Blog

A Short History of Paddington Station Next to Mercure London Paddington Hotel

Paddington Station is one of the most iconic and historic railway stations in London. It has been serving passengers and goods since 1838, and has witnessed many changes and developments over the years. In this blog post, we will explore the history of Paddington Station, from when it was built and the first underground line in London, to the latest addition of the Elizabeth line.

Paddington Station was originally a temporary terminus for the Great Western Railway (GWR), which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel to connect London with Bristol and the West Country. The temporary station opened on 4 June 1838, along with the new line that reached as far as Maidenhead. The permanent station was built between 1851 and 1854, and featured a stunning three-span iron and glass roof that covered 13 platforms. The station building on platform 1 had three oriel windows that overlooked the train shed, and a royal waiting room for Queen Victoria.

Paddington Station was also the first station in London to be served by the London Underground, the world's first underground railway. In 1863, the Metropolitan Railway opened its line from Paddington to Farringdon Street, using steam locomotives. Later, other lines were added, such as the District Railway in 1868, the Bakerloo Railway in 1913, and the Hammersmith & City Railway in 1926. Today, Paddington Station has two separate tube stations that provide connections to the Bakerloo, Circle, District, and Hammersmith & City lines.

Paddington Station underwent several expansions and improvements in the 20th century, as traffic and population increased. In 1913-1916, a fourth span was added to cover platforms 9 to 16. In 1933-1935, a new entrance building was constructed on Praed Street. In 1968-1970, a new concourse was built on The Lawn area between platforms 8 and 9. In 1998-2000, a new terminal was opened for Heathrow Express services to Heathrow Airport.

Paddington Station is also famous for being the arrival point of Paddington Bear, a fictional character created by Michael Bond in 1958. Paddington Bear is a friendly bear from Peru who wears a blue duffle coat and a red hat. He was found at Paddington Station by the Brown family with a label around his neck that read "Please look after this bear. Thank you." Since then, he has become one of the most beloved children's characters in Britain and around the world.

Paddington Station is now ready for the future, as it is one of the main stations for the Elizabeth line, a new railway that connects east and west London. The Elizabeth line runs from Reading and Heathrow Airport in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. It offers faster and more frequent services to central London and beyond. The Elizabeth line opened in May 2022.

If you're looking for a place to stay in London near Paddington Station, you can't go wrong with Mercure London Paddington. This modern hotel offers comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre, a restaurant and bar, and a business centre. You can easily access all the attractions and events in London from this hotel, as it is next to Paddington Station and its tube connections. Plus, you can enjoy the convenience of taking the Heathrow Express train to Heathrow Airport in just 15 minutes and running every 15 minutes throughout the day.

So what are you waiting for? Book your trip to London today and experience all that this amazing city and its historic railway station have to offer.