Paddington was the western terminus of the Metropolitan Railway when the world’s first underground railway opened in 1863.
The original route ran for about 3.75 miles from Paddington to Farringdon, with intermediate stations at Edgware Road, Baker Street, Great Portland Street and Euston Square. The railway was built to connect main-line stations and relieve congestion caused by road traffic entering central London.
The original Paddington station was known as Paddington (Bishop’s Road), distinguishing it from Paddington station on the main-line railway. The Metropolitan Railway used steam locomotives at first, so its tunnels required ventilation openings and were not the electrically operated Tube system many visitors picture today. Farringdon is often mistakenly given as the first station because it was the eastern terminus and remains an important Underground interchange. Paddington’s original Metropolitan station is now associated with the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines.