Paddington Station: Highlights, Visitor Information, Visit Duration, and Access

Contents

Things to see at Paddington Station
Basic information about Paddington Station
Getting to Paddington Station

Things to see at Paddington Station

Paddington Station is the terminal station of the Great Western Main Line, connecting London with southwest England and South Wales.

The main train operator on the Great Western Main Line is Great Western Railway (GWR).

Paddington Station is also the terminus for the Heathrow Express, which connects central London with Heathrow Airport. For many travelers, Paddington Station may be their first sight of central London.

Paddington Station is where Paddington Bear first appears in the story. His name comes from Paddington Station.

The differences between London's main terminal stations and railway lines are introduced in the article below.

London’s Terminal Stations: East Coast or West Coast, That Is the Question

This article introduces London's major terminal stations and destinations on routes such as the East Coast Main Line and West Coast Main Line, with photos of stations including King's Cross, Euston and St Pancras.

Paddington Bear Statue

He was named Paddington after being found sitting on a suitcase at Paddington Station. A label around his neck reads, "Please look after this bear. Thank you."

War Memorial

It is a bronze statue commemorating Great Western Railway employees who died in the First World War. It depicts a soldier reading a letter from home. The memorial quietly conveys the history of the railway workers who used the station.

British Rail Class 800

This is a train built by Hitachi. Great Western Railway (GWR) was the first company in the United Kingdom to begin commercial operation of 800-type vehicles in 2017. The 800 type is a bi-mode train that can use both overhead wires and diesel engines, serving long-distance routes including non-electrified sections.

Heathrow Express

This train, with its rounded design, was created by CAF. It operates as a dedicated service between Paddington Station and Heathrow Airport, offering a close-up view from the platform of the train that provides the airport connection.

Other railway vehicles

British Rail Class 387

It is a train from Bombardier’s series known as “Electrostar”.

British Rail Class 360

This is a vehicle from Siemens’ series called Desiro.

British Rail Class 165

This train was designed by a former state-owned company, which was later acquired by ABB.

Basic information about Paddington Station

The information below was checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Please also check the latest information on the official website when planning your trip.

🔗 Official website

Check information about the station and facilities for passengers.

London Paddington Station | National Rail

Discover London Paddington railway station. Getting to & from, buying & collecting train tickets, staffing, facilit...

📍 Address

London Paddington station, Praed Street, London, Greater London, W2 1HQ

🕒 Visitor information

Ticket office (Monday–Saturday) 06:10–22:15
Ticket office (Sunday) 07:00–22:15
Advance ticket sales 07:00–21:00
Information staff daily 00:00–23:59
Temporary ticket-office hours October 11, 07:40–21:00, and October 12–17, 06:10–21:00.

Facilities include lifts, toilets, accessible toilets, a Changing Places toilet, baby-changing facilities, public Wi-Fi, restaurants and shops. The escalator connecting the ground floor and mezzanine is out of service.

💶 Cost

There is no admission charge to use the station or view the Paddington Bear statue. Train fares vary according to the destination, train, ticket type and time of purchase.

🎫 Tickets

Ticket machines are available and can be used to collect tickets purchased online. Oyster cards and contactless payments are accepted. Check fares and conditions of use, including airport trains, in the official information provided by the railway company you are using.

⏱️ Time required

To see the station building, the Paddington Bear statue and the trains arriving and departing, allow approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour. ⚠️ Allow additional time for waiting to take a commemorative photo and for changing trains.

Getting to Paddington Station

Paddington station is located on Praed Street. National Rail provides information on connections to the Underground, buses, taxis and the airport.

All platforms can be reached without steps, although the route may involve long or steep ramps or public roads. The station’s official page provides links to a station map and a map of connecting transport.

The differences between London's main terminal stations and railway lines are introduced in the article below.