eurostar to marseille travel time

How to Travel from London to Marseille by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane

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Marseille has been a Mediterranean getaway since the times of the Ancient Greeks, and with an average of over 300 days of sunshine a year, it's clear why that reputation has persisted over the millennia. A port city on France's southeastern coast, Marseille attracts visitors from all over the world for its warm climate and incredible beaches. If you're coming from the gray and gloom of London, Marseille is the perfect next stop to balance out your trip.

Because it's in the far south of France, the easiest way to reach Marseille from London is by plane. You can take a direct flight to Marseille, and tickets are usually inexpensive. However, if you have the time to go by train, it's a beautiful route and is the best way to experience the French countryside. If you really have a lot of time and want the ultimate freedom, try renting a car and driving yourself. You can break up the trip by stopping in a couple of French towns along the way.

How to Get from London to Marseille

Traveling by train to Marseille is scenic, relaxing, and relatively fast—considering you're traveling across all of France in a matter of hours. It can also be affordable, but you'll need to book tickets in advance to take advantage of the best pricing. Buying train tickets is like flying, and seats get more and more expensive as the travel date gets closer.

There are a few train options you can take, depending on the time of year and where you want to transfer.

• Summer Direct Train : If you're traveling during the high season—which starts in mid-May and goes until early September— Eurostar offers a direct train from London to Marseille up to four times a week. It takes about seven and a half hours, and it's the fastest and cheapest way to travel by train to southern France, with stops in Lyon and Avignon before arriving in Marseille. However, at its peak, this route is only offered from Friday to Monday, and not at all outside of the summer months. So if you're traveling by train outside of that limited window, you'll have to use one of the other options.
• Fastest Off-Season Journey : The fastest journey takes a Eurostar train from London to Paris, from where you can then catch a direct high-speed train to Marseille. However, trains from London arrive in Paris at Gare du Nord station and you'll have to cross the city to Gare de Lyon station for the train to Marseille. You can take a local commuter train or a taxi, but it's an extra hassle that you should be aware of. Of course, the ideal option may be to spend a few days in Paris and then continue on to Marseille. You can look at schedules and ticket prices through  Eurostar  for the first leg and  SNCF  for the rest of the trip, or use  RailEurope  to book everything together for a small convenience fee.
• Cheapest Off-Season Journey : The most affordable option is almost the same as the fastest option, and starts with the Eurostar train from London to Paris. However, instead of booking the second leg through France's standard rail service, you reserve a seat on the low-cost train  Ouigo . It's still a high-speed train, but also a no-frills journey where you can't choose your seat and need to pay extra for luggage. You can look at schedules and ticket prices through  Eurostar  for the first leg and  Ouigo  for the second leg of the trip.

As enjoyable as the train ride is, taking a plane is without a doubt the most convenient option for direct travel from London to Marseille. If you aren't interested in visiting the many cities between them, especially Paris, then a flight is both fast and affordable. Several airlines fly direct, such as Ryanair and British Airways, so competition between them keeps prices down. Travel to Marseille is highly seasonal, so expect to see a jump in prices in the warm summer months and during the holidays when many Brits want to escape to the beach.

London has six international airports, some of which are quite far from the city center—especially Stansted (STN) and Southend (SEN) Airports. Make sure you research how long it takes to arrive at the airport before hastily booking the cheapest flight because an early morning departure time may be complicated by limited late-night transportation options.

Taking the bus on this long journey takes over 20 hours with a transfer in Paris. Tickets are pretty cheap through  BlaBlaBus , but with how affordable plane tickets are, there aren't many realistic scenarios where you would want to take the bus. Even if you're making last-minute plans in the middle of the high season and flights and trains are prohibitively expensive, you're better off taking the bus to a closer destination, like Paris or Brussels.

It's a long drive to Marseille from London and you'll have to cross all of France from north to south to get there, but if you have the time to leisurely explore and spend a couple of nights in cities along the way, it's a beautiful drive and an experience you'll never forget.

If you want to see Paris, you can pass right through it and spend some time there before continuing south. However, Paris traffic can add a significant amount of time to your journey. Plus, while driving around France is easy, having a vehicle in the city of Paris is likely to be more of a headache than it's worth.

If you've already been to Paris and don't mind skipping it, you'll save time by driving farther east and passing through Reims in the Champagne region of France, a necessary stop for lovers of the world's most famous sparkling wine. Continue on and you'll eventually come to Lyon, another charming city worth a visit for at least a night.

