Hello again helpful people...
Can you tell me if we need to pre-buy tickets from Stroud to Paddington? One friend makes it should like it's not needed, that we can hop on a train into the city easily. Another thinks we need to buy our tickets now for next month.
Can anyone confirm one way or the other please?
I appreciate your help.
Both friends are correct.
You can buy tickets on the day moments before travel. But you will pay the full flexible ticket price.
Or, if you know what time you are travelling, and are willing to commit to that, you can buy a much cheaper train specific Advance Ticket now.
the trains don't sell out, but you may not get a seat if it is particularly busy - at rush hour, for example. If there is no available seat, people can stand.
Most of the hourly trains have 5 carriages, with occasional 9 or 10. Outside of peak time for weekdays they are not generally that crowded.
