QYPE*

Paddington is virtually the only station in London that I can think of which still gives off the aura of a traditional station, as opposed to small, cramped spaces which happen to have trains pulling out amongst the many shops.

Sure, Paddington has many shops, but bar a few exceptions, they're mostly contained at the back of the station spread over 3 levels. This means that the concourse is just that - a concourse. If you imagine hard enough, you can picture that the Heathrow Express trains and the First Great Western trains are actually steamers.

The station as yet does not have automated ticket barriers in place and it doesn't have quite the sense of urgency as say, Kings Cross, nor the over crowding.

As someone who travels by train often, Paddington would be my favoured station - especially as I visit the south west so often!