Paddington Tube station has got a new entrance – as part of a wider redevelopment that will eventually include a rooftop bar and restaurant.
The new entrance and new ticket hall are located under the 18-storey Paddington Square development and offer the first step-free access to the Bakerloo line platforms.
Previously known as the Cube, the tower block was developed by Sellar, the firm behind the Shard at London Bridge station. It sits to the east of the mainline train station.
In the first part of 2025 the Paddington Square development will be completed when a rooftop bar and restaurant opens.
This will offer panoramic views of central and west London – and the Grade 1-listed train station – and will be accessed directly by two glass elevators on the exterior of the building.
The Paddington Square building, which is owned by Great Western Developments, includes 33 retail units and 14 storeys of office space.
Outlets already trading include Wahaca, Gail’s, Pret,Kate Spade jewellers, Russell and Bromley shoe shop, Starbucks and Krispy Crème.
Market Halls, which will include seven international “street food”-style cuisines over two floors, will open early next year.
The new Tube station entrance and ticket hall opens onto Paddington Square, a paved area that has transformed the “ramp” access to the train station.
The wider development is owned and funded by Great Western Developments. The new Tube station entrance was secured as part of the planning permission for the Cube and was built at no cost to Transport for London.
Previously, Bakerloo passengers had to contend with a narrow tunnel that was often jammed with tourists dragging suitcases on their way to or from Heathrow airport.
This ticket hall – which requires passengers from the train station concourse to descend a staircase – remains open and will be used primarily by people changing to or from the District and Circle lines.
Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express services both operate from Paddington, in addition to Great Western Railway mainline trains.
Paddington railway station is the second busiest in the country, with 59.2m passengers in 2022/23– making it second only to Liverpool Street, which saw 80.4m passengers over the same period.
Both stations saw usage soar due to the popularity of the Elizabeth line and the gradual return of travellers post-pandemic.
There are 11 ticket gates – compared with five in the older ticket hall. The new ticket hall is built on the site of a former Royal Mail sorting office. Its concrete foundations go 26 metres below ground.
More than a third of the 272 Underground stations – a total of 92 - are step-free.
Pre-pandemic, the cost of constructing the Cube - which faced a court battle because of its impact on the wider area - was put at £825m, including about £65m on the new Tube access.
The Cube was suggested after initial proposals for a 72-storey “Paddington Pole” sparked even greater controversy.
A spokeswoman for Great Western Developments declined to provide an up-to-date figure for the cost of the wider Paddington Square development
Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "Bringing more step-free access to London’s transport network is a key priority, especially at busy hubs.”
Alex Williams, chief customer and strategy officer at TfL, said: "The hugely improved ticket hall at Paddington Tube station will transform the journeys of millions of our Bakerloo line customers, making their journeys quicker, easier and more comfortable.
“The previous Bakerloo line ticket hall was dated, congested and not fully accessible. The new ticket hall is a clear demonstration of how we can work with developers to transform public services.”
Justin Brand, a director of Great Western Developments, said Paddington Square had a “vibrant mix of retail, dining, working and leisure spaces”, with more than 30 shops and restaurants.
James Sellar, chief executive of Sellar, said: "The opening of the new Bakerloo line ticket hall at Paddington marks a significant achievement for both Paddington Square and the wider regeneration of the area.
By collaborating with Great Western Developments, Network Rail, and TfL, we have successfully delivered step-free access and relieved congestion at one of London’s busiest transport hubs.”
