The station for the west
Paddington is where you catch Great Western Railway trains to Reading, Oxford, Bath, Bristol, Devon, Cornwall and South Wales. It is also on the Elizabeth line and is the London end of the Heathrow Express.
From Richmond, there is no direct train to Paddington. You would usually take the District line and change, or go via Waterloo and cross London. A Richmond to Paddington station taxi is often the easiest way to get there with luggage, especially for an early train.
Journey time and route
Paddington is in west London, which helps. Allow 30–50 minutes. The most common route is north to the A4 at Chiswick, then east along the A4 through Hammersmith and Kensington, before heading north to the station. When the A4 is busy, the driver may use other routes through Shepherd's Bush.
The quickest times are early mornings and weekends. The A4 is busy during weekday rush hours.
Depending on the route, your journey may or may not pass through the Congestion Charge zone. Your quote shows how any charge is handled.
Drop-off at Paddington
Paddington has set areas for dropping off and collecting passengers. The rules around the station change from time to time, so the driver will use the most suitable permitted point on the day. Allow a few extra minutes to walk to your platform, as the station is large.
Paddington or straight to Heathrow?
Some people think about going to Paddington and taking the Heathrow Express. From Richmond, that is usually the long way round, as Heathrow is much closer to you than Paddington is. A direct car is normally quicker and avoids a change. See our Richmond to Heathrow taxi page.
Pick-ups from Paddington
Coming back from the west country or Wales? Book a pick-up from Paddington to take you home. To help the driver:
- Give your train's arrival time and where it started.
- Agree a meeting point inside or outside the station.
- Keep your phone on in case your train is delayed.
Choosing a car
A saloon is fine for most trips. If you are heading off on holiday with big cases, choose an MPV. For groups, our 6 seater taxi page explains MPV bookings.
From around the area
The drive to Paddington is shortest from the northern part of our area. From Kew you are just minutes from the A4 at Chiswick. From Teddington or Hampton, allow longer.
Other London stations
For trains to the north, see King's Cross and Euston. For the south coast, see Waterloo.
