, giveaways and more!

Info for local businesses

If you are a local business and keen to find out more, click to read the Paddington Visits Location Toolkit. (PDF) [5MB](opens new window)

Paddington Visits has been launched by STUDIOCANAL ahead of the beloved bear's return to the big screen in PADDINGTON IN PERU (in cinemas November 8 2024).