If you’ve ever wandered through Maida Vale and stumbled onto a stretch of green that somehow feels bigger than it looks, that was probably Paddington Recreation Ground. The park sits on Randolph Avenue in central London, covering 27 acres, and it has been pulling in joggers, tennis players, families, and gym-goers since 1887. What makes it stand out is the mix: you can walk onto the grass for free, but if you want to use the track or the gym, the setup is different. This guide breaks down exactly what is free, what costs money, and how to make the most of the facilities based on council records and operator information.
Size: 27 acres ·
Running track length: 400 meters ·
Year opened: 1887 ·
Tennis courts: 13 floodlit ·
Gym stations: 70
Quick snapshot
- Park entry is free and open to the public daily
- 400m athletics track present on site
- Gym operates on membership basis
- 13 floodlit tennis courts require booking
- Whether casual track use ever requires payment
- Current exact opening hours across all facilities
- Availability of restroom facilities on site
- 1893: Paddington Recreation Ground Act established public use
- 2020s: Everyone Active operates gym under council concession
- December 2025: Gym reopened after refurbishment
- Check Everyone Active for current booking options
- Verify track closure schedule before visiting
- Confirm gym membership terms directly with operator
Westminster City Council and the operator Everyone Active track key specifications for Paddington Recreation Ground in publicly available records.
| Attribute | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 27 acres | Everyone Active – Paddington Recreation Ground (Facebook page) |
| Track length | 400 metres | Everyone Active – Paddington Recreation Ground (Facebook page) |
| Opened | 1887 | Westminster City Council – PRG Management Plan Executive Summary (PDF) |
| Gym stations | 70 | Everyone Active – Paddington Recreation Ground (Facebook page) |
| Tennis courts | 13 floodlit | Everyone Active – Paddington Recreation Ground (Facebook page) |
| Football pitch | 3G artificial turf | Everyone Active – Paddington Recreation Ground (Facebook page) |
| Operator (gym) | Everyone Active | Everyone Active – Paddington Recreation Ground (Facebook page) |
| Address | Randolph Avenue, London W9 1PD | Tripadvisor – Paddington Recreation Ground |
Is Paddington Rec free?
The answer depends on which part of the park you are using. Park entry itself is free and open to the public year-round, with no booking required for casual access to the lawns, paths, and playground areas. Tripadvisor reviews confirm that large green spaces within Paddington Recreation Ground allow visitors to walk, jog informally, picnic, or exercise without charge. This free access applies to the informal park areas that make up much of the 27-acre site.
Free park access
- Entry to the park grounds costs nothing
- Open grass areas, tree-lined paths, and dog-friendly zones are available for informal use
- The playground is free for children to use
- Casual jogging along internal paths requires no payment or membership
Paid facilities (gym, tennis, football)
The indoor gym, athletics track for organized sessions, tennis courts, and football pitches operate differently. The 70-station gym is managed by Everyone Active on behalf of Westminster City Council and requires a membership or booking fee. Pitchbooking’s partner page for Paddington Recreation Ground lists bookable sports facilities including tennis courts and pitches, confirming that formal sport spaces generally require advance booking rather than walk-up free play. A December 2025 video from the operator confirmed the gym had recently reopened after refurbishment and was accepting bookings via app, phone, or walk-in.
The park splits into two zones in practice: the free informal parkland that anyone can use, and the paid bookable facilities operated by Everyone Active. If you are just after a run or a walk, you do not need to spend anything.
What is the history of Paddington Rec?
Paddington Recreation Ground has legal roots going back to 1893, when the Paddington Recreation Ground Act established the site as a public recreation ground for the rapidly urbanising area. The act embedded its long-term role in providing open-air physical recreation for local residents, a mandate that still shapes how the site operates today. Westminster City Council describes Paddington Recreation Ground as a long-standing leader in multi-functional park use, combining formal sports facilities with informal green space since the late 19th century.
Over the following decades, the park evolved from basic open ground into a more structured sports destination. The current 400-metre athletics track was upgraded with a modern Stobitan SC synthetic running track system, as reported by the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA). This investment reflects Westminster’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the site as a dual-purpose space.
1893: Paddington Recreation Ground Act established public use → 2000s: Gym and fitness facilities added under Everyone Active concession → December 2025: Gym reopened after refurbishment.
How long is the Paddington Rec running track?
The athletics track at Paddington Recreation Ground is a standard 400-metre track used both for organised athletics and casual running. The surface was upgraded with a modern Stobitan SC synthetic system, making it suitable for training and competition use. For practical distance calculations, three laps around the track equal 1,200 metres (1.2 kilometres).
