Paddington Bear’s fictional birthplace is Peru. In Michael Bond’s stories, Paddington travels from Peru to Britain after becoming separated from his original home.
Peru is central to the character’s identity. His hat, coat, suitcase and marmalade sandwiches accompany him into London, while references to his aunt and uncle preserve a connection to his life in South America.
The stories use this journey to explore the experience of arriving in an unfamiliar country. Paddington must learn British customs, transport systems and household routines, while the Brown family learns to make room for someone with a different background.
The answer is Peru, not the fictional Darkest Peru sometimes used in descriptions of his homeland. “Darkest Peru” is a story-world expression associated with Paddington’s origin, while Peru is the country name.