Apologies, my previous answer was wrong. I have now visited Bond Street to get the following answer
While some Elizabeth Line ticket vending machines (TVMs) support Tickets on Departure (ToD), the system to allow for collection of pre-paid tickets, for some reason those in the core central section of London have this functionality disabled. I don't know why this is but it's rather frustrating.
You have two options — either buy the ticket online and pick it up from a different, mainline station; or just buy it from the ticket machine on the day. The ticket machines take card only. There is no price advantage to buying in advance on this route.
For others reading this, I would highly recommend using contactless instead of buying a paper ticket. Google Pay and Apple Pay are also supported in addition to contactless credit and debit cards. Simply tap your card at the ticket barriers at the start of your journey, and tap the same card at your destination. This is cheaper and easier than a paper ticket, likely even when accounting for foreign transaction fees. However the question asker has stated they don't have a contactless card.
Note as well that the station you pick online doesn't actually matter (it's just to verify that collection facilities are available), so if you happen to pass through another mainline railway station on your travels you can collect it from there instead, even if you picked a different collection station during the purchase. If for instance you're visiting London via an airport it's likely there will be TVMs at that airport's railway station at which you can collect your ticket.
If you choose to purchase your tickets at Bond Street, here's how to do it:
- Locate an Elizabeth Line entrance; as opposed to a London Underground entrance. There is one on Hanover Square, and also one by the main Bond Street tube station, just past the London Underground entrance on Davies Street (pictured).
- Tap By Destination.
- Start typing "Windsor" and select Windsor & Eton Central.
- If you are coming back the same day, tap Return today (it is a lot cheaper to buy a return ticket for this route than two singles), otherwise tap Single. Tap through the confirmation.
- It should offer you off-peak or anytime fares depending on the time of day you are buying. Pick the single or return ticket as appropriate (I don't know why both options are listed when it asked which you wanted on the previous screen!), and tap confirm.
- Finally, pay by credit or debit card
Note that if you have an existing Day Travelcard on a paper ticket, you can also use the "Travelcard extensions" button to extend this to Windsor rather than having to buy a completely new ticket; this will work out cheaper.
At Bond Street you will want to wait on Platform B for a train to either Reading or Maidenhead; do not catch a Paddington or Heathrow train as you will have to change again. Get off at Slough and walk to Platform 1 for the shuttle to Windsor — this is a small diesel train which goes back and forth all day.
If you decided to stay the night in Windsor and thus need to buy a single ticket back (as opposed to having bought a day return ticket at Bond Street), here's how to buy the right ticket on the GWR ticket machines you will find at Windsor & Eton Central (I took these photos at Paddington and Reading, but the ticket machines should have the same software):
- Tap A-Z Station Finder
- Start typing "London" and scroll down to London Underground Zone 1. The Elizabeth Line is not London Underground, but these are nonetheless the tickets valid from National Rail stations. Don't bother trying to search for Bond Street; you will not find it. Do NOT fall into the trap of just selecting "London Terminals", as this ticket is only valid as far as Paddington, not through the Elizabeth Line core to Bond Street.
- Select One Way
- Select Anytime Day Single and tap Confirm Your Selection (note there are no off-peak single fares for this route). Also note there is no point getting first class on this route, as virtually none of the trains on this route have first class accommodation any more!
- Confirm the details and tap Press here to pay now
- Pay with a credit or debit card (it is possible the machines will take cash as well but I wouldn't rely on it).
From Windsor & Eton Central catch a train from the only platform to Slough, then cross to Platform 5 (usually, though occasionally at weekends during engineering work they might use 3) for an Elizabeth Line train to Abbey Wood, Shenfield, or Gidea Park.