Driving your own car brings with it all kinds of unique advantages, but don't embark on this route unless you know exactly what you're getting into. Apart from the car rental and gas, there are all types of other costs to factor in, including tolls. French highways use tolls based on the distance you drive, and since you'll literally be driving across the country, they will add up quickly. To cross from the U.K. to France, you'll also need to pay for your car to be shuttled across on the Chunnel train.  If you're renting a car and not traveling back to London, be aware that most rental companies charge a hefty fee for dropping a car off in a different country from where you picked it up.

What to See in Marseille

Marseille has an edgy quality to it, and while some might see it as a dodgy city, for many travelers it's part of the Marseillais charm. Marseille has been seducing locals and tourists for over 2,600 years, and it's the oldest continuously populated city in France for a reason. Apart from the natural beauty of the cerulean sea and Mediterranean beaches, Marseille has also become a cultural powerhouse in the 21st century, with new museums, restaurants, and bars opening up all the time. The hip St. Victor district is one of the hotspots for new joints and the neighborhood to explore for tasty bites or trendy cocktails. Being by the coast, seafood is a must, and the region of Provence where Marseille is located is known for the rich and delicious fish stew bouillabaisse . Don't leave without trying a bowl.

During the summer high season, a direct train will get you from Marseille to London in seven and a half hours. If you're traveling during the off-season, though, you'll have to transfer in Paris. This can take anywhere from just over seven hours to 17, depending on where you transfer and how long your layover is.

Trains to Marseille depart from St Pancras International.

Ryanair and British Airways fly non-stop from Marseille to London.

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Related Content

How to take a thrilling high speed rail journey from London to Marseille

Share this journey with a friend..., london to marseille by train.

There are four options for making the journey by high speed trains from London to Marseille.

Travelling via Paris can be a cheaper option, but you will need to make the transfer across the French capital between the Gare Du Nord, which is where the Eurostar will arrive, and the Gare De Lyon -which is departure station of the trains on to Marseille. 1: You can opt to travel on to Marseille by a full service TGV InOui train. 2: Or you can opt to travel on by a more basic, but 'low cost' Ouigo service.

If you make the connection in Lille, you can avoid having to make the transfer between stations across Paris. 3: You can opt to travel on to Marseille by a full service TGV InOui from Lille Europe station - which is where the Eurostar from London will arrive. 4: Or you can opt to travel on by a more basic, but 'low cost' Ouigo service which will depart from Lille Flandres station.

Routes you can take to go from London to Marseille

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Looking for connections, route information, via stations: paris gare du nord/paris nord and paris gare de lyon/paris lyon, option 1: travelling on from paris by tgv inoui trains, station guides.

Travel Time (approx)

6hr 40min - 7hr 25min (approx)

Travel Info

up to 5 x connections per day

Purchase Tickets

ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.

Trainline Guide

Other Ticket Providers

Eurostar Guide

In addition to direct journeys by Eurostar trains, the Eurostar website also sells

• 'Any station in Belgium' tickets; the key feature of these tickets is that they live up to their name, so how distant your Belgian destination is and the journey time doesn't impact on the ticket price.
• Journeys to SOME major cities in France not served directly by Eurostar– including Avignon, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nice, Nantes and Rennes.
• Journeys to destinations in Germany that are served by Thalys trains from Bruxelles, including these cities; Aachen, Cologne/Koeln, and Dusseldorf.

Eurostar also sells seat reservations to users of Eurail and InterRail passes without booking fees.

SNCF Connect Guide

SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them. Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.

Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.

And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service. You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey.

Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase.

SNCF Connect on Google Play

SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store

SNCF also operates RailEurope , which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe. If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so. Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase

Travel Information

At St Pancras:

Eurostar is currently suggesting that Standard Class And Standard Premier ticket holders should be at the Eurostar departure area in St Pancras International 90 mins before departure; and that Business Premier ticket holders should be there 45-60mins prior to departure.

The departure gates will close 30 mins prior to departure for Standard Class And Standard Premier ticket holders; and 15 mins prior to departure for Business Premier ticket holders.

Our guide to taking a Eurostar from London is here .

Note that London is in a different time zone to mainland Europe, it is one hour behind; hence what can seem like a discrepancy between the journey time and the interval between the departure and arrival times.

Departing from the Gare De Lyon

The Eurostar will arrive in Paris at the Gare Du Nord , but the TGV InOui train on to Lyon will depart from the Gare De Lyon .

