Praed Street

Praed Street

Praed Street in 2007
Length	0.4 mi (0.6 km)
Location	Paddington, London, United Kingdom
Postal code	W2
Nearest train station	Paddington
South end	Edgware Road
West end	Eastbourne Terrace
Other
Known for	London Paddington station; the Great Western Hotel; St Mary's Hospital

Coordinates: 51°31′1.2″N 0°10′23″W / 51.517000°N 0.17306°W / 51.517000; -0.17306

Praed Street (pronounced /preɪd/) is a street in London's Paddington district (now part of the City of Westminster), most notable for the fact that Paddington Station is situated on it. It runs straight in a south-westerly direction from Edgware Road to Craven Road, Spring Street and Eastbourne Terrace.

Praed Street was originally laid out in the early 19th century, being built up in 1828. It was named after William Praed, chairman of the company which built the canal basin which lies just to the north.

In 1893 plans were put forward by the Edgware Road and Victoria Railway company to build an underground railway along the Edgware Road which included the construction of a Tube station at Praed Street. The scheme was rejected by Parliament and the line was never built.

On the north west side of the street are Paddington Station and the Great Western Hotel, the Royal Mail Western depot, and St Mary's Hospital. The south east side is predominantly retail but includes the frontage for Paddington Underground (Bakerloo, Circle and District lines) station. At the far north east end, on the north west side, is a prominent 1980s extension to the Hilton London Metropole Hotel.