Paddington, London

Paddington is an area in the City of Westminster, London. The name first appeared as Padington in AD 1056. Paddington is probably best known as the location of the Paddington Railway Station, which offers commuter services to the westn of London. The Heathrow Express service to Heathrow Airport also goes to Paddington Station.

Apartments of Paddington Waterside with the Paddington Basin in the foreground
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paddington_Basin_3.jpg
Author: Ron Metcalfe


Paddington also lends its name to Paddington Bear, a character in children's fiction who was discovered at the station. A statue of the bear can today be found at the station.

In the 19th century, the Paddington area was a hub for vessels bringing goods into Central London. The Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal leads to the Paddington Basin, where there were warehouses for goods coming in were stored.

By the mid 20th century, the warehouses and canal at Paddington were no longer of any use, and fell into disrepair. The area was off limits until the late 1980s, when the Paddington Waterside project redeveloped that part of London, turning it into an area of offices, shops and apartments. Called PaddingtonCentral, the new development has brought life back into an otherwise derelict part of Paddington.

Paddington Railway Station
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FGWL166205_and_HEx332010_at_Paddington_03.jpg
Author: Chris McKenna

Getting there

Take the Hammersmith & City Line or the Circle Line to the Paddington Tube Station, emerging at Bishop's Bridge Road, or take Bakerloo Line, Circle Line and District Line to emerge at Praed Street.

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