This guide explains how to make the transfer between the two stations by RER train. The London to Lyon tickets do not include the transfer across Paris. What's good to know is that the journey from stepping off the Eurostar to being on the concourse at the Gare De Lyon will typically take 25-35 minutes - depending on how long you will have to wait for an RER train.

When making a booking, check the connection time between the arrival at Gare Du Nord and the departure from Gare De Lyon. The journeys which have an end-to-end time of around 6hr 45-55mins have a transfer time of around 1hr 20mins - and the typically slowest journey of 7hr 25min allows an easy 1hr 50min to make the connection. Though the final journey option of the day, which typically involves leaving London around 15:30, usually arrives into Paris only around 55mins prior to the onward departure - and making this transfer is essential to arriving into Marseille by the end of the day.

The alternative journey options:

You can avoid having to make that transfer across Paris if you travel via Lille. Though travelling via Paris does have the advantages of:

• more departures to choose from
• and it tends to be cheaper too.

This journey is made up of 1 change.

You will be travelling on one of these trains....

Journey Features

Good to know.

Most departures will be by the e320 trains, but the e300 trains can also be used.

It's not a scenic journey, but it is a journey with SIX distinct phases and highlights:

1: For most of the first 8 mins of the journey the trains use tunnels to exit London (Stratford International station is located between the tunnels).

2: Then from the right of the train, there are views of the River Thames marshes and of the Queen Elizabeth II road bridge.

3: The third tunnel that the train will pass through is the tunnel under the River Thames.

4: Shortly after Ebbsfleet International station (can only be seen from the right of the train) is the scenic highlight of the journey - the crossing of the River Medway.

5: The train will slow down as it approaches The Channel Tunnel. Announcements are no longer made that the train is about to enter the tunnel. The journey through the tunnel will take around 22 mins.

6: There is little of note to be seen from the high speed lines in France.

Final Destination: Marseille or Nice

Most trains also call at: Avignon TGV and Aix-en-Provence TGV

In terms of distance travelled this is one of the longest non-stop European journeys by high speed trains and you should be travelling at more than 270 km/h for more than 90% of this trip. The train will head on to the high speed line around 10 mins into the journey and won't leave it until it reaches the outskirts of Marseille.

The route becomes more scenic on the final 30 - 40mis of the ride, when the train will be travelling across Provence.

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The search results for the London to Marseille journeys on all of the agents below, combine these journeys via Paris with the alternative connections via Lille.

Book Early And Save : Yes

Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date This booking period tends to be shorter when looking up journeys between mid August and mid October.

Seat reservations are automatically included when booking tickets for both trains.

Your ticket will not include the RER train across Paris from the Gare Du Nord to the Gare De Lyon.

The very cheapest tickets tend to sell out particularly quickly on this route; they're more likely to be available if you can travel on a Tuesday - Thursday, or are happy to set off from London early in the morning.

Eurostar train's general ticket terms:

'Customers can exchange tickets for travel in Standard and Standard Premier class multiple times without paying an exchange fee, as long as tickets are exchanged 7 days or more before the departure time of their individual journey Though if the new ticket option is more expensive the difference in price will need to be paid, but if it is cheaper the price difference won't be refunded. But make the exchange within 7 days of the individual journey and an admin fee of £30 will need to be paid, along with the price difference Tickets to travel in Standard and Standard Premier class are not refundable. In contrast tickets to travel in Business Premier Class can be refunded and they can be exchanged to alternative departures without paying the admin fee, or the price difference'. Eurostar's full ticket terms and conditions are here .

General ticket terms for TGV InOui trains

The terms on SNCF Connect state: 'Tickets can only be exchanged (adjustment to the current fare) and refunded prior to departure: 40% of the price 6 days prior to departure (€15 max fee). From 30 minutes prior to departure, tickets can be exchanged up to two times (for the same day and the same journey), and are non-refundable after the first exchange'. Which could be clearer, but it seems as though the three key things to be aware of are:

• Exchanges and refunds are free up to 7 days before departure.
• If you are travelling on a TGV InOui train and want to amend your booking in the 6 days before departure, you must pay an amendment fee of €19 per person per person for an exchange or a refund.
• In the 30 minutes before departure, refunds cannot be requested and exchanges are only allowed for the same journey later that day. The same amendment fees apply to the exchange.

