Moli Life Magazine

Welcome to London!

We here at MoLi hope that you’ll enjoy your stay – however long or short. To help make your life that little bit simpler while you’re with us, we’ve put together a useful guide to the Paddington area of the city.

It’s mostly residential around these parts, and (due to the proximity of the train station) can be quite touristey. The rail itself had been engineered in 1854, and has since lent its name to Paddington Bear – a beloved childhood character, famous for his battered suitcase and fondness for marmalade sandwiches. Maybe it’s this association which has rendered Paddington a safe and quiet area to live.

In this guide you’ll find everything from the practical (how to get around) to the pleasantly surprising (where to find amazing pasta). For any further questions or advice, please email reservations@houseofmoli.com or phone +44 (0) 203 051 6819.

Paddington station is not only the London connection point for many rail stations and airports, but also an underground hub, providing links to a whopping 4 tube lines. With the flat itself only a few minute’s walk from the station, travelling to and from it is a breeze. Here’s how:

From airport to Paddington

From Gatwick, the Gatwick Express train (www.gatwickexpress.com) will take you to London Victoria. From there, take the Victoria line to Oxford Circus, and the Bakerloo line to Paddington.

A Stansted Express train (www.stanstedexpress.com) will take you from Stansted airport to Tottenham Hale station. To get to Paddington, take the south-bound Victoria line until Oxford Circus, and then the Bakerloo line to Paddington.

Heathrow airport is probably easiest. The Heathrow Express train (www.heathrowexpress.com) takes only 15 minutes to get directly to Paddington station. Otherwise you can also take the Piccadilly line into town: change at Gloucester Road for the Circle line, which will take you to Paddington station.

Finally, the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) will take you from the City airport to Tower Gateway station, from where you can take the Circle line all the way to Paddington. The DLR is part of the underground system, so you can use your normal Oyster or underground ticket to access it.

From Paddington to everywhere
The easiest (and least confusing) way to reach other parts of town from Paddington station is to use the underground. The Bakerloo line will take you to central London (e.g. shopping epicentre Oxford Circus), while the District line is great for cultural explorations of the Kensington area and the South bank.

The circle line also provides great connections to every part of the city, from the Canary Wharf financial district to the gig-and-bar nightlife up north. Finally, the Hammersmith & City line, which traverses the city completely, will take you anywhere between the Shepherd’s Bush mammoth shopping centre in the west, to the far east reaches of London.

Also to consider…

Of course, not everybody is a fan of the underground system – sometimes it’s just nicer to sit on the breezy top floor of a bus, or take control of your destiny in a car. Plenty of bus routes bend their way around Paddington station and, although usually take longer than the underground, tend to be cheaper (about £1 per journey with Oyster).

Route 23 will take you from right outside the flat to central Regent Street; or route 436 outside of Paddington station for going south towards Victoria and the Thames. For more detailed information, visit www.tfl.gov.uk, which will help you plan a specific bus journey.

For car hire, some reputable nearby services include:

• Euro Express Car Hire / Redan Place, W2 4SA / tel: +44 (0) 207 221 5221
• Hertz Rent-a-Car / 35, Edgware Road, W2 2JE / tel: +44 (0) 870 846 0011
• Alpha Car Rental/ 26, Westbourne Grove, W2 5RH / tel: +44 (0) 870 850

Culture Vulture  Now that you’ve got your bearings, it might be time to explore the city. Whether you’re after an outdoorsy walk around town, or just want to see something unusual without having to travel for miles, Paddington’s got something to suit everyone. Here are some places to check out:

Hyde Park is the obvious first choice for first-time visitors and regular guests to the city alike. A 350-acre green in the centre of London makes it a perfect chill-out space. Pack your rollerblades,

take a picnic basket and give your sinuses a well-earned rest while watching people and squirrels. And all within a short walk away!
The closest entrance into the park is via Bayswater Road, just off Gloucester Terrace.

