Paddington

Live status — lines serving Paddington

Live departures from Paddington

Paddington is Isambard Kingdom Brunel's masterpiece — the London terminus of the Great Western Railway since 1854, and still the gateway to Bristol, Bath, Wales and the West Country. It is also, more recently, one of the two western anchors of the Elizabeth line, which added an entirely new station beneath the historic train shed in 2022. Add the Heathrow Express, four Underground lines and the enduring presence of a small bear from "darkest Peru," and Paddington is one of London's most layered and storied interchanges.

If Paddington is closed

• Going on the Bakerloo? Walk 8 minutes to Edgware Road (Bakerloo, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City) and change.
• Going on the Circle, District or H&C? Walk 10 minutes to Royal Oak (Circle, H&C) or 8 minutes to Edgware Road for the same lines.
• Going on the Elizabeth line (west)? The next stop is Ealing Broadway or, going further, Heathrow — no easy walking alternative given the distance.
• Going on the Elizabeth line (east)? Walk to Bond Street via bus, or use the Bakerloo/Circle to reach Oxford Circus and change onto the Central line as an alternative cross-London route.
• Mainline (GWR) disrupted? Some services can be picked up further out at Ealing Broadway or Reading; the Elizabeth line offers a parallel route into central London.

About the station

Paddington has been the London terminus of the Great Western Railway since 1838, with the current train shed — designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel with Matthew Digby Wyatt — opening in 1854. Its three great glazed spans remain one of the most celebrated pieces of Victorian railway architecture anywhere in the world. The Underground arrived early: the Metropolitan Railway's original 1863 line (the world's first underground railway) had a station here, and the Bakerloo followed in 1913.

The most significant recent change is the Elizabeth line, which opened its Paddington station in May 2022 in a purpose-built box beneath and alongside the historic mainline terminus — one of the most architecturally striking of all the new Crossrail stations, with a curved glass canopy visible from the street. The interchange between the 1854 train shed and the 2022 Elizabeth line box is a genuinely unusual juxtaposition of Victorian and 21st-century railway engineering.

Lines that serve Paddington

• Elizabeth line — west to Ealing Broadway, Heathrow (all terminals) and Reading; east to Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street, Stratford and Abbey Wood/Shenfield.
• Bakerloo line — north to Edgware Road, Marylebone, Baker Street and Harrow & Wealdstone; south to Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Waterloo and Elephant & Castle.
• Circle line — the sub-surface loop via Edgware Road, Baker Street, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, Tower Hill, Victoria and back.
• District line — east via Edgware Road to Westminster, Earl's Court and on to Upminster; limited westbound service from this end.
• Hammersmith & City line — west to Royal Oak, Ladbroke Grove, Hammersmith; east via Edgware Road to King's Cross, Liverpool Street and Barking.

Step-free access

Paddington has full step-free access from street to train on the Elizabeth line and the sub-surface Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines. The Bakerloo line platforms are reachable by lift via the mainline station concourse — the route is step-free but longer than a direct escalator descent.

See the full step-free Tube stations guide for what step-free actually covers and how stations differ.

Exits and what is nearby

• Praed Street (main mainline entrance) — closest to the taxi rank, the Hilton London Paddington and St Mary's Hospital.
• Departures / Eastbourne Terrace — closest to Paddington Basin and the modern office developments along the canal.
• London Street — closest to Norfolk Square and the smaller hotels of Sussex Gardens.
• Bishop's Bridge Road (Elizabeth line entrance) — the newest entrance, closest to Paddington Central and Sheldon Square.
• Little Venice — a 10-minute walk north along the Grand Union Canal, worth the detour if you have time.

A bit of history

The Great Western Railway's first Paddington station opened in 1838 as a temporary terminus; the grand structure familiar today, designed by Brunel with ornamental ironwork by Digby Wyatt, opened in 1854. It has been extended several times since, most notably with a fourth roof span added in 1916. Paddington was also present at the birth of the Underground: the Metropolitan Railway's original 1863 route from Paddington (Bishop's Road) to Farringdon was the first passenger-carrying underground railway anywhere in the world.

Heathrow Express launched in 1998, cutting the journey to Heathrow to 15 minutes and transforming Paddington's role as an airport gateway. The Elizabeth line station, opened in May 2022, represents the most significant addition to the site in over a century — a new station built almost entirely underground, a short walk from the historic train shed it complements rather than replaces.

Common quirks

• Paddington Bear is on Platform 1. The statue near the Lawn concourse marks the spot from the Michael Bond books where the bear was supposedly found by the Brown family, having travelled from "darkest Peru."
• Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth line both go to the airport. Heathrow Express is faster and non-stop (15 minutes) but pricier; the Elizabeth line is cheaper, more frequent, but makes more stops. Both leave from the same station.
• The Bakerloo interchange is a genuine walk. Because the Bakerloo platforms sit apart from the mainline concourse, allow 5–8 minutes if you're changing from a mainline or Elizabeth line arrival.
• District line service here is limited. Not all District line trains reach Paddington westbound — check the platform display or use the Circle/H&C as a more frequent alternative on this stretch.
• Little Venice is a hidden gem nearby. The canal basin where the Regent's and Grand Union canals meet is a quiet 10-minute walk north, popular for canal boat trips.

Frequently asked questions

Which lines serve Paddington?

Five rail services: the Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City Underground lines, plus the Elizabeth line. It's also a major National Rail terminus with the Heathrow Express.

Is Paddington step-free?

Yes for the Elizabeth line and sub-surface lines (street to train). The Bakerloo line is reachable by lift via the mainline concourse.

What zone is Paddington in?

Zone 1.

How do I get the Heathrow Express?

Dedicated platforms at the mainline station — 15 minutes non-stop to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3. The Elizabeth line also runs to Heathrow, more slowly but cheaper, from the same station.

Where is the Paddington Bear statue?

On Platform 1 of the mainline station, near the Lawn concourse — a popular photo spot.

Lines serving this station

Guides