Making the connection in Paris:

There is relatively new E.U. legislation which protects travellers against financial loss in the event of missed connections due to train delays, but it only applies to 'through tickets' . The Eurostar terms and conditions specifically state that when booking journeys which combine Eurostar + Thalys trains 'through tickets' will be issued. 'However, 'for all other journeys that combine a Eurostar Service and a service provided by another carrier (such as the TGV on from Paris) including when purchased in a single commercial transaction, those tickets will be separate contracts and issues regarding delays, missed connections, cancellations, compensation, and the management of aftersales will be handled accordingly'.

But SNCF, which operates the train on to Marseille has signed up to Agreement on Journey Continuation (AJC) policy for when a traveller holds separate transport 'contracts' for an end-to-end journey involving more than one train. So this agreement applies both when 'a bundle' of tickets / contracts is issued as the result of a single transaction - and if travellers have bought several different tickets for their journey, even from different sales channels/ticket providers. As long as the passenger had planned enough connecting time to change trains (called “reasonable connecting time”), the AJC will apply.

So in usual* circumstances, if a delay to a Eurostar has caused a booked connection on to Marseille to be missed, replacement tickets/reservations should be issued at the Gare De Lyon. *= But that new E.U legislation specifically states that in exceptional circumstances, the train operators do not need to issue replacement tickets - and the terms and conditions on the SNCF Connect website reiterate this. These exceptional circumstances specifically stated in Regulation (EU) 2021/782 of the European Parliament include:

• extraordinary circumstances not connected with the operation of the railway, such as extreme weather conditions, major natural disasters or major public health crises...
• ...the behaviour of a third party... such as persons on the track, cable theft, on-board emergencies, law enforcement activities or sabotage.

Using Rail Passes:

Rail pass users can now pay reservation fees to travel on Eurostar trains, in a similar manner to other international European high speed trains.

The new rail pass reservation fees are similar to the cheapest single journey ticket prices, but as those cheapest tickets can sell out quickly, it's likely that the rail pass reservation fees will save money.

You can purchase these online on B-Europe . Booking in advance is recommended as it's not unknown for rail pass reservations on specific Eurostar services to sell out weeks in advance, there is evidently limited availability per departure.

Option 2: travelling on from Paris by Ouigo trains

7hr 25min to 7hr 55min (approx)

2 x connections per day

Some of the high speed trains from Paris to Lyon are the more basic Ouigo trains , which typically offer a low-cost alternative to taking a TGV InOui service But if the end-to-end journey price isn't much cheaper, it's best to avoid taking these trains on from Paris if possible. The journey options which connect into a Ouigo service on to the main station in Lyon typically involve departing London at around 07:00 and 12:30.

This route is not an option for Eurail and InterRail pass users, as they are not valid on Ouigo trains.

The Eurostar will arrive in Paris at the Gare Du Nord , but the TGV train on to Lyon will depart from the Gare De Lyon .

The end-to-end journeys which involve taking a Ouigo service on from Paris typically allow more than 2hr 15mns between arrival and departure in Paris.

Most trains also call at: Avignon TGV and Aix-en-Provence TGV

There are different ticket types of available, which reflect the various options for how to travel on the Ouigo trains. Click on the Ouigo Train Guide for further info re: the travel experiences.

Eurail and InterRail passes are not valid on Ouigo trains.

Your ticket will not include the RER train across Paris.

Eurostar does not sell tickets for the journey options which involve taking a Ouigo train on from Paris.

Customers can exchange tickets for travel in Standard and Standard Premier class multiple times without paying an exchange fee, as long as tickets are exchanged 7 days or more before the departure time of their individual journey Though if the new ticket option is more expensive the difference in price will need to be paid, but if it is cheaper the price difference won't be refunded. But make the exchange within 7 days of the individual journey and an admin fee of £30 will need to be paid, along with the price difference Tickets to travel in Standard and Standard Premier class are not refundable. In contrast tickets to travel in Business Premier Class can be refunded and they can be exchanged to alternative departures without paying the admin fee, or the price difference. Eurostar's full ticket terms and conditions are here .

General ticket terms for Ouigo trains

The terms on SNCF Connect state: 'Ticket not refundable. Exchange possible under conditions for the same trip with a 10€ per passenger fee until 1 hour before the beginning of embarkment. Potential price difference between old and new ticket to be added to this fee'.

So if you're considering whether to book a 2nd class ticket on a TGV InOui service, or to save money by taking a Ouigo instead, something to factor into the decision is that if you subsequently need to abandon your trip, a ticket for the InOui service can be refunded, but a ticket for a Ouigo service can't!

