Everything you need to know about booking Eurostar train travel across Europe

Jordan Waller

If you're already based in Europe, the iconic Eurostar train likely needs no introduction; if you're only visiting the continent, however, you may not be quite aware of the service or how speedy and convenient its connectivity is between the U.K. and mainland Europe.

If you're looking for an easy (and typically cheaper) alternative to flying in Europe , then Eurostar might be just what you're looking for. It provides easy access to several countries — if you're short on time during your vacation, you could opt to take a daytrip from London to Paris using this train service.

Keep reading to find out more about traveling on Eurostar, including how to book tickets and save on fares by using your points and miles . Plus, check out our in-depth overview of each fare type on the Eurostar .

Eurostar trains travel to several destinations

travel to france via eurostar

Eurostar began operating in 1994 and is one of Europe's most well-known high-speed train services. The train currently offers direct service to London; Paris; Brussels; Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Amsterdam.

Further connecting Eurostar services will take you to Antwerp, Belgium; Liege, Belgium; Dusseldorf, Germany; Duisburg, Germany; Essen, Germany; and Dortmund, Germany.

travel to france via eurostar

In addition to operating its own trains, Eurostar serves as a connecting rail service for other high-speed carriers to destinations like Disneyland Paris.

Related: 7 reasons why your next family vacation should be a train trip

What are the different ticket types for Eurostar trains?

travel to france via eurostar

The fare classes on Eurostar come in three tiers. The lowest and most affordable is Standard, which is the equivalent of coach or economy class with an airline.

Next up is Standard Premier, which is akin to premium economy. Finally, there's Business Premier, which is Eurostar's version of business class.

The fare classes are broken down as follows:

With regards to pricing, the cost of fares in Standard and Standard Premier fluctuates based on seasonality, peak periods and destination. Business Premier, on the other hand, remains fairly consistent year-round in terms of pricing. Eurostar tickets can usually be booked up to 330 days before your return travel date.

Generally speaking, if you're considering a trip from London onward, you can expect prices to fall somewhere within the following margins for a one-way trip:

If you're looking to snag a bargain, it's worth keeping your eye out for flash sales, which Eurostar regularly runs throughout the year, often with tickets for as little as 30 British pounds (around $38).

How do Eurostar trains compare to flying?

travel to france via eurostar

Compared to flying to your destination and transiting through European airports, traveling via Eurostar is much more low-stress.

The most obvious difference is the security experience, which, compared to that at an airport, is effortless, with no removal of liquids or large electric items. Although queues can mount up during busy periods, we've found that we're through security in under 10 minutes when we travel with Eurostar.

Check-in is similar to airport check-in in that you must show your ticket and passport at a desk or kiosk. London's St. Pancras International Station , however, is currently testing biometric face scans , which may make checking in even faster.

Regarding lounge access, it's worth noting lounges are only available at the St. Pancras, Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi/Zuid stations.

If you're used to airline-run business-class airport lounges, you may need to lower your expectations somewhat here. Although comfortable and pleasant, the lounges are somewhat basic — don't expect too much in the way of food.

Related: The best lounges at London Heathrow — and how to get inside

On board the Eurostar, it's like most modern trains you may have taken at home. The differences between Standard Premier and Business Premier are nominal. You'll get slightly more legroom and a slightly more modern seat in both classes than in Standard.

What you're paying for in these classes is the luggage allowance and food service. If you don't deem either of those things a huge must-have, you'll be more than comfortable in Standard.

That said, the food service on the Eurostar is much better than on most airplanes and currently features a menu designed by the renowned Raymond Blanc. Champagne and coffee services are also served free of charge in Business Premier.

How to book the Eurostar train with credit cards

travel to france via eurostar

Travel on Eurostar, booked directly with Eurostar or through an online travel provider, should be coded as travel.

The following credit cards offer bonus points for travel expenses, along with strong welcome bonuses:

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred Card : Earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 2 points on all other travel purchases.
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve : Earn 3 points per dollar on travel purchases.
  • Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases, including travel.
  • Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases, including travel.
  • Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express : Earn 3% cash back on transit, including taxis, parking, tolls, trains and buses.
  • Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees ): Earn 2% on every purchase, with 1% cash back when you buy and an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.

Related: 14 best travel credit cards

How to earn points and miles for Eurostar trains

travel to france via eurostar

Eurostar operates its own loyalty program named Club Eurostar. For every British pound spent (about $1.27), you will earn 1.2 points. This means you earn around 1 point per $1 spent.

Elite members receive the following points bonuses when booking:

  • Avantage: 25%
  • Carte Blanche: 50%
  • Etoile: 75%

Eurostar tickets can now be booked through the Uber app , and you will earn 10% back in Uber credits on Eurostar bookings and National Rail train tickets in the U.K.

Additionally, you can earn 10% back when you purchase your coach tickets with the following U.K. operators: National Express and Megabus. If you decide to opt out of taking public transit, you can also hire a car from Avis, Hertz and other companies in your Uber app. When you book your trip, you'll receive £10 off (about $12).

You can also transfer 2,000 Accor Live Limitless points and receive 300 Eurostar points.

How to redeem points and miles for Eurostar trains

travel to france via eurostar

You can redeem 2,000 Club Eurostar points for a round-trip ticket in Standard class (or 4,000 points for a Standard Premier ticket), though these tickets are limited. For 1,000 more points, you can book any Standard or Standard Premier seats available.

A round-trip ticket can easily cost over $200 in Standard class (and double this at peak periods), making Club Eurostar points very valuable.

Business Premier tickets are available for 6,000 points round-trip for any available seat (saver-level space is not offered).

A one-way upgrade from Standard to Standard Premier is 600 points.

If you don't wish to redeem Club Eurostar points for train travel, you can transfer 500 Eurostar points and receive 1,000 Accor points .

You can redeem Virgin points through Virgin Red for the following Eurostar vouchers:

  • 2,000 points for a 10-pound E-Voucher (about $12)
  • 5,000 points for a 25-pound E-Voucher (about $31)
  • 10,000 points for a 50-pound E-Voucher (about $63)
  • 20,000 points for a 100-pound E-Voucher (about $126)

We would not recommend redeeming Virgin points in this way under any circumstances, as this will only give you a redemption value of 0.5 cents each, which is only one-third of our current valuation of Virgin points . You can obtain far more value from your Virgin points by redeeming through flights on Virgin Atlantic or partner airlines like Air France, KLM and Delta Air Lines.

Related: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: How to earn and redeem points for maximum value

Bottom line

Eurostar's popularity boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic as travelers looked for ways to move around Europe without relying on airlines. As a result, Eurostar fares can be more expensive compared to flights with the same route. For short journeys like between London and Brussels, taking Eurostar is a much quicker and more relaxing experience, while on longer journeys like London to Amsterdam, the price can be similar.

If you want to travel within Europe and like the idea of keeping your feet on the ground, book in advance or redeem points and enjoy the stress-free Eurostar rail experience.

I traveled on the famed Eurostar between London and Paris and saw how European high-speed rail blows America's out of the water

  • Eurostar connects London with mainland Europe with a fleet of high-speed trains that utilize the Channel Tunnel.
  • Trains reach a top speed of 186 miles per hour and offer three classes of service. 
  • The journey time between London and Paris is a mere two hours and 16 minutes.

As a train enthusiast, Eurostar has always been near the top of my list of rail services to take.

travel to france via eurostar

From its London terminus, travelers can be in European capitals such as Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam in just a matter of hours.

travel to france via eurostar

Making these journeys possible is the Channel Tunnel, affectionately known as the "Chunnel," that connects the UK with mainland Europe.

travel to france via eurostar

Without it, travelers looking to cross the English Channel would have to fly or take a boat.

travel to france via eurostar

During a recent trip to the UK, I finally took Eurostar between London to Paris. Here's what it was like.

travel to france via eurostar

I arrived at London's St. Pancras International Station at around 7 a.m. for the 8:01 a.m. train to Paris. France had just opened to the UK a few days prior and the excitement was palpable.

travel to france via eurostar

St. Pancras International is one of the many rail stations that serve London and is known primarily for Eurostar trains to mainland Europe.

travel to france via eurostar

On the upper level, a thick and clear glass wall separates the platforms from the rest of the station. For all intents and purposes, those platforms might as well have been in France considering the only way for passengers to access them would be by going through French passport control.

travel to france via eurostar

On the main level, it wasn't hard to find the Eurostar check-in area and I was surprised to see so few people lining up.

travel to france via eurostar

My tickets were emailed to me — with Apple Wallet functionality — but I still got paper copies from one of the many self-serve kiosks available.

travel to france via eurostar

With my ticket, passport, and vaccination card in hand, I made my way to departures. But there was one more thing I needed to do, fill out a sworn statement attesting to my ability to travel to France as a vaccinated traveler.

travel to france via eurostar

Once done, I could move on to the next phase: the security checkpoint. I was only halfway through the process and this was the first time I had to go through security to take a train.

travel to france via eurostar

Next came UK Border Police who would be checking my documents as I left the country.

travel to france via eurostar

Finally, the French Border Police inspected my documents at passport control. The question "are you vaccinated?" replaced "what is the purpose of your visit?" and with the stamp of a passport, I was on my way.

travel to france via eurostar

For all intents and purposes, I was in France. This part of France, however, was a packed waiting room in the middle of London.

travel to france via eurostar

Business class passengers receive access to a private lounge. But standard and standard premier passengers only have chairs, a duty-free store, and a few shops to entertain during the wait.

travel to france via eurostar

Boarding began around 20 minutes before departure. There was no reason to rush onto the train as all seats were pre-assigned; though, some still felt the need to be first.

travel to france via eurostar

My train to France was operated by a Siemens British Rail Class 374 high-speed train. It spans more than 1,000 feet in length.

travel to france via eurostar

A total of 16 cars comprised the train with business premier class, standard premier class, and standard class.

travel to france via eurostar

I walked what felt like a half-mile to get to my coach but that was strategic as the closer to the front of the train I was, the closer I'd be to the exit in Paris. For this leg, I was riding in standard premier class, the Eurostar version of premium economy.

travel to france via eurostar

A porter was waiting to check tickets at the door to my coach. I climbed onboard and was immediately impressed with the train.

travel to france via eurostar

A literal red carpet covered the floor into the coach complete with sliding glass automatic doors. I had never seen anything like this in the US.

travel to france via eurostar

Seats in the cabin were arranged in a 1-2 configuration compared to the 2-2 configuration in standard class and 1-1 configuration of business class.

travel to france via eurostar

I arrived at my seat, 65, and settled in for the quick journey to France.

travel to france via eurostar

I chose the table seat because I love the aesthetic of paired seats surrounding a table on a train.

travel to france via eurostar

Seats in this cabin came with power outlets, storage slots, and personal reading lights. They also recline for additional comfort.

travel to france via eurostar

The coach was moderately full with a surprising number of small children traveling with families.

travel to france via eurostar

We pulled out of the station at exactly 8:01 a.m. for the two-hour and 16-minute journey to Paris. Amtrak's Acela can't even go from New York to Washington, DC that quickly.

