Paddington is one of London’s busiest and most interesting districts and it is the ideal place to explore, especially if you are staying in one of the area’s central hotels.
Food and drink
There are plenty of choices for food and drink in the Paddington area, with something to suit all tastes and budgets.
The Frontline Club
If you are looking for a good example of British cuisine, then the Frontline Club on Edgware Road is a great place to enjoy lunch or dinner.
The club as a stylish interior and its menu is based on seasonal availability of ingredients, with many of the produce coming from the restaurant’s own Norfolk farm.
Menu items include tempting dishes such as caramelised onion and goat’s cheese tart, grilled gurnard fillet with shallot puree and roast rack of Norfolk lamb with potato fondant and aubergine puree.
The Summerhouse
Fans of seafood will enjoy The Summerhouse, which is close to the Grand Union Canal and close to Paddington Station.
The Summerhouse is open all year round and its menu boasts a great range of seafood dishes including the great British tradition of fish and chips.
Kam Tong Restaurant
London also has a number of resturants that offer some great world cusine and Paddington is lucky to be home to Kam Tong Restaurant.
This bustlingly eatery serves Chinese/Thai food, including traditional dim sum, as well as a spare ribs, beef with oyster sauce or chicken fillet with sweet chilli sauce.
Kam Tong Restaurant is open from Mondays to Saturdays from midday until 11pm and on Sundays from midday until 10.30pm.
Paddington’s attractions
There are plenty of things to do in the area of Paddington no matter what the weather and if staying in one of hotels near Paddington it is easy to get to some of London’s top attractions.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum
The famous detective is seeing a resurge in popularity following the recent BBC remake and this museum is dedicated to the fictional character. Of course it is located at 221b Baker Street and provides a great chance to find out more about the life of the world’s most famous fictional crime fighter.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is one of the capital’s eight Royal Parks and is home to loads of attractions that tourists will love. It provides a great way to unwind and is the perfect spot for a picnic or a kick around. The park is home to a number of attractions, including playgrounds, picnic areas and various cafes.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is an impressive building is located in the centre of Paddington and is open throughout the year to visitors and is a great way to find out more about the British royal family. It offers a real alternative to the busy Buckingham Palace.
ZSL London Zoo
Animal fans should make time to visit one of the most popular attractions in the area close to Paddington. ZSL London Zoo is home to thousands of exotic animals and provides a great opportunity to see some of the rarest and most endangered breeds of animals in the world.
How to get to Paddington
The London Underground is one of the easiest options for anyone planning journeys to the area. Travellers are advised to buy an Oyster card to make it even easier to travel across the network.
Local tube stations serving the Paddington area include:
Paddington (Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines)
Bayswater (Circle and District lines)
Queensway (Central line)
Lancaster Gate Station (Central line)
Marble Arch Station (Central line)
Edgware Road (Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines)
Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo line)
Royal Oak (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines)
Paddington also has strong mainline railway services from Paddington and Marylebone. There are also plenty of bus routes that cover the area – again Oyster cards are a great way to pay for your fare, especially as the buses no longer accept cash.
If you have opted to hire a car that there are a number of car parks within the Paddington area of the capital, including
Paddington Station Public Car Park
Colonnades Car Park
Queensway Car Park
NCP Car Park London Arthur Court
Bell Street Car Park
Highview Parking
Bilton Towers Car Park
Bayswater Road Car Park