Both SNCF and Eurostar are members of The Railteam Alliance which offers a Hop on the next available train ( HOTNAT ) policy. But SNCF excludes Ouigo services from Railteam, so SMTJ's understanding is that tickets for the Ouigo will need to be repurchased, if the Eurostar arrives in Paris too late to make the booked connection.

Via stations: Lille Europe

Option 3: travelling on from lille by tgv inoui trains.

1 x connection per day

Making the connection between the Eurostar from London and the TGV to Marseille at Lille Europe has the major advantage of avoiding the need to transfer between stations in Paris.

You'll have to make your own way across if you choose the alternative train journey option via the French capital.

This guide explains how to make the connection in Lille.

The transfer time between trains in Lille will be around 35 mins if you take the 11:04 from London.

The alternative option via Lille:

On Monday to Friday there is an option for a London to Marseille journey via Lille which involves:

• departing London at around 13:00
• a transfer time in Lille Europe station of around 1hr 40mins
• boarding a train on to Lyon-Part Dieu
• a 38 min connection
• boarding a train on to Marseille-St Charles, which is due to arrive there shortly before 22:30.

Final Destination : Amsterdam

It's not a scenic journey, but it is a journey with six distinct phases and highlights:

2:  Then from the right of the train, there are views of the River Thames marshes and of the Queen Elizabeth II road bridge.

4:  Shortly after Ebbsfleet International station (can only be seen from the right of the train) is the scenic highlight of the journey - the crossing of the River Medway.

5:  The train will slow down as it approaches The Channel Tunnel. Announcements are no longer made that the train is about to enter the tunnel. The journey through the tunnel will take around 22 mins.

6: There is little of note to be seen from the high speed line in France.

Final Destination: Marseille

This train also calls at: Lyon;  Avignon TGV ; and Aix-en-Provence TGV

Aside from the 40 min detour to serve Lyon station, these trains spend the entire journey on a high speed line, but it is primarily the speed that gives this journey its wow factor.

It's not a particularly scenic train ride, aside from the final 30 mins of the journey through Provence, so having something to watch or read with you is recommended.

The search results for the London to Marseille journeys on these ticket agents, combine this journey via Lille with the alternative connections via Paris. The journeys which offer the connection in Lille are the departures from London at 11:04 and 13:01 (not Saturday) - taking this later service, has an additional connection in Lyon.

Making the connection in Lille:

But SNCF, which operates the train on to Marseille, has signed up to Agreement on Journey Continuation (AJC) policy for when a traveller holds separate transport 'contracts' for an end-to-end journey involving more than one train. So this agreement applies both when 'a bundle' of tickets / contracts is issued as the result of a single transaction - and if travellers have bought several different tickets for their journey, even from different sales channels/ticket providers. As long as the passenger had planned enough connecting time to change trains (called “reasonable connecting time”), the AJC will apply.

So in usual* circumstances, if a delay to a Eurostar has caused a booked connection on to Marseille to be missed, replacement tickets/reservations will be issued in Lille Europe. *= But that new E.U legislation specifically states that in exceptional circumstances, the train operators do not need to issue replacement tickets - and the terms and conditions on the SNCF Connect website reiterate this. These exceptional circumstances specifically stated in Regulation (EU) 2021/782 of the European Parliament include:

Via stations: Lille Europe and Lille Flandres

Option 4: travelling on from lille by ouigo trains.

7hr 40min to 8hr 40min

Monday to Saturday: 2 x connections per day Sunday: 1 x connection

Some of the high speed trains from Lille to Marseille, which have good connections with the Eurostars from London are the more basic Ouigo trains , which typically offer a low-cost alternative to taking a TGV InOui service But if the end-to-end journey price isn't much cheaper, it's best to avoid taking these trains on from Lille if possible.

Also the Eurostar train will arrive at Lille Europe station, but the Ouigo services on to Marseille will depart from Lille Flandres station . The info on how to make this transfer in Lille is available HERE ; it’s a choice between a 5 – 10min walk, or a one station hop on the Lille metro.

Final Destination : Amsterdam or Bruxelles-Midi

Most of the departures between London and Bruxelles will be by the e320 trains, but the e330 trains can be used on some departures, which terminate at Midi station.

These Ouigo trains take the same route as the TGV InOui services.

