Paddington station Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Paddington
Railway companies
London Paddington
The Victorian train shed at Paddington at Night
Location	Paddington
Local authority	City of Westminster
Managed by	Network Rail
Owner	Network Rail
Station code	PAD
DfT category	A
Number of platforms	13
Accessible	Yes
Fare zone	1
OSI	Paddington Bakerloo, Circle and District lines station Paddington Circle and Hammersmith & City lines station Marylebone Lancaster Gate
Cycle parking	Yes
Toilet facilities	Yes
Original company	Great Western Railway
Key dates
4 June 1838	Temporary station opened
29 May 1854	Permanent station opened
Other information
Lists of stations	DLR Underground National Rail Tramlink
Other websites	Departures Layout Facilities Buses

Station location map

Paddington railway station, also known as London Paddington, is a major train station in central London. It serves both national train lines and the London Underground (Tube) network. You can find it in the Paddington area of the City of Westminster.

This station has a long history. It has been the London hub for the Great Western Railway since 1838. Much of the main station you see today was built in 1854. It was designed by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The first underground trains arrived here in 1863. This made Paddington a key stop on the Metropolitan line, which was the world's very first underground railway!

Paddington station has been updated over the years. It now also serves as the London starting point for the Heathrow Express. This is a fast train service to Heathrow Airport. Paddington is located in Travelcard Zone 1, which is the central area for London's public transport.

Train Services at Paddington
- Main Train Routes
- Heathrow Airport Trains
Underground (Tube) Services
Paddington's Mainline Station
Images for kids
See also

Train Services at Paddington

Paddington is a busy station with many trains. Most of the fast train services are run by Great Western Railway. These trains connect London to many cities and towns across the west of England and Wales.

Main Train Routes

Trains from Paddington travel to many places. Some of the main destinations include:

You can also catch trains to closer places like Slough, Ealing, and Maidenhead.

Heathrow Airport Trains

Two special train services run from Paddington to Heathrow Airport:

The Heathrow Express is a very fast train. It goes straight to the airport without stopping. It costs more to ride this train.
The Heathrow Connect uses the same railway line. However, it stops at most stations along the way. This makes it a slower but often cheaper option.

Underground (Tube) Services

Paddington station is a major hub for the London Underground. It has two separate Tube stations. One is for the Bakerloo, Circle, and District lines. The other is for the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines.

Bakerloo Line

The Bakerloo line connects Paddington to many famous London spots. Some key stations on this line include:

Edgware Road
Oxford Circus
Charing Cross
Waterloo
Wembley

Circle Line

The Circle line forms a loop around central London. From Paddington, you can reach stations like:

District Line

The District line also serves Paddington. It can take you to areas like:

Earl's Court
Notting Hill Gate

Hammersmith & City Line

The Hammersmith & City line runs through Paddington. It connects the station to areas like Hammersmith and Barking.

Paddington's Mainline Station

The main part of the station is officially called London Paddington. This name helps people from outside London know it's the main station. The station's large train shed was built in 1854 by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He designed it as the London end of the Great Western Railway (GWR). Today, Network Rail manages Paddington, making it one of the 18 most important railway stations in the UK.

Paddington has 14 platforms where trains start or end their journeys. These are numbered 1 to 14. Platforms 1 to 8 are under the oldest parts of Brunel's original train shed. Platforms 9 to 12 are under a newer section. Platforms 13 and 14 are in the area of the old Bishop's Road station. There are also two platforms, 15 and 16, that trains pass through. These are used by the London Underground's Hammersmith & City line and Circle lines.

Preceding station	London Underground	Following station
	Paddington (Praed Street)
Warwick Avenue towards Harrow & Wealdstone	Bakerloo line	Edgware Road (deep level) towards Elephant & Castle
Bayswater towards Inner Circle	Circle line	Edgware Road Subsurface station towards Inner Circle
Bayswater towards Wimbledon	District line	Edgware Road Subsurface station towards Inner Circle
	Paddington (Suburban)
Preceding station	London Underground	Following station
Royal Oak towards Inner Circle	Circle line	Edgware Road towards Inner Circle
Royal Oak towards Inner Circle	Hammersmith & City line	Edgware Road towards Barking

Images for kids

The layout of Paddington Station in 1888
Paddington Station in the Victorian era
The Praed Street side of the Great Western Hotel, now the Hilton London Paddington
The GWR memorial
The statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
The busy main area at rush hour
The new Elizabeth line platforms