We are looking for one night in London on the way home from Ireland in September. The hotels around Paddington Station look convenient for the Heathrow Express, but should I worry about needing to be out and about at about 5:00 am in the area? Some people have said the neighbourhood is on the "seedy" or "iffy" side. Any cause for concern?
We just want a convenient spot for an afternoon and evening in London and an easy connection to Heathrow at the crack of dawn to fly home!

Alison

No - Paddington is not a dangerous area. Just not overly nice and not convenient for most sightseeing.

But to be close to the HEX for an early a.m. trip to Heathrow, it is just fine.

Couldn't agree more. I use it all the time for that purpose.

Try the Quality Hotel

Yes, try the Quality Hotel Paddington. Very clean, helpful staff, and very convenient to Paddington Station. We stayed there (3 women) and we came & went at all hours, no problems whatsoever.

Hi - I have stayed in the Paddington area on every trip to London and I find it, on the contrary, to be very convenient to London, as well as having the added convenience of the Paddington station. Hotel prices in this area are usually very good value for money as are places to eat (and good pubs).

On my last trip my husband fell ill during the night (about 1am) and my husband and I walked to the St. Mary's hospital, waited around there for a couple of hours till we saw a doctor, and then walked back to our hotel (about 4am) all without any form of incident or seeing anyone "seedy" about. I have walked around by myself at night. Obviously the normal rules of common sense applies, but I think Paddington is great.

Yay, I like Paddington, and find it very convenient for tube travel to anywhere else you might want to go to. Several good budget B&B hotels in the area - Norfolk Gardens, Praed St, Suffolk Gardens etc. There's an excellent Greek fish & chippie too, but don't be taken in by the Dickens Hotel which advertises best fish & chips in London!

Thanks for all your help. I am investigating the Quality Hotel Paddington, although it gets some very mixed reviews on Tripadvisor.

Alison

Don't know what your budget is, but the best and most convenient hotel is the Paddington Hilton - very newly reopened after a major refurbishment, with an internal walkway directly into Paddington Station, so you don't have to venture outside into the dark night at all

I and two other women stayed at the Quality Hotel in Paddington and found the hotel to be clean, the staff extremely nice and helpful and we had an excellent stay at this hotel. We were out late at night and walked back to the hotel with no problems. We found the Paddington area a convenient area to in which to stay. We plan on another London trip in 2005 and hope to stay at the Quality Hotel Paddington.
SusiQ

Anyone ever stayed at the Best Western Paddington Court Hotel?

Bill