We will be in London in March. We will be taking the train from london to Windsor to visit Windsor Castle. Last time I took this trip we went non stop from Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside. I see that they now have a train from Victoria to Windsor with a stop in Clapham Junction. Since we are staying across the street from Victoria, I wanted to go this route (especially when we return late Sat night). My question is you take the South Central Train from Victoria to Clapham Junction and The South West Train from Clapham Junction to Windsor. Has anyone use this route before? Are both trains at the same station? Is it just a matter of getting off one train and getting on the next one in just a few minutes?

Both trains will be at the same station, but not the same platform. When you get off the first train, you will have to check the display boards, then go down the stairs to the tunnel under the platforms, then back up the stairs at the correct platform.

Clapham Junction is the busiest station in the UK; there are 15 platforms.

Is this pretty easy? We don't have but about 10 minutes to get to the next train.

Yeah, it should be easy enough. On a Saturday, there won't be swarms of commuters going in the opposite direction. But it's hardly the end of the world if you miss the first connexion; the next train will be in a half hour.

Great - that was going to be my next question. I didn't know if my ticket was just for the next connected train. Sounds good - thanks Ron!

I would ask an official at the station as to whether yuo can make your particular journey. You should be able to, but since the privatised (thanks, John Major) rail system is very fragmented, you cannot always be sure.

hi girlfriend,

Just a question. Are you doing this to save time or just to take a different route?

The reason I asked is because another foderite recommended that I take the train from paddington to slough, then slough to windsor royal station, the one right outside the castle. You are less than 2 blocks from the castle.

You can catch it by taking the tube from victoria to paddington, then the thames train from paddington to slough, then slough to windsor. the cost is a cheap day return (about 6 pds).

the reason I mention this is because this train arrives above ground level and you come in seeing the countryside around the castle and then wham...there is the castle in all it's glory. it was spectacular.

The other reason is that after we visited the castle, we spent quite a bit of time around the town shopping and it was great just to be able to walk back a few blocks to the windsor royal station to catch it back to london. (windsor & eton riverside is actually a much farther walk).

the change in slough is on the same platform, you hop off one train and hop on the other.

just an alternative you might want to consider.

There are trains every couple of minutes from Victoria to Clapham Junction, so if you're worried about changing trains, leave at bit earlier. There are often long queues at the ticket offices in Victoria and it can take 10-15 minutes to get a ticket. If you have a travelcard, show that when you buy the ticket as it may give a discount. Get a day return ticket: it is valid on any train, so look at the indicators at Victoria to see the next train stopping at Clapham Junction; there, use the subway or footbridge to platforms 5 and 6 (there are signs which say that these are for the Windsor trains); if you have to wait, there is a café on the platform; the train will arrive at Windsor & Eton Riverside station which is close to the Thames, the Castle and the town centre. You can return to London on any train, and either change again at Clapham Junction or stay on the train to Waterloo (the ticket is valid to either).

It doesn't matter which Windsor station you arrive at, they are within a few blocks of each other. Changing platforms at Clapham Junction may be hectic as posted information is often lacking, the train "approaching platform 15" may or may not be the one on the overhead sign board in my experience. Ask others on the platform. I took this route to Windsor recently, some services are direct and would consider it to be more scenic than the Paddington route as this one (going into Windsor & Eton Riverside station) goes often along the Thames. Anyway, the Windsor & Eton station is just a short walk from the castle; I just did it. Plus, with the other route you have to get to Paddington, whereas you can leave from several London stations on the Windsor & Eton station route - usually by changing at Clapham Junction, but direct from Waterloo.

I personally would prefer to take the direct train from Waterloo. Clapham Junction can be a very confusing place. But since you are staying at Victoria, go ahead and take that route - but I would try to catch a little earlier train to Clapham.

(I also prefer going into Windsor Royal - but the hassle of getting from Victoria to Paddington doesn't make that a very good option for you)

Yes, Victoria is just across the street from my hotel and that is why I wanted to take this train - The last time I went to Windsor I also took the Windsor-Eton Riverside route and it is indeed just a couple of blocks from the Castle - and you also take the "town route".

If you don't like the sound of Clapham Junction, the easy alternative from Victoria is to take the District line tube to Richmond which is on the Waterloo-Windsor line. There are at least two trains an hour from Richmond to Windsor, and Richmond is a very pleasant town with lots of pubs and restaurants. Either way, you have just one change of train, and arrive in the centre of Windsor.

Can someone perhaps clear up some confusion for me. I have read that there is a direct train (as opposed to the one with a change at Slough)that leaves Paddington to Windsor once a day (around 10:21 AM?). My question is - is this correct info, and if so, is the cost the same and can you purchase cheap day return tickets the day of departure - or do you need to purchase them a day or so before you plan to travel? Thanks in advance for any help!

There used to be a direct train in summer using the same track via Slough, but I don't know whether it still runs. Next summer's timetables have not been published yet. It was exactly the same sort of train as the regular ones via Slough with the same fares and same tickets. You just buy a ticket at Paddington and get on any train going to or via Slough.

The Richmond sounds like a good alternative, but since we will coming back late (around 9 or 10pm), I wanted to come directly into Victoria. (just me and my sister will be traveling). Is the Clampham Junction a hub of activity all the time, day and night?

Clapham Junction is still busy in the evening with lots of people around. Travelling in to Victoria, you will not need to wait more than a few minutes as trains to Victoria are frequent.

GeoffHamer, thanks for your response. I will be going in February so I guess it will have to be the change-at-Slough train.

then this is the route we are going to take. Hey, if we miss a train and have to wait until the next one - who cares? I can think of worst ways to spend my time than at a train station in England!