London Paddington Station and the GWR First Class Lounge
This article shows all you need to know about London Paddington station, including an overview of all public facilities, the history behind this beautiful railway station, and a review of the Great Western Railway (GWR) First Class Lounge at Paddington.
Taking the train to Cornwall
After spending a sunny afternoon walking across London and having some beers at a couple of pubs in the Tyburnia neighbourhood, it was time to leave the British capital.
I was booked on the night train to Penzance in Cornwall, which would depart late in the evening from London Paddington station.
Even though the departure was several hours away, I decided to arrive early at London Paddington to give myself plenty of time to explore every nook and cranny of the station.
Besides, I had access to the Great Western Railway (GWR) First Class Lounge at London Paddington, and I could use the time to thoroughly review the facility.
From the last pub I visited (The Victoria, highly recommended if you are looking for a nice place to drink before your train departure!), it was only a 5-minute walk to Paddington Station.
London Paddington station
London Paddington, a terminus station, is used by long-distance trains operated by Great Western Railway (GWR), which, as the name of the rail company implies, serves destinations in the west of England and southern Wales.
Additionally, the Heathrow Express service departs from London Paddington, and the station is also a stop on the Elizabeth Line.
If you travel by train from London to Devon and Cornwall, towards Bristol and Southern Wales, or into the Thames Valley, you are likely to depart from Paddington.
Although St Pancras is often considered the most beautiful of all the major London railway stations, I actually think this distinction belongs to Paddington.
Sure, the cathedral-like façade of St Pancras in its stunning Victorian Gothic style is absolutely wonderful and easily surpasses the exterior of London Paddington station, but once you stand inside the station under the train shed, I do think that Paddington has much more beauty and charm.
Paddington history
Like many of London’s architectural gems, Paddington station was constructed during the Victorian era, in 1854 to be precise.
Paddington station was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the great British civil engineer who was also the genius behind the Great Western Railway line, the Thames Tunnel, and the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.
However, many of the fine architectural details of Paddington station were crafted by Matthew Digby Wyatt, another renowned architect who served as one of Brunel’s main assistants on this project.
Especially the glazed roof, which is supported by wrought iron arches in three spans linked by two transepts, is a unique feature.
This design, coupled with the white-coloured pillars and walls, gives the train shed a bright and spacious feel.
It can sometimes be difficult to appreciate all the architectural and aesthetic beauty amidst the crowds of passengers, as Paddington is after all the second busiest station in the United Kingdom (London’s Liverpool Street station is the busiest).
You are therefore well-advised to come a bit early before departure to the station so you have the time to admire this historic terminus.
Station facilities
As an important station in the British rail network, you can expect a wide range of facilities at London Paddington.
In addition to a wide range of shops, bars, restaurants, and convenience stores, Paddington station also offers ticket machines and offices for those who haven’t bought their ticket yet online, as well as a dedicated assisted travel lounge for passengers with disabilities or those needing extra assistance.
There is a left-luggage storage facility operated by the Excess Baggage Company at platform 12, which is open from 7am until 11pm – check their website for more information and storage prices.
Paddington station also has public toilets, a baby changing room, and a mother care room, which are located on platform 1, as well as on platform 12.
The toilets on platform 12 also feature shower rooms – if you want to use them you have to purchase a token from the toilet attendant, which will cost £7.
There is also a first class lounge at London Paddington station, which is operated by GWR – I’ll review the lounge facilities and entry requirements further down this article.
Note that this lounge has free shower facilities, so if you are entitled to use the GWR First Class Lounge, there is no need to use those at the public toilets for a fee.
Paddington station is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is connected to the rest of London by four Underground lines (Bakerloo, Circle, District, and Hammersmith & City) as well as multiple bus lines.
Paddington Bear
London Paddington station has a couple of unique features that are worth checking out.
Perhaps the most famous sight at this railway station is the statue of Paddington Bear, the well-known fictional character from Michael Bond’s children’s books.
This friendly bear, with a love for marmalade sandwiches, was found at the station by Mr. and Mrs. Brown, who discovered a note attached to his coat that read: “Please look after this bear, thank you.”
The Paddington Bear statue, along with a Paddington Bear-themed bench and memorial plaque, can all be found on platform 1.
In the retail section of the station, you can also find a special Paddington Bear shop where you can buy his books, plush toys, and of course some delicious marmalade.
Other unique station features
While you are on platform 1, make sure to admire the beautiful station clock, and to pay your respects to the victims of both World War I and World War II at the station’s war memorial.
This war memorial, a bronze statue depicting a British soldier in World War I uniform, is dedicated to the 3,312 men and women of Great Western Railway who gave their lives during both World Wars.
GWR First Class Lounge at London Paddington station
The Great Western Railway (GWR) First Class Lounge is conveniently located on platform 1 and can be accessed by passengers holding a first-class ticket on any GWR train.
This includes passengers using a first class Eurail or Interrail pass, as long as they travel on a GWR train from the station.
Note that a first-class tickets for another operator does not grant you lounge access.
Passengers booked in a sleeper compartment on the Night Riviera train to Devon and Cornwall also have access to the GWR First Class Lounge at London Paddington.
You can only use the GWR First Class Lounge up to two hours before departure, or up to one hour after your arrival.
