The fastest Slough train reaches Paddington in 18 minutes. Elizabeth line stoppers take 31. Season ticket and contactless fares, plus station parking, all checked.
Slough is one of the few places outside London where the answer to “how long does the train take” depends entirely on which train you get on. A Great Western Railway fast service reaches London Paddington in 18 minutes. An Elizabeth line service, from the same platforms, takes 31 to 33 minutes because it stops everywhere, but it carries on through central London instead of stopping at Paddington.
Neither is the right answer for everybody. If you work near Paddington, the fast train is worth waiting for. If you work near Bond Street, Farringdon or Liverpool Street, waiting for it is a mistake, because you would only have to get off and change onto the Elizabeth line anyway.
How long it actually takes
Times below are from the published timetable for a normal weekday, checked in August 2026.
| To | Time | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Windsor & Eton Central | 6 min | GWR branch shuttle |
| London Paddington (fast) | 18 min | GWR, off-peak |
| London Paddington (evening peak) | 21 min | GWR |
| London Paddington (all stations) | 31 to 33 min | Elizabeth line |
| Bond Street | 36 to 38 min | Elizabeth line, direct |
| Farringdon | 41 to 43 min | Elizabeth line, direct |
| Liverpool Street | 46 min | Elizabeth line, direct |
Langley is quicker than Slough to Paddington if you are on the Elizabeth line anyway: 28 to 29 minutes, because it is three miles closer to London. It has no fast service at all, so anyone within reach of both stations is choosing between a shorter stopping journey from Langley and a much shorter fast one from Slough.
What it costs
Two separate fare systems apply at Slough, and the cheaper one is not the obvious one.
Contactless, if you travel a few days a week
Pay as you go with contactless works at Slough, and it is the cheapest way to make a single journey.
| Fare | Price |
|---|---|
| Contactless pay as you go, off-peak | £7.50 |
| Contactless pay as you go, peak | £10.80 |
| Anytime Day Single | £12.60 |
| Off-Peak Day Return | £15.00 |
| Anytime Day Return | £21.50 |
| Anytime Day Travelcard | £31.20 |
A peak contactless single at £10.80 is £1.80 cheaper than the Anytime Day Single sold at the machine, for exactly the same train.
Season tickets, if you commute
| Season ticket | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slough to London Paddington | £86.20 | £331.10 | £3,448 |
| Slough to London Zones 1–6 | £113.40 | £435.50 | £4,536 |
The Zones 1 to 6 version costs £1,088 a year more and buys unlimited Tube, bus and rail travel across London on top of the journey in. Whether that is worth it comes down to one question: does your working day end at the terminus, or do you travel on from it most days? At £1,088 a year, the Travelcard version pays for itself at roughly £4.19 a working day of onward travel, which is less than two Tube journeys.
An annual Paddington season at £3,448 works out at about £13.79 a working day, against £15.00 for a single off-peak day return, so it beats buying tickets as you go from roughly the fourth day a week.
Getting to the station
Driving and parking. The main commuter car park is Slough Station West on Brunel Way, SL1 1XW, run by APCOA with 170 spaces. It charges £8.80 for the day Monday to Friday, £6.50 after 4pm, and £6.50 at weekends. It takes no cash and no card: you pay through the APCOA Connect app using location code 2158, or by scanning the QR codes on site. Motorcycles and registered Blue Badge holders park free.
Council car parks are cheaper if you are going into town rather than to London. Buckingham Gardens and The Grove both charge £6.60 for five hours or more; Herschel Street multi-storey charges £7.20 but closes overnight from 10pm to 7am, and anything left after 9.30pm risks being locked in until the morning.
Heathrow. There is no direct train. The rail route is the Elizabeth line with a change at Hayes & Harlington. The simpler option for most people is the number 8 bus, which runs from Slough to Heathrow Terminal 5.
Windsor. The branch shuttle takes 6 minutes to Windsor & Eton Central, which makes Slough station the practical gateway to Windsor for anyone arriving from the west.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Slough to London?
18 minutes on a Great Western Railway fast service to Paddington, off-peak, and about 21 minutes in the evening peak. Elizabeth line services from the same station take 31 to 33 minutes to Paddington because they call at every station.
Is Slough on the Elizabeth line?
Yes. Elizabeth line services run through Slough and continue across central London to Bond Street (37 minutes), Farringdon (42 minutes) and Liverpool Street (46 minutes) without a change.
Can I use contactless at Slough station?
Yes. Contactless pay as you go covers Slough. A single to Paddington is £7.50 off-peak and £10.80 at peak times, which is cheaper than the Anytime Day Single of £12.60.
How much is an annual season ticket from Slough to London?
£3,448 to London Paddington, or £4,536 for the version that includes a Zones 1 to 6 Travelcard.
How much is parking at Slough station?
£8.80 for a weekday at the APCOA-run Slough Station West car park on Brunel Way, £6.50 after 4pm and at weekends. It is app or QR payment only, and it does not take cash or card.
What is the quickest way from Slough to Heathrow?
There is no direct train. The number 8 bus runs from Slough to Terminal 5, or you can take the Elizabeth line and change at Hayes & Harlington.
Sources
- traintimes.org.uk for the published journey times to Paddington, Bond Street, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Windsor & Eton Central, and for the walk-up and contactless fares quoted.
- Trainline season tickets, Slough to London for the weekly, monthly and annual season ticket prices.
- APCOA, Slough Station West car park for the station parking tariff, space count and payment arrangements.
- Slough Borough Council car park records for Buckingham Gardens, The Grove and Herschel Street.
Rail fares change each March and timetables change twice a year. Check the day’s service before you travel. What it costs to live within walking distance of the station is on Slough house prices; what is happening on the roads instead is on Slough roadworks and travel.
Have your say
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