picking up elderly aunt from Paddington Station

[Mercedes]

Hi

I'm due to pick up my 80 year old aunt from Paddington station this Saturday. I've just searched for the parking facilities and it says it 1 km from the concourse. Not sure if my aunt is up to walking this far.

It may be easier for me to park in the streets close to the station. I don't know this area . do any mumsnetters live nearby or know about parking restrictions who can advise what's my best options?

Help.

Stick the station postcode (w2 1hq) into here. Looks as though there are a few bays here and there in the streets round the station.

Do you think your aunt could climb a rather narrow set of stone stairs?

If so, park in Eastbourne Terrace - there are some short-stay pay spaces. Come out of the station half way up Platform 1 to the taxi road, cross the taxi road and climb up the stairs to Eastbourne Terrace.

If not (and they are a bit daunting), park perhaps on Spring Street? Walk past the ticket offices, through the double doors towards the station Sainsburys, then before you get there, turn right out to the taxi road. Don't cross the taxi road, but carry on walking towards the front of the station, cross Praed Street and jink right to Spring Street. Again, a few pay bays there.

Caution; I haven't driven in that area for a few years, but visited a few weeks ago, and Google Street view seems to confirm my memory of where to park.

I had a similar problem when collecting a relative from London Victoria. I phoned the station, and spoke to someone who worked there. He was really helpful, and told me the best places to (in my case) wait and collect my relative. Might be worth trying if the stairs that joanofarchitrave mentioned are too much.

Thank you for all your advice. I think i'll turn up earlier and drive round till i get a nearby parking space.

have a look here www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/7043.aspx ,phone numbers and map of station .
They suggest car pick up near station 1 - this is the access road ,parallel and adjacent to Eastbourne Terrace where you can drop people off and pick them up .
Train companies do assisted travel and I'm sure if you ring you can arrange for your aunt to be met and escorted to pick up point .
Though you may have to drive round block a few times .
Good luck .