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10 Reasons Why Paddington Is the Best Place to Stay in London for Tourists

If you’re planning a trip to London and wondering where to stay, Paddington should be at the top of your list. With unbeatable transportation, family-friendly attractions, excellent restaurants, beautiful parks, and hotels for every budget, Paddington offers everything tourists need for a comfortable and memorable stay in London.

10 reasons why Paddington is the Best Place To Stay In London For Tourists

  1. Drect access by railway to ALL of London’s major tourist attractions. (see more) 

  2. Direct access to Heathrow Airport, and is London’s only railway station that provides a direct, non-stop service. (see more) 

  3. It’s arguably more family friendly than any other area in London. (see more)

  4. Selection of restaurants. (see more)

  5. Selection of hotels. There is hotel in Paddington for every budget. (see more)

  6. Paddington Waterside and Little Venice. (see more)

  7. Hyde Park is just steps from your hotel’s front door. (see more)

  8. It’s a hop, skip, and jump to from Paddington to these tourist attractions. (see more)

  9. That Paddington “experience”. (see more)

  10. Home to some of the best pubs in London. (see more)

Another of Paddington's truly unique qualities is that it is the best place to stay in London for tourists of all types:

  • Best place for families

    Paddington is arguably the best area to stay in London for families. (see reason 3 above)

  • Best place for first time visitors

    Paddington is a great place to stay for first time visitors because its residents, shopkeepers, and pub staff are always friendly and willing to help with any questions you have.

  • Best place for couples

    Paddington’s selection of restaurants and the Paddington Waterside make it a wonderful place to stay for couples. (see reasons 3 and 6 below)

  • Best place for tourists on a budget

    Paddington has loads of budget hotels to choose from, making it one of the best areas in London for tourist on a budget. See the budget hotel I recommend here.

"We're wondering where to stay in London for sightseeing"

It’s almost always the first question I’m asked by first-time visitors to London. It’s also the primary reason why this you’re on this website! I’ve advised all of my London Travel Planner clients to stay in Paddington so I thought, maybe I should make a website about it!

Over the past 20 years I’ve learned all of the ins and outs of visiting London, but most importantly, I’ve learned that where you stay in London is the most important decision you’ll make when planning your visit, especially as a tourist.

If you’re a first time visitor to London, you’re going to be doing a lot of planning on the fly when you get there, and the last thing you need is to be staying somewhere that makes all this more difficult! Take advantage of my many visits to London which have led to my having an extensive knowledge on how to get around London as a tourist.

The Wilkes family of New Jersey agrees!

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“There is no better neighborhood to stay in while visiting London than Paddington. You truly feel like you are a part of a neighborhood rather than a tourist center. The best part is that these quaint pubs, eateries, and accommodations are just steps away from a transportation center that can take you anywhere else you’d like to go. We love Paddington!” – Alex Wilkes

Charlie and Alexandra Wilkes, Ramsey NJ, USA

Barry Wilkes, Glen Rock, NJ, USA

1. Paddington is the only area of London that provides DIRECT access by railway to ALL of London's major tourist attractions

There’s simply no better way of getting to the tourist attractions than the ‘Tube’ as it is called here. Here’s why:

  • No wasting valuable vacation time waiting in traffic using road transportation
  • It’s the fastest and most economical way to get to the tourist attractions
  • Contributes to your overall London experience

Yes, the tube will contribute to your London ‘experience’ more than anything else you do. Just be sure to stand on the right side of station escalators as Londoners going to and from work use the left side to hurry to their trains or to exit the station.

I’ve written a Tube informational article which you can read HERE

2. Paddington provides direct access to Heathrow Airport, and is London's only rail station that provides a direct, non-stop service

The best way to get into London from Heathrow is by railway. There are 3 different railway options that go from Heathrow to London, and those are:

  • The Heathrow Express
  • Transport for London
  • The the all-new Elizabeth Line

Of these three options, only the Elizabeth Line will take you beyond Paddington to other stations in London, but none of those stations are situated in what I would consider to be good areas to stay in London, mainly reason because they don’t offer the efficient and direct transportation to the major tourist attractions that Paddington Station does. Also, Paddington is the only station that connects to Heathrow via the aforementioned Heathrow Express which takes you to and from Heathrow to London in just 15 minutes with no stops.

Read more about these transportation options HERE

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3. It's probably more family friendly than any other area in London

Paddington is incredibly family friendly and offers many options for kids of all ages. Some of which include:

Paddington has loads of resources for making your family’s stay here easy, especially if you’re staying in a B & B:

  • Grocery stores
  • Pharmacies
  • Souvenir shops
  • Fast food

Read more about things to do for kids at our sister website HERE

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4. Paddington's selection of restaurants

Paddington offers an incredible diversity restaurants:

  • Indian, Lebanese, Asian, Italian restaurants
  • A variety of sidewalk cafes
  • A diverse variety of takeaway restaurants

You can read more about them by reading this article I wrote HERE

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5. Paddington's selection of hotels

Whether it’s upscale, something in between, or a budget hotel. Paddington has a hotel for everyone!

Check out the hotel I recommend HERE

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6. Paddington's Waterside and Little Venice

You certainly won’t have something as unique as this staying in the more iconic areas of London. Like Hyde Park, this canal is less than 10 minutes walk from your hotel.

Read more about it HERE

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7. One of the world's most famous parks is less than 10 minutes walk from your hotel

Hyde Park, one of the world’s most scenic parks is a wonderful place to take a walk by yourself, your significant other, or your family. Younger children will love:

  • The Princess Diana Memorial Playground
  • The Peter Pan statue
  • The parakeets near the statue that land on their shoulders or hands!

You can check out an informational article I’ve written on Hyde Park HERE

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8. It's a hop, skip, and jump from Paddington to these tourist attractions

These London tourist attractions are all within walking distance or very short Tube or taxi ride from Paddington:

  • Speaker’s Corner
  • Kensington Palace
  • Notting Hill-Portobello Road
  • Oxford Street shopping

More specific information about these attractions HERE

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9. The Paddington "Experience"

Paddington offers a unique London atmosphere that blends historic charm with modern convenience. The neighborhood combines classic Victorian architecture, lively streets, elegant garden squares, and a welcoming local feel that many tourists prefer over busier areas.

I’ve written more about this HERE

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10. Paddington is home to some of the best pubs in London.

Paddington is home to many traditional London pubs where visitors can enjoy classic British food, local ales, and authentic London culture. Whether you want a cozy historic pub or a modern gastropub, Paddington has plenty of excellent options nearby.

40-year Paddington resident and author Charles Wheeldon provides this article on some of these pubs, all of which are just steps away from your hotel.

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Why Tourists Choose Paddington

With outstanding transport connections, easy Heathrow access, excellent hotels, restaurants, parks, and attractions, it’s easy to see why Paddington is one of the best places to stay in London for tourists. Whether you’re visiting London for a weekend getaway or a longer vacation, Paddington offers convenience, comfort, and the perfect base for exploring the city.

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Staying In Paddington Makes Every London Visit Special!

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