ne of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century took place in Paddington, London in 1928. At St Mary's Hospital Paddington, bacteriologist Alexander Fleming noticed an unusual reaction in bacteria when a mould contaminated some cultures he was growing in the laboratory. It was thus at St Mary's Hospital, in a small cramped laboratory that Fleming discovered Penicillin, a discovery that was to revolutionise medical treatments around the world and save countless lives.
Fleming’s laboratory at the hospital has now been restored and opened to the public who can follow the discovery of Penicillin and go back to a time before antibiotics when even the slightest infection could become quickly fatal. There are video and multi media displays to enhance Fleming's story and the development of this simple mould that was to change the world.

Children’s author Michael Bond created one of the best known of all children’s literature characters in 1958 when the Paddington Bear stories were first published.
Paddington Bear was named after the railway station where he was found by the Brown family and he now has fans throughout the world. His books have been translated into over 30 languages worldwide and he is as recognised in Japan as he is in his native Peru!
Visitors to the area may like to know that Paddington Bear has his own statue situated on the platform at Paddington station.