So if you're considering whether to book a 2nd class ticket on a TGV InOui service, or to save money by taking a Ouigo instead, something to factor into the decision is that if you subsequently need to abandon your trip, a ticket for the InOui service can be refunded, but a ticket for a Ouigo service can't!e.

Both SNCF and Eurostar are members of The Railteam Alliance which offers a Hop on the next available train ( HOTNAT ) policy. But SNCF excludes Ouigo services from Railteam, so SMTJ's understanding is that tickets for the Ouigo will need to be repurchased, if the Eurostar arrives in Lille too late to make the booked connection.

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London to Marseille by train

Travel from London (United Kingdom) to Marseille (France) by train (1002km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.

The train connection from London in Great Britain to Marseille in France crosses the Channel. This travel journey is served by the "Eurostar" train with departure in London and as destination Paris. Find schedules and ticket prices bellow. London and Paris are very well connected to their national rail network.

There are two main routes. Compare them and decide which one feeds your needs best.

1 London (United Kingdom) - Paris (France) - Marseille (France)

2 london (united kingdom) - lille (france) - marseille (france).

The following links could be interesting for you.

train connections : popular connections travelled by other users

The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.

1a Travelling from London (United Kingdom) to Paris (France)

The Eurostar train from London to Paris is the fastest train connection with a travel time of 2.5 hours. You can buy cheap train tickets from 50 euros. There are up to 18 train connections daily. You can find the exact timetable and ticket prices for the Eurostar high-speed-train by clicking on the booking links. If you want to travel cheaper, you can travel by bus. The journey time takes considerably longer with about nine hours. But the tickets are much cheaper and start at 14 EUR. Companies like Flixbus offer several bus connections daily - also as a overnight trip. You can get the bus tickets via the booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from London to Paris?

Cheap train tickets! Buy your train ticket online on Omio. The easy to use booking system with very good prices and e-tickets.

Cheap international train tickets Official online shop of Netherlands railways (NS International). International train tickets for Europe including overnight trains. Buy your saver fare tickets easily and securely here.

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Eurostar (EST)

ferry: Ferry connections that might be helpful. Dover - Calais

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Paris - London

search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections. rail.cc Deutsche Bahn

1b Travelling from Paris (France) to Marseille (France)

Travel from Paris to Marseille by direct OUIGO and TGV INOUI high-speed-train. The journey time is three hours. The train ticket prices start at 19 EUR. There are hourly train connections. You can travel as well by overnight train. The departure time in Paris is 20:50. The arrival time in Marseille is 06:30. The following service categories are available: - standard seats from 19 EUR - beds from 29 EUR Find the exact train schedules and book your ticket via the given booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Marseille?

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV)

night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip. ICN 5773 Paris - Nice / ICN 5774 Nice - Paris

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Marseille - Paris

Impressions from the first-class upper deck

Travel overnight from france to italy, travel in style with russian railways, across the alps along the tenda line., through the pyrenees on a spectacular railway line., tgv or ter, what is your choice, travel by high-speed train or slower and cheaper by bus., across the north sea with europe's longest ferry., 2a travelling from london (united kingdom) to lille (france).

To travel by train from Great Britain to France you have several options. The fastest one includes the direct Eurostar train from London to Paris. A cheaper but much slower option could be a bus. The ferry Dover to Calais isn't an option anymore as it became too complicate and expensive for foot passengers. To buy train tickets for your travel journey from the United Kingdom to France, use one of the following booking links. First try to book your whole trip in one step. If this is not possible, split it with tickets from your departure station to London (1), one ticket for the Eurostar train London to Paris (2) and from Paris to your destination (3). Find schedules and exact travel times via the booking links. Try to book your tickets in advance to get saver fares. If you pretend to travel several routes in Great Britain, a rail pass like Britrail, Eurail or Interrail could be an option for you, as single tickets are quiet expensive.

Where to buy a ticket from London to Lille?

Buy your international saver fare tickets easily and securely here. Online shop of ACPRail, the rail travel experts for more than 20 years.

night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip. Caledonian Sleeper Fort William - London / Caledonian Sleeper Aberdeen - London / RIV Penzance - London / CAL Edinburgh - London / CAL Inverness - London

bus: Bus connections that might be helpful. London - Paris

train company: SNCF Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français / EST Eurostar International

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Lille - London / London - Paris / London - Bordeaux / London - Lyon / London - Marseille / London - Toulouse / Manchester - Paris / Glasgow - Paris / Edinburgh - Paris / London - Nice

search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections. rail.cc Deutsche Bahn / Nationa Rail UK

2b Travelling from Lille (France) to Marseille (France)

To travel in France by train, buy your ticket via the following booking links. There you find schedules and ticket prices with discounts. Book early to get inexpensive train tickets. To travel long distances between the big cities of France, use a TGV high-speed train.