travel to france via eurostar

I knew this wasn't going to be the average train ride when I heard one of the conductors say "good morning, dear passengers" over the public announcement system.

travel to france via eurostar

Most of the first 15 minutes were spent in tunnels underneath London but I could feel the train's acceleration. The top speed on this run is 186 miles per hour.

travel to france via eurostar

Soon enough, we were blazing across the English countryside bound for Dover, where we'd enter the Chunnel.

travel to france via eurostar

Train managers were introduced by name over the PA. "It is our pleasure to assist you in any way we can," one said.

travel to france via eurostar

Free WiFi was available on the train and worked perfectly all the way to Paris, even in the tunnel.

travel to france via eurostar

Surprisingly, there wasn't much in terms of a view from where I was sitting. Amtrak might actually have the advantage here.

travel to france via eurostar

Read More: I took Amtrak for the first time since it started filling trains to capacity and it's still my favorite way to travel the Northeast

A meal was included in the price of my standard premier ticket, and attendants came around to serve breakfast just before we entered the Chunnel.

travel to france via eurostar

Breakfast consisted of a croissant, bread roll, yogurt, water, and a selection of coffee and tea.

travel to france via eurostar

Everything was tasty and there were no complaints from me on that front. It wasn't much of an offering but this train ride is only scheduled for two hours and 16 minutes.

travel to france via eurostar

The biggest disappointment, however, was the crud on the cutlery and cups. They clearly hadn't been washed properly and it turned me off from using them.

travel to france via eurostar

I couldn't believe the speed at which we were traveling. It wasn't even 25 minutes into the ride that we were halfway to Dover.

travel to france via eurostar

We approached the Chunnel and the views of the countryside quickly changed. Large fencing surrounded the tracks as we slowed down on our approach to the tunnel.

travel to france via eurostar

Then, with no warning, the view went black and we were heading to a depth of 75 meters. I don't know why but I expected the tunnel to be illuminated throughout.

travel to france via eurostar

The WiFi was still working wonderfully as I finished my movie as attendants offered refills of tea and coffee. There's not much in terms of entertainment options besides the WiFi but that's par for the course on trains.

travel to france via eurostar

I walked around the train and discovered the cafe car, known as the Cafe Metropole.

travel to france via eurostar

The selection was quite extensive and I thought the prices were reasonable.

travel to france via eurostar

We emerged from the Chunnel in Calais, France in under 30 minutes. And to be honest, I didn't feel the least bit nervous about the crossing.

travel to france via eurostar

The side of the Chunnel was similarly well-fortified.

travel to france via eurostar

Around an hour and 15 minutes remained until arriving in Paris. The views of the French countryside were markedly better than those of the English.

travel to france via eurostar

I knew we were getting close to Paris when I started seeing Air France planes taking off from Charles de Gaulle Airport.

travel to france via eurostar

We pulled into Paris' Gare du Nord exactly on time with a journey time of two hours and 16 minutes.

travel to france via eurostar

After alighting in Paris, we were free to walk right into the station as if we were getting off of a commuter train. Some passengers had their bags checked by customs but the majority walked right into Paris.

travel to france via eurostar

I personally couldn't believe how quick the journey was and that I was in Paris after only two hours of traveling. It felt like a different world from London.

travel to france via eurostar

The ride back was similarly smooth and enjoyable. The same customs and security checks were performed at Gare du Nord, except in reverse.

travel to france via eurostar

This time, however, I was seated in standard class. Seats in the cabin are arranged in a 2-2 configuration and I once again chose the table seat.

travel to france via eurostar

Eurostar's seat map does say where the windows are to avoid getting a windowless seat but I clearly misread the map. It was no issue, however, as I could still see out of the expansive window above the table.

travel to france via eurostar

Seats are also assigned for this cabin and non-table seats have their own tray tables. There's no meal service whatsoever so the only option is Cafe Metropole.

travel to france via eurostar

Back once more through the Chunnel, we arrived back in London at St. Pancras International on time. I was admittedly jealous we don't have these types of trains anywhere in the US.

travel to france via eurostar

America might very well be unstoppable if we had these trains connecting our largest cities as fast as they do in Europe.

travel to france via eurostar

Read More: I went aboard Amtrak's new long-distance trains aiming to transform America's languishing rail network, and now I want to take a cross-country train trip

There were no passport checks but passengers did have to walk through a customs channel. And just like that, I was back in London.

travel to france via eurostar

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Train advice from the Man in Seat 61...

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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, take a high-speed train to france.

It's the civilised alternative to flying.  Take Eurostar from London to Lille or Paris, then a 300 km/h  TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) through the French countryside with a glass of red wine to hand from Lille or Paris to Avignon, Marseille, Nice, Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rennes or Nantes...  It's affordable, too: London to Paris from £52 one-way or £78 return, Paris to Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice, or Perpignan from around €29 each way.  Centre to centre, no baggage fees, no airport taxes, significantly less impact on the environment & infants go free.

Choose your destination:     London to... Agde Aime la Plagne Aix en Provence Aix les Bains Ajaccio Amiens Angers Angouleme Annecy Antibes Avignon Bastia Bayonne Beaulieu sur Mer Beziers Biarritz Bordeaux Boulogne Bourg st Maurice Brive la Gaillard Caen Cahors Calais Cannes Carcassonne Chambéry Chamonix Cherbourg Corsica Dax Disneyland Paris Etaples Juan les Pins Le Havre Le Mans Les Arcs (Alps) Le Touquet Lille Lourdes Limoges Lyon Marseilles Menton Méribel Monaco - Monte Carlo Montpellier Mont St Michel Moutiers Nancy Nantes Narbonne Nice Nîmes Paris (by Eurostar) Paris (by train + ferry) Perpignan Poitiers Rennes St Gervais St Jean de Luz St Malo St Lo St Raphael St Tropez Sete Strasbourg Tarbes Tignes Toulon Toulouse Trois Vallées Val d'Isere Versailles - Chateau Versailles Villefranche sur Mer Train times, fares & tickets

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Train travel within France

International trains to & from france, station guides, other useful information, useful country information, london to paris, option 1, by eurostar: see the eurostar page.

Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord via the Channel Tunnel, taking as little as 2h15 at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  Typically, 95% of Eurostar trains run on time or within 15 minutes, against just 65%-70% of flights on the same routes, it's not surprising that Eurostar now has over 70% of the London-Paris market.

Option 2, by train & ferry : See the train & ferry page

Short breaks to paris.

A short break is sometimes cheaper than booking Eurostar & hotel separately - and if you need to travel at short notice it can even be cheaper than a regular Eurostar ticket.  Try these companies:

Other UK towns & cities to Paris

Use a london international civ ticket.

After buying a Eurostar ticket from London to Lille or Paris, you can buy a separate ticket from most British stations to a special destination called London International CIV , designed for use with Eurostar.

These exist from most stations in Britain, they include the Underground across London to St Pancras and they generally have few or no time restrictions (so an off-peak price may apply even in the peak).  You're covered by the international CIV conditions of carriage if there's a delay to the UK train and you miss your Eurostar, you're entitled to be re-booked on a later one.  More about tickets from your local station to London International CIV .

Or book Britain to France at www.raileurope.com

Raileurope.com connects to both the British and French ticketing system, so you can book from any British station to Paris or anywhere in France as one easy transaction.  It simply adds a normal domestic ticket from your chosen British station to London to an onward Eurostar from London to Lille or Paris and a French train ticket from Lille or Paris onwards. There's a small booking fee.

West of England or South Coast to Paris

Scotland to paris, belfast or dublin to paris, london to disneyland.

Eurostar Disney train discontinued:  The direct Eurostar from London to Marne La Vallée for Disneyland Paris was discontinued in June 2023.

The alternative is to book a regular Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Nord at www.eurostar.com then use the RER (express metro) every 15 minutes between Paris Nord and Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy (Disneyland), changing at Châtelet les Halles or Gare de Lyon, journey time about 58 minutes, fare a few euros (see www.ratp.fr ).

OR you can use www.raileurope.com to book a journey from London to Marne la Vallée by Eurostar and French TGV train with one easy change at Lille .

See www.disneylandparis.com to book holidays and short breaks to Disneyland Paris, including the Eurostar, hotel accommodation and entrance to the Disneyland park or buy Eurostar tickets separately at www.eurostar.com .

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London to Versailles

The famous Chateau de Versailles ( www.chateauversailles.fr ) is 30-40 minutes southwest of central Paris using a frequent express metro train on RER line C to Versailles-Rive Gauche station.  Versailles-Rive Gauche is 5 minutes' walk from the entrance to the Chateau.  Just buy a Eurostar ticket to Paris at www.eurostar.com then buy an RER ticket from central Paris (zone 1) to Versailles (zone 4) when you get there, the fare is just over €4 each way.  RER line C runs directly to Versailles Chateau - Rive Gauche from various RER/metro stations in central Paris, including the Gare d'Austerlitz, St Michel-Notre Dame, Musée d'Orsay, Invalides, & Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel.  From the Gare du Nord, take RER line B two stops to St Michel-Notre Dame, then change onto RER line C to Versailles-Rive Gauche.  See www.ratp.fr for a plan of the RER & metro network  You can check RER C times on this route at www.transilien.com .

Tip :  A nicer way to reach Versailles from central Paris is to go to the Gare St Lazare and take Transilien line L to Versailles-Rive Droite.  These Transilien suburban trains run every 15 minutes from platforms 1-4 at the Gare St Lazare , taking about the same time as the RER C route, but unlike RER C almost all the journey is above ground with views of wealthy Parisian suburbs, a Seine crossing, and the towers of the financial district at La Défense.  You arrive at Versailles-Rive Droite which is a slightly longer walk from the chateau, but you walk through the old part of town and can enter the chateau through its gardens at the 'Bassin de Neptune' rather than through the car park as with the walk from Versailles-Rive Gauche.  See www.transilien.com .

London to Nice & Cannes

It's easy to travel from the UK to Cannes, Nice or Monte Carlo by Eurostar and high-speed TGV , a chance to chill out with a good book and a glass of wine, and maybe have lunch in Paris on the way.

Which route to choose?

What's the journey to nice like.

Settle back into your seat and watch the scenery glide past with a glass of red to hand.  From Lille or Paris to Lyon, the TGV passes rich farmlands and picturesque villages with pretty churches.  South of Lyon, the TGV flies at ground level along the Rhône Valley, crossing and re-crossing the River Rhône on dramatic viaducts high above the valley floor, passing more pretty villages and the occasional hilltop chateau.  It then passes through the hills of Provence to reach Marseille.  Watch out for the huge viaduct over the Rhône just before Avignon, with views of the famous Palais des Papes in the distance to the left - though if you can spot anyone dancing sur le pont d'Avignon you have better eyesight than me.  You'll see the Alpine foothills in the distance to the left, and catch a glimpse of Marseille harbour with its Chateau d'If of Count of Monte Cristo fame to the right before arriving at Marseille St Charles station.  If you're bound for Cannes, Nice or Monte Carlo, the scenery along the Côte d'Azur is wonderful, as the train runs along the coast past yacht-filled harbours, beaches, rocky inlets and millionaires' villas.

