why is there 2 paddington stations?

Question

http://cache.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/colourmap.pdf

i need to go to the one thats got the rail way station plllllllllllllllllllllllllllease

thanks

so which is the best one to get off if i want to be nearest the actual paddington railway station??

Answer 1

There are actually THREE stations bearing the name "Paddington", each connected to the other by underground passages.

There is the main line station, built by Brunel for God's Wonderful Railway (sometimes called the Great Western Railway). This station is at street level and is primarily used by Great Western, although the Hammersmith and City underground line also uses one corner of it.

The second is that used by the Circle and District underground lines. This station is slightly below street level - you see the sky from the eastern end of the platforms.

The third station is used by the Bakerloo tube line and is deep in tunnel below.

Answer 2

What is confusing you is the London Underground map, I think. There are several Underground lines serving Paddington. The Hammersmith and City line (salmon pink on the map) has its own station within the main Paddington station. There is a station on the District/Circle line which is just behind the main station and the Bakerloo tube line which is connected to it by escalators. Any of these lines will get you to the main line station - it just depends where you are travelling from as to which one to use. As you have also asked about travelling from Liverpool Street you will use the Circle line. (the yellow one)

Answer 3

Don't worry, it's all part of the same station, but it is a bit of a walk from one tube line to the other, and to the mainline, but it is well enough signposted