- One lap = 400 metres
- Two laps = 800 metres
- Three laps = 1,200 metres (1.2 km)
- Five laps = 2,000 metres (2 km)
- 12.5 laps = 5,000 metres (5 km)
Laps to distance conversion
Runners often use the track for interval training and pace work. Tripadvisor reviews highlight that Paddington Recreation Ground is widely used by joggers and casual runners around its internal paths and lawns, many of which can be used freely without paying for track access. Social media posts indicate that local running clubs hold regular training sessions on the track, with some Thursday evening sessions open to all ages and paces. The track is occasionally closed for school events, maintenance, or club sessions, so runners are advised to check the latest timetable with the operator before travelling specifically to use the athletics track.
The athletics track may be closed for events or maintenance on specific dates. Closure notices are posted via the Everyone Active Facebook page with dates and times, so checking their social channels before visiting is recommended.
How big is Paddington Rec?
Paddington Recreation Ground covers 27 acres (approximately 11 hectares), making it the largest park in the City of Westminster. Playrite, a sports surfacing company that worked on the site, describes it as being spread over 27 acres in the heart of central London. The scale is notable for a central London location, where parks tend to be smaller. The size allows the site to accommodate both extensive formal sports facilities and generous informal green space within a single boundary.
Total area
- 27 acres (11 hectares)
- Largest park in the City of Westminster
- Located in central London (W9 1PD)
Facilities density
Compared with typical single-use municipal running tracks in other cities, Paddington Recreation Ground’s 400m track is integrated into a dense cluster of facilities including a gym, tennis hub, pitches, and green parkland. This makes it unusual in central London for offering both serious athletics and everyday park use in one site. The site also includes cricket facilities with four practice nets, an outdoor bowling green, an all-purpose tarmac court, and multiple artificial turf pitches in addition to the 3G football surface.
The density of facilities is a strength but also means the site can get busy, particularly around the tennis courts and football pitches during peak booking times. If you want a quiet run on the grass rather than the track, the wider lawns offer a lower-key alternative.
Where is Paddington Rec and what facilities are available?
Paddington Recreation Ground is located on Randolph Avenue, London W9 1PD, in the City of Westminster. The nearest London Underground station is Maida Vale, located roughly a one-minute walk from the park entrance on Randolph Avenue. This makes the site highly accessible by public transport for a park of its size.
Location (Maida Vale)
- Address: Randolph Avenue, London W9 1PD
- Nearest tube: Maida Vale (Bakerloo line)
- Walking time from station: approximately 1 minute
- Borough: City of Westminster
Gym and fitness classes
The gym at Paddington Recreation Ground is described as a 70-station indoor fitness facility operated by Everyone Active, featuring cardio and resistance equipment and a group fitness studio. Use of the indoor gym operates on a booking and membership basis managed by Everyone Active rather than as a free public facility. Everyone Active lists Paddington Recreation Ground as a leisure centre where activities such as gym, classes, and some sports facilities must be booked and paid for through its system. The gym reopened after refurbishment in December 2025, with positive feedback posted by the operator on social media.
Tennis courts
- 13 floodlit tennis courts on site
- Courts require advance booking and payment
- Bookings handled via Pitchbooking.com
- Floodlighting allows evening play
Football pitch
The site includes a 3G artificial turf football pitch suitable for matches and training. Pitchbooking’s partner page lists the football pitch as a bookable facility, meaning it requires advance reservation rather than open access.
Playground
- Free for children to use
- Located within the park grounds
- Part of the informal free-access areas
Westminster’s management plan describes an explicit policy aim to balance formal sport with informal recreation at Paddington Recreation Ground, ensuring that paid, bookable facilities sit alongside free-to-use lawns, play areas, and paths. This dual model means the park serves both serious athletes and everyday visitors from the same 27-acre site.
Pros and cons
Upsides
- 27 acres of free parkland in central London
- 400m athletics track for serious runners
- 70-station gym with group fitness studio
- 13 floodlit tennis courts available
- 3G football pitch for booking
- Free children’s playground
- Family-friendly with tree-lined paths
- Managed by Everyone Active on behalf of Westminster City Council
- Accessible by tube in under 5 minutes from Maida Vale
Downsides
- Gym requires paid membership
- Tennis courts and football pitch require booking and fees
- Track may close for events or maintenance
- No clear official pricing available online
- Conflicting information about restroom facilities
- Opening hours for all facilities not clearly stated in primary sources
The pattern across UK council-operated sports parks shows that free park access typically coexists with paid, bookable facilities to sustain maintenance costs.
| Facility | Access type | Cost | Booking required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (lawns, paths) | Free | Free | No |
| Running track (casual) | Free (unconfirmed) | Unconfirmed | Check with operator |
| Indoor gym | Membership | Contact Everyone Active | Yes |
| Tennis courts | Pay per session | Via Pitchbooking | Yes |
| 3G football pitch | Pay per session | Via Pitchbooking | Yes |
| Playground | Free | Free | No |
| Cricket nets | Bookable | Via Pitchbooking | Yes |
| Bowling green | Bookable | Via Pitchbooking | Yes |
Timeline
Paddington Recreation Ground Act established the site as a public recreation ground under the law, embedding its role in providing open-air physical recreation for the local community.
