GWR train help: Bath to Westminster Underground stop

Zone 1 is zone 1, so any station in the zone is acceptable. You would be very unlikely to get lost moving from train to tube at Paddington- it's well signposted. Your other option - as you mention- is to just book the train, and use your contactless credit to debit card for the tube portion, but I think it works out cheaper to add it to your train ticket.

This map shows the zones:

https://tfl.gov.uk/tfl/syndication/widgets/tubemap/default-search.html

OP there are GW trains….locomotive trains..the London Underground trains are not locomotives.

From Bath Spa you’d take a train to Paddington. You need to switch trains at Reading. From Reading to Paddington is about 30 minutes via the Elizabeth Line.

When you disembark at Paddington look at your feet. There are directions on the floor, and the Underground entrance is below the large crescent window. Look for the large Underground signage/logo.

Yes Paddington is huge but the signage is excellent.

Lastly, there are a number of YouTube videos about Paddington Station. Might be helpful to take a gander at them to help you familiarize yourself with the station.

With a through ticket like that, no you are not allowed to use a bus.

If you want to use a bus, it will cost overall 20 pence less. But you would have to change bus from the 36 to the 148 on Park Lane or at Victoria. If you changed at Victoria the 11, 24 and 211 are also options.

The train from Bath will go all the way to Paddington, rather than changing at Reading. That is your fastest option- to change to the tube at Paddington.

However there is no reason with that ticket type why you couldn't change to the Elizabeth Line at Reading then to the tube at one of the Zone 1 interchange stations. To St James' Park normally the easiest change off the Elizabeth Line would be at Ealing Broadway to the District Line, but the tube has engineering work that day Ealing B to Earl's Court, so it looks as if Paddington would still be the easiest change, onto the Circle Line.

If you do that use the restrooms at Reading as the Elizabeth Line trains don't have such facilities.

As a through fare you pay 20 pence more than you would as two separate fares, but that is neither here nor there. It is the convenience factor, and the ability to use the Elizabeth Line as above. So I think a through Zone 1 fare is the best option, I'm not quibbling over 20 pence here or there.

From Bath Spa you’d take a train to Paddington. You need to switch trains at Reading. From Reading to Paddington is about 30 minutes.

Why would you switch trains at Reading when the train goes to Paddington?

Okay Elizabeth Line at Reading, I see.

Let me throw in another option....

National Express offers coach service from Bath Coach Station (next to the rail station) to London Victoria Coach Station with no changes.

From Victoria Coach Station take the #11 bus to Westminster. (About a 15 minute ride.)

It's also about a 30 minute walk.

National Rail tickets with underground add-ons are a bit of a dying breed as the add on is based on the more expensive cash fare rather than the contactless one. The Railcard discount pulls it to be comparable.

There is also a quirk that these are not all services zonal tickets so if you wanted for example to take the route changing to the Underground at Ealing Broadway if it were available you would need to have the Z1-3 add on which cost 70p more than just Z1.

As to the best route to Westminster from Paddington I wouldn't take the Circle line with significant luggage as there are two unavoidable sets of stairs if you transfer via the subway under Praed Street, and one if you cross the street outside. Seen too many people come a cropper here. Instead take the Bakerloo to Baker Street, cross platform change to the Jubilee for Westminster. Can all be done by lift or escalator.

Thank you to all for your replies! I'm always so impressed by the collective knowledge on these boards!

Frank II - a good reminder on the bus--I had forgotten about that option; I will look at their schedule as well

Claudia--that's a good idea on looking for YouTubes--I earlier found the video from Paddington to Bath by the Man at Seat61 and it is delightful. I'm sure I'll be able to find others for this portion of the trip.

Marco--such a good point to consider that I would be dragging my luggage with me. It definitely makes getting around more cumbersome so I will consider the Bakerloo/Jubilee rather than the Circle line

Keep on travelin' everyone!