Thanks all for your replies to my first request. Next question - shortly after I booked a room at the Quality Paddington Hotel for October, I started reading that Paddington wasn't the best of areas. Now I am kind of concerned. I really like the fact that the hotel is so close to the Heathrow Express and the tube and train station, but should I be concerned about safety? I will be with my 24 year old daughter and her boyfriend (both deputy sheriffs!!)so it's not as if I'm alone. I got a good deal on the reservations but would consider changing areas if necessary. Please advise! Thanks.

It is not the best of neighbourhoods (that would be the likes of Mayfair and Chelsea) but it is far from the worst. Its a mid-priced residential neighbourhood (2 bedroom flats selling in the £250,000 range), with hotels ranging from many budget hotels to a few luxury ones. It does not look or feel dangerous. I don't know what benefits might derive from being accompanied by deputy sheriffs --- I would urge them not to wear their badges in pubs, or in public generally.

Depends on what part of Paddington your hotel is in. Some parts are much nicer than others. (Also, Ron, I don't know when you last priced flats here in London, but £250,000 sadly would not get you a 2 bedroom even in Paddington these days ;-(). Anyway, back to Paddington - I just looked up your hotel and it is located just off Praed street, which is not the cleanest of streets. It isn't likely to be dangerous, just not the most pleasant area to stay in. I don't know how much you paid, but you might want to consider looking at some other hotels... if you want to stay near Hyde Park, you might have luck with prices for hotels closer to Lancaster Gate or Queensway. Also, it shouldn't cost you too much to get from Paddington Station to wherever you need to go. Tubes are cheap from there, and taxis should be about £10-15 depending on how far away your hotel is.

Kathy,<BR>I agree with the previous poster;not dangerous, but gritty. Some streets are fairly well maintained, but others are dirty. I didn't like it, not good for strolling, few, if any restaurants for a meal or drink. The next trip I stayed in the Belgravia section. It is , however, convenient to the Heathrow Express.<BR><BR>M.

Kathy,<BR>Your hotel is in a safe area. It is not a "fancy" neighborhood like Mayfair, but neither are the prices. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Paddington area, it's simply not quite as "pretty" as some other areas of London so it often gets a bad rap on this Forum (I personally am beginning to think that either everyone here is terribly rich or else they just think it sounds good to say they always stay in Chelsea or something). Praed Street is not the most elegant of all by any means, but it's right by Paddington and it's a very busy street. Chances are you are not going to be in your hotel 24 hrs a day anyway, you are out and about most of the time so i fyou have a budget I would not go hog-wild on fancy hotels just to avoid the Paddington area. As for needing deputy seriffs -- I don't think so! I go to London every year, have been in many areas of London and feel perfectly safe. It's a large city with all types of people like all large cities. The majority are nice, however like all cities there is crime. You need to keep your wits about you and act as you would in any large city, that's all.

You're absolutely right that Paddington is a wonderfully convenient place to be for the Heathrow Express train. I have stayed in the Paddington area and have had no problems. In fact, I have used the tourist office in the station to get my hotel since I always travel without hotel reservations. Simply decide what you want to pay and they will find a close hotel for you. <BR>Also, the tube at Paddington will get you anywhere you want to go in London or you can also use the bus system. Public transportation is excellent.<BR>So, don't worry about the Paddington area.

Kathy:<BR><BR>My wife and I met our daughter and her family in Paddington during the first week in July and we all loved it! Of course, we like meeting locals and being out among them. It is a real London neighborhood with food markets (for your picnics) good restaurants, lots of souvenier stores and a great pub (the Mitre Pub). Also it is unbelievably convenient to the tube and train stations and Hyde Park. My wife and I stayed in Westminster after returning from Paris and we were wishing we were back in Paddington. <BR><BR>If you want more info, please e-mail me.<BR>It is not an area where you will be nervous walking around at any time, day or nite.

