Paddington idea for late night wait

[MigralevePink]

Not sure that title is very clear!

Around Easter, I am travelling out of Paddington on a late night train. I’m arriving at Euston and will have my tween with me who is slightly nervous in cities! I don’t want to cut it too fine crossing London, plus I may be forced (by price!) to get a train arriving several hours too early into Euston. Obviously I can get a meal somewhere, however, I need to fill the time and be safe until 10.30pm
when we can use the station lounge.

any smart ideas of what we could do to fill the time and stay safe?

If you do get some time to spare at Paddington station - go and see The Man in the Clock - it's literally 2 mins walk from the station on the Elizabeth Line side. A nice quirky thing to see.

London is a very safe city if you have basic street awareness. It’s a good opportunity for teaching this to your apprehensive tween.

If you have time to fill, you could get the bus that connects Euston with Paddington. Sit on the top deck and see some of London along the Euston Road.

There are various restaurants practically in Paddington station. Not right in the station, but in the new bit slightly to the east on Praed Street. Wahaca is great food and atmosphere for example, and you could while away a couple of hours eating an evening meal there.

To be more adventurous, there are some amazing restaurants - Indian and south East Asian - behind Euston , along Dundas Street. But you’d need to be a bit more adventurous than you appear to be.

Are you sure about those lounge times? I thought you could get into the lounge from 8 or 9pm and then board the train from 10.30pm.

I would just get dinner and then go to the theatre. Most 7.30pm productions will finish between 10 and 10.30pm (you can check the specific running time).

https://www.todaytix.com/?location=london

That was on the basis that your departure is at 11.45pm and that 10.30pm was just the lounge opening time.

Bite the bullet and do a day in London. Leaving luggage won’t be cheap, so make sure you have just one suitcase. Go straight from Euston to Paddington - catch the Hammersmith and City, or the Circle line (Pink/ yellow) from Euston Square. They don’t go from London Euston, annoyingly.

Then brave the bus and go back east to the British Museum. Enough there to keep a tween engrossed for hours. Also a reasonable cafeteria.Then dinner in Chinatown, or loads of lovely cheap restaurants in Bloomsbury - I can give you a list- and then the Elizabeth line from Tottenham Court Road to London Paddington

Sometimes London Zoo is open late. It's not far from Paddington.

Just checked and you can get into the lounge on Platform 1 from 9pm and into your cabin on the train from 10.30pm.

If you go from Euston to Paddington to drop your luggage first, you should have time to see some nearby sights or catch a film then get dinner. Kensington Gardens and Palace are walkable. My DS likes Wahaca that an earlier poster mentioned and the one in Paddington looks like it is just beside the station.

That sounds really exciting. I'm jealous. Have a great trip

Thank you! That does make life easier.

so many good suggestions including the bus.

I would go to see a West End show, there are loads of them so I’m sure something your tween will enjoy.

Or depending on your arrival time/day you could also do the Paddington Bear Experience. Last entry is (I think) 5pm weekday and 7pm weekend.

I’m jealous of your sleeper train plans! I always thought a sleeper train sounds so exciting, very Agatha Christie! It’s on my travel wish list.

You don’t need to trail to Paddington to drop your luggage (I assume you don’t have mountains of big suitcases since you’re getting the sleeper train later). There are places all over London where you can leave your luggage securely for a small fee (usually around £3 per bag). Download the app Stasher.

For example, if you decide to go to a West End show, hop on the Northern line (when you get into Euston) and get off at Leicester Square. Stasher have an agreement with the Premier Inn Leicester Square so you can book your bags in there (and collect them on your way to Paddington later). It will cost you less than a tenner and saves you doubling back. Walk to the theatre from Leicester Square. Have something to eat and/or see a show. Collect bags. Get on the Liz line from Tottenham Court Road and you’ll be at Paddington in no time at all. Lovely evening all round, job done :-)

BTW, Paddington Bear experience not just for little kids - I took my 78 year old mother and she loved it!

I've done exactly this. The sleeper is great (if a touch unnecessary...) There is a left luggage called Excess Baggage on platform 12 in Paddington station which is open till late (check the times carefully when you put the case in). Travel over to Paddington as soon as you arrive in London and drop the case. Go wherever you want in London for the afternoon and early evening.

Come back to Little Venice (out the back of Paddington station) and have a late dinner at one of the restaurants. The pub in Paddington will also be open and might be cheaper. It's up the escalators in the food area near the main entrance)

After dinner, pick up the case and go in to enjoy the waiting room. It was Queen Victoria's personal waiting room at Paddington and very nice (make sure you go past the bit with the coffee machines and onto the waiting room proper to see its full glory).

Sleeper trains are fab but they do give you a long waiting period late at night and often a long time in the morning to kill before you can access your accommodation. You are doing the right thing by planning how to spend that time as it can feel very long. Save an activity to bring out to fill the gap after dinner (I would brazenly do art and craft at a pub table with kids that age)

Go to Wagamama by the canal and eat very slowly, then have a walk up and down the canal. There's lots to look at.

I was going to say Little Venice as someone else has done. If you exit Paddington at the back, Paddington basin is good for restaurants and you can walk or take a trip along the river.

I’d go and see a show, it doesn’t have to be expensive, you can normally get some good deals on the day if you’re not too fussed what you see.