Aaack. I hit "post" accidentally while writing my previous question about this route, and now it won't let me in to post a reply to it!

What I meant to ask you UK train experts is... there seems to be two options for travel from London Waterloo to Windsor. First Great Western, and Soutwest Trains. Both have trains requiring no transfers (at least as far as I can tell), though one option takes you through Slough and one goes direct no stops. They seem to take roughly the same time.

Is there a preferred route? Is one more scenic?

Since I'm traveling with a toddler, transfers our out of the question. I think I'm reading the timetables correct that the one that goes VIA Slough doesn't require a transfer there, but if anyone can clarify that for me, I'd much appreciate the help.

THANKS!

~kat

rkkwan's reply covers everything.But some of the train websites are a bit misleading on this.

There are First Great Western trains, changing at Slough, from Paddington to Windsor+Eton Central.

There are South West trains direct from Waterloo to Windsor+Eton Riverside.

There are no trains from Waterloo that go through Paddington, though a first glance at the websites might lead you to believe there are. What those sites actually say is that you can get the tube from Waterloo, then change at Paddington, then change at Slough. To do which you'd have to be a masochist with time on your hands.

You can take a train from Waterloo to Windsor/Eaton without transferring, but last I checked, they don't run as often, and it's a bit of a hike from the station to the center and the castle (if that's where you're going).

The trains from Paddington connect at Slough (a very small station). Via Slough does require a transfer. It's an easy connection. Next train arrives within minutes. Depending upon platforms being used for your particular times, you may have to navigate one staircase coming and/or going. At worst up one and down another to get to the platform for the connecting train. This route takes you to Windsor Central station, which is steps from the castle entrance. The views of the castle as the train round the bend along the river are sensational.

Unless there are other entrances (via the tube, for example), there's a huge staircase at the entrance of Waterloo station, whereas Paddington entrance is at ground level.

If you do opt to connect at Slough, wait for an "express" (just another few minutes), which makes way fewer stops and is therefor much faster (going and coming).

Pick the train route based on which station in LONDON--Paddington or Waterloo--is most convenient from your starting point in the city. The difference in travel times, changing trains, and the distance between the two Windsor stations is not enough to matter at that end of the trip.

Dave White
[email protected]

A few years ago when we did it, it was a direct train from Waterloo to Windsor, but on the return, we had to change trains at Slough. Very easy transfer.