Pull up a chair with Paddington Bear: Book benches hit London

CNN Staff
1 minute read
Published 1:53 AM EDT, Mon July 14, 2014
The marmalade sandwich-loving bear from Darkest Peru is celebrated in this bench on the south bank of London's Thames river.
London's literary loungers: Paddington —
The marmalade sandwich-loving bear from Darkest Peru is celebrated in this bench on the south bank of London's Thames river.
Barry Neild/CNN
The "Alice in Wonderland" bench near London's City Hallby was designed by surreal cartoonist Ralph Steadman.
'Alice in Wonderland' —
The "Alice in Wonderland" bench near London's City Hallby was designed by surreal cartoonist Ralph Steadman.
Barry Neild/CNN
Another children's favorite. The "How to Train your Dragon" bench can also be found close to City Hall.
London's literary loungers —
Another children's favorite. The "How to Train your Dragon" bench can also be found close to City Hall.
Barry Neild/CNN
Romantically-confused diarist Bridget Jones features on this book bench in Paternoster Square, in London's City financial district.
Bridget Jones —
Romantically-confused diarist Bridget Jones features on this book bench in Paternoster Square, in London's City financial district.
National Literacy Trust
There's no obvious London connection here, but "The Cat in the Hat" and other Dr Seuss creations are perennial favorites everywhere. This bench can be found by the river, near City Hall.
Dr Seuss —
There's no obvious London connection here, but "The Cat in the Hat" and other Dr Seuss creations are perennial favorites everywhere. This bench can be found by the river, near City Hall.
National Literacy Trust
Rudyard Kipling's classic jungle-based tales are pictured on this bench positioned by a crossroads in Greenwich Park, the home of London's Royal Observatory.
'The Jungle Book' —
Rudyard Kipling's classic jungle-based tales are pictured on this bench positioned by a crossroads in Greenwich Park, the home of London's Royal Observatory.
National Literacy Trust
Visitors should leave this bench tidy if they don't wish to incur the displeasure of London's favorite nanny, Mary Poppins. This one can be found by flying down to St. Paul's Cathedral.
Mary Poppins —
Visitors should leave this bench tidy if they don't wish to incur the displeasure of London's favorite nanny, Mary Poppins. This one can be found by flying down to St. Paul's Cathedral.
National Literacy Trust
Jane Austen's much-loved tale of marriage and manners, "Pride and Prejudice," gets the bench treatment in Queen Square, Bloomsbury.
'Pride and Prejudice' —
Jane Austen's much-loved tale of marriage and manners, "Pride and Prejudice," gets the bench treatment in Queen Square, Bloomsbury.
National Literacy Trust
H.G. Wells's sci-fi masterpiece "The Time Machine" is depicted on a bench located -- appropriately -- in Greenwich, close to the Prime Meridian which defines Universal Time.
'The Time Machine' —
H.G. Wells's sci-fi masterpiece "The Time Machine" is depicted on a bench located -- appropriately -- in Greenwich, close to the Prime Meridian which defines Universal Time.
National Literacy Trust
London's literary loungers

Story highlights

Fifty benches celebrating popular London-linked fiction have been scattered about London

Paddington Bear, Sherlock Holmes and Mary Poppins among literary creations celebrated by the benches

Seating trails will be in place until September after which the benches will be auctioned for charity

CNN  — 

As part of a scheme to encourage reading, 50 benches designed in the style of popular novels or kids’ stories have been scattered around London.

Visitors to the city can find the book benches, which mainly celebrate London’s rich literary heritage, by following a series of trails around areas with strong links to writing and writers.

Several prominent artists – including Ralph Steadman, the surreal cartoonist and one-time sidekick of Hunter S. Thompson – have been involved in creating benches that feature enduring characters such as Paddington Bear, Mary Poppins, Sherlock Holmes and James Bond.

The “Books about Town” trails, launched by two UK charities, the National Literacy Trust and Wild in Art, can be found in London’s Bloomsbury, Greenwich, Riverside and City areas until mid-September 2014.

For those who can’t get enough of literature-themed loungers, the benches will be auctioned off in October with proceeds going to help fight illiteracy.

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