Great Western Coffee Shop

West Wilts to London fares - 08:38 arrival at Paddington, 17:30 departure

I was working out "walk up fares" from London to Melksham for various visitors we have coming later this month, and came up with the following ... I have added in Trowbridge and Westbury too.

From: London Paddington, dep 17:30
Change at Swindon
To: Melksham 19:11, Trowbridge 19:21, Westbury 19:27
Fare: 24.00 London to Didcot + 8.80 (on to Melksham) or
Fare: 24.00 London to Didcot + 11.50 (on to Trowbridge or Westbury)
(Super off peak Didcot -> Melksham / Trowbridge / Westbury)

From: Melksham 06:40, Trowbridge 06:50, Westbury 07:07
(Melksham and Trowbridge passengers change at Westbury)
To: London Paddington, arr 08:38
Fare: 24.50 (buy a superoffpeak Melksham to Paddington)

At 57.30 to travel from London to Melksham at 17:30, and get back there at 08:38 the next morning (60.00 combined fare for Trowbridge or Westbury), that's a rather more realistic fare than the 148.00 "anytime return" that's quoted on the web site if you look for a single ticket - the only penalty being that you must leave Paddington on the 17:30 and not the 17:45. 

Interestingly, these fares would work for anyone who lives in Melksham / Trowbridge / Westbury and needs to spend a day in London, and there is flexibility on the homebound fare for Trowbridge and Westbury passengers, routing via Bath.

Trowbridge and Westbury Passengers - if you're headed for the South Bank in London (Waterloo area) - check 'via Salisbury to Waterloo' times and fares.  By the time you add in the cost and time of the tube, you may find they're even better for you than the new supersavers!