THE CONCOURSE |
DESCRIBE ONLINE |
Apart from having a range of features around the outside, there are many essential features within this large space, which I've attempted to divide into manageable sections.
Rows of pillars (about 5 metres apart), continuing southeast from platforms 3, 7 and 8 divide the concourse into four sections, which I'll describe separately. An imaginary line is drawn southwest/northeast, between the blocks of shops towards the platforms (northwest side) and the other features to the southeast side of the concourse.
Since our original survey, a gate line has been constructed to include platforms 10 - 12, within the concourse and the old gate line on the bridge has been moved to also include these platforms. Details of the gate line within the concourse lie beyond the scope of our London Underground survey of 2008, though you can walk around this, beyond the beginning of platforms 10 - 12 to reach the entrance to the Underground station.
Going Clockwise from the West Corner, from which platform 1 leaves.
|
platform 1 metal barriers across end of tracks for platforms 1 and 2 platforms 2 and 3 barriers across end of tracks for platforms 3 and 4 platforms 4 and 5 barriers across end of tracks for platforms 5 and 6 platforms 6 and 7 barriers across end of tracks for platforms 7 and 8 platforms 8 and 9, wider island platform barriers across end of tracks for platforms 9 and 10,large gap gate line, details beyond our London Underground survey of 2008 platform 10 bike park in middle of island platform platform 11 |
The tracks for platforms 11 and 12 extend southeast towards the southeast side of the concourse leaving a relatively narrow passage across the end of this bay.
There are boxes with rails round then a large girder at the start of this area of the concourse. There are display boards with departure screens above, to the southwest of the boxes and southeast of the large girder.
There are two ticket machines at the southeast end of platform 11.
|
maps and display boards platform 12 |
At the northeast side of this area is a shuttered door, for staff only, southeast of the left luggage and lost property office on platform 12.
wall veers south with two Lloyds TSB cash points and veers southwest to become the southeast side of this section of the concourse.
|
blank door defibrillator Nero Express, cafe - chairs outside passage to Underground Taste, sandwich bar |
The wall veers east, a row of bollards runs southwest, across the end of the slip way from Praed Street which heads northeast.
The row of bollards heads southeast to the southeast wall of the concourse.
| WH Smith |
A glass wall runs southwest along the southeast side of the concourse, with glass doors through to the refreshments area.
|
under bridge with escalator to Reef Bar double doors to refreshments area single door to refreshments area under bridge with escalator to first floor of refreshments area Dixons Accessorize Currency Express exit door from refreshments area south corner |
|
door into ticket office FastTicket machine 2 ticket machines door to ticket office 2 ticket machines, serving Mainline and Underground 4 doors into ticket office kiosk blank door passage to ladies toilet and way out Costa Coffee start of platform 1 |
We identified blocks of kiosks/shops opposite:
There's a large information board, opposite the end of the track for platform 5. this is cross-shaped with four boards jutting out from a central post, with timetables etc.
Note that the bay for platforms 11 - 12 extends some distance southeast of those for the remaining platforms accessed via the concourse. There's an entrance to Paddington Underground station opposite the end of this bay which brings you near the Bakerloo Line portion of the station, whilst the main entrance brings you nearer the Circle and District lines.
| Paperchase, entrance opposite Costa Coffee |
| Thorntons |
|
Thorntons Information National Rail enquiries |
| Paperchase |
|
First Great Western ticket machine Sockshop, occupies northwest section of the block |
|
Sockshop First Great Western ticket machine |
| office for Hilton plus hotel and theatre reservations, windows on both southwest and northwest sides. |
|
3 Heathrow Express ticket machines Heathrow Express information |
| Heathrow Express windows |
| blank to Hilton office |
| adverts |
| blank |
|
Burger King Upper Crust |
|
Upper Crust Delice de France |
| Ladbrokes |
| blank |
|
Thresher The Link |
|
The Link Ladbrokes |
| Boots |
| blank |
| blank |
As mentioned above, I'm dividing this into four sections according to the rows of pillars which extend from the platforms. For want of any other suggestions, I'm calling these the southwest, second, third and northeast sections.
There's a pillar with display boards, in the middle - northwest/southeast.
Southeast of this pillar are two small kiosks Millies Cookies, southeast of this is Sweet Factory, both of these could be temporary.
Slightly northeast of the line between these kiosks is the escalator going up southeast to the first floor of the refreshments area.
Near the north corner of this area is the First Great Western information desk, possibly temporary.
This southwest area is bounded by a row of pillars (about five metres apart) which continues from platform 3.
There are 3 back-to-back phones within this row of pillars, towards the southeast end of the row.
At the south corner is a kiosk, Souperdouper, soup shop.
The central, northwest side of this area is seating all seats face southwest.
There's an information display board in the middle of this area.
Towards the southeast side is the entrance to the Underground station. This is a rectangular structure with the Steps and escalators accessed from the northwest side, i.e. directly from the concourse. A glass barrier runs round the remaining three sides of this structure.
|
up escalator Steps, divided into 3 sets down escalator |
|
trolley point 2 pillars with phones on north and south sides, 45 degrees |
| corridor (about 1.5 metres wide) between the glass wall of the concourse and the glass barrier around the stair well |
|
2 pillars with phones of south and north trolley point |
Northeast of this line, central (northwest/southeast) is an information pillar.
At the time of our survey the north corner of this area was occupied by an exhibition.
Within the row of pillars bounding this second area to the northeast are 3 back-to-back phones and a Bagel Factory kiosk at the southeast end. These pillars are in line with those on platform 7, about five metres apart.
Northeast of the pillars, toward the southeast side is the escalator, going up southeast to the Reef Bar.
In a line, northeast of the escalator are two kiosks; the Paddington Bear, to the northwest is a gift shop whilst that to the southeast is Argentis, jewelery stall.
In the middle of the northwest side is a pillar with information boards.
Towards the east corner of this area is another pillar with information boards.
This third area is bounded by the row of pillars (about five metres apart) continuing from platform 8. There are benches between two of those pillars, toward the northwest side.
This contains a large kiosk in the middle, opposite the exit into the slip way parallel to Praed Street.
|
ticket machine 3 photo booths |
|
blank door lift going down, suggest not for public use |
|
Classi Clean, dry cleaners blank door ticket machine |
|
4 ticket sales windows information window |
There are seats towards the northeast side of this area, facing northeast.
There are information boards between these and platform 11.
© 2004, Terry Robinson