Paddington Bear appears outside Waterloo Station

Ahead of the release of Paddington 3: Paddington in Peru, a vibrant new 8-metre tall mural of the nation’s favourite bear has appeared opposite Waterloo Station in South Bank.

Created by London-based Peruvian artist Gisella Stapleton, the new mural has been delivered in partnership with Visit London who recently announced that Paddington will become the first official Visit London Welcome Ambassador.

In his new Ambassador role the beloved family figure invites visitors to experience the very best of London and will serve as a warm welcome to the capital.

Visit London explained that Paddington Bear has been chosen for this special role as he is "the perfect representative of London’s values as a welcoming and inclusive city".

Paddington's new ambassadorship was announced at the unveiling of the new Paddington Bear mural located on Sutton Walk (the pedestrianised walkway that leads from Waterloo Station to the Southbank Centre). Ben Whishaw, the voice of Paddington, was on hand to accept the official title of Ambassador on behalf of the bear.

The mural was created by Peruvian artist Gisella Stapleton, whose work draws from Latin American folklore, heritage and Andean art, with the help of the award-winning street art agency Global Street Art.

Emphasising Paddington's love of London and the city's proud multiculturalism, the colourful portrait of the famous bear includes one of his most famous quotes: "Mrs Brown says that in London everyone is different and that means anyone can fit it in."

Speaking about the inspiration behind this piece Stapleton said; "This image represents the heart of Paddington – and the heart of every immigrant. With open doors, where inside the love for our land, represented by the Andes, is mixed with the love for the land that welcomes us, our beloved London. For me, living in London for 13 years has been an enriching experience, meeting people from many parts of the world and their cultures, it is a magical city, just like Paddington, I have always felt that I fit in.”

The Paddington Bear mural is a temporary installation that will be in place in until the end of January 2025. You can find it located on Sutton Walk (just off York Road opposite Waterloo Station).