Source: Westminster City Council – PRG Management Plan Executive Summary (PDF)
Everyone Active took over operation of the gym and formal sports facilities under a concession agreement with Westminster City Council, integrating the facilities into the ActiveWestminster network.
Source: Everyone Active – Paddington Recreation Ground (Facebook page)
The gym reopened after refurbishment, with the operator posting a video confirming positive member feedback and accepting bookings via app, phone, or walk-in.
Source: Everyone Active – Paddington Recreation Ground (Facebook video)
Clarity: What’s confirmed vs. what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Park entry is free and open to the public
- The athletics track is 400 metres per lap
- The park covers 27 acres
- Westminster City Council manages the park
- Everyone Active operates the gym and sports facilities
- The gym has 70 stations and reopened after refurbishment in December 2025
- 13 floodlit tennis courts require booking via Pitchbooking
What remains unclear
- Whether casual individual use of the athletics track is ever free or always requires payment
- Current exact opening hours for all facilities across different seasons
- Whether restroom facilities are permanently available on site
- Official pricing for gym membership and casual gym entry
- Availability of concessionary rates for juniors, seniors, or community groups
What people say
Westminster’s management plan describes an explicit policy aim to balance formal sport with informal recreation at Paddington Recreation Ground, ensuring that paid, bookable facilities sit alongside free-to-use lawns, play areas, and paths.
— Westminster City Council, PRG Management Plan Executive Summary (PDF)
The gym at Paddington Recreation Ground is described as a 70-station indoor fitness facility operated by Everyone Active, featuring cardio and resistance equipment and a group fitness studio. A December 22, 2025 video from the operator confirms that the gym had recently reopened after refurbishment and was taking bookings via an app, phone, or walk-in at that time.
— Everyone Active, Paddington Recreation Ground Facebook page
User reviews highlight that, separate from the paid bookable tennis courts and pitches, there are large lawn and green areas at Paddington Recreation Ground where people can freely play informally, picnic, or do body-weight workouts without charge.
— Tripadvisor reviewers, Paddington Recreation Ground on Tripadvisor
instagram.com, paddington-recreation-ground.wheree.com, yelp.com, miamitownship.com, sapca.org.uk, metroparks.net, daytonohio.gov, facebook.com, edmontondaily.org
For those who enjoy a measured run, Paddington Rec’s free 400m track is comparable to the free public running tracks featured in Ireland’s park guides.
Frequently asked questions
What are the opening hours of Paddington Rec gym?
Current gym opening hours are not clearly stated in official primary sources. Third-party listings suggest approximately 07:00–20:50 on weekdays and 08:00–19:50 on weekends, but users should confirm current times directly with Everyone Active, as hours can change seasonally or after the refurbishment reopening.
How do I book a tennis court at Paddington Rec?
Tennis courts are booked through Pitchbooking’s partner page for Paddington Recreation Ground. The 13 floodlit courts require advance reservation and a fee. Floodlighting allows for evening play, and the booking system is managed by Everyone Active.
Is there parking at Paddington Rec?
Parking information is not detailed in the surfaced sources. The park is in a central London location (W9 1PD) where street parking may be limited. The nearest tube station (Maida Vale) is approximately one minute away on foot, making public transport the most practical option.
Can I bring my dog to Paddington Rec?
Independent visitor descriptions note that Paddington Recreation Ground has dog-friendly zones where people can walk their dogs. Tripadvisor reviews confirm the park is frequently used by dog-walkers alongside local families and casual visitors.
Are there toilets at Paddington Rec?
There is conflicting information about restroom facilities on site. A third-party listing claims no permanent restroom facilities are available within the venue, though this contradicts other evidence that the site has café and pavilion buildings. Visitors should plan accordingly and verify current facilities with the operator directly.
Is the running track at Paddington Rec lit at night?
The athletics track surface is a modern Stobitan SC synthetic system, but information about dedicated night lighting for the track is not clearly stated in the available sources. The tennis courts are confirmed as floodlit. Check with Everyone Active for current lighting arrangements for evening track use.
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Ingrid Malmstrom
Senior Football Editor — Ingrid Malmstrom oversees club, league, and player profile coverage. Her editorial focus is European football, historical records, and ensuring that profiles are clearly sourced, consistently structured, and regularly updated.