The
Paddington area is dominated logistically by Paddington Rail Station.
Because of the fast links to Heathrow Airport this district is a favourite
accommodation district for those using Heathrow.
The Paddington district itself is in the north western corner of the
centre of London. Room rates are quite competitive, at least compared
to the hotel options less than a mile away around Oxford Street.
The area also has a good mix of accommodation catering to all budgets,
again something you won't get closer to the centre.
Paddington Station itself is a major transport hub, you can get to
most sights in London within 20 minutes using the London Underground. |
Hilton
Hotel Paddington
Part of Paddington Station |
|
|
Paddington
Station Area
The hub
of the Paddington district is of course the railway station. The station
is the terminus for a wide range of train services including Heathrow
Airport, West London commuter lines and long distance services to
Wales and South West England.
The Hilton Hotel Paddington pictured above is the original old railway
station hotel at the front of the station facing Praed Street. This
area facing the Hilton is the main commercial area of the district,
not the prettiest place in London. The shops continue down Spring
Street and London Street opposite the Station as far as Sussex Gardens.
The pavements are quite narrow, the shops and restaurants mostly small.
There are no big department stores for leisure shopping here, its
all geared largely around feeding people.
There is a heavy bias towards fast food and food 'on the go' reflecting
the needs of the railway travellers passing through.
You'll find most of the multinational fast food and coffee shop chains
like McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and Starbucks as well as independents
and Fish & Chip and sandwich/pie shops.
There are two mid size chain restaurants immediately outside the station,
Garfunkels under the Quality Crown Hotel and opposite it the Aberdeen
Angus Steak House. |
If
having a good range of restaurants on your doorstep for a leisurely
civilsed evening meal is important to you, you might want to look
to Bayswater just to
the west of Paddington. Queensway in Bayswater is by contrast one
of the best places in terms of affordable and diverse cuisines in
London.
Perhaps the best value for plate meals in the area is the pub grub
served up by the many large pubs throughout the locality.
Around the station area you will find also launderettes, two small/medium
size supermarkets and a few ATM's. |
Outside
the immediate vicinity of the station area things quickly become more
elegant and residential.
All through the district you will find many garden squares. Within
50 yards of the hustle of Praed Street is Norfolk Square for example,
a quiet place to sit and chill out.
All around Norfolk Square are hotels in terraced buildings such as
those pictured right. The hotels around the station tend to be budget
biased but you can find the odd four star in these buildings |
Typical
Row Of Hotels In Sussex Gardens |
Standards
differ widely. Remember these hotels are typically 5 or 6 storeys
and the cheaper hotels will not have lifts.
Sussex Gardens is a wide avenue just 200m from Paddington Station
which is lined with such hotels. They make look identical but inside
you may find a chain Best Western Hotel or a cheap Bed and Breakfast. |
Talbot
Square Paddington
A Typical Garden Square |
Sussex Gardens |
|
