Time travel question to Windsor Castle using London Pass

I suspect that the 12:30 (it will be 12:30 pm) timing is set because of the capacity of the trains prior to that, consider it an off peak period which enables the company to obtain cheaper rates from the rail company. If the Changing of The Guard is important then consider an alternative method of transport.

In Europe they use the 24 hour clock for anything technical, including transport. No AM or PM (I find AM and PM a very confusing system).
The day starts at midnight (00:00), then 00:30, 01:30, . . . . 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, . . . 23:30 and finally 23:59 which is the end of the day. Simple.

I see they do suggest visiting after 14.00 "to avoid queues" - well since they don't offer transport before 12.30 this means you can't get there before about 13.30 anyway as the first train you can use is the 12.50 from Paddington.

This is what I would do, its your holiday, do what you want to do.

Windsor, Berkshire, is beyond the Oyster fare boundary, so I don't know why they mention Oyster.

On the day buy 2x off-peak day return train tickets (are two of you travelling?) Paddington to Windsor, leave after 09:20 hours (the 24 hour clock is always used for trains and the underground not AM/PM) this will be total of £23.40 round trip for 2 people, and a mainly flexible ticket.

You will arrive in good time, the early tour buses do create a morning tourist spike, but you can have a sandwich and morning coffee somewhere and see CotG in good time.
Your LP will still get you in, nobody knows how you've travelled.

The London Pass isn't really used by locals, it appears pricey and restrictive, I wouldn't like paying for something, then being semi dictated how my days are planned.

Residents of GB and visitors can further save money in other ways like using off-peak trains, Group Save train fares, train company days-out 241 attractions, National Railcards and sometimes further entrance concessions.

Your London Pass gives you admission to Windsor Castle during any of its operating hours. If you want to use it for transport as well, then you need to be concerned with the 1230 time. If you want to go earlier, buy a train ticket and go earlier.

Okay. Thank you for all of the information. I have not purchased our London Passes, yet, and I am leaning toward not doing so.

There are four of us travelling-- 2 adults and 2 teenagers (ages 13 & 16). We plan to go on Saturday, August 10. I am unfamiliar with train travel discounts. If someone has a link they would like to share, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you again. I really appreciate your time and knowledge.

OP

The official National Rail journey planner and fare finder link below. Have a play around with it, lots of useful info and detail is concealed behind tabs and links.

Age 16 on the railways is classed as adult, but 3 or more travelling off peak you should get automatic discounted Groupsave fares, done at the ticket office when purchasing.

When searching main London Rail Rail stations always use the prefix 'London' then the station name , e.g.: London Paddington. London St Pancras etc. Or if not known select 'London All Stations', the system will work it out.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

And for TfL transport within Greater London
https://tfl.gov.uk/

Tip if you decide to do the London Pass: Buy through Costco- 4 day pass for the price of 3

I just did a search on....nationalrail.co.uk....for August 10th, for a return tickets (round trip) for two adults and two kids the total would be £29.10. Leaving from London Paddington at 9:22 going to Windsor & Eton Central, a change at Slough, total travel time 35 miles. As you exit the train in Windsor turn to your left and walk up to High Street, (3 minute walk) the castle is across the street.

Edit: Nigel is right, that price is good for any time. I neglected to say that, so sorry. So you can take any train that day. There are several morning trains that would get you there in time to see the Changing of the Guards, 9:22am arriving 9:53, 9:52 arriving 10:17 and a 9:57 train arriving 10:36.

"I just did a search on....nationalrail.co.uk....for August 10th, for a return tickets (round trip) for two adults and two kids the total would be £29.10. Leaving from London Paddington at 9:22 going to Windsor & Eton Central, a change at Slough, total travel time 35 miles. As you exit the train in Windsor turn to your left and walk up to High Street, (3 minute walk) the castle is across the street."

Robin Z,
Thank you so much for the above information! I really appreciate you doing the search. I am completely lost when it comes to public transportation! This is perfect.

Thank you to everyone for all of the information!

That fare is valid all day on that Saturday, the 8th. Peak fares only apply Monday to Friday - the whole of Saturday (and Sunday) are Off Peak.

It is worth checking carefully if the London Pass is worth it for you and your family. A few people do say that it worked for them, many say it doesn't. Check carefully if you can lead the pass where you want to go or if, because of the price and conditions, the pass will lead you around.

I think that the 12:30 restriction on using the pass for transportation is a case of them leading you. I don't mean lead in a good way. More like ring-in-the-nose lead.

The train option is actually working to our advantage. We have a 10 day pass and with what we expect to use will get our moneys worth and more. The lower day options... pretty hard unless you're a speed demon.

We will actually be in the area of Paddington for lunch one day so we're planning to do our Windsor day then. Lunch with family who are Eurostarring it over to Paris in the early afternoon, quick tube to Paddington, off to Windsor (after 12:30), enjoy it for a few hours, then back to London.

From what I can see that's about 40 pounds of value for one day of my pass. Again, longer passes are worthwhile, shorter passes, do the math.