Where to buy a ticket from Lille to Marseille?

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Transport Express Régional (TER) / THALYS (THY) / Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) / Eurostar (EST) / Intercités (IC) / TGV Lyria France - Switzerland (Lyria) / TGV France - Italy (TGV) / TGV Alleo France - Germany (TGV Alleo) / TGV Elipsos France - Spain (TGV Elipsos)

night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip. ICN 3981|83 Paris - Latour-de-Carol / ICN 5789/93 Paris - Briançon / EN 453/24J Paris - Moscow

ferry: Ferry connections that might be helpful. Calais - Dover / Cherbourg - Rosslare

train company: SNCF Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français / THALYS Thalys / EST Eurostar International

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Marseille - Lille / Paris - Bordeaux / Paris - Brest / Paris - Lille / Paris - Lyon / Paris - Marseille / Paris - Toulouse / Paris - Strasbourg / Lyon - Bordeaux / Lyon - Marmande / Strasbourg - Marseille

Need a cheap place to sleep? We recommend booking.com

Find a cheap flight compare prices on kiwi.com.

Do you have questions about the connection between London and Marseille? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in our forum and get competent answers from our rail travel experts.

Eurail: if you want to travel this route by Eurail instead of train tickets, have a look here for reservation fees and further information.

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The Man in Seat 61

Direct Eurostar from London to

Lyon, avignon, marseille.

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Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, from the thames to the mediterranean.

Service cancelled since 2020:   Eurostar used to run a direct train from London to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille up to 4 times a week during the summer.  It was the first scheduled train in history ever to link the Thames directly with the Mediterranean.  However, this train didn't run in 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic, didn't run in 2022 or 2023 due to Eurostar's post-pandemic, post-Brexit situation and won't run in 2024. 

You can still travel with a change in Lille or Paris, see the London to France page .

On what days does it run?

Train times.

** = On the northbound journey you get off at Lille, go through the usual Eurostar passport & security checks and re-board the train.

| = The southbound train does in fact briefly stop at Lille, but only to change driver & train managers.

Always check exact times for your specific date online, at www.raileurope.com or www.eurostar.com .

London to Lyon is 915.5 km (568 miles).  London to Avignon is 1146.5 km (712 miles).  London to Marseille is 1240.5 km (770 miles).

Avignon TGV station is 3 miles from Avignon city centre & Avignon Centre station.  There's a rail link from Avignon TGV station to Avignon Centre station with shuttle trains ( navettes ) every 30-45 minutes, journey time 5 minutes, fare around €1.80 but free for Eurostar ticket holders.  You can also use a taxi, of course.  You can check navette times using www.raileurope.com .  Map of Avignon showing stations .

Alternatives if this direct Eurostar doesn't suit you:   If it leaves London too early or doesn't run on the day you want, there are a whole range of daily train services from London to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Nimes, Montpelier, Perpignan, Cannes or Nice with an easy change of train onto a TGV at Lille or Paris, see the London to France page for details .

How much does it cost ?

London to Lyon starts at £51 one-way or £89 return in standard class, or £95 one-way in standard premier (1st class) with meals & drinks included.

London to Avignon or Marseille starts at £56 one-way or £99 return in standard class, or £99 one-way in standard premier with meals & drinks included. 

Fares work like air fares, rising as departure date approaches and the cheaper tickets sell out, higher on popular dates, lower on less popular dates, book as early as you can...

How to buy tickets

Buy tickets online at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, no booking fee.  Booking opens around 6 months ahead.

You can also buy tickets at www.raileurope.com , there's a small booking fee, but it can also book other British & mainland European trains.

After booking, you can use the Manage a booking feature on www.eurostar.com to change your seats.  See Eurostar seat numbering plans & tips on choosing a seat - this route is operated by either a classic Eurostar or an e300 .

For more about this train, see www.eurostar.com/uk-en/train/france/provence

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How to check in

What's it like on board the eurostar, meals & drinks are included in standard premier.

