It is a rare occasion for this meerkat to travel anywhere via Paddington station, but it is nearly always in pursuit of family gatherings and adventures. As such, this beautiful example of Victorian ingenuity and engineering is one of my favourite stations.
Designed by one of Britain’s most famous names, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Paddington station opened in 1854, serving as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway. Numerous updates to the station have not interfered with Brunel’s design, proving that this glorious Victorian architecture can be preserved if effort is undertaken to do so (Euston, I’m looking at you). Somehow this classic look has remained, despite increasing modernisation of facilities and services.
Paddington presently features 15 platforms, with express services and commuter trains providing connections to Slough, Reading, Bristol, Cardiff, Plymouth and Penzance (the most southernly station on the UK mainland). There are a number of trains to and from Heathrow Airport as well, and Paddington station is part of the east/west Elizabeth Line, running through to the other side of London and beyond. Nearly 60 million people use Paddington station on a yearly basis, making it one of the busiest stations in the country.
My personal voyages through Paddington have nearly always involved travelling to Bristol to see family. The journeys have generally been pleasant, and carried out by high-speed trains, which tend to be more comfortable than commuter services. As such, Paddington conjuries up warm memories.
It is impossible not to mention the cultural influence of Paddington. The station is synonymous with Paddington Bear, who is named after the station, and a much-loved icon of British popular culture. The station and the bear have something of a symbiotic relationship, with a statue of the lovable bear set in the concourse of the station. It really is quite a beautiful slice of London’s history, and worth checking out!
‘Kat Comments