The GWR First Class Lounge at London Paddington station is open from 5am until 11.30pm on weekdays, from 5am until 9pm on Saturday, and from 10am until 11.30pm on Sunday.
Inside the GWR First Class Lounge
As you enter the GWR First Class Lounge at Paddington station, you will find yourself in the main seating area, which also features the buffet counter.
Seating options include seats centred around low tables, as well as high-top chairs and tables.
Although there is Wi-Fi internet in the GWR First Class Lounge, not all seats have access to a power socket.
I’d highly recommend not to sit down in this part of the lounge, but to move over to another area, which not only has far better seating options, but is also much more charming.
The old Royal waiting room
From the main lounge area, a passage to your right leads to another part of the lounge, which is not only much quieter but also packs a lot more charm.
This part of the GWR First Class Lounge used to be Queen Victoria’s private waiting room at Paddington station, and although it has been extensively renovated, it still has a touch of royal grandeur thanks to the black leather couches and armchairs, fireplace, carpet, and soft lighting.
Besides being a much more beautiful part of the lounge to sit down, you’ll also notice that it feels more serene, and that more seats have access to a power socket here.
Make sure you admire the old GWR posters and pictures on the walls, plus the framed area which shows how the original decorative finishes of this room used to be like.
Do note that this part of the GWR First Class Lounge often closes a bit earlier than the main lounge area, so chances are you won’t be able to visit it after 9pm.
Food and drinks inside the lounge
First-class lounges at British railway stations should not be compared to airport lounges as they are much more basic, which you’ll certainly notice when checking out the buffet.
There are complimentary snacks and drinks in the GWR First Class Lounge, but you shouldn’t have too high expectations.
The GWR First Class Lounge offers bags of crisps and cookies as snacks, and for drinks you have the choice of coffee, tea, bottled water, juice, and soft drinks.
All snacks and drinks are self-serve.
Shower facilities
A great feature of the GWR First Class Lounge is that it has a shower rooms available for guests, free of charge.
This is especially great if you’ve had an intensive day of sightseeing in London and want to freshen up before departure, or if you’ve just arrived in the morning on the Night Riviera sleeper train from Cornwall or Devon.
Access to the shower room is on a first-come, first-serve basis – inquire at the reception desk for availability, or reserve a slot for a shower room in advance with one of the attendants on board the Night Riviera train.
The shower room is equipped with a hairdryer and shower gel, and towels are provided by the staff.
My lounge experience
As I’m interested in history, I didn’t mind arriving early at the GWR First Class Lounge, as I found it quite special to sit in Queen Victoria’s old Royal waiting room.
I enjoyed a cup of coffee – and later on a coke and some crisps – while savouring the unique atmosphere and heritage.
A beer at Paddington station
I was booked on GWR’s Night Riviera sleeper train to Penzance in Cornwall, and since there was still quite some time left until departure, I also decided to check out one of the station pubs.
Near platform 10 of Paddington station, you can find the Beer House, which is a no-nonsense pub where you can enjoy a pint or another drink before departure.
I quite liked the place, and certainly enjoyed the pint of Guinness that I ordered.
Departure to Cornwall
After a short wait, the ‘Night Riviera’ sleeper train slowly rolled up at platform 1 of London Paddington station.
In the next chapter of this trip report, I will review this unique English sleeper train, which links London with Penzance in Cornwall.
Conclusion
London Paddington is not only one of Britain’s most beautiful stations, but possibly the most beautiful station in the entire world.
This Victorian-era railway station, designed by the great British civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, has an absolutely stunning train shed that will take your breath away.
London Paddington has all the facilities you might expect from a major railway station, and also features some unique sights such as the Paddington Bear statue.
If you have a first-class ticket on Great Western Railway (GWR) or are booked in a sleeper compartment on the ‘Night Riviera’ train, you have access to the GWR First Class Lounge at London Paddington station before departure or after your arrival.
Although the food and beverage options of the GWR First Class Lounge are nothing special, it is a quiet place to settle down to do some work or relax, and the shower rooms come in handy too.
By far the best aspect of the GWR First Class Lounge at London Paddington is the area which once used to be the Royal waiting room of Queen Victoria.
Sitting in this historic, charming room with a cup of tea while waiting for your train departure does make the GWR First Class Lounge special.
Trip report index
This article is part of the ‘From Cornwall to Yorkshire: Train Travel Through England‘ trip report, which consists of the following chapters:
1. My British Airways Cancellation and Compensation Saga
2. Review: Turkish Airlines Airbus A350 Business Class Bucharest to Istanbul
3. Review: Turkish Airlines Business Lounge Istanbul Airport
4. Review: Turkish Airlines Airbus A321 Business Class Istanbul to Birmingham
5. Review: CrossCountry Train Birmingham International to Reading
6. Thirsty in Tyburnia: Spending a Sunny Afternoon in London
7. London Paddington and the GWR First Class Lounge (current chapter)
8. Review: GWR Night Riviera Sleeper Train London to Penzance, Cornwall
9. Penzance: A Visit to Cornwall’s Down-to-Earth Seaside Town
10. By Train to St Ives: A Trip on the Branch Line From St Erth
** rest of the chapters to follow soon **
