Paddington
The station was first opened in 1854 and has recently benefited from a major redevelopment. This has included a new customer information system, new platform surfaces and a new shopping, eating and waiting area called "The Lawn".
"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.
Click here for an architectural mini guide for the station
Please use the following links to find out more about the station and the local area.
A - Passenger Access
B - Maps
C - Facilities & services
D - Transport links
E - Local attractions
F - History
G - Contact us
A - Passenger Access
Getting to and from the station.
B - Maps
Station services (shopping, eating, etc.)
C - Facilities and services
Tickets and information
The ticket office is located on the main concourse and Heathrow Express also has a ticket desk there. Train details can be obtained from the information point on the concourse or alternatively please call:
National Rail enquiry service – 08457 48 49 50
Telephones
Payphones are on the main concourse near the Underground entrance, in the Lawn and also on platform 1, platforms 10 and 11 and on the footbridge.
Taxis
The taxi rank is located in the departures road adjacent to platform 1. Many cabs are wheelchair accessible. Taxi Marshals will guide you to your taxi, a taxi sharing scheme is in operation.
Alternatively, please visit traintaxi ltd for further information.
Buses
Click here for further information on bus services from Paddington
Parking
APCOA manages parking facilities at Paddington They can be contacted on 08450774224 and access is off Bishops Bridge Road. Post code is W2 6AA.
| Tariffs | |
| Up to 1 hour | £5.50 |
| Up to 2 hours | £7.50 |
| Up to 4 hours | £10.00 |
| Up to 8 hours | £14.00 |
| Up to 12 hours | £18.00 |
| Up to 24 hours | £22.00 |
| 2 Days | £40.00 |
| 3Days | £58.00 |
| 4 Days | £72.00 |
| Weekly | £90.00 |
| Sat - Sun - 1 hour | £5.50 |
| Sat - Sun - 2 hour | £7.80 |
| Sat - Sun - 2 hours - 24 hours | £10.00 |
| Motorcycles | £4.00 |
Toilets, showers and baby changing
Toilets and showers are on platform 1. Disabled and baby changing facilities are provided at the first aid point on platform 1.
British Transport Police
The British Transport Police are on duty at the station at all times – their office is on platform 1. If the office is unmanned, there is a telephone to the front, which has a direct line to BTP control. For more information, click here.
First aid
First aid and assistance for travellers is available from the reception on platform 1 next to the Gentlemen's toilets. Alternatively, please ask one of our station staff for assistance.
Additional assistance
Assistance is available to and from platforms. Please contact customer services of the appropriate train operator, 48 hours in advance:
FGW/ First Greater Western – 0845 600 5604
Heathrow Express – 0845 600 1515
Chiltern Railways – 0845 600 5165
Underground
There are two Underground stations at opposite ends of the mainline station. For the Bakerloo, Circle and District lines, use the entrances on the main concourse and near platform 11. For the Hammersmith & City line, walk along platform 8 to the footbridge, then follow the signs to platforms.
Cash and Bureau de Change
To pre-order foreign currency on-line, for collection at the station click here: Travelex is also available in the London Underground concourse. Cash dispensers are located throughout the station, see map for details.
Trolleys
Trolleys are provided at many points around the station. These are coin operated - your £1 deposit will be refunded when you return the trolley to a trolley bay.
Bicycles
There are bike racks located on platforms 8, 9, 10 and 11. Please ensure that your cycles are not left unattended in any other area as they will be removed for security reasons.
Left luggage
Left Luggage is a secure place where you can leave items of luggage for collection later. This is located on platform 12 and all items will be scanned before acceptance. Please call 020 7262 0344 or click here for more information.
Lost property
This is also located on platform 12. Please call 020 7313 1514 or click here for more information.
Hotels
British Hotel Reservation Centre
It doesn't matter where you're going in Britain, the British Hotel Reservation Centre can advise and help. The Centre offers fast and friendly service; in addition to hotels in London, hotels and B&B reservations can be made for Gatwick, Heathrow, and elsewhere in the UK. Discounts on room rates can be negotiated.
Photo booths
There are a number of photo booths at the station where photos for passports, travel passes and other identity documents can be obtained.
WiFi Coverage
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/hotspot
D - Transport links
Use the following links to access more information about trains from the station and other transport links:
National Rail enquires
Transport services in London
London Underground
E - Local attractions
Discover more about the local area, including what there is to see and do there.
F - History
Some interesting facts and figures about the history of 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 – 12 were added in 1916.
- Work to extend the platforms and the concourse, as well as 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 – 12 and the footbridge between platforms 6 and 10 was 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.
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 over a period, ending in 1969.
- 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.
G - Contact us
Station Reception*
The station reception staff look forward to assisting you with your journey and can arrange for assistance for those with mobility issues or even those travelling with simply lots of luggage! They can provide you with information about mobility/disabled access at Paddington Station and other Stations served by First Great Western, Heathrow Express and Chiltern Railways, local transport links, Station car parking and station facilities (including left luggage, customer toilets, bicycle racks, shops and restaurants).
Contact
Tel: 0207 922 6793*
Fax: 0207 313 1041
24hour Network Rail - Helpline 08457 11 41 41
Postal Address:
Network Rail Station Manager
1st Floor, Tournament House
Paddington station
London W2 1HQ
Opening hours: Main Station Open and manned 24 hours Monday – Sunday.
Lawn area open 0545-midnight daily.
*Station Reception open 0700-2200 Monday-Saturday and 0800-2100 Sundays
Lost property
For help with lost property @ Paddington Station, please contact the lost property office on 0207 247 4297 or 0207 313 1514.
This office is operated by Excess Baggage.
If the item lost was left on a train please contact the train company below.
Train times, tickets & ticket refunds
Train services are operated by First Great Western, Heathrow Express & Chiltern Railways. For train and ticket refund information please contact:
First Great Western:
08457 000 125
www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
Heathrow Express:
0845 600 15 15
www.heathrowexpress.com
Chiltern Railways:
0845 600 5165
www.chilternrailways.co.uk
For train timetables & real-time running times, please contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.