Perhaps not quite a walking distance, but still within easy reach, the Sherlock Holmes Museum is definitely worth a mention as the area’s most notable tourist attraction. Sir Conan Doyle’s creation comes alive at the supposed address he lived. Visit for a brief transportation into Victorian London of popular fiction.
221b Baker St, NW1 6XE

The Notting Hill Arts Club is a curiosity for aficionados of the current Britpop scene revival. Gallery by day and club by night, this was the place which launched Lilly Allen and La Roux. Resident DJs and regular theme nights (such as reggaeton “Sweet Memory Sounds” and self-explanatory Funk Royale) make this the place to be for the cool crowd.
21 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JQ / tel: 020 7460 4459

Another site worth checking out in Notting Hill is the Museum of Brands - a curious exhibition of consumer culture through the ages. Age-old wrappers, tins and toys are enough to bring a nostalgic tear to the eyes of older visitors, while leaving the younger ones wondering how any of it was achieved without Photoshop.
2 Colville Mews, W11 2AR / tel: 020 7908 0880

For something genuinely unusual, head down to Edgware Road for a visit to the Subway Gallery. It does what it says on the tin: a 1960s underground kiosk now converted to host all sorts of creative, unusual and thought-provoking art. Open from 11am to 7pm every day (except Sunday).

Edgware Rd/Harrow Rd intersection, W2 1DX / tel: 07811 286503

Paddington may not be the go-to place for haute cuisine the way, say, Soho is – but there are plenty of places to have a square meal or a relaxing drink. Here are our top picks within easy walking distance:

Gyngleboy, despite being named after an antiquated type of beer glass, is actually a low-key wine bar. An extensive list of wines to suit all tastes and budgets perfectly accompanies a simple English menu with a focus on salads.
27 Spring Street, W2 1JA / tel: 0872 148 3305

The Bridge House, located straight on the river bank, has the advantage of being both a pub and a theatre. Take your pick from the typical English menu, then head upstairs to see some award-winning, longest-running-in-Britain, side-splitting comedy.
13 Westbourne Terrace Road, W2 6NG / tel: 0207 266 4326

Italian restaurant Bizzarro is anything but. Very modestly priced (mains are under £10), it boasts a wide menu of Mediterranean classics, all ending in –enne and –iutto. A terrace for dining in fresh air and regular live band appearances really seal the deal for this venue.
18-22 Craven Road, W2 3PX / tel: 0871 971 7276

The Hilton Hotel just opposite Paddington station actually hides a stylish little place called Steam Bar. Transforming into a club on the weekends, it attracts stylish, young people in the area. Although a bit pricier than most, it’s almost worth it for the eclectic mix of R’n’B and Afro-Caribbean beats.
Hilton Hotel Paddington, 1 Eastbourne Terrace, W2 / tel: 0871 223 6107

For a super, top-of-the-line dining experience, head down to Gordon Ramsay’s establishment Claridge’s. Although more famous for a foul mouth than delicious cuisine, this is a man who definitely known the value of style. All dishes are immaculately presented, fancy to the nines and, yes, delicious. Beware of the hefty £70-per-meal price tag!
Brook Street, W1K 4HR / tel: 020 7499 0099

 

Finally, for a taste of the oriental, there’s Gold Mine, a homey-feeling restaurant in W2. Dishes range from Cantonese to Malaysian (but frankly, who knows) and come in big, hot portions. Great warm, filling options for winter; lighter veg-based ones for hot weather. Perhaps not 100% authentic, but certainly yummy.
102 Queensway, W2 3RR / tel: 020 7792 8331

The emergency number in England is 999. There is no specific fire/police/ambulance distinction. If something is wrong and you need to contact a member of the MoLi team, please get in touch with your Check-in contact, whose details you would have been given prior to arrival.

The nearest hospital is St Mary's (NHS Trust). The address is Praed St, London, W2 1NY / tel: 020 7886 6666

The closest available dentist is Dentist @ W2. The address is: 3 Norfolk Place, W2 1QN / tel: 020 7402 4024

A pharmacy open until 11pm each night is located close to Edgware Road station, opposite the Hilton Metropole. The address is 215, Edgware Road, W2 1ES / tel: 020 7402 6134
For things like band-aids, cough medicine or pain killers, Paddington station also has a Boots store.

For some quick groceries, head down to Paddington station itself, where you’ll find an M&S and a Sainsbury’s, as well as a range of sandwich and coffee shops. Various corner shops around the area (one right across the street, for example) also tend to stay open late and provide basic necessities like bread, milk and fresh fruit and veg.