London to Swindon train with Great Western Rail

Trains from London to Swindon

When travelling via train from London to Swindon, you can expect the journey to take around 50 - 55min without any changes along the way. Trains are generally operated by Great Western Railway between these two destinations and will depart from London Paddington Station in Central London and will arrive at Swindon Train Station. You'll find multiple trains operating this route on a daily basis, starting as early in the morning as 5:30 a.m., with the last train leaving in the evening around 11:30 p.m. On average, these trains depart every half an hour or so from the first to the last train.

London to Swindon Train Time: Daily Departures

When looking for trains travelling between London Paddington Station and Swindon Train Station, you'll find numerous trains making this journey daily. On average, you're looking at two to three trips per hour starting at around 5:30 a.m., with the last train leaving around 11:30 p.m. These journeys are always direct routes and take an average of 50 - 55min, although trips later at night tend to take a little longer than early morning or mid-afternoon journeys. If you plan on travelling this route over the weekend, you can expect the first train to leave a little later than during the week, usually around 6:30 a.m. The last train over the weekend still leaves at around 11:30 p.m. though.

How long is the journey by train from London to Swindon?

If you're wondering about the length of this journey, your train ride from London Paddington Station to Swindon Train Station will usually take around 55min to cover the 71 miles (114 km) distance. These travel times tend to vary depending on when the train departs but your longest trip between these two destinations on a Great Western Railway train will be around 1h 02min. These trips are all direct trains between the two cities, so you won't have to worry about a lengthy changeover adding time to your trip.

Swindon Park. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from London to Swindon?

Departure train station: London Paddington Station is the departure station for trips between these two cities and is located roughly 2.5 miles (4 km) from the centre of the city. This station is on four of the London Underground lines, namely Circle, Bakerloo, District, and Hammersmith, so it's easily accessible from almost anywhere. Paddington is one of the oldest major stations in London and stands as the main terminal for the Great Western Railway line which serves both the west and southwest of England and also services Wales. Paddington also offers a host of services and facilities that include ATMs, currency exchange services, public Wi-Fi, lounges, eateries, coffee shops, and accessible features among others.

Arrival train station: Swindon Train Station will be your final stop on this journey. Swindon Station serves as one of the main stations in the city and is the arrival and departure station for GWR trains running to and from London, Swansea, Westbury, and Gloucester to name a few. The train station offers a variety of amenities, including ATMs, free Wi-Fi, toilets, shops, baby changing facilities, car parking, and waiting rooms.

Which train companies travel from London to Swindon?

Currently, all of the trains travelling from London Paddington Station to Swindon Train Station are run by Great Western Railways. GWR, formerly known as First Great Western, provides both long-distance and inner-city travel across the South and Southwest of the UK, including some of the most popular locations including Oxford, London, South Wales, and the West Midlands.

GWR has also introduced a new line of high-speed trains for inner-city journeys that include upgraded services such as wheelchair accessibility, free internet overage, as well as more spacious seating for travellers. Great Western operated trains from London to Swindon are all direct trains, which means not having to be concerned about long changeovers along the way. Trains operated by GWR are typically rather narrow, so when travelling, it's important to keep the aisles clear for easier accessibility. Those travelling with mobility issues can find assistance by arranging with the company beforehand.

Great Western Railways trains from London to Swindon

If you're travelling from London to Swindon, your journey will be operated by Great Western Railways. You'll find several journeys every day, starting at around 5:30 a.m. on weekdays and around 6:30 a.m. over the weekends. These trains typically depart from London Paddington Station a couple of times every hour until the last train departs at around 11:30 p.m. Your trip will be a direct trip and will take approximately 55min, although some trips will only take 50min, while others can take up to 1h 10min. The longest journey, unless there are unforeseen issues, will be just over an hour.

Swindon Skyline. Source: Shutterstock

Train London to Swindon: Services on Board

When travelling on a Great Western Railways train between London and Swindon, you can expect some of the best onboard services along the way. These services include food and drink services, complimentary Wi-Fi, and wheelchair assistance. If you plan on travelling with your pet, you'll be glad to know that GWR usually allows up to two dogs, cats, or other smaller pets. Your canine will need to be on a lead or inside a pet carrier and they may not be on the seats.

If you're a first-class ticket holder, you can bring your pet into the lounges provided they're on a leash. Bicycles are allowed on a first-come, first-served basis, so we suggest reserving a space beforehand to ensure you can get yours on board. If you're travelling as a first-class passenger, you'll experience tastier treats from the food trolley, extra-wide seats, tables with plug sockets and faster Wi-Fi services, and first-class lounges. With these journeys being less than 60min on average, first-class services may not be available.

How to find cheap train tickets from London to Swindon?

If you're hoping to find the best deals for journeys between London Paddington Station and Swindon Train Station, you've come to the right place. You'll want to book your tickets through Omio as far in advance as possible to ensure the best rates.

We also suggest booking with flexible dates as you'll usually find different deals on different days and oftentimes, trips during the beginning of the week are more affordable than those over the weekend. Lastly, if you're not set on travelling on a specific day, consider booking a Super Off-Peak ticket which will save you money and allow you to travel outside of peak times for much less.

To Swindon by train—travel tips

Swindon is a quaint town in southwest England that's home to the STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway. Train lovers will have a field day exploring this one of a kind museum. Swindon is also home to a variety of other museums including The Museum of Computing, Richard Jeffries Museum, and Cricklade Museum. If you're an avid art and history lover, you'll want to make your way to Swindon Museum & Art Gallery and explore the exhibitions and galleries they have.

Swindon is also home to several parks and gardens like Lydiard Park, Stanton Country Park, and Queens Park to name a few. If you're travelling with kids and hoping to find something to entertain them, spend the day running around Laser Quest Swindon or make your way to Westmead and visit The Golfing Hole.