Paddington, W2: company waiting at the end of the Heathrow Express

Paddington is more than its station. Paddington Basin, behind the platforms, has become a quiet waterside quarter with the curling Rolling Bridge and restaurants along the towpath. A short walk north the canal leads to Little Venice, where narrowboats moor beneath the willows. South of Praed Street, Norfolk Square and Talbot Square are lined with white stucco townhouses, and Lancaster Gate looks onto the Italian Gardens at the top of Hyde Park.

The mood is gentle and a little cosmopolitan, with people arriving and leaving at every hour. A visitor at a hotel door late at night is part of the normal traffic of the district.

Hilton London Paddington on Praed Street, a grand Victorian hotel built with the station, where the lobby has kept its high ceilings. Royal Lancaster London, the tall tower beside Lancaster Gate, whose upper rooms look across Hyde Park towards the skyline of the West End. The Pilgrm on London Street, a small and characterful hotel a minute from the station.

We name them as landmarks, never as partners, and there is no arrangement between the agency and any of them. She arrives as your guest, and the serviced apartments around Paddington Basin and Sussex Gardens are welcome too.

Paddington station, about a minute from the hotels, carries the Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith and City lines, the Elizabeth line, National Rail services and the Heathrow Express, which reaches the airport in about 15 minutes. Edgware Road, roughly 7 minutes away on foot, offers those same four Underground lines again from its two stations. Lancaster Gate, 8 minutes south beside the park, is the Central line stop.

Because Paddington is so often the first stop from Heathrow, it is easy to message the desk from the airport or the train. Share your hotel, expected check in time, the companion you would like and how many hours you want. Once you are in your room, the desk verifies your full name and room number, and a 25 percent bank transfer holds the visit. For overnights and travel bookings the deposit rises to 50 percent, and the element covering travel is non-refundable.

Paddington sits on the western side of our map, so once your booking is confirmed she is usually with you in about 50 minutes, a few minutes more when Praed Street is jammed on a Saturday. If you would rather meet at Heathrow itself, airport bookings carry a three hour minimum that includes her travel.

Eight o'clock, check in, a shower, and a message to say you are ready. Half past eight, she knocks, and the two of you walk along the towpath of Paddington Basin while the lights come on in the water. Nine, dinner at a canalside table on Sheldon Square. Half past ten, a short taxi to Lancaster Gate for a last drink looking over the park, then back to the hotel with the jet lag quite forgotten.

Three hours at £1,050 covers that evening comfortably. With an early flight onward, an overnight at £2,400 keeps her beside you until the breakfast trays arrive; if you only want a drink and conversation, one hour starts at £400.

Travellers landing at Heathrow who want their first evening in London to be warm and easy. Business visitors who have chosen Paddington for its fast links to the airport and the City. Guests at the park view hotels on longer stays. And residents of the canalside apartments, who like having the whole of London one short ride away yet prefer to stay at home.

Jet lag shapes many of these evenings. After a long flight, a slow dinner and gentle conversation often suit better than a big night out, and a companion who understands that will happily let the evening run at the pace your body clock allows.

Laura has green eyes and sun-streaked light brown hair, rides horses, skis in winter and lives for travel. Nora, with long honey blonde hair, loves fashion design, flower markets and a glass of champagne to mark a good day. Vanessa has a sandy balayage and hazel eyes, loves languages and perfume, and cycles along the canal whenever the weather allows.

They live minutes from the station, which helps on the western side of the map. Every other companion on our girls page travels to Paddington on the same fares.

Along the Marylebone Road to the east lies Marylebone. South across the park you reach Kensington, and a taxi down Park Lane brings you to Mayfair in ten minutes or so.