One of the most popular railway stations in London is Paddington Station. It’s a central travel hub that provides railway and Underground service in and out of central London and is utilized by thousands of travelers both local and visiting every single day. If you’re new to London, you might be wondering how to navigate Paddington Station and the surrounding area. Read on to learn about the exciting history of Paddington Station and the many ways you can explore it during your trip to London.
A Brief History of Paddington Station
Paddington Station was built in London in 1838 and has served as the London terminus for the Great Western Railway since then. The design of the current iteration of Paddington Station was crafted in 1854 by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, one of the most famous English civil engineers of the 19th century. Since its inception, Paddington Station has been a major travel hub for the central London area. Presently, Paddington Station serves as the terminus for the express train to London Heathrow airport, as well as trains to other popular English destinations such as Bath, Bristol, and Cardiff. Paddington Station is also a hub for a number of subway trains that are a part of London’s Underground, or “the tube,” as it’s referred to by locals. Needless to say, if you’re staying in London near Paddington Station, you’ll be close to a transportation hub that can help you get pretty much anywhere you need to within the city of London, as well as its neighboring cities.
Things to Do in and Around Paddington Station
Paddington Station is located next to a number of exciting London landmarks. In fact, there are a few spots inside the station itself that you may just want to check out. If you’re close to Paddington Station, here are some of the best sights to see:
First, Store Your Luggage
Once you arrive, you’re going to want to find luggage storage in Paddington Station to keep your bags safe while you explore. Luckily, there are plenty of options for luggage storage in Paddington Station, as well as in the surrounding area. All you have to do is search online for luggage storage in Paddington Station to find locations and make a reservation to store your bags for the amount of time you need. This makes it easy for you to walk around the station while on layover for your next train trip, or if you’re just stopping at the station briefly to explore London for the day. Finding luggage storage in Paddington Station is a great way to make the most of your time in London, as you won’t have to spend time schlepping your bags with you everywhere you go.
Get a Breath of Fresh Air in Norfolk Square Gardens
Norfolk Square Gardens is a small, local garden that’s open to the public near Paddington Station. It’s perfect for a brief walk around the Garden’s narrow, but lush tree-filled paths, or for a quick spot of coffee with your travel companions. The park also has a large chess set that family members young and old can enjoy playing with. Norfolk Square Gardens is also surrounded by a variety of restaurants and shops if you’re looking to find a local place to eat or do some window shopping.
Explore Bathurst Mews
Mews streets are small courtyard-style side streets scattered about London that have been around since the 17th century. Mews streets are typically lined with houses originally constructed as stables with small living quarters above them. However, as time has gone on, they’ve been transformed into domestic homes, and have become one of the most sought after forms of housing within London, traditionally running for quite a high price.
Bathurst Mews is located just a few blocks away from Paddington Station and is a true hidden gem for travelers to discover. After hopping off the tube at Paddington Station, take a calm afternoon stroll through Bathurst Mews and enjoy looking at the vibrantly painted houses, quaint cobblestone roads, and tree-lined streets. Once you’ve explored Bathurst Mews, you may want to take a trip to some of the other popular mews street areas in London, such as St. Luke’s Mews, where a portion of the movie Love Actually was filmed.
Meet Paddington Bear!
That’s right, you can meet Paddington Bear, the popular British children’s book character named after Paddington Station. Paddington’s story begins within Paddington Station, as a lost bear looking for someone to take him into their home and help him find a delicious marmalade sandwich. A statue of Paddington Bear is located on Platform 1 of Paddington Station and is a popular landmark for visitors from all around the world who have grown up with Paddington Bear books.
In Conclusion
Paddington Station is a London travel hub that’s a must to visit when you’re in the city. Plus, it’s easy to find luggage storage in Paddington Station, so you can drop your bags, hop on a train, and have a fun day in a part of London you may not have explored yet.