King’s Cross and Paddington stations are some of the most popular travel hubs in the whole of the English capital and visitors to London are more likely than not to traverse either one (or both) of these destinations during their time in the city.
Be it a flying visit as travellers make their way to some other excellent destination in the city, or a more considered arrival for those hoping to explore the local area in greater detail, here we offer some great travel tips for Park Grand London hotel guests to enjoy.
Two of London’s busiest transport hubs
With a combined footfall of 31.3 million and 35.7 million passengers respectively in 2015, these are some of the busiest stations in the whole of London and see visitors from far and wide.
Separated by just 2.5 miles, King’s Cross and Paddington stations serve one of the most populated and popular areas of the English capital in terms of tourism, with a wealth of excellent attractions, pay on arrival London hotels, restaurants and sights to see in their local area.
Kings Cross Station
Kings Cross Station is one of the largest national and international transport terminuses in London. With Thameslink and Great Northern Rail services running from Kings Cross, passengers can travel from this Central North London 12 platform station to Cambridge, Welwyn Garden City, Harringay, Enfield and even as for as Leeds, Newcastle and Scotland.
Opened in 1851 and originally designed by local engineer George Turnbull, Kings Cross Station is located across the road from St Pancras International Station. This adjacent station operates the Eurostar trains to Paris and other destinations in Europe, making it one of the key transport services for European visitors to London who prefer to use rail travel to air.
Paddington Station
Paddington Station is another major transport hub in London, serving much of the West of England through the Great Western Rail services as well as London focused Thames Valley stations. Paddington Station also runs direct services to Heathrow Airport, making it a one-stop entrance into London for international travellers the world over.
With the idyllic West London area of Little Venice and Hyde Park just a stone’s throw away, visitors in the area can be treated to many Paddington Hotels and restaurants in the area, as well as newly developed business and entertainment districts. Whilst much of the Paddington Basin has seen a regeneration in the last decade, the station itself hasn’t lost its historic charm, which dates back to 1853 when it was built by iconic architect Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Travelling between the two then can be a common occurrence, but visitors hoping to head from one station to the other might find this a chore as they have to navigate the busy streets and not know where they are going.
However, in order to make the whole process that much easier, here we offer a short breakdown of the best ways to travel between the two stations:
Travel by car
Motorists hoping to travel by car during their time in the city can get from King’s Cross to Paddington in just 16 minutes.
Starting from Paddington station, drivers should head north-east on Praed Street (A4205) for approximately 0.3 miles, before continuing on to Chapel Street (A501) and travelling for a further 0.2 miles.
They should then turn right onto Marylebone Road (A501) and continue following the route for 1.1 miles. Motorists should then keep right to continue on to Euston Road (A501). They will then reach King’s Cross station in approximately 0.9 miles.
Though travelling by car will be the quickest route on paper, it will also mean you have to pay a Congestion Charge of up to £11.50 between 7 am and 6 pm from Monday to Friday. However, to make this easier, you can set up an AutoPay account that tallies up your Central London travel automatically.
Underground journey options
For individuals keen to avoid the stresses of travelling by road, the London Underground network could be the perfect transport option, with swift and easy access to all parts of the city available.
Travellers can make use of three possible routes via the London Underground between Paddington-Underground station and King’s Cross, they are:
Take a short walk from Paddington railway station to Paddington-Underground station (six minutes) before travelling five stops on the Hammersmith & City line towards Barking. From here, alight the Tube train at King’s Cross Underground and it is one minutes’ walk to the final destination of King’s Cross railway station.
Take the Tube link from Paddington station for one stop on the District line towards Edgware Road. From here, swap to the Circle line heading towards Edgware Road and travel for a further four stops. This will bring travellers to King’s Cross railway station.
Take the Tube link from Paddington station for three stops on the Bakerloo line heading towards Elephant & Castle. At Baker Street station, swap to the Hammersmith & City line and travel for a further three stops to reach King’s Cross railway station.
Individuals hoping to make an alternative journey from King’s Cross to Paddington should simply reverse these instructions.
Bus links and other public transport
London’s guests hoping to make use of local bus services can also take a swift and simple bus journey from Paddington to King’s Cross via the 205 service, which picks up every seven minutes and takes approximately 28 minutes to reach its destination.