The Man in Seat 61 says:   "Attending a conference on the Côte d'Azur, I travelled from London to Nice by train.  A morning Eurostar to Paris, lunch at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon, then an afternoon TGV Duplex to the South of France, with a 1st class Club Duo seat on the upper deck.  Wonderful!  I put my feet up & relaxed, watched the French villages of the Rhone Valley pass by, caught up on my reading & emails and watched a movie on my iPhone.  To anyone who has only known the stresses of airports, flights & motorways, chilling out on a high-speed train is a revelation..."

Watch the video:   On board a double-deck TGV Duplex (Paris-Nice)

Watch the video:   On board a single-deck Christian Lacroix TGV (Lille-Nice)

Option 1, London to Nice via Lille

This is the easiest option as there's no need to cross Paris, just easy same-station changes at Lille & Marseille.  It's ideal if you've luggage, kids or mobility problems.  Take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille Europe and change onto a direct TGV to Marseille St Charles by-passing Paris, then take another TGV from Marseille to Toulon, St Raphael, Cannes, Antibes or Nice.  For a wider choice of departures and in many cases cheaper fares, also check out journeys via Paris in option 2 below .  Tips for changing trains at Lille .   Unfortunately, SNCF discontinued the daily direct Lille-Nice TGV in December 2018.

Timetable outward 2024

Timetable inward 2024, notes for the timetable.

How to read these timetables :  It's easy, you read downwards, each column is a journey you can take.  You change trains at each grey bar.

Always check times for your specific dates using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com , as the times shown here can vary.  Don't book any Eurostar tickets until you have confirmed onward train times.  Eurostar doesn't run on 25 December.

How much does it cost?

London to Lille by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way, £78 return standard class or £97 one-way, £168 return in standard premier (1st class).

Lille to Marseille by TGV starts at €20 each way.

Marseille to Cannes or Nice starts at €15 each way.

Fares vary like air fares, increasing as the cheaper seats are sold, so book ahead & look for the cheapest departures.  Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Children under 4 go free.

How to buy tickets

Using an interrail pass, what are the trains like.

1. London to Lille by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Lille in 1h22, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in, as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Lille station guide & tips on changing trains .

2. Lille to the South of France by TGV

TGV or Train á Grande Vitesse is French Railways high-speed train, with 1st & 2nd class and a cafe-bar.  They come in various types, some single-deck, some double-deck TGV Duplex, you could get either on cross-France routes from Lille.  Most have power sockets at seats, most now have free WiFi.  The photos below show a single-deck TGV with the Christian Lacroix designer interior.  The direct TGVs from Lille by-pass Paris on a high-speed avoiding line via Charles de Gaulle Airport station.  More about TGV .

Option 2, London to Nice via Paris

This is the fastest & most frequent option, if you don't mind changing trains & stations in Paris .  It's usually cheaper than going via Lille, too.  Take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in just 2h20, change stations in Paris by metro or taxi as explained here , then take a 300 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice in as little as 5h40.  A same-station change in Lille may be easier, but you'll find a wider range of departures via Paris, and usually cheaper fares available.  Why not take an earlier Eurostar and have lunch at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon before chilling out on an afternoon TGV Duplex to the Sunny South of France?  For an account of the journey in pictures, see the Paris to Nice by train page .

How to read these timetables :  It's easy, you read downwards, each column is a journey you can take.  You change trains at the grey bar.

You don't have to book the exact Eurostar I show above as connecting with that particular TGV.  Eurostar links London & Paris almost every hour, by all means book an earlier Eurostar outward or a later one back if it has cheaper fares or you want to spend time in Paris.  Lunch at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon ?

Always check times for your specific date using www.raileurope.com , www.th etrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com as times can vary.  Don't book a Eurostar ticket until you have confirmed onward times.  Eurostar doesn't run on 25 December.  How to reach St Tropez, Monte Carlo, Juan les Pins, Menton

London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £168 return standard premier (1st class).

Paris to Cannes or Nice starts at €29 each way in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.

Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.  Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Children under 4 go free.

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Paris Gare du Nord station guide .  How to cross Paris by metro or taxi .

2. Paris to Cannes or Nice by TGV Duplex

TGV or Train á Grande Vitesse is French Railways high-speed train, with 1st & 2nd class seats, free WiFi, power sockets at all seats and a cafe-bar.  The direct Paris-Nice trains are operated by double-deck TGV Duplex trains which reach 300km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line before slowing right down to travel from Marseille to Cannes & Nice over the classic line along the coast, with great views of rocky headlands, yacht-filled bays and millionaires' villas.   More about Paris-Nice TGV Duplex trains .  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide .

Option 3, London to Nice by sleeper

Discontinued in December 2017 along with other popular French night trains, the French government has now restored the most important night train services as a climate-friendly alternative to flying.  First to be restored, the Paris-Nice Intercité de Nuit made a welcome return in April 2021.  Take an afternoon Eurostar from central London, dinner in Paris ( see my suggested restaurants here ), then sleep your way south in a couchette to Toulon, Cannes, Antibes or Nice.  Why not go one-way by sleeper and the other way by TGV?  Watch the video .

London ► Toulon, Cannes, Antibes, Nice

Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar , normally leaving London St Pancras at 14:31 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 17:48.

Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include a meal with wine.

Transfer from Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare d'Austerlitz by metro or taxi as explained here .

By all means book an earlier Eurostar and have dinner at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz in good time for your sleeper south.  Or try the floating restaurant Off Paris Seine , next to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

Step 2, travel from Paris to the Côte d'Azur by Intercité de Nuit sleeper train , leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 20:08 every day, arriving Toulon 07:39, St Raphael ( for St Tropez ) 08:33, Cannes 08:57, Antibes 09:08 & Nice Ville 09:25.

The Intercité de Nuit has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats.  You can book a 1st class 4-berth compartment for sole occupancy by 1, 2 or 3 people if you like.  More about Intercités de Nuit .

Next morning it's a lovely scenic run along the coast between Toulon & Nice, past rocky headlands, millionaires' villas & yacht-filled harbours.

Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Toulon ► London

Step 1, travel from the Côte d'Azur to Paris by Intercité de Nuit sleeper train , leaving Nice Ville at 19:07, Antibes 19:36, Cannes 19:48, St Raphael 20:13 & Toulon 21:12, arriving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 07:53 next morning.

Transfer from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to Paris Gare du Nord by metro or taxi as explained here .

Step 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar , leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 11:12 arriving London St Pancras 12:30.

Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include lunch with wine.

Paris to Cannes or Nice by sleeper train starts at €19 in a reclining seat, €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €59 in a 1st class couchette.

Book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com , both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee or at French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

To make sure you have at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris, I'd book London to Paris (and back, if returning), add to basket, then Paris to Nice one-way, add to basket, then Nice to Paris one-way, add to basket & check out.

Otherwise the system allows as little as 40 minutes between trains in Paris, which is too tight, especially when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.

2. Paris to Cannes or Nice by Intercité de Nuit

The intercité de nuit overnight train has 1st class couchettes in 4-berth compartments & 2nd class couchettes in 6-berth compartments, each berth supplied with lightweight sleeping-bag, mineral water, amenities kit, reading light & power socket.  There are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor, and free WiFi.  More about intercités de nuit .  Watch the video guide .  Paris Austerlitz station guide .

Option 4, London to Nice by lo-cost Ouigo

In 2013, French Railways launched a budget-airline-on-rails called Ouigo , www.ouigo.com .  Ouigo offers two lo-cost no-frills one-class trains a day from Paris to Cannes & Nice using special double-deck TGV Duplex trains with no catering & no 1st class.  Like budget airlines, there are baggage limits and extra fees for large or additional bags.  See more about Ouigo including travel tips, luggage restriction info & the Man in Seat 61's opinion of Ouigo .

You can use a Eurostar ticket from London to Paris plus a lo-cost Ouigo ticket from Paris to Toulon, Cannes, Antibes or Nice, as long as you allow plenty of time between trains in Paris, meaning 2 or 3 hours not the usual 1 hour you might allow with regular trains.

That's because Ouigo is a separate company (even though wholly-owned by SNCF French Railways).  You'll have separate tickets for the Eurostar & Ouigo, Ouigo has no agreement in place with Eurostar to guarantee onward travel if there's a missed connection, unlike the Railteam arrangement which protects your connection between Eurostar and normal TGV InOui trains.  So if Eurostar train runs late and you miss your Ouigo or vice versa. you may have to pay for a new ticket.  It's your risk, which is why you should allow 2 or ideally 3 hours between trains in Paris, not one.

London ► Cannes, Nice

Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar , leaving London St Pancras at 10:24 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 13:50, or any earlier departure.

Transfer from Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon by RER express metro as explained here .

Step 2, travel from Paris to Nice by Ouigo high-speed train , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:10 daily, arriving Toulon 20:11, Cannes at 21:27, Antibes 21:39 & Nice Ville at 21:57.

Ouigo trains   are 2nd class only with no catering, so bring your own food & drink.  Remember Ouigo has luggage restrictions & extra fees.

Alternatively, you can take any evening Eurostar you like to Paris, stay overnight, then take the daily 08:22 Ouigo from Paris to Cannes & Nice.

Nice, Cannes ► London

Step 1, travel from Nice to Paris by Ouigo high-speed train , leaving Nice Ville at 06:06, Antibes 06:22, Cannes 06:24 or Toulon 07:49, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 11:46.

Transfer from Paris Gare de Lyon to Paris Gare du Nord by RER express metro as explained here .

Step 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar , leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 15:03 arriving London St Pancras at 16:39.

Alternatively, you can leave Nice on the later Ouigo at 15:02 or Cannes at 15:32 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 20:38.  Stay overnight in Paris, then take any morning Eurostar you like back to London.

Paris to Cannes or Nice by Ouigo starts at just €19 each way.  Plus €5 baggage fee for larger bags, see the Ouigo page for full details .

Step 1, go to www.eurostar.com and book a Eurostar from London to Paris.

Step 2, go to www.ouigo.com and book Ouigo from Paris to Cannes or Nice.  D on't forget you may need to add the €5 extra baggage fee for oversize or additional bags.

Tip:   Only credit/debit cards issues in European & certain other countries such as Australia & the USA are accepted for Ouigo bookings, but if you buy Ouigo tickets from www.thetrainline.com (which also sells Eurostar tickets and is easy to use, recommended, just a small booking fee to pay) you can pay via PayPal which gets round this, see the Ouigo page for more about Ouigo tickets .

2. Paris to Cannes or Nice by Ouigo

Ouigo is a subsidiary company of SNCF French Railways, set up as a budget airline on rails. It uses double-deck TGV Duplex trains, but one class only, with no 1st class, no catering, airline-style baggage limits and a 30-minute check-in.  More about Ouigo .  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide .

Connections on the Cote d'Azur

Step 1, take the train from London to St Raphael as shown above . 

