difference btw waterloo east & central
 

hello!i am trying to plan my day trip to windsor castle from london.
the online search at swtrains.co.uk shows watreloo east & waterloo central as different places in the schedule.are they just different platforms?

another question:if i want to use South West at waterloo do i get tickets from any ticket booth there or do i have to find a swtrains stall (like airlines at an airport)
many thanks

No they are different bldgs - go to Waterloo mainline (central). It is the main station and lies about a block behind the London Eye/County Hall. You can buy your ticket from the prominently located ticket windows. You don't have to search out a special kiosk.

thanks

Waterloo and Waterloo East are connected by escalators and a walkway. Five minutes' brisk walk will get you from one to the other, but you should allow more time if you've not been there before. There is a large ticket office at Waterloo, selling tickets for all trains, but no ticket offices at Waterloo East. If you are going from London to Windsor, you can get a train from Charing Cross or London Bridge to Waterloo East, then change to the Windsor train from Waterloo - the fare is the same (from Charing Cross to Windsor, for example, is the same as Waterloo to Windsor).

thank you too sir

GeoffHamer's info is correct -- but if it were me, I'd just go directly to Waterloo and catch the Windsor train there. Saves a LOT of changing and walking.

You can also go from Paddington if that's easier to get to. About same time and two Windsor stations are both within view of the castle.

Yes - PalQ is definitely correct about that. If you are staying somewhere north of Hyde Park/Bayswater/Oxford St or in Marylebone, it would be much better to go via Paddington. Generally, if you are south of the park/South Kens/Victoria, then Waterloo is easier.

Just keep in mind that if you choose to use Paddington station to Windsor, you will need to change trains at Slough. The train from Waterloo is direct.