Paddington Bear has been a beloved part of British culture since author Michael Bond first created the character in 1958. Now, with Paddington The Musical playing at London's Savoy Theatre, a new generation can experience the timeless story of a small bear from Peru who travels to London in search of a home. But what is the history behind this iconic character, and what inspired Michael Bond to create him?

Michael Bond: The Creator of Paddington Bear

Thomas Michael Bond CBE was born on 13 January 1926 in Newbury, Berkshire, and grew up in Reading. Before becoming a children's author, Bond served in the RAF during World War II and later worked as a cameraman for the BBC.
The story of how Paddington came to be is itself a heartwarming tale. On Christmas Eve 1956, Bond spotted a lone teddy bear sitting on a shelf in a London store near Paddington Station. He bought it as a present for his wife Brenda and named it Paddington after the nearby railway station.

As Bond recalled: "I bought a small toy bear on Christmas Eve 1956. I saw it left on a shelf in a London store and felt sorry for it. I took it home as a present for my wife Brenda and named it Paddington as we were living near Paddington Station at the time. I wrote some stories about the bear, more for fun than with the idea of having them published. After ten days I found that I had a book in my hands."
That book became A Bear Called Paddington, published on 13 October 1958, which introduced the world to the friendly spectacled bear from "Darkest Peru" with his old hat, battered suitcase, duffel coat, and love of marmalade sandwiches.

Paddington Bear's Origins: A Story of Kindness and Refugees

What many people don't realise is that Paddington Bear was partly inspired by real-life refugees. Michael Bond was a child during the Second World War and witnessed trainloads of child evacuees leaving London, carrying labels around their necks and their possessions in small suitcases.

Bond later revealed that his family hosted Jewish children fleeing Nazi Germany during the war. In a 2010 letter to Paddington film producer Rosie Allison, he wrote: "We took in some Jewish children who often sat in front of the fire every evening, quietly crying because they had no idea what had happened to their parents, and neither did we at the time. It's the reason why Paddington arrived with the label around his neck."
This moving backstory gives additional depth to Paddington's character. The bear arrives at Paddington Station with a note reading "Please look after this bear. Thank you" - a detail Bond specifically drew from his wartime memories of evacuees.

As Bond stated: "Paddington Bear was a refugee with a label - 'Please look after this bear. Thank you.'"

The Paddington Bear Story: From Peru to 32 Windsor Gardens

In the stories, Paddington comes from "Darkest Peru" where he was raised by his Aunt Lucy after his parents died in an earthquake. When Aunt Lucy decides to enter the Home for Retired Bears in Lima, she sends young Paddington to England, stowing away on a ship with only his hat (a gift from his Uncle Pastuzo), a suitcase, and several jars of marmalade.
Paddington arrives at Paddington Station, where the Brown family discovers him sitting on his suitcase near the lost property office. They take him home to 32 Windsor Gardens in London, where he becomes part of their family.

The Browns include Mr Henry Brown, Mrs Mary Brown, their children Jonathan and Judy, and their housekeeper Mrs Bird. Paddington also befriends Mr Gruber, an antique shop owner, and frequently clashes with the Browns' grumpy neighbour, Mr Curry.

Throughout his adventures, Paddington embodies the best of British values: politeness (he always addresses people as "Mr," "Mrs," and "Miss"), kindness, and a determination to "try so hard to get things right" even when his innocent mishaps lead to chaos.

Paddington Bear Books: A Literary Legacy

Michael Bond wrote more than 29 Paddington books over nearly 60 years, with the final book, Paddington at St. Paul's, published posthumously in 2018 following Bond's death on 27 June 2017.

The Paddington books have sold over 35 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 40 languages. The character has become so beloved in Britain that a Paddington Bear soft toy was chosen as the first item to pass through the Channel Tunnel when British and French tunnelers met in 1994.

Paddington Bear was also commemorated on special 50p coins in 2018 for the 60th anniversary of the first book, making Bond only the second author (after Beatrix Potter with Peter Rabbit) to have their character featured on British coinage.

Paddington Bear Films by STUDIOCANAL

The Paddington Bear films brought the character to a new generation of fans. The 2014 film Paddington and its 2017 sequel Paddington 2, both produced by STUDIOCANAL, were critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

Paddington 2 holds the rare distinction of achieving a 99% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been described as "a perfect movie" by filmmakers and critics alike. Both films were nominated for the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film.

Michael Bond had a credited cameo in the first film as the "Kindly Gentleman" and remained involved with the productions until his death. Paddington 2 was dedicated to his memory.

Paddington and the Royal Family

Paddington Bear has a special connection to the British Royal Family. Most famously, Paddington appeared in a pre-recorded comedy sketch with Queen Elizabeth II during the Platinum Party at the Palace on 4 June 2022, where they shared tea and marmalade sandwiches at Buckingham Palace before tapping their tea cups to the beat of "We Will Rock You."

Following the Queen's death in September 2022, so many mourners left Paddington bears and marmalade sandwiches as tributes that the Royal Parks asked people to stop bringing them. The author's daughter, Karen Jankel (née Bond), noted that for many people, "the final image of the Queen" was her appearance with Paddington.

In November 2025, William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales met Paddington backstage at the Royal Variety Performance.

Paddington The Musical at the Savoy Theatre

Paddington The Musical, now playing at London's Savoy Theatre, is the first major theatrical musical adaptation of the character. The world premiere production opened on 1 November 2025 with music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, book by Jessica Swale, and direction by Luke Sheppard.

The musical honours Michael Bond's legacy while bringing fresh theatrical vitality to the character. As London Theatre noted in their review, "This is a show about welcoming foreigners, about asserting the values of kindness and tolerance that used to be Britain's hallmarks."

Book Paddington The Musical tickets to experience this beloved character on the West End stage.

Experience More Paddington in London

For a complete Paddington Bear adventure in London, combine your theatre visit with The Paddington Bear Experience at County Hall. This immersive attraction brings Paddington's world to life with interactive exhibits, animatronic displays, and the chance to meet Paddington himself.

The experience recreates Paddington's journey from Darkest Peru to London and features beloved locations from the books and films, offering the perfect family day out in the capital.