Windsor Castle

It's true there's no direct connection, but it's still very easy to get from Paddington to Windsor. You change at Slough and take a very short branch line just a few minutes to Windsor. The closest mainline station to Mayfair is probably Waterloo, and they have direct trains to Windsor although they take longer than the route from Paddington.

There are never direct trains from Paddington to Windsor and Eton Central- it is always a change at Slough, but that is not a difficulty.

There are no timetables out yet for 7 months time- the May (summer) timetable change has yet to come. But there is no cost advantage to buying tickets ahead of time. Unless you have a National Railcard (due to other rail journeys you may be making) many people pay by contactless- ie- don't have a ticket at all.
If you do have a railcard then a ticket is cheaper than contactless.

Direct trains run from London Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside- a different station.

I'm wondering why I can't find a direct train connection from Paddington to Windsor.

Because there isn't one? From Paddington to Windsor and Eton Riverside, a connection is required. There are direct trains from Waterloo. Just buy your ticket on the day. Or pay contactless .

For info on train routes, times, prices, visit the national rail website. https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Very helpful. Thank you very much!

I recently (Nov. 2025) traveled from Paddington to Windsor and Eton Central. As mentioned above, it is super easy. I just used my credit card to tap and pay. No need to worry about buying tickets.

Slough station is small and easy to navigate. There’s toilets and places to sit.

I enjoyed Windsor Castle more than I thought I would. Don’t let the change of trains be a concern. I prefer no changes too, but sometimes they can’t be avoided. This is an easy one to make.

No - there is no direct train.

There is a direct bus, however, if that’s your jam. And it’s mega cheap! It is the 702 express to Windsor, run by Reading Buses. I took it almost every day a few years ago when we were living in Windsor. It drops you right at the castle entrance.

https://www.reading-buses.co.uk/windsor-express-routes

That said, the train is mega-easy. The change is super simple, and the little connecting train from Slough is so cute! But there is another option. :-)

Do I understand it, right?

Start: Paddington Station with National (Train NO Underground?) to Slough (have to slice my Creditcard)
moving the Train from PAD in a train National? Sliding the Creditcard (twice?)
Slough to Windsor Central sliding the Creditcard last time.

Way to PAD, same back.

No tickets needed in advance.

You don't have to tap your CC when you change trains at Slough to get the spur line train to Windsor and Eton Central. You DO have to tap OUT with your CC in Windsor to complete your journey and there are big signs reminding you to do so.

The train company operating the train from Paddington to Slough is Great Western but since you don't need to buy a ticket you won't need their app.

You can take the Elizabeth Line from Paddington.

Tap in on the Elizabeth line.

Get off at Slough station.

Change there to a connecting South Western Railway train towards Windsor & Eton. You do not have to tap in again. Just walk down the platform and hop on the train.

Get out at Windsor & Eton Central if you want to be closer to the castle. Tap out here.

So one tap in and one tap out. A quick and obvious change at Slough.

It sounds more daunting than it is because of phrases like “a connecting South Western railway train.” But you don’t need to know the name of the railway, and there aren’t any other trains or confusing choices to make! :-)

I am seriously wayfinding challenged, have ZERO sense of direction and pretty bad anxiety, and I managed this fine. It sounds lots more complicated than it is. :-)

Volva, it's the more daunting because the shuttle from Slough is a GWR (Great Western) train.
Both Elizabeth Line (from their low level platforms at Paddington) and GWR longer distance trains (from the high level main line platforms at Paddington) stop at Slough.
The South Western train is the Waterloo route to Windsor and Eton Riverside.

I correct

PAD to Slough with GWR Train / CC to use for enter the train - then in
Slough moving to GWR Train to drive to Windsor Central/ CC using again for leaving.

(I prefer to travel by train. Bus or Underground would be not my first choice).

The staff at both the tube and train stations are so helpful. So, do not hesitate to ask for help if you are not sure where to go.

When I was traveling to Windsor last Nov., I got off at the Paddington tube stop and asked an employee where I could find my train platform. They directed me to the escalators that take you up to where the trains are.

I’ve never run into a train employee who has been unwilling to help.

I used to be embarrassed about asking for help, but you're never going to see the people again.

isn31c - ack! Yes, you are correct. Your knowledge of this stuff is encyclopedic. I stayed in Windsor for 6 months a couple of years ago, but mostly took that 702 bus into London.

OP - it’s easy by train, but follow the more precise directions of others here. :-)