Step 2, travel from St Raphael to St Tropez by bus, departure every hour or two, journey time around 1h15-1h30, fare €2.10.

Buses leave St Raphael bus station (Gare Routière in French, right next to the railway station) and arrive at St Tropez bus station.  See zou.maregionsud.fr for bus times (English selector at the bottom of the page or click menu and look for the English selector).  You can use the journey planner or click menu then schedules and enter bus 876 .

You can buy a ticket on the bus or use the Zou app on your phone to buy a ticket after registering for an account, see zou.maregionsud.fr .

Be warned that traffic into St Tropez in high summer can be a nightmare, with major delays.

There's also a ferry twice a day from April to November, see www.bateauxsaintraphael.com - much more expensive than the bus but a good way to make an excursion that avoids all the summer traffic.

Juan les Pins, Villefranche sur Mer, Beaulieu sur Mer

These all have railway stations on the Cannes-Nice-Monaco main line, served by hourly local trains, but long-distance trains don't stop there.  So for Juan les Pins, travel to Antibes and switch to a local train there, journey time 5 minutes.  For Villefranche and Beaulieu, travel to Nice and change to a local train there.

Monaco-Monte Carlo, Menton & Ventimiglia

Frequent local trains link Nice with Monte Carlo, Menton and Ventimiglia on the Italian border, roughly every half hour.  Nice to Monte Carlo takes 21 minutes, Nice to Ventimiglia takes 48 minutes.

How to buy train tickets to France

You can buy train tickets to anywhere in France, either at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

Option 1, buy at Raileurope.com

Go to www.raileurope.com

Raileurope.com connects to the British & French ticketing systems, so you can buy all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $.  There's a small booking fee.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.  Who are Raileurope.com?

When does booking open?

Eurostar opens 6 months ahead, sometimes up to 11 months.  French trains usually open 4 months ahead, often longer over the summer.  I'd wait until all your trains are open for sale, so you can confirm times & prices before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.

There's an annual timetable change on the second Saturday in December, bookings for dates after this (including Christmas & New Year) usually open in mid-October.

More about when train bookings open .  You can reserve accommodation before booking your trains risk-free using www.booking.com with free cancellation.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead

Fares for Eurostar & French long-distance trains are dynamic like air fares, so book early and search for the cheapest departures.  The cheapest tickets mean no refunds, no changes.

Out one way, back another?

You can go out one way & back another if you like.  Almost all European trains are priced one-way where a return is simply two one-ways.  I often find it easier to book one way at a time.

How to book

You can easily travel from London to most French destinations in a day and you can book that as one seamless transaction, as shown in method 1.

Method 2 gives you more control and can cope with more complex journeys, including ones involving an overnight stop in Paris on the way out or the way back, or circular journeys.

Incidentally, there are no through tickets from London beyond Paris, you always get a Eurostar ticket to Paris or Lille and separate onward French tickets.  But connections across Paris or in Lille are protected by the Railteam/HOTNAT and AJC .

1.  Set up an enquiry from London to your French destination, number of passengers, date of travel, set a suitable morning or early afternoon departure time.

2.  If you're returning and will also be travelling back in a single day, enter your return date with suitable morning or early afternoon departure time.

On French trains a return is two one ways.  But on Eurostar, return fares are significantly cheaper than two one ways so a round trip that includes Eurostar should always be booked as a return.

3.  If you want to travel via Lille:

A same-station change in Lille is much easier than changing stations in Paris when travelling to places such as Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice, Nimes & Montpellier, Le Mans, Nantes or Rennes. If going via Lille is an option, timings will be shown in the relevant section on this page.

To find journeys via Lille, click More options and enter Lille Europe as a via station leaving stopover duration as zero.  Look in the search results for journeys that involve a change in Lille and which by-pass Paris.  If necessary, try different departure times.

For places such as Orleans, Vichy, Clermont Ferrand, Limoges & Toulouse there are no direct services from Lille so it's better to go via Paris.

4.  If you want to travel via Paris:

You'll usually find a wider choice of departures and often cheaper fares via Paris.

If you're going via Paris, click More options and enter Paris Nord as a via station with stopover duration set to 1 hour (this guarantees a minimum acceptable 1 hour between trains in Paris) or 2 hours (a more robust connection, recommended) or (if you want to have lunch in Paris, perhaps at the wonderful Train Bleu restaurant ) 3 hours.  If you don't do this, the system may offer risky cross-Paris connections as tight as 42 minutes.  Advice on crossing Paris .

5.  If you want to go out via Lille, back via Paris (or vice versa), don't add any via station.  Rail Europe's system is capable of offering the cheaper Eurostar return rate even if the outward journey is London-Lille and the return is Paris-London, or vice versa.

6.  Run the enquiry.  As a general rule, look in the search results for journeys with fewest changes, ideally 1.  Add to basket.

First, read the relevant destination section on this page and find a train service that suits you, out & back.  By all means go out one way and back another, or go outward direct, back with an overnight stop in Paris, whatever.

Note down each individual train you want to book, on what specific date.  Then go to www.raileurope.com

Step 1, book your chosen train from Lille or Paris to your French destination, one-way, and add to basket.

Step 2, if you're returning, book your chosen train from your French destination to Paris or Lille, one-way, and add to basket.  Confirm times.

Step 3, book the Eurostar from London to Lille or Paris & back as a round trip and add to basket.

Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one ways, so a round trip on Eurostar should always be booked as a return. 

Use the suggested Eurostar times on this page as a guide, but by all means book an earlier Eurostar than the one I suggest going out, or a later one coming back, if you'd prefer a more robust connection (as I do), if the fare is cheaper, or if you want to have lunch in Paris (also me!).

Just remember that with this method, it's up to you to make sure there's at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris southbound, 90 minutes northbound (including the Eurostar check-in), ideally 2 hours.  In Lille, 25 minutes is sufficient southbound, 40 minutes northbound.

Incidentally, you can't book an 'open jaw' return out to Lille, back from Paris so if you're going to use Method 2, stick to either Paris OR Lille.

Travelling from the UK regions

Raileurope can book journeys starting from any British station, not just London.  It allows about an hour for Eurostar check-in.

However, consider booking from London to France first, then buying a separate ticket from your local station to London.  There are 2 reasons to do this:  First, you might want a more robust connection between trains in London, say 2 hours.  Second, Raileurope doesn't sell the special tickets to London International CIV which can sometimes save you money in the weekday morning peak, learn about these here .

Child fares & infants

Children under 12 travel at the child rate on Eurostar and on French trains.

Infants under 4 travel free on Eurostar and French trains, no need to buy them a ticket, just bring them along.  But they don't get their own seat.

Tip:   You can give an infant their own seat on French TGV and Intercités for €9 with a Billet Bambin .  Just add the infant to your booking with their correct age.

Choose an upper deck seat on a TGV Duplex

An upstairs seat gives the best views on a double-deck TGV Duplex , these operate most services from Paris to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice.  www.raileurope.com allows you to choose upper or lower deck.  Seats 11-58 = lower deck.  61-128 = upper deck.

Sole occupancy of a 4 or 6 berth compartment on a French overnight train

On French overnight trains you can book sole occupancy of a 4-berth 1st class couchette compartment for 1, 2 or 3 people, or of a 2nd class 6-berth couchette compartment for 4 or 5 people, by paying the Espace Privatif supplement .  Unfortunately, Raileurope can't sell Espace Privatif , so book with www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com instead.

Check if a Carte Avantage will save money

French Railways have a discount card called Carte Avantage .  The saving can sometimes justify the cost of the card for just one long-distance round trip, especially if there are two of you or you're a family, or at short notice when fares are high.

A Carte Avantage Adulte costs €49 for 1 year and gives you and a companion 30% off normal fares on TGVs & Intercités for one-way journeys at weekends, or for round trips which include a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night away, or at any time if accompanied by a child under 12, see more about Carte Avantage .  Up to 3 accompanying children under 12 get 60% off.  You also get discounts on many TER regional trains.  There are also youth & senior versions, without the weekday restrictions.

Rail Europe can't sell tickets with Carte Avantage discount, so book with www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com instead.  There's no discount on Eurostar, but you'll get any applicable discount on the French part of the journey.

To see what the saving is for your specific journey and to check if that justifies the cost of a card, go to  www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com and run an enquiry without a Carte Avantage added, then run again with a Carte Avantage Adulte added to one of the adults.

After booking, you can view & change your Eurostar seats

After you have booked a journey between London & France using www.raileurope.com , you can go to www.eurostar.com and use the Manage booking feature to view and change your Eurostar seats, see the instructions and tips for choosing seats here .

Train seat numbering plans:   These plans may help:  TGV seat numbering plans .  Couchette numbering plans .

Option 2, buy at Thetrainline.com

You can also buy tickets from London to any French destination at www.thetrainline.com .

Like Raileurope, it connects to the Eurostar & SNCF (French Railways) ticketing systems so you can easily book all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $ with overseas credit cards no problem.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

Most of the Raileurope booking tips above also apply to booking on www.thetrainline.com .

However, Raileurope.com has a killer advantage, you can specify a via station with stopover duration.  This is so useful for cross-Paris journeys where you want to allow sufficient time in Paris.  When using Thetrainline.com you can specify a via , but not the duration.

Option 3, buy at SNCF-connect.com

You can also buy tickets from London to any French destination at www.sncf-connect.com .

This is French Railways (SNCF's) own website, in €, prices the same as Raileurope & Thetrainline.

Most of the Raileurope booking tips above also apply to booking on www.sncf-connect.com .

The advantage over Raileurope & Thetrainline is that you pay no booking fee as you're dealing directly with the train operator (Eurostar is part-owned by SNCF so www.sncf-connect.com can book this too, also with no fee).

Like Thetrainline, www.sncf-connect.com lets you choose your seat from a seat map on TGVs & Intercités when booking a 1st class ticket.  And it. can sell lo-cost Ouigo trains , Espace Privatif on overnight trans , and tickets with a Carte Avantage discount (if you have such a card).

The disadvantage is that it's quite not as easy to use as Raileurope or Thetrainline.  It normally accepts overseas payment cards without problem (it accepts mine), but if it struggles you can always use Raileurope or Thetrainline instead.

Or have your trip arranged as a package

Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour, holiday or short break for you as a package with rail travel, hotels & transfers.  Their website offers a range of tours, holidays & breaks to France by rail which can be customised to your requirements.  As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.

UK flag

Byway ( Byway.travel ) is a new UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating .  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, they'll book a London-France journey for you as a package, including overnight hotels, starting from any British station you like.

To see pre-configured packages from London to Lille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Avignon, Marseille and even Bastia & Ajaccio on Corsica, use the journey planner on their website .

Alternatively they can build a trip to your requirements, email them or use the contact form .  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

Tailor Made Rail also offers packages from the UK to France by train which can be customised your own requirements, one-way or round trip, with any stopovers you want.  Indeed, they can organise a trip for you entirely based on your own requirements, they welcome complex itineraries!  As it's a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens on one part of the trip, for example, a national strike.  They're TTA-protected - like ATOL, but not only for agencies that sell air travel.

Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/france .

Escorted tours to France by train

If you'd prefer to go to France on an escorted tour with a convivial group of travellers rather than travelling solo, here are the two UK companies which arrange escorted tours by train from the UK to destinations all over Europe on various dates through the year.  Both companies are part of the same group.

How to buy tickets by phone

London to avignon, aix, marseille.

It's easy to travel from the UK to Avignon, Aix or Marseille by Eurostar & high-speed TGV , a chance to chill out with a good book & a glass of wine, and maybe even have lunch in Paris on the way.  It's affordable too.

Option 1, London to Provence via Lille

This is the easiest option.  Take a Eurostar from London to Lille, make one simple same-station change of train at Lille onto a direct TGV to Provence, by-passing Paris.  Ideal if you've luggage, kids or mobility problems.  Although going via Paris gives a wider choice of departures and often cheaper fares, see option 3 below .

Always check train times for your specific dates using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com , as the times shown here can vary.  Don't book any Eurostar tickets until you have confirmed onward train times.  Eurostar doesn't run on 25 December.

Avignon TGV station is 3 miles from Avignon city centre & Avignon Centre station .  A new rail link from Avignon TGV station to Avignon Centre station opened in 2013 and shuttle trains now run every 30-45 minutes, journey time 5 minutes, fare around €1.80.  If you'd rather travel to Avignon Centre, simply specify 'Avignon Centre' when booking at www.raileurope.com and it'll add the shuttle train for an extra £1.50.  Map of Avignon showing stations .

Aix en Provence TGV station is 10 miles from Aix city centre.  A shuttle bus runs from Aix TGV station to Aix Gare Routière in the town centre every 15 minutes for most of the day, journey time 23 minutes.  On arrival at Aix-en-Provence TGV, cross over to the west side of the station and leave via the Porte Sud following signs downstairs for bus .  The bus stop is located on the eastbound carriageway of the D9 main road that passes underneath the station.  See www.lepilote.com , it's route 40.

Lille to Avignon or Marseille by TGV starts at €20 each way.

Eurostar trains link London & Lille in 1h22, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Lille station guide & tips on changing trains .

Option 2, London to Provence via Paris

This is the fastest & most frequent option and also usually cheapest, if you don't mind changing trains & stations in Paris .  Take Eurostar from London to Paris in 2h20, change stations in Paris by metro or taxi , then take a 300 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Marseille in as little as 3h05.  A same-station change in Lille is easier ( see option 1 above ), but going via Paris offers a much wider range of departures and usually cheaper fares.  Why not take an earlier Eurostar and have lunch at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before boarding your TGV to the South of France?

Always check times for your specific date using www.raileurope.com , www.th etrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com as times can vary.  Don't book a Eurostar ticket until you have confirmed onward times.  Eurostar doesn't run on 25 December.

Avignon TGV station is 3 miles from Avignon city centre & Avignon Centre station.  A new rail link from Avignon TGV station to Avignon Centre station opened in December 2013 and shuttle trains now run every 15-30 minutes, journey time 5 minutes, fare around €1.80.  If you'd rather travel to Avignon Centre, simple specify 'Avignon Centre' when booking at www.raileurope.com and it'll add the shuttle train for an extra £1.50.  Map of Avignon showing stations .

Paris to Aix, Avignon or Marseille by TGV starts at €20 each way.

Can't find any cheap tickets?  Try the lo-cost Ouigo option .

What's the journey like?

2. Paris to Avignon, Aix or Marseille by TGV Duplex

Sit back with a glass of red and enjoy the ride - book an upper deck seat for the best views.  The train is equipped with power sockets for laptops & mobiles at all seats in both classes, and a cafe-bar serves drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.  More about TGV Duplex .  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide .

Option 3, London to Provence by lo-cost Ouigo

In 2013, SNCF (French Railways) launched a budget-airline-on-rails called Ouigo , www.ouigo.com .  Ouigo operates several no-frills trains a day from Paris to Lyon, Aix en Provence, Avignon, Marseille, Nîmes & Montpellier using special double-deck TGV Duplex trains with one class, no catering, no 1st class.  Like budget airlines, there are baggage limits and extra fees for large or additional bags.  See more about Ouigo including travel tips, luggage restriction info & the Man in Seat 61's opinion of Ouigo .

You can use a Eurostar ticket from London to Paris plus a lo-cost Ouigo ticket from Paris to Avignon, Aix or Marseille, as long as you allow plenty of time between trains in Paris, meaning 2 or 3 hours not the usual 1 hour you might allow with regular trains.

Step 1, go to www.eurostar.com and book a Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord from £52 one-way, £78 return.

Step 2, go to www.ouigo.com and book a lo-cost Ouigo TGV from Paris to Lyon, Aix en Provence, Avignon, Marseille, Nîmes & Montpellier from as little as €10 each way, but don't forget you may need to add the €5 extra baggage fee for oversize or additional bags.

Some Ouigo departures leave from the Gare de Lyon in central Paris, but some go from Marne La Vallée a 45-minute €8 RER ride outside Paris.  Obviously, pick one leaving from Gare de Lyon , allowing at least 2 or 3 hours between the Eurostar arrival and Ouigo departure.

You can transfer from Paris Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon by RER express metro in about 30 minutes as explained here . 

If you need to transfer to Marne la Vallée, allow 3-4 hours between Eurostar arrival and Ouigo departure.  To reach Marne la Vallée, take RER line B from Paris Nord to Châtelet-les-Halles, then RER line A to Marne la Vallée-Chessy.  Journey time 50 minutes, trains run every 10-15 minutes.

Tip:   In practice, I'd start with the Ouigo booking, then work backwards to find a connecting Eurostar.  Do a dry run on both sites before booking for real.

2. Paris to the South of France by Ouigo

London to Nîmes, Montpellier, Carcassonne, Perpignan

Option 1, by eurostar & tgv via lille.

This is the most stress-free way to travel from London to the south of France.  Take a Eurostar to Lille and make a simple same-station change of train onto a 300 km/h (186 mph) TGV direct to Nîmes & Montpellier with no need to cross Paris.  South of Lyon the TGV runs along the scenic Rhône Valley, crossing and re-crossing the River Rhône, flying at ground level through the hills of Provence over some breathtaking viaducts, passing pretty French villages and the occasional chateau.  If you're going beyond Montpellier, watch out for your first sight of the Mediterranean coast and for the flamingos on the various étangs (lakes) which the train passes or crosses on a causeway.

*  Runs on Fridays, also runs on some Thursdays & Sundays.

**  The 05:28 from Montpellier & 05:56 from Nimes runs on Mondays and Fridays only.

Nimes Pont du Gard & Montpellier Sud de France are out-of-town stations several km from each city.

Nimes & Montpellier St Roche are in the centres.

f = this TGV arrives Lille Flandres, 500m walk to Lille Europe for the Eurostar to London .

m = The 11:28 from Carcassone is an Intercité direct to Montpellier Saint Roche, arriving 12:56, change at Montpellier for the TGV to Lille.

There are many other journey possibilities changing trains and stations in Paris. 

Lille to Nimes, Montpellier or Perpignan by TGV starts at €29 each way in 2nd class, €49 in 1st class.

Eurostar trains link London & Lille in 1h22, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Lille Europe station guide & tips on changing trains .

Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Paris

Going via Paris is more frequent, usually faster and often cheaper than going via Lille, if you don't mind changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi .

If you allow an extra hour or two between trains, you can have lunch at the amazing Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon .  You'll see the same great scenery along the rural Rhône Valley then across the South of France as taking the Lille route.

I won't list all the options here, to find train times & prices via Paris, simply run an enquiry at www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com .

Tip:   If you use Raileurope.com , you can click More options and enter Paris as a via station with a suitable stopover duration to add time for lunch or a longer stop.

For help crossing Paris by metro or taxi, see the Changing Stations in Paris page .

Option 3, by Eurostar & sleeper train

This is the most time-effective way to the Occitane region.  The Paris-Perpignan-Cerbère intercité de nuit sleeper train was discontinued in 2016, but it was saved and reinstated in 2017, running daily in summer, Friday & Sunday nights off-season.  It has 4-berth 1st class and 6-berth 2nd class couchettes.  If you want to use it, here's how.  More about Intercités de nuit .

London  ► Narbonne, Perpignan, Port Vendres

By all means book an earlier Eurostar and have dinner at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling over the bridge across the Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz for your sleeper south.  Or try the floating restaurant Off Paris Seine , next to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

Step 2, travel from Paris to Carcassone or Perpignan by intercité de nuit overnight train , running daily in summer (July to September) and Friday & Sunday nights in winter.  It leaves Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 20:08 (the exact time may vary) and arrives Narbonne 08:31, Perpignan at 09:09, Collioure 09:34, Port Vendres 09:39 & Cerebère 09:54.

You can see if it's running on your date at www.thetrainline.com , www.raileurope.com or www.sncf-connect.com , but don't look further than 2 or 3 months ahead.

Port Vendres, Perpignan, Narbonne, Carcassone  ► London

Step 1, travel to Paris by intercité de nuit sleeper train , running daily in summer (July to September) and Friday & Sunday nights in winter.  It leaves Cerebère at 18:59, Port Vendres 19:14, Collioure 19:19, Perpignan 19:46, Narbonne 20:35, arriving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 07:53. 

Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord .

Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include a breakfast.

You can book sole or dual occupancy of a 4-berth compartment, this facility is called Espace Privatif, see details of the cost & how to buy tickets here .  Espace Privatif can be booked online at www.thetrainline.com & www.sncf-connect.com , but not at other websites selling French train tickets.

What's the sleeper train like?

The intercité de nuit overnight train has 1st class couchettes in 4-berth compartments & 2nd class couchettes in 6-berth compartments, each bunk supplied with lightweight sleeping-bag & mineral water.  More about Intercités de Nuit .  Watch the video guide .  Paris Austerlitz station guide .

London to Biarritz, Hendaye & Lourdes

There are two options, both benefitting from the opening of the extension of the Paris-Tours high-speed line all the way to Bordeaux on 2 July 2017.  This knocked another hour off the journey.

Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Paris.   This is the most frequent and usually cheapest option.  Take Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord , change trains and stations, then take a TGV Duplex high-speed train from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Biarritz or Lourdes.  Times via Paris are shown below, but there are seasonal variations so check times for your date online at www.raileurope.com .  Why not take an earlier Eurostar and have lunch in Paris?

Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille & Bordeaux, avoiding Paris.   You can take Eurostar to Lille and travel by direct TGV from Lille to Bordeaux, with (usually) another change there.  This avoids the need to change trains & stations in Paris, but it usually works out more expensive.  I haven't shown this option here, but you can easily check train times at www.raileurope.com - it can help to click More options and specify Lille (any station) in the via box.

