Paddington Guide
Paddington station
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.
Oxford Street
Oxford Street, in the heart of London, is Britain's busiest high street with a world-wide reputation as the heart of West End shopping.
Oxford Street today is probably the most popular, busy and one of the most crowded shopping districts in the UK and is increasingly attracting international retailers such as Nike Town, Borders, Mango and Zara.
Harley Street
Harley Street was until the late eighteenth century merely a fashionable address. It was named after the second Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, whose wife Lady Henrietta Cavendish was heiress to much of the land in the Marylebone area. They developed the land and passed it on to their daughter, Margaret Cavendish Harley who was married to the second Duke of Portland.
Harley Street is the gateway to independent healthcare in the United Kingdom.
Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express is the non-stop rail link to Heathrow Airport. With trains leaving every 15 minutes and taking just 15 minutes, Heathrow Express is the fastest way to get to the airport.
The Heathrow Express train provides a regular service from Heathrow Airport to London's Paddington Station, seven days a week.
Trains leave Heathrow terminals every 15 minutes with a journey time from Terminal 4 of 23 minutes, from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 (Heathrow Central) it takes 15 minutes.
Monday-Saturday : Departures from Terminal 4 are at 10, 25, 40 and 55 past each hour. First train 05.07, last train 23.32.
Departures from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 (Heathrow Central) are at 17, 32, 47 and 02 minutes past each hour. First train 05.12, last 23.37.
Sunday Services : Departures from Terminal 4 at 02, 17, 32 and 47 past each hour. First train 05.03, last 23.32. Departures from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 (Heathrow Central) at 07, 22, 37 and 52 past each hour. First train 05.08, last 23.37.
Oxford Street Shopping
Along this two-mile stretch, right from Tottenham Court Road tube to Marble Arch there are tons of chain stores and cut price shops, many aimed at tourists. Most of the shops are of the high street variety; you'll find Next, River Island, Dixons and Top Shop along here. There's also a few large department stores such as Debenhams and John Lewis and the largest of them all, Selfridges.
Fashion : High fashion meets strong consciences, as Lauren Burke discovers the undercurrents of London Fashion, including Eco-style, Junky Styling, Hats on Heads and Beyond the Valley...
Underground Subway
Shortly after the opening of the Thames Tunnel, Parliament authorized construction of the first subway system in the world, the London Underground. Work began in 1860 on the first stretch of the underground subway, the Metropolitan Railway. By all accounts, it was a royal mess. Tunnel diggers used the cut and cover method: they carved huge trenches in the streets, lined the trenches with brick, covered the trenches with arch roofs, and then restored the street above. This sloppy method paralyzed traffic and made canyons out of city avenues, but it was a huge success. The new subway carried more than nine million people in its first year!
Paddington Sussex Gardens
Sussex Gardens soon leads into Lancaster Gate opposite Hyde Park. On Lancaster Gate itself is this unusual old church converted into luxury flats, in front of the London Guards Hotel.
Norfolk Square
Norfolk Square is a pleasant green break about 100m from the station.
St Mary's Hospital
St Mary's Hospital is next to Paddington Station
Praed Street
Outside the station is Praed Street a relatively narrow street which all the commercial traffic runs down including buses. It has a narrow pavement and very small shops, mostly serving the needs of the station patrons.