First let me qualify - I VERY seldom stay in "fancy" hotels and always look for bargains. A lot of people who recommend (or defend) Paddington have not stayed in budget accomodations elsewhere. Paddington is NOT dangerous - even w/o sherriffs tagging along.<BR><BR>The main problems w/ Paddington are: <BR><BR>* The general grottiness that is common near several London train stations. Surrounded by cheap and run down B&Bs mixed with pricey station hotels.<BR><BR>* Despite being convenient to the LHR Express, Paddington is not really convenient to many other places. Little Venice, Hyde Park and the London Toy museum are the only things within a reasonable walk. Tube connections from Paddington almost always involve a change of lines.<BR><BR>* Not a great area to walk around at night or for good restaurants.<BR><BR>Paddington is not terrible. BUT for the same money you can stay in Bloomsbury, S. Kensington, Victoria or some parts of the Southbank and be in a really wonderful neighborhood with local shops, restaurants and better tube connections.

well said Janis, I work in Paddington and heartily agree with your reasons for NOT staying there. It's not unsafe, but I would be a disappointed tourist if I stayed there.

Just to add, the hotel I stayed in in the the Belgravia area was far less expensive than the Paddington one. Janis has described the Paddington area perfectly.

Hi - this is the xxx that posted earlier. As I said, it depends on which part of Paddington you are in. Ben and/or Van may have been in another part of Paddington, that was a little less grotty. Please listen to Janis, Michele, Kate and me. I am American and have lived here 10 years and would not recommend guests to stay near Praed Street, when there are so many more enjoyable places to stay for the same money.

Working in a four star deluxe hotel in Paddington, I think I can comment on the area with some experience. Like so much of London, Paddington has its good and less good sides. If you like green spaces, it is on the edge of the 600 acres of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens which are superb. It 's also very close to the shopping areas of Oxford and Bond Streets while Knightsbridge is just across the park. The area is also well served by public transport. More to the point, there is a large regeneration project well underway in the area, re-opening old canals, building new offices for large corporations intermingled with residential appartments, waterside restaurants and piazzas. Kathy may be coming a little early to reap the full benefit of all this - though the first new residents move in in October, it will be nearer the middle of 2003/early 2004 before the changes can really be appreciated, but believe me, Paddington is going to be quite something. In the meantime, she will find a very cosmopolitan, lively area which is perfectly safe if one takes the precautions normal in the heart of one of the world's great capitals.

I live in Paddington. It isn't the prettiest area in town, but is so very close to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Being 15 minutes from Heathrow is a huge advantage. You're also within (long) walking distance, 15 minute bus ride, of Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street - the main shopping areas and just across the park from Harrods and Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. It is really an excellent place to be in, so central. But there aren't many nice restaurants - a lot of Paddington's food places are touristy and just not nice at all, because there are a lot of cheap hotels around there. That doesn't mean there's nowhere at all, but don't just go into somewhere and hope for the best - look up the suggestions on cntraveller and concierge.com.<BR><BR>And London is not a scary place. <BR>Eat out in Notting Hill or Soho, and take night buses or the tube home. These are always crowded, and you won't be worried at all about not being safe. Changing areas is not necessary. <BR><BR>Oh, one food exception - genuinely FABulous dim sum at the Royal China restaurant at the bottom of Queensway. It's fairly cheap, kind of posh-1970s looking, and really <BR>really good.

Alas Kate (mascara), you are too late. The naysayers have convinced Kathy that Paddington is an undesirable area and she has started a new thread asking about hotels in Marylebone and South Ken/Earls Court. So far none of these “helpful” people who know the cheaper and better located hotels have responded.

Kathy,<BR><BR>My husband and I stayed in Paddington a few years ago and it was fine. It was a little deserted later at night which made me feel a bit odd but it just seemed to be as others have said, a bit gritty.<BR><BR>We had a very cool experience. There was a neighborhood bar we stopped into and 3 customers were playing instruments and singing Irish songs. Very fun!<BR><BR>I would only change hotels if you want something more upscale.<BR><BR>Have a great time.<BR><BR>JB

Same xxx again... Royal Lancaster is a very nice hotel, but it is near Hyde Park/Lancaster Gate - it is not located near Praed Street... as I said before, nicer and less nice areas.

Kathy,<BR><BR>The area around the Quality Hotel Paddington is safe. The hotel sits off the main road in Talbot Square. We (3 women) stayed there in March without feeling insecure about safety. Granted it may not be the most beautiful part of London but it is not what I consider "seedy" by any means. It was a nice walk to Kensington Gardens from the hotel. We came and went at all hours, even late at night. I think you would be quite safe in this area if you choose to stay at this hotel.