London Paddington Station
PADDINGTON STATION
London Paddington station is situated in central London, in the Borough of Westminster. Paddington station has a total, of more than 25 million foot passengers per year, which pass through the station.
Paddington station today, operates a main line express service to Heathrow, giving clients direct service to the heart of the city on their arrival, into the UK.
The terminus also, provides main line services today by First Great Western to Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford in the West Country. And for South Wales, trains runs to major cities as Newport, Cardiff and Swansea.
Paddington station dates back till 1838, when it first opened. It was Great Western Railway, who first operated the station.
The first journey from Paddington was from, London to Taplow near maidenhead. The site moved, in 1854, where it stands today. The old site became a goods depot, but in the 1900s feel into decline. The site actually today, is now under redevelopment, as part of a mixed business and residential area.
The new main station was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and opened in 1854. The Great Western Hotel, was built at the same time, and opened the same year of 1854. The hotel is found adjacent to the station, and was designed by, Philip Hardwick, the son of Charles Hardwick designer of Euston Arch. In 1906 work began on enlarging Paddington again, work was completed in 1915.
The station today has 14 platforms. Numbers 1 till 8 are situated in the original part, built by Brunel. Platforms 6 and 7 are the ones used for the Heathrow Express. The area behind the Great Western Hotel and the station is called, the Lawn.
This area was originally, an open roofed space and used for the sidings. Later it was built up, and formed part of the stations, first pedestrian concourse. The Lawn today, has been re-roofed, and separated by a glass wall. Shops and cafes now surround this very popular area.
Paddington station also has a London Underground station connected to it. Passengers can take underground connections on the Baker Loo line, Circle Line and District Line. They can also use the Hammersmith and City line, on the surface station, situated on the north side of Paddington main line.
Paddington station has been immortalised, by the character of Paddington Bear, who was named after the station. The bear has a small statue in the station, as well as a book shop. Should you be arriving into Paddington station, from the West Country, many cheap hotels in Paddington can be found, close by.
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