I`m travelling on the tube for the first time soon,i have found tube times but can i find out in advance what platform my tube departs from as my eyesight is too bad to read signs,i only ask because i usually forget my glasses ?
usually only west/ east bound or north/south... if you know which direction you are travelling they are signposted quite clearly..if in doubt ask someone..
Just get on the Circle line at Paddington, and take the next train east.....6 stops. The Platform will have an electronic sign saying which train is coming next.
There is a jolly good pdf map that you can print off, and you can expand it to whatever size helps your poor vision.
Like barmaid suggested I would go the black cab route, lived in London for years and detested the underground and only used it when utterly forced too.
The National Rail journey planner suggests a Hammersmith & City or Circle train from Paddington platform 16 direct to Kings Cross. Platform 16 is quite some way from the ticket barrier. If you go to the nearer platform (Underground platform 1) for a Circle train you will have to change at Edgware Road.
The simplest route from Paddington is the 205 bus - starts at Paddington and goes straight along to Kings Cross. Much easier than escalators, steps, crowds etc.
I like the underground but sometimes it's quicker to walk or travel by taxi/bus when you take account of all the stairs/escalators and long corridors you have to walk down. There have been times i've walked several hundred metres with a tube station especially when changing lines