Option 3, by Eurostar & sleeper train.   An Intercité de Nuit sleeper train runs between Paris Gare d'Austerlitz & Tarbes/Lourdes.  This is the most time-effective option.  I recommend dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling over the bridge across the Seine to the nearby Gare d'Austerlitz to catch the sleeper south.  Appears to have been discontinued.

* = This Intercité de Nuit runs Friday & Sunday all year, may or may not run, often only opens for booking a month ahead, what a way to run a railway!

s = On Sunday mornings, the earliest Eurostar connection is at 08:12 from Paris arriving London at 09:30.

Sleeper = Intercité de Nuit with 1st & 2nd class couchettes & 2nd class seats.

You don't have to book the exact Eurostar I show above as connecting with that particular TGV.  Eurostar links London & Paris almost every hour, by all means book an earlier Eurostar outward or a later one back if it has cheaper fares or you want to spend time in Paris.

Paris to Biarritz or Lourdes by TGV starts at €29 each way in 2nd class, €49 in 1st class.

2. Paris to Southwest France by TGV Duplex Océane

Almost all these trains on this route are new TGV Duplex double-deck trains with the new Océane interior shown here.  The trains have 1st & 2nd class with free WiFi and power sockets at all seats, and a cafe-bar.  More about TGV Duplex Océane .  Paris Gare Montparnasse station guide .

London to Lyon & Grenoble

Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille :   The easiest option.  Take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille Europe and make a simple same-station change onto a direct TGV to Lyon Part Dieu , with no need to cross Paris.  Relax over a glass of wine as you swish past the French countryside, the green hills just north of Lyon are especially pretty.  Almost as fast as flying, but far more enjoyable with no airport security queues in sight.  Services with one change at Lille are shown in the timetables below.  Map of Lyon showing station .

Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Paris :   Alternatively, you can take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord , change trains and stations in Paris , and take a TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon Part Dieu .  You need to cross Paris, but this route offers an almost hourly departure from London to Lyon and fares are often cheaper this way.  You can stop off in Paris, if you like.

Option 1, London to Lyon & Grenoble via Lille

Lille to Lyon by TGV starts at €20 each way.

2. Lille to Lyon by TGV in as little as 2h57

TGV or Train á Grande Vitesse is French Railways high-speed train, with 1st & 2nd class and a cafe-bar.  They come in various types, some single-deck, some double-deck TGV Duplex, you could get either on cross-France routes from Lille.  Most have power sockets at seats, most now have free WiFi.  The photos below show a single-deck TGV with the Christian Lacroix designer interior.  The direct TGVs from Lille by-pass Paris on a high-speed avoiding line via Charles de Gaulle Airport station.  More about TGV .  Lyon Part Dieu station guide .

Option 2, London to Lyon via Paris

This is more frequent, sometimes faster and often cheaper than going via Lille, if you don't mind changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi .  If you allow an extra hour or two between trains in Paris you can have lunch at the amazing Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon .

Train times

I won't list the many possible departures here, to find train times and prices via Paris, simply run an enquiry at www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com .

Paris to Lyon by TGV starts at €20 each way.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com .

Booking for the TGV opens up to 4 months ahead, less than this when the December timetable change intervenes.  Eurostar opens up to 6 months ahead, but I recommend waiting until your onward train times can be confirmed before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.

If making a round trip, always book London to Paris as a return journey as Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways.  But Paris-Lyon return fares are simply two one-ways.

If using www.raileurope.com , click More options and enter Paris as a via station with a suitable stopover duration to allow time for lunch, or simply to ensure you have an adequate time between trains.

London to Bordeaux

Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille .   The easiest option.  Take Eurostar to Lille Europe in 1h30 and make an easy change in Lille onto a direct double-deck TGV Duplex to Bordeaux now taking as little as 4h26 with no need to change trains and stations in Paris.  Relax over a glass of wine as you swish past the French countryside.  However, although this avoids the need to change trains and stations in Paris, there are only a few options each day and most involve an easy 500m 6-minute walk between Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations, as shown by the little 'f' against their departure time from Lille.

Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Paris .   This is the most frequent option, and often the cheapest.  There are hourly Eurostars from London to Paris Gare du Nord taking 2h20, take the metro or a taxi to Paris Gare Montparnasse and hop on a TGV to Bordeaux St Jean taking as little as 2h04 since the Tours-Bordeaux high-speed line opened in July 2017.  Some of these TGVs are single deck, but most are now double-deck TGV Duplex Océane .

Option 1, London to Bordeaux via Lille

* Lille Flandres station is an easy 500m 6-minute walk from Lille Europe Eurostar/TGV station.

Only journeys via Lille are shown here.  There are many other journey opportunities changing trains and stations in Paris, check times and prices at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

Lille to Bordeaux by TGV starts at €29 each way in 2nd class, €49 in 1st class.

2. Lille to Bordeaux by TGV

TGV or Train á Grande Vitesse is French Railways high-speed train, with 1st & 2nd class and a cafe-bar.  They come in various types, some single-deck, some double-deck TGV Duplex.  Some Paris-Bordeaux TGVs are single-deck with the Christian Lacroix interior, see the photos here , most are TGV Duplex , some with the excellent new Océane interior .

Option 2, London to Bordeaux via Paris

This is more frequent, sometimes faster and often cheaper than going via Lille, if you don't mind changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi .  The southern section of the Paris-Bordeaux TGV line opened in July 2017, making it possible to go from central London to Bordeaux in as little as 5h45 - in fact, I travelled from London to Bordeaux and back as a day trip soon after the new high-speed line made such a thing possible.  I may have been one of the first people in history to have made a day trip from London to Bordeaux by train!  But why not take an extra hour or two and have a leisurely lunch in Paris on the way?

I won't list the many possible departures here, to find train times and prices via Paris, simply run an enquiry at www.raileurope.com , Thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com .

Paris to Bordeaux by TGV starts at €20 each way.

Booking for the TGV opens up to 4 months ahead, less than this when the December timetable change intervenes.  Eurostar opens up to 6 months ahead but I recommend waiting until your onward train times can be confirmed before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.

If making a round trip, always book London to Paris as a return journey as Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways.  But Paris-Bordeaux return fares are simply two one-ways.

London to Strasbourg

Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille.  The fastest & easiest option, taking as little as 6h15 centre to centre with one easy same-station change at Lille .  It's not very frequent, however, details of the one or two daily departures are shown below .

Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Paris.  The most frequent option, often the cheapest.  Details are not shown here as there are so many possible departures every day, it's easy to check times & prices at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .  You take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in 2h20 with departures almost every hour, it's an easy 7-minute walk to the nearby Gare de l'Est , then you take one of the frequent high-speed TGVs from Paris to Strasbourg in as little as 1h47.

Option 1, London to Strasbourg via Lille

Lille to Strasbourg by TGV starts at €20 each way.

2. Lille to Strasbourg by TGV

London to Limoges, Brive & Toulouse

Take Eurostar to Paris in just 2h20.  There are then two rail routes from Paris to Toulouse:  The classic route from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to Toulouse via Limoges & Brive uses conventional 200 km/h (125 mph) trains.  The high-speed route from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Toulouse via Bordeaux uses 300 km/h (186 mph) TGVs , this is a longer way round but it's still faster.

Timetable outward via high-speed line

Timetable outward via classic route, timetable inward via high-speed line, timetable inward via classic route.

Sleeper = Intercités de Nuit couchette train between Paris & Toulouse, with 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, 1st class 4-berth couchettes, reclining seats.  Watch the Intercités de Nuit video .  Times may vary.

* Monday-Saturday mornings, later trains are available if you prefer.  On Sundays, the first train runs later than this, check times online.

e = First Eurostar of the day runs later on Sundays.

Trains marked TGV are high-speed TGV trains .  Trains running via Limoges are 200 km/h Intercité (formerly Téoz) trains, see photos below.

You don't have to book the exact Eurostar I show above as connecting with that particular TGV or Intercité.  Eurostar links London & Paris almost every hour, by all means book an earlier Eurostar out or a later one back if it has cheaper fares or you want to spend time in Paris.

Paris to Limoges starts at €25 each way in 2nd class, €45 in 1st class. 

Paris to Toulouse starts at €29 each way in 2nd class, €49 in 1st class.

2. Paris to Toulouse by TGV Duplex Océane

The high-speed trains between Paris Montparnasse and Toulouse are mostly TGV Duplex double-deckers with the new Océane interior shown here.  The trains have 1st & 2nd class with free WiFi and power sockets at all seats, and a cafe-bar.  More about TGV Duplex Océane .  Paris Gare Montparnasse station guide .

Or Paris to Limoges, Brive or Toulouse by Intercité

Although merely 200km/h (125mph) trains not TGVs, most Paris-Limoges-Brive-Toulouse trains now use stylish air-conditioned coaches like this, with a unique interior design formerly branded Téoz .  1st class seats have power-recline and are fitted with power-points for laptops/mobiles.  There's a small children's play area in 2nd class, & baby-changing room.  There is usually a cafe-bar or at least a refreshment trolley service.  Seat map .   Paris Austerlitz station guide .

Or Paris to Toulouse by Intercité de nuit sleeper train

The intercité de nuit overnight train from Paris to Toulouse has 1st class 4-berth & 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, each with lightweight sleeping-bag & mineral water.  More about Intercités de Nuit .  Paris Austerlitz station guide .

London to Vichy & Clermont Ferrand

Take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Nord , change stations by taxi or metro to the Gare de Bercy and catch a southbound express to the Massif Central.

Timetable outward

Timetable inward.

Paris to Vichy or Clermont starts at €20 each way.

2. Paris to Vichy & Clermont by Intercité

Although merely 125mph trains not TGVs, most Paris-Vichy-Clermont trains now use stylish air-conditioned coaches like this, with a unique interior design formerly branded Téoz .  1st class seats have power-recline and are fitted with power-points for laptops/mobiles.  There's a small children's play area in 2nd class, & baby-changing room.  There is usually a cafe-bar or at least a refreshment trolley service.  Watch the video .  Seat map .   Paris Bercy station guide .

London to Le Mans, Nantes & Rennes

Option 1, via Lille (shown below):   The easiest way to reach Brittany is to take a Eurostar to Lille and make one easy change of train in Lille onto a direct TGV to Brittany.  This avoids having to change trains & stations in Paris.  There's one good service every day as shown below.  Check times for your specific dates at www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com .

Option 2, via Paris:   You can also travel by Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord , change trains and stations in Paris , then take a TGV from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Le Mans, Angers, Nantes, and Rennes.  This is less convenient, but there's a wider choice of departures and you'll often find cheaper fares this way.  I haven't shown times via Paris here, but you can easily check times & prices at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

Tip:   When using www.raileurope.com to check times via Paris, click More options , enter Paris (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of 1 hour.  This will ensure a robust connection across Paris.

Option 1, London to Brittany via Lille

Always check train times for your specific dates using www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com , as the times shown here can vary.  Don't book any Eurostar tickets until you have confirmed onward train times.  Eurostar doesn't run on 25 December.

Lille to Angers, Rennes or Nantes by TGV starts at €29 each way in 2nd class, €49 in 1st class.