Full details of all public travel options for visitors to the English capital can be found by heading to the official website of Transport for London. Here can be found details of station opening times, possible service disruptions and available routes.
Great sights to see near King’s Cross station
For all those hoping to spend a bit more time in the area of King’s Cross, here we offer some top recommendations of great things to see and do in the local area:
Grant Museum of Zoology (0.8 miles, seven minutes’ travel via public transport)
Based in the University College of London, the Grant Museum of Zoology is one of the top museums in the world for the study of animal specimens. Started in 1828 by Dr Robert Edmond Grant, the museum is one of the oldest collections of zoological items in the world, many of which are incredibly rare and, in some cases, extinct.
Charles Dickens Museum (0.7 miles, eight minutes)
Based in Hollyburn’s 48 Doughty Street, the Charles Dickens Museum is on the site of Dickens own Georgian terraced house where he lived from 1837 to 1839. The museum includes manuscripts and letters that were written by Dickens, as well as the famous Court Suit and Sword, the only item of clothing worn by Dickens which is still in existence.
The British Museum (one mile, ten minutes)
One of the largest museums of its kind, the British Museum was opened in 1753 to house the collections of Sir Hans Sloane, a renowned doctor and antique collector. With a rich exhibition range varying from ancient artworks to archaeological finds, the British Museum is one of the largest of its kind in the world, offering 8 million objects, 75000 square meters within 94 different galleries.
Regent’s Park (1.2 miles, nine minutes)
One of London’s most famous Royal Parks, Regent’s Park is popular with both locals and tourists alike on account of holding two major tourist attractions within it. Alongside its expansive green space and the likes of the horizon-broadening Primrose Hill, Regents Park is also home to London Zoo and the Regents Park Open Air Theatre. Whilst the theatre is only open during the summer months, London Zoo is the oldest in the world, and offers a wide variety of animals in safe and comfortable habitats from all across the globe.
Southbank Centre (2.1 miles, 22 minutes)
The South Bank Centre is one of the most iconic sites on the River Thames and offers an eclectic programme of artistic events and workshops. From the art exhibits of the Hayward Gallery to the centre’s own performance and gig spaces, the Southbank Centre, or Royal Festival Hall as it is otherwise known also includes a rich mix of community-focused workshops, free performances and installations as well as arts and crafts markets and fairs throughout the year.
Tate Modern (2.1 miles, 20 minutes)
The Tate Modern is one of the most popular art museums in London. In part because of its striking building in the repurposed Millbank Power Station and in part due to its eclectic and revolutionary modern and contemporary art exhibits, this seven-level art gallery offers plenty of free permanent exhibits alongside its temporary staging’s.
Coca-Cola London Eye (2.3 miles, 25 minutes)
For those who are visiting London with an eye to getting your bearings, look no further than the London Eye. This revolutionary Ferris wheel overlooking the River Thames was built to celebrate the turn of the millennium and at its peak reaches 135 metres high. With 32 capsules fitting 25 people each, the London Eye provides breathtaking views across the cityscape.
Excellent attractions near Paddington station
Conversely, if the area of Paddington is more to your liking, why not check out some of these great local attractions that visitors will not want to miss:
Hyde Park (0.5 miles, 11 minutes’ travel via public transport)
Hyde Park is probably the most famous of the 7 royal parks. Located close to some of the best Premier Club Reward hotels, these 350 acres, the 316-year-old park also holds the Serpentine Lake and two art gallery spaces, the Serpentine Sackler and Pavilion. These free to visit galleries host exhibitions ranging the contemporary art mediums of film, painting, installations and sculpture.
Kensington Palace (one mile, 18 minutes)
Kensington Palace is the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and host exhibitions exploring the history for the royal family. Overlooking the serene Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace was built in 1605 and is one of the most popular tourist destinations for royal family fans.
Harrods (1.5 miles, 20 minutes)
A prime destination for shopping in London, Harrods is one of the largest department stores not only in London but in the country. Spanning over 1.1 million square feet, Harrods houses 330 different departments full to the brim with boutique foodstuffs, fashion items and homeware. With its history spanning 171 years, Harrods has also been the holder of Royal Warrants and is the perfect shop near Paddington Station to pick up a London souvenir.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street is definitely one for fans of the fictional detective. Located at the house next door to where Homes himself was written to live, this museum explores the world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional detective and the Victorian styled house he would have inhabited.
