Paddington to Narbeth return

[xx1986]

I wanted some advice on booking some train tickets.

Someone mentioned to wait until 12 weeks before booking for cheapest options. Is this the case? My husband has a gold season ticket which helps give us discount. Can we also do any family ticket options in conjunction? On our initial research there is mention of group save or split tickets.

We have looked on both great western and trainline websites. There are so many options if feels very overwhelming

Hoping someone might know some tricks we don’t. We are looking to get a return from Paddington to Narbeth or Carmarthen traveling on Fri 24th July 2026 and returning on Fri 31st July 2026. Looking at late morning to start travel. Hoping to arrive on Fri 24th before 5:30pm.

Open to any advice you can throw our way. We are traveling with kids so hoping to get a table for some portion of the journey.

Thanks ☺️

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

We could do with knowing a bit more information:

- How many of you are travelling?
- How old are the children?
- What route does your husband's Gold Season ticket cover?
- How are you getting to/from Paddington? Is your journey actually from another station somewhere else?
- Are you prepared to travel on specific trains or do you require any flexibility about when you travel?

This forum has its own booking site which will sell a combination of tickets if it is cheaper than a through ticket. It also has a seat selector so that you can choose where you sit.
Depending on the number of people travelling it may be worthwhile purchasing a Family & Friends Railcard.

 

[xx1986]

Thanks so much for taking the time to help.

We are traveling as a family of 4 with the kids being 8 and 9.
My husband’s gold season ticket is between Wickford and London Liverpool Street.
We will be doing this leg of the journey first before arriving at Paddington later that same day.
We are prepared to travel on specific trains and would probably prefer that option to be honest.
I am interested to know more about booking tickets through this site.
Thanks so much ☺️

 

[aw1972]

I travel from Slough to Narberth and/or Pembroke every couple of months and usually travel on a Super Off Peak Return as I value the flexibility rather than the cost saving (I might think differently if there was four of me). I've been caught out by missed connections so often it's helpful to be able to travel earlier or later.

 

[RJ]

The Gold Card discount is likely to only apply as far west as Reading or maybe Didcot Parkway depending on which train you take. I suspect a Family & Friends railcard would be a worthwhile investment for this journey.

 

[Haywain]

I suspect a Family & Friends railcard would be a worthwhile investment for this journey.

Especially as one can be purchased for £10 as one of the perks of having a Gold Card, and give discounts for the whole journey.

 

[DelW]

I am interested to know more about booking tickets through this site.
Thanks so much ☺️

If you scroll to the top of this page (or most forum pages), there is this paragraph:

• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

If you click on either of the blue / bold words in that paragraph, it will open one of two versions of the forum's booking site. I think the functionality is the same on both, so choose whichever suits the screen you're using better.
You can choose to look for flexible tickets or advances (valid only on specific trains), and whether you'll consider splitting tickets (combining several shorter journey tickets, which can save money but may get more complicated).

 

[lnerazuma]

GWR family ticket from Paddington to Swansea? £89 for 2 adults and 2 kids no Railcard needed. Then TfW on the day advance from Swansea to West Wales which is quite reasonably priced.

 

[Envoy]

Note that children travel free (with fare paying adults) on the Transport for Wales network. https://tfw.wales/ways-to-travel/rail/ticket-types/family-ticket

• Children travel free any time of day, peak or off-peak.
• Buy it online and store it on your phone - no queuing at ticket offices.
• Valid on services using our network run by other train operators.