2. Lille to Le Mans or Brittany by TGV

London to Normandy

There are two ways to reach Normandy, for example St Malo, Caen, Bayeux, St Lo, Arramanches or Cherbourg.  You can travel by Eurostar and connecting trains via Paris, or you can cross the Channel by ferry with Brittany Ferries .  Caen makes a good base for visiting the D-Day beaches, although to get to the beaches you'll need to use buses or hire a car .

By Eurostar

Take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in 2h20, take the metro or a taxi from the Gare du Nord to Paris St Lazare then an fast train to Caen (2h20), Rouen (1h30), Le Havre (2h15), Bayeux (2h20) or Cherbourg (3h20). 

Paris to Caen, Rouen or Cherbourg starts at around €15 each way.

Check fares & book at www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com .

To go by ferry, you take a train from London Waterloo or your local station to Poole or Portsmouth, then a taxi from the station to the port, then you cross the English Channel by ferry to Normandy.

You'll find more about the London-Portsmouth-Caen (-Paris) route here .

Step 1, check ferry routes, times & prices using the Direct Ferries website or using www.brittany-ferries.co.uk .

Routes include Portsmouth-St Malo, Portsmouth-Caen (Ouistreham) & Poole-Cherbourg.  Many ferries sail overnight with cosy cabins, allowing you to spend a full day at work on one day, sail overnight and arrive in Normandy in time for breakfast next morning. 

Step 2, check UK train times and fares from your local station to Portsmouth or Poole using www.nationalrail.co.uk .

Remember to allow plenty of time to connect between train and ferry, at least 60-90 minutes, preferably more, plus the ferry check-in time, usually 30-60 minutes depending on the ferry operator.  If taking a ferry from Portsmouth Continental Ferry Port, remember the station you want is Portsmouth & Southsea, not Portsmouth Harbour, take a taxi to the ferry terminal.

If arriving at Ouistreham (the ferry terminal for Caen), there's a special bus from the ferry terminal to Caen station in central Caen which leaves after the ferry arrives and passengers disembark - it costs just a euro or two.  In the return direction there's no special bus, but the last regular town bus usually leaves Caen station around 20:00 for Ouistreham town, where you can have a meal then walk to the ferry.

Step 3, if you need trains on the French side, for example from Cherbourg or Caen to Valogne, Carentan, Bayeux, Coutances or St Lo, use www.sncf-connect.com .

Visiting the D-day beaches

Bayeux makes a good base, as many of the tours depart from there, and it's easily reached by train from either Cherbourg, Paris or Caen (and don't forget to visit the Bayeux tapestry , showing a much earlier battle from 1066!).

www.viator.com has a selection of tours, including ones starting in Bayeux.

Or try these links for private or group tours of the D-Day beaches:  www.overlordtour.com , www.guided-normandy-tours.com , www.normandybattletours.com , www.dday-guide.com , www.ddaybattletours.com , www.firstnormandybattlefieldtours.com .  Feedback would be very welcome.

How to get to Mont St Michel

Mont St Michel has no station, the closest station is Pontorson-Mont St Michel station about 5 miles away, bus and taxis available.

Option 1, via Paris

Take Eurostar to Paris.  You can then travel from Paris to Mont St Michel in 4h30 by regional train to Pontorson-Mont St Michel and connecting bus or taxi.  Between May & September you can travel from Paris to Mont St Michel in only 3h by taking a high-speed TGV to Rennes and connecting bus to Mont St Michel.  See the Train travel in France page for more details .

London to Lille & Northern France

London to calais & lille by eurostar.

Regular Eurostars link London St Pancras with Lille Europe station , an easy 800m walk from Lille city centre.

Eurostars no longer stop at Calais Fréthun 9 km (5 miles) outside Calais town.  For Calais you will have to get off at Lille Europe , walk 500m to Lille Flandres then catch a local train to Calais.

You can buy tickets from London to Lille Europe at www.eurostar.com .  But to buy tickets to Calais via Lille, use the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com .  Tip:   Use London St Pancras as your starting station, not plain London .

London to Boulogne, Etaples, Le Touquet, Amiens & Northern France

The easiest way to reach these places is to take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille Europe , walk 500m along the road to Lille Flandres station and take a French regional train from there.

The good news is that www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com & www.sncf-connect.com can all book the Eurostar and the regional French train together in one place.  The less good news is that none of these websites is good at identifying journey opportunities.  By all means just see what train times they give you, but the best way to check train times and buy tickets is this:

Go to the German Railways all-Europe online timetable, int.bahn.de .  This system is excellent at identifying journey opportunities, even ones which involve several changes of train.  You can rely on the Germans!

Enter London and your destination, for example Boulogne, Amiens, St Quentin, Le Touquet, Montreuil-sur-Mer or Etaples, whatever.

Find a journey option that looks convenient for you, and make a note of the trains.  Some suggested journeys will have a change of train in Lille (usually involving an easy 500m walk between Lille Europe station where the Eurostar arrives and Lille Flandres station ), some a change in Paris (going via Paris is a long way round, but it can sometimes be a better bet).

Regional TER train tickets can be used on any train that day, not just the specific one you book.  Eurostar & TGV tickets come with a seat reservation and can only be used on that specific train.

The train & ferry alternative

Alternatively, you can travel from London to Calais, Boulogne, Etaples or Amiens by ordinary domestic train to Dover and ferry to Calais, see the London to Paris by train and ferry page for details.

London to the French Alps

There are two ways to reach the French Alps by train, getting your holiday off to a good start.  And yes, skis and snowboards are allowed on Eurostar and French TGV & TER trains.

1. Eurostar ski train to the French Alps every winter Saturday, click here

A Eurostar ski service links London with the French Alps every Saturday from late December to February.  It leaves London in the morning and arrives early evening at Moutiers, Aime & Bourg St Maurice in the French Alps, see the map opposite for the resorts it serves.

This is the easiest way to reach the Alps from London during the skiing season, and its available both to independent travellers and as part of many skiing holidays. See the Eurostar Ski Train page .

2. Daily scheduled trains to the Alps, all-year round

Alternatively, you can take regular scheduled trains running daily year-round to destinations in the French Alps.  You'll find additional direct Paris-Bourg St Maurice trains on Fridays & Saturdays in the skiing season.

Important:   Trains to the Alps vary enormously by date & time of year, in fact I'd call SNCF's timetable on these routes a total mess, so use these times as an example, go and check for your own specific date of travel at www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com .

b = change at Bellegarde.

c = change at Bellegarde & St Gervais.

d = change at St Gervais.

e = Eurostar leaves London at 09:24 on most Saturdays.

g = change at Chambéry.

Les Arcs is linked to Bourg St Maurice station by a funicular railway which runs every 20 minutes.

French Alps ski resort connections

Map of bus transfers to ski resorts from train stations served by Eurostar ski train & Rail Europe Snow Train

Light blue lines = bus or taxi transfers from rail stations.

London to Corsica

Corsica is a fantastic destination, with Mediterranean beaches, great mountain scenery and excellent hiking opportunities (check out the GR20 walking route across the island!).  Corsica doesn't get overcrowded either, even in summer.  The Corsican tourist office website is www.visit-corsica.com .

UK to Corsica without flying?  No problem!  Just take Eurostar and a high-speed TGV or overnight couchette train from London to the south of France, then a ship or fast ferry across the sunny Mediterranean to Corsica. 

Two ferry companies, Corsica Linea ( www.corsicalinea.com ) & Corsica Ferries ( www.corsica-ferries.co.uk ), sail from Marseille, Toulon or Nice on the mainland to Bastia, Ajaccio on Corsica.  There are also ferries from Italy (Savona & Livorno, www.moby.it ).  The crossing from Nice to Bastia takes 5½ hours by comfortable ship.  There are daily overnight ferries from Marseille & Toulon to Ajaccio & Bastia with comfortable cabins.  Here are two suggested ways to reach Corsica, though naturally they aren't the only options:

London to Corsica, via overnight ferry from Marseille

Step 1, travel from London St Pancras to Marseille St Charles , see the train times above .

Check ferry times first, make sure you have several hours ion hand in Marseille, if necessary stay overnight.  Book these trains as shown above .

On arrival at Marseille St Charles station , either take a taxi to the Corsica Linea (formerly SNCM) ferry terminal, or use the Marseille Metro ( www.rtm.fr ) from St Charles station 2 stops to Place de la Joliette, you want line 2, direction Bougainville, and the fare is around €1.80.  Place de Joliette metro station is just 50m from the entrance to the ferry terminal.  You can walk from the station to the ferry terminal via Marseille's famous Vieux Port, but it's a fair old way and not an attractive or easy walk once past the Vieux Port.

Step 2, sail from Marseille to Ajaccio or Bastia, Corsica's first and second cities respectively.

Corsica Linea ( www.corsicalinea.com , successor to defunct state-owned SNCM) sails overnight daily to both cities.  Sailing times vary, but the ship usually sails from Marseille at around 19:00-21:00 arriving Bastia or Ajaccio around 07:00-08:00.  Cabins have en suite toilet & shower, and even satellite TV if you don't mind watching Midsomer Murders in French!

The best way to book the ferry is online at www.corsicalinea.com , you simply print out your own ticket and show it at the port, or you can book most ferry routes & operators to Corsica on the Seat61 online ferry booking page .  Alternatively, you can book by phone with their UK agent, Southern Ferries, on 020 7491 4968.

In the return direction, there are daily overnight ferries from both Ajaccio & Bastia to Marseille.  Allow at least 2 hours next morning to make the connection in Marseille, then choose one of the TGV and Eurostar services from Marseille to London shown above . You'll arrive in St Pancras in the early evening, less than 24 hours after leaving Corsica.

London to Corsica, via Corsica Ferries' afternoon sailing from Nice

Step 1, travel from London to Nice by daytime trains and spend a night and morning in Nice.  See the train times & fares above , and book the trains online as shown above .  Spend the morning exploring Nice.  At lunchtime, walk or take a taxi past the Old Town and around the headland to Nice's old port from where the ferries leave.

Step 2, Corsica Ferries ( www.corsica-ferries.co.uk ) have a more or less daily afternoon sailing from Nice to Bastia, and on some days another one to Ajaccio, leaving Nice around 14:00-15:00 and arriving in Bastia or Ajaccio around 19:30-20:30 (all on day 2 from London).  Top tip:  Even though it's a daytime ferry, spend an extra €30 on a private day cabin, so you can snooze, take a shower and freshen up.  Corsica Ferries ships are modern and very comfortable.  The easiest way to book the ferry is online at www.corsica-ferries.co.uk , you simply print out your own ticket and show it at the port, or you can book most ferry routes & operators to Corsica on the Seat61 ferry booking page .  The price varies depending on the season.

In the return direction there's normally a morning sailing from Bastia (and on some days Ajaccio) to Nice, leaving around 08:00.  Stay overnight in Nice then travel to London via Paris or via Lille, see the train times & fares above .

