Royal Wedding alternative routes from London to Windsor – travel tips and tricks for May 19

PUBLIC transport will bear the burden this weekend, as thousands of spectators are expected to travel to Windsor for the Royal Wedding.

But where exactly is Windsor and what's the best way to travel there from London? We reveal alternative routes for those hoping to catch a glimpse of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on their big day...

What are the best alternative travel routes from London to Windsor?

Both London Waterloo and London Paddington stations run regular trains from the city to the Berkshire town of Windsor.

Getting there by train from Waterloo

Trains depart from Waterloo station at 28 minutes past the hour and 58 minutes past, running directly to Windsor & Eton Riverside (the closest stop to Windsor Castle and all the action).

These trains usually take around an hour to reach their destination.

However, it is anticipated that these trains will be extremely busy on Saturday 19.

Alternative trains departing from Waterloo station

Royal Wedding fanatics can catch either Reading or Weybridge trains from Waterloo and get off at the following stops:

• Staines - Catch the number 8 bus from nearby the station and head towards Windsor.
• Egham - The nearby town of Egham is about 12miles away, but you can catch the number 8 First bus from Church Road. If you'd rather avoid public transport, local taxi firms should be able to take you the rest of the way. Uber is also available in the local area, but it is more than likely there will be a surcharge.
• Virginia Water - About 20 minutes up the road, Virginia Water could be a better alternative for those wishing to avoid delays. The station has a taxi rank outside but no busses that run to Windsor.

Getting there by train from Paddington

Trains depart from London Paddington to Windsor & Eton Riverside relatively often.

The journey takes between 40 minutes to an hour, depending on whether you catch the fast or the slow train.

Again, with the influx of passengers travelling this route, it might not be the best way to travel to watch the Royal Wedding.

Alternative trains departing from Paddington station

There are other trains running from London Paddington to nearby stations, however.

Avoid the crowds by getting off at the following stations:

• Slough - From Slough station, you can take either the number 8 or the number 2 bus. You can also get a train to Windsor & Eton Central from Slough that takes just 6 minutes.
• Richmond - Take the Circle or Hammersmith and City Line from Paddington to Hammersmith, change for the District Line to Richmond, then take the train from Richmond to Windsor & Eton Riverside. While this route still takes you on the main train from Paddington to Windsor, the majority of your journey will be less crowded.

Road closures

While you can still take the bus or a taxi to a certain point, some of the main roads surrounding Windsor Castle will be closed. These include:

• Maidenhead Road
• Ratchet Road
• Barry Avenue
• Frances Road
• St Leonards Road
• Alma Road
• Clarence Road