History of Paddington station

The station was first opened in 1854 and as the London terminus of Ismbard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway.

Since then, the station has been redeveloped substantially to make it better for passengers while preserving its character and the essence of its iconic design.  It is currently undergoing a £35million project to fully restore platforms 9 to 12 and the Edwardian roof above them, known as span four.

"The Railway Station" (1862) by Frith illustrates passengers boarding a train at Paddington station. The detailing of Brunel’s roof and Digby Wyatt’s ornamentation is exceptionally clear and has assisted in recent restoration works.

• Download our Architectural mini guide to Paddington station.

Chronology

• A temporary station was opened by the Great Western Railway on 4 June 1838 and closed on 29 May 1854.
• The present station was opened by Great Western Railway on 16 January 1854.
• The Great Western Royal hotel opened on 8 June 1854 and was remodelled between 1936 and 1938.
• Platforms at Bishops Road opened on 10 January 1863 for the Metropolitan Railway.
• Additional platforms were added in 1885 and 1893.
• A fourth roof span and platforms 9 to 12 were added in 1916.
• Work to extend the platforms and concourse and the building of new offices was carried out between 1930 and 1934.
• Major shed roof restoration took place between 1985 and 1992.
• Further major development works took place between 1995 and 1998 when platforms 6, 7 and 8 were realigned and remodelled. Overhead electrification was installed on platforms 3 to 12 and the footbridge between platforms 6 and 10 were rebuilt. This was all done in preparation for the introduction of the Heathrow Express service.
• The Lawn area was remodelled, the concourse and London Underground ticket offices were extended and a major investment in improved signage, customer information systems and shops was undertaken.
• In 2009, work began on a £35 million project to fully restore platforms 9 to 12 and the Edwardian roof above them, known as Span Four.

Station design

• The present station was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel with architectural assistance from Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt.
• The Brunel station comprised a train shed of three barrel vaults of clear arch construction. The ribs and ornamentation are original and are made of wrought iron. The fourth span looks similar but is constructed of steel.
• The roof was reclad and reglazed between 1985 and 1990 as the original ridge and furrow glazing was removed and replaced with polycarbonate.
• Tournament House was designed by R. Culverhouse, architect for Great Western Railway.
• The Lawn and concourse remodelling was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners, in conjunction with Rodney Fitch, the management contractor was Taylor Woodrow and the steelwork, including the reinstatement of the ornamental gable scrollwork, was by Eiffel.