Little Venice

We love Little Venice area for walking. Although we haven't been there at night, I cannot imagine it would be unsafe.

Note there is also the Warwick Acenue tube station.

It's quite nice , definitely a quiet area and very pretty . I can't imagine safety being a consideration there . The area adjoins Lisson Grove which has an interesting history of its own . It was the home of Eliza Doolittle , the protagonist of Shaw's " Pygmalion " later to become " My Fair Lady " ( the colloquial pronunciation of " Mayfair Lady " , if you know the tale ) read here for an interesting overview https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisson_Grove-

The Bakerloo Line from the West End to Warwick Avenue or Maida Vale may be a closer connection and much more pleasant than either Paddington or especially Edgware.

You really don't need to be concerned about safety at night in the vast majority of London. Some of the housing estates can be a bit dodgy but you'll have no reason to be walking through them. There has been a spate of mobile phone snatches by people on mopeds in some of the main streets in London but a bit of common sense and awareness will minimise this threat.

I feel a lot more safer walking around London at night than I ever have in many of the major US cities I've been to.

Be sure and visit the Bridge House and the Summer House, cafes/pubs on the canal with outside seating. Both have websites and you can sign up for special deals. Worth a look if not a visit. Warwick Avenue tube stop is the closest to both.

Thank you, everyone, for your helpful comments! We will be sure and check out the spots you suggest. We, too, have always felt safe in London--but every large metropolitan area has neighborhoods that might be dodgier than others, so I think it is always wise to ask before choosing an airbnb rental. I am very excited about the neighborhood we've chosen this time 'round. Thanks!

If we take the boat trip to Camden Lock to go to the market, what time of day would be most fun? Early morning, midday, or evening?

Emma, while I do know why precise place names are important (I live in Portland, Oregon, not Portland, Maine...right across the river from Washington state, not Washington DC--and, yet, everyone commonly shortens those names as well), I do think that, in context, the location I was specifying was pretty clear, given my reference to Paddington, the A40, Rembrandt Gardens and Maida Ave. But I'll be sure and properly reference Edgware Road Underground Station from now on...

A special thank you to all who mentioned Warwick Avenue station! I rambled via Google Street View to that station from our rental, and it is indeed very pleasant and easy.

Thank you, Steven, for pointing me to Lisson Grove. I am a literature and theatre professor, so your reference to My Fair Lady and Pygmalion interests me very much!

Emma, no worries! Your comment amused me because I truly do know why one can feel protective of place names--we in the PNW sometimes get just a little miffed when east coasters think that "Washington" automatically refers to DC. So I was serious...I will be more precise.

I do think Nigel was only telling me that the tube stop at Warwick Avenue would be more pleasant than the tube stops at Paddington Station or Edgware Road (which he shortened to Edgware, probably because I did!), all of which are easily accessible from my Maida Ave. location.