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Trains from Reading to London Paddington

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Each fare is the lowest adult economy ticket fare found by our customers on Trainline. Fares booked further in advance than the dates displayed may be cheaper. Prices are updated daily, subject to change and indicative of price last update. Limited availability. Discount cards and coach journeys excluded, prices exclusive of booking fee.
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Trains to London Paddington from Reading

It takes an average of 42m to travel from Reading to London Paddington by train, over a distance of around 34 miles (55 km). There are normally 469 trains per day travelling from Reading to London Paddington and tickets for this journey start from £23.40 when you book in advance.

First train

02:54

Last train

02:24

Departure stationReading
Arrival stationLondon Paddington
Journey time

From 23m

Distance

34 miles (55 km)

Frequency

469 trains per day

Changes

Direct trains available

Price

From £23.40

Train operators

Great Western Railway

Travelling from Reading to London Paddington by train

Want to travel from Reading to London Paddington by train for a day out? Start your journey with us.

The train from Reading to London Paddington usually takes around 44m but can take just 23m on the fastest Great Western Railway or Elizabeth Line (previously TfL Rail) services, with around 363 trains running on this popular route every day. As soon as you board the train, you'll be able to make yourself comfortable and enjoy the journey as direct services are available.

Reading to Paddington train tickets

To snap up the cheapest fares, book an Off-Peak time – tickets are usually cheaper when you travel Off-Peak compared to taking the train at Peak times. If you want to save even more, get a Railcard – you’ll save up to 1/3 on eligible journeys for a whole year.

Once you’ve arrived in London, there’s no shortage of places to visit, including Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London. If you’re interested in history, head to one of London’s fascinating museums, such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum or the British Museum.

If you’re feeling ready to book, start a search for cheap train tickets with us today. Want to check if trains are running? Use the timetable on this page to view live train times from Reading to London Paddington.

What do people frequently ask about the train journey from Reading to London Paddington?

Want to know more about your journey from Reading to London Paddington? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How do you get to London Paddington from Reading?

To travel to London Paddington from Reading, you can take the train - on average, the journey takes around 42 minutes, though the fastest trains can take 23 minutes. Use our Journey Planner to get more information.

How long is the train ride from Reading to London Paddington?

Trains from Reading to London Paddington take an average of 42 minutes, although on the fastest services it can take just 23 minutes. You'll usually find 469 trains per day on this route, so use our Journey Planner to check specific dates as times may vary.

How much does it cost to get from Reading to London Paddington by train?

Train tickets from Reading to London Paddington can start from £23.40 when booked in advance, but they’re usually more expensive if bought on the day of travel. Prices may also vary depending on the time of day, route, and class you choose.

What is the quickest journey time between Reading and London Paddington by train?

The quickest journey time between Reading and London Paddington by train is 23 minutes.

How do I find cheap train tickets from Reading to London Paddington?

As most UK train companies increase their prices as the departure date approaches, our Trainline team of experts have put together these tips to help you find the cheapest tickets.

1. Book in advance

Train tickets from Reading to London Paddington start at £23.40§ one way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. UK train companies usually release Advance tickets up to 12 weeks ahead of time, and these can be cheaper than tickets bought on the day of travel.

2. Sign up to Ticket Alert

If you're planning a trip more than 12 weeks ahead, sign up to our Ticket Alert to get notified when Advance tickets are released for your travel date.

3. Use a Railcard

National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel throughout the year. Buy one with us and you'll be able to store it digitally in our app, so you'll always have it on your travels.

4. Book split tickets

Our handy feature SplitSave will 'split' your train journey into multiple tickets, which can be much cheaper than buying a single ticket. Find out more about split tickets.

5. Travel Off-Peak

If you can be flexible with your travel times, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets are usually cheaper in the UK. Generally, Off-Peak times are any time at weekends and outside of Monday to Friday morning and evening rush hours.

6. Consider a Season Ticket

Best for commuters, if you catch a train on the same route more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly, weekly and flexi options available, find out if a Season Ticket for Reading to London Paddington is right for you.

For more money-saving tips on UK and European train travel, read our cheap train tickets guide.

§Advance adult single fare. Excludes booking fee. Prices seen by Trainline customers in the last 30 days. Availability limited.

Passenger reviews about this journey

Very useful app to book train tickets. Trainline is one of my essential apps. Great works! The only concern is the cost.

Caspera year agoChevronRightChevronRight

All connections on time a very fast route to London. Green Park Reading a very good new addition

Glynis Spencera year agoChevronRightChevronRight

Well, it wasn’t cancelled so that’s a plus

Janea year agoChevronRightChevronRight

All on time and perfect

Dariusz Rosika year agoChevronRightChevronRight

It was a really nice journey, and I got back so easily and problem free. I wish I was richer, so could use the train more frequently.

Miss Eyrea year agoChevronRightChevronRight

The train was full the day I travelled and I had to stand the whole way to Paddington. More coaches were needed for the number of passengers. Not a nice experience being crammed into the area by the doors with 10 other people

customera year agoChevronRightChevronRight

No seats, hot, expensive

Alex Ballarda year agoChevronRightChevronRight

Too busy, unable to sit despite having reserved places. There was no room to get to our seats

Henk Jongschaapa year agoChevronRightChevronRight

Never had a seat on this route

Ciarana year agoChevronRightChevronRight

Rated 3.4 / 5. Showing 9 out of 9 reviews.

Tips and tricks from our Trainline team

We love helping our customers find inspiration for their next train journey. Discover some travel stories written based on our employees' experiences.

Faster than Brunel ever dreamed

Of the many trains that leave Reading for London every day, all of the obvious choices travel direct  - so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way. Trains running this route are three types - green blunt-ended ones (GWR local ones), green pointy-end ones (GWR high speed) andwhite/purple ones (Elizabeth line, TfL). The fastest of these are always the GWR pointy ones, and that's what I took. It was pretty quiet on a Tuesday morning - I had one of the tables of 4 to myself. It took less than 20 minutes, incredible really. Shame there's no coffee bar on board - but lucky i got mine at one of the many shops at Reading stations.

These direct trains cover the 59 km distance in an average of 40 minutes but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 23 minutes. Neat, eh! There are slower trains  - these go to London Waterloo and are run by Southwest Trains. Sure, they take about 90 minutes and usually involve a change or two along the way, but it might help to save a few quid along the way. Pretty much all railcards are valid for all these services, although do check for validity on TfL's Elizabeth line trains before you board.

Reading station has a large number of cafes and eateries, as well as easy outlet shops. It's often less busy here than Paddington, so get your stuff sorted this end.

Don't expect great scenic views on this journey - but you will get to go over Brunel's famous Thames bridge at Maidenhead, built with a surprisingly flat arch. Look out too for Windsor Castle just to the south of Slough as you pass.

About Tim

Tim, a former Trainline employee, chose to share his experience of the journey between Reading and London Paddington.

† Average savings on advance fares booked at least one week before day of travel vs Anytime fares purchased on day of travel. Subject to availability. Excludes coach.

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