In Standard Premier, meals are included in the fare, served at your seat.  Southbound , a light breakfast is served soon after departure (pictured below left) and south of Paris an early lunch is served in good time for arrival at Lyon (below right).  On the London-Marseille Eurostar lunch or dinner includes a hot dish, so is better than the cold food served in Standard Premier on the regular London-Paris & London-Brussels Eurostars.  Northbound , drinks and snacks are served on departure from Marseille and Avignon with a hot dinner served once the train is north of Lyon.

What's the journey like?

The Eurostar crosses the River Medway...   On this side (the right hand side of the train), small boats on the river.  On the left hand side, Rochester castle and cathedral are just visible in the distance over the top of the adjacent M2 motorway road bridge.

The train enters the Channel Tunnel...   Unless you're very sharp-eyed, you won't spot the sea at all.  The train slows slightly and passes by the Eurotunnel car, coach & lorry terminal then plunges into the Channel Tunnel.  It's a complete anti-climax, just like any other rail tunnel only a bit longer.  In 20 minutes later you burst into the sunlight in France...

By-passing Paris & onto the Sud-Est high-speed line...   The Eurostar by-passes Paris to the east on the high-speed interconnexion line, speeding non-stop through Charles de Gaulle Airport TGV station, the closest you'll come to an airport on this trip to the south of France.  Just south of Paris the train joins the Sud-Est high-speed line linking Paris with Lyon & Marseille .  Between Paris & Lyon the train rushes past sheep, cows, and ramshackle stone-walled farms nestling in small green valleys.

Arrival in Lyon Part Dieu :  Finally, the train slows down and leaves the high-speed line, rumbling slowly across the Rhone, passing right by the historic station of Lyon Brotteaux (built 1904, closed 1983, on the right hand side) and arriving at Lyon Part Dieu.  See Lyon Part Dieu station guide .

The Rhone Valley...  After leaving Lyon the train rejoins the high-speed line and powers down the Rhone Valley, past pretty French villages with picturesque churches and the occasional chateau.  On a clear day you can see the snow-capped French Alps in the far distance to the left, and the ridge of the Massif Central mountains on the far side of the valley to the right.

As the train approaches Marseille you can see the Mediterranean on your right, with ferries & cruise liners in port and in the distance a glimpse of the infamous Chateau d'If (France's Alcatraz, think Count of Monte Cristo ) on its island in the bay.  To the right and ahead you may glimpse the lovely church of Notre Dame de la Garde on its hill overlooking Marseille.  See Marseille St Charles station guide .

The northbound journey:  Passports & security at Lille

The scenery is obviously the same, but there are two important differences when you return northbound.

There is no check-in when boarding the northbound Eurostar at Marseille, Avignon or Lyon.  The train is treated just like any other train, you can walk up to it and hop on with your bags any time until they close the doors a minute or two before departure.  I repeat:  There is NO 30-minute check-in, in fact no check-in at all.  Just be on board when the doors close and off it goes!

In the northbound direction the train calls at Lille for an hour where check-in, passports & security checks are carried out as explained in the photos below.  While passengers do this upstairs, the train itself has to be thoroughly security checked in line with the Channel Tunnel security regulations before security-screened passengers are allowed back on.  Eurostar deliberately don't fully-book the northbound Eurostar it can be a busy train with a lot of people to check in, a bit of a pain perhaps, but just be patient as you'll soon be back on board.

Hotels in Lyon, Avignon, Marseille

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Marseille to London trains

City centre

to city centre travel

Comfortable

Make the most of your time on board

generous luggage allowances

Trains from Marseille to London

Take the train to london.

Although we can’t take you directly from Marseille to London for the foreseeable future, you can still get to London by taking a TGV InOui train to Paris or Lille and hopping on a Eurostar direct to London. With lots of legroom and space to unwind, all you have to do is relax and enjoy your trip!

What’s on board?

There’s a travel class to suit every budget and style, whether you’re celebrating something special, travelling en famille, or just want to catch up on some work.

And if you get peckish en route, just stroll to Café Métropole, our onboard bar buffet, to pick up drinks, snacks and meals for any time of day – from flaky morning pastries to after-work apéritifs. On your return, custom checks will be done in London.

Arriving at St Pancras International

Eurostar trains arrive right in the heart of London at the beautiful St Pancras International. There, as well as lots of shops and restaurants, you’ll find underground lines and buses to whisk you to London’s top museums and galleries where your Eurostar ticket gives you 2 for 1 entry to lots of exhibitions.

Missed your connection because of a delay or cancellation?

You can hop on the next available train (HOTNAT) when travelling on high-speed services which are part of the Railteam alliance. 

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