Paddington Station

• Type: Muggle Transportation Hub
• Location: London, England
• Owner/Residents: N/A (Public Muggle facility)
• Key Features: Major real-world railway terminus used by the magical community for transit.

Paddington Station is a large, bustling Muggle railway station located in London. In the wizarding world, it serves as a key point of transit for witches and wizards travelling through the non-magical capital, particularly when connecting to other forms of transportation like the Knight Bus or Ministry of Magic cars. The station is depicted as being constantly crowded with Muggles, requiring witches and wizards to exercise discretion when meeting or travelling. Its history in the series is defined by its use as a rendezvous point for Harry Potter and his allies.

Paddington Station features in several key moments, primarily as a meeting and departure point for Harry Potter.

• In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, after his two-week stay at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry is escorted to Paddington Station by the Weasley family. They travel there in two Ministry of Magic cars arranged by Cornelius Fudge. It is at this station, just before boarding the train, that Harry overhears a hushed and serious conversation between Arthur Weasley and Molly Weasley. From their discussion, he learns that the escaped mass-murderer, Sirius Black, is believed to be hunting him specifically. This revelation significantly shapes Harry's perspective and fears for the coming school year.
• In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry arrives at Paddington Station after being dropped off by the Knight Bus following his attack by Dementors in Little Whinging. He is surprised to be met not by the Dursley family, but by a contingent from the Order of the Phoenix known as the Advance Guard. This group, which includes Remus Lupin, Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, and Nymphadora Tonks, escorts him via the London Underground and on foot to their headquarters at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.

The novels do not describe any specific areas of Paddington Station in great detail. The action primarily takes place on the general station concourse and platforms, amidst the crowds of Muggle travelers.

• The station's inclusion in the series is likely an homage to the famous character from British children's literature, Paddington Bear, who is named after the station where he was found by the Brown family.
• The real Paddington Station was used as a filming location for the movie adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. (film)