Holidays from the UK to Corsica, by train & ferry

If you'd rather leave all the organisation to someone else, rail travel specialists www.railbookers.co.uk (0207 864 4600) can tailor-make a holiday to Corsica by train & ferry for any length of time, leaving on any date you like, using a variety of train & ferry options.

Byway ( Byway.travel ) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating , they can also sort a holiday to Corsica by train not plane, and customise it to your own requirements.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.  They can build a trip to your requirements if you email them or use this contact form .  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

Train travel in Corsica:  Ajaccio, Corte, Bastia, Ile Rousse, Calvi...

A delightfully scenic narrow-gauge train links Bastia, Ponte Leccia, Corte, Vizzavona & Ajaccio (four trains per day), with a branch from Ponte Leccia to Ile Rousse & Calvi (two trains per day).  The line winds right up through Corsica's dramatic central mountains, which explains why the 152km from Ajaccio to Bastia takes 3½ hours!  Highly recommended, although it can get hot and crowded in summer.  It's run by French Railways (SNCF) though is branded CFC - Chemins de Fer de la Corse.  For a route map and timetables, see official site cf-corse.corsica or unofficial site Chemins de Fer de la Corse .  You may find more up-to-date timetables, as well as bus timetables, at independent website www.corsicabus.org .  Nw air-conditioned trains with panoramic windows are now in service, linking Bastia & Ajaccio in under 3 hours at up to 100 km/h even on Corsica's narrow metre-gauge tracks.

London to other destinations in France

You can get to just about anywhere in France by train from London.  Dijon, Reims, Clermont Ferrand, Versailles, Orleans, Blois, and so on.

Go to www.raileurope.com or  www.thetrainline.com .

You can book from London to your final destination in one go.  Look for journeys with an easy-same-station change in Lille if there are any shown.  If you are offered this option, it's simpler than crossing Paris.

However, for journeys via Paris, it's often better to split the journey in Paris as follows.  This is so you can allow longer in Paris for a meal, or if an earlier Eurostar has cheaper fares available, it also allows you to avoid some sub-standard 40-minute cross-Paris connections which have unfortunately been pre-programmed into SNCF's database.  I recommend nothing less than 60 minutes for any cross-Paris connection between Paris Nord and Paris Gare de Lyon.

Step 1, book from Paris to your final destination at www.thetrainline.com .  Step 2, allowing at least 60 minutes to cross Paris southbound, 90 minutes northbound (as this includes the 30 minute Eurostar check-in), book from London to Paris and back at www.eurostar.com .  You can choose an exact seat on Eurostar if you book this way too, see tips on choosing a seat here .

Pass or point to point?

Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheaper point-to-point advance-purchase fares you normally see when booking a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule at will, you can travel from anywhere in the UK to anywhere in France & back using an Interrail pass.

If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28, if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London). 

Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class.  By all means go out one way, back another, with an Interrail pass you can use almost any of the trains & routes shown on this page.  For a tour of France, an Interrail pass is less risky than stack of inflexible advance-purchase tickets.

How to use a pass for a trip to France

Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.myinterrail.co.uk (if you live in the UK) or www.interrail.eu (any country) for €283 adult, €212 youth or €255 senior.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.  See pass prices on the Interrail page .

4 days is the shortest pass period available, it's sufficient to get from almost anywhere in mainland Britain to anywhere in France & back.  By all means buy a longer period pass for a more extensive trip.

A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass.  The 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here .

Incidentally. you're only allowed 2 days of travel in your home country.  Eurostar counts as travel in Britain for us Brits.  So if (for example) you wanted to go Inverness to Nice, you have to go Inverness to Paris on the first day and Paris-Inverness on your last day.  You can't stop overnight in London as that would clock up 4 days travel in Britain and you're only allowed 2.  More about inbound/outbound days here .

Step 2, you need to buy a Eurostar passholder ticket from London to Lille or Paris & back for €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations .  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass .

Step 3, you need a reservation for each high-speed TGV or Intercité you take in France and for couchettes on Intercités de nuit , see prices here .  You can make these reservations online using the official Interrail reservation service .  Interrail is not valid on Ouigo lo-cost trains .

The Train Bleu restaurant , Gare de Lyon

I highly recommend eating at the famous and remarkable Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon, on the main concourse, see the Train Bleu restaurant page for more details .

Or at the Gare du Nord, the Brasserie Terminus Nord

If you'd like a decent meal near the Gare du Nord rather than the Gare de Lyon, try the typically French Brasserie Terminus Nord ( www.terminusnord.com ), directly across the road from  the front of the Gare du Nord.  It's good quality French cuisine in classic Parisian brasserie surroundings, famous for its oysters and seafood.  Main dishes cost around €18-€24.

Holidays, breaks & tours by train

Short breaks to paris or lille.

Plenty of companies offer combined Eurostar+hotel deals for an economical short break in Paris or Lille.  There are times when a combined Eurostar+hotel offer can be cheaper than a normal Eurostar ticket!  Try:

www.eurostar.com - Eurostar's own short break packages to Paris & Lille

www.railbookers.co.uk - tailor-made breaks to Paris and cities all over France

www.lastminute.com - short breaks to Paris

www.greatrail.com - 5-day escorted short breaks to the Champagne region, to the Dordogne, to the Chateaux of the Loire or to Strasbourg & Alsace, all overland by train from the UK, from around £695-£795.

Railbookers, railbookers.co.uk

Railbookers can tailor-make a flight-free holiday or short break to France for you, with train travel, transfers & hotels included, leaving on any date you like.  For example, they offer a 2-night break to Avignon or a 6-night holiday to Nice & Cannes with daytime train travel by Eurostar & TGV.   If you tell them what you want, they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels and sort it all out for you.  They get a lot of repeat business!

Byway, byway.travel

Byway ( byway.travel ) is a new UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating .  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, they'll book a London-Italy journey for you as a package, including overnight hotels, starting from any British station you like.

Great Rail Journeys, greatrail.com

Rail discoveries, raildiscoveries.com, car hire comparison:  www.carrentals.co.uk.

The award-winning website www.carrentals.co.uk compares many different car hire companies including Holiday Autos, meaning not only a cheapest price comparison but a wider choice of hire and drop off location.

European Rail Timetable & maps

Traveller's Railway Map of Europe - buy online

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map .  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website , from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

Hotels in France

A special hotel for a short break in paris.

There are the obvious choices such as the famous (and expensive) Paris Ritz in the Place Vendôme, founded by the Swiss hotelier César Ritz & French chef Auguste Escoffier in 1898.  Anyone who's anyone has stayed here, from Hemingway to Princess Diana.

And the equally famous & expensive Le Meurice , which Von Choltitz made his headquarters during the occupation of Paris in WW2.  It was at Le Meurice where Von Choltitz took the call from his Führer demanding to know " Is Paris burning?"

But if for a special hotel for a luxury break or romantic weekend, I'd recommend the small, sumptuous, intimate L'Hotel , on the bohemian left bank, walking distance from the Seine, the Ile de la Cité & Notre Dame.

Playwright Oscar Wilde spent the last days of his life here in room 16, famously quipping, "My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.".  Fortunately the wallpaper is now all in very good taste (Mrs 61 & I had to room next to Oscar's).  The hotel has been used by many famous people since then, from Sinatra to Mick Jagger.  Rooms are on the cosy side, but they are beautifully decorated and have character that bigger and flashier hotels lack.  Check prices & book a stay at l'Hotel .

Hotels near Paris stations

Hotels close to the gare du nord.

The 25 Hours Terminus Nord would be my first choice for a stay between trains, a big 3-star hotel directly across the road from the Gare du Nord.  Formerly the Mercure Terminus Nord, it's been refurbished in a decidedly funky style and gets great reviews - I've had great feedback from Seat61 users too.

The Libertel Gare du Nord Suede is 5 min walk from Gare du Nord, 2-star.

You could also try the Art Hotel (3-star);  Avalon Hotel (2-star);  Hotel Cambrai (5 min walk from Gare du Nord, 1-star).

Hotels close to the Gare de l'Est

The Libertel Gare de l'Est Français is directly opposite the station, 3-star;

The OKKO Hotels Paris Gare de l'Est is alongside the station, on the side closest to the Gare du Nord,

Libertel Gare du Nord Suede is 350m from the Gare de l'Est, 2-star;

Hotels close to the Gare de Lyon

The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the station complex itself, ideal if you've an early train next morning.  It receives over 8/10 in reviews for staff, comfort & cleanliness.  It gets less than 8 for facilities and room size, but that's not as important for one night between trains.

The Citizen M Hotel gets great 8/10 or better reviews on all counts, close to 9/10 on some and I've had great feedback from seat61 users too.  It's 160m 2-minute walk from the station.  4-star.

Also try the Hotel Terminus Lyon (right in front of the station, 3-star);  Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star);  Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star).

There aren't many cheap places around the Gare de Lyon, try the Hotel Ibis Styles Gare de Lyon across the road.  If you're prepared to walk a bit, try the Libertel Austerlitz Jardin des Plantes as this is significantly cheaper but still with a 8+ review score, a 13-minute walk across the river Seine past the Gare d'Austerlitz.

Hotels close to the Gare Montparnasse

The Mercure Paris Gare Montparnasse is 150m from the Gare Montparnasse, 4-star; 

The Best Western Sevres Montparnasse is 15 minute walk from the Gare Montparnasse, 3-star; 

La Maison Montparnasse is 10 min walk from the station, 2-star;

The Hotel du Maine is 5 min walk from the station, 2-star.

Entrance to the Mercure Hotel at the Gare De Lyon , right next to the station's famous clock tower.  Handy for early trains!

Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here .  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

US flag

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com .

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

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Grounded Life Travel

12 Things You Need To Know Before Riding Eurostar Between Paris and London

Robert Marmion

Riding Eurostar between Paris and London is an amazing travel experience. Not only is it a smooth and fun ride, but it can save you time and stress when compared to flying. If you’ve never ridden Eurostar before, here are some tips to help you have a better trip.

  • 1 How Early Should I Arrive For The Eurostar Train
  • 2 Are Passports Checked on the Eurostar Train
  • 3 How Long Are You Underwater on the Eurostar
  • 4 Is Eurostar Quicker Than Flying
  • 5 Does the Eurostar Feel Fast
  • 6 Is It Better To Fly or Take Eurostar to Paris and London
  • 7 Is Eurostar Scary
  • 8 Is Eurostar a Double Decker Train
  • 9 Can You See Underwater on Eurostar
  • 10 Does Eurostar Check Your Bags
  • 11 Do You Keep Your Luggage With You On Eurostar
  • 12 Are There Tables on Eurostar
  • 13 Booking Train Tickets In Europe

How Early Should I Arrive For The Eurostar Train

You should arrive at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure on Eurostar. On our recent ride it took 30 minutes to get through customs and immigration on our way to London. On top of getting through these security checks, you’ll want to arrive early enough to enter the train when boarding opens, which is 20-30 minutes before the train leaves.

Riding Eurostar

Are Passports Checked on the Eurostar Train

Passports are checked when riding on the Eurostar train. You passport will be checked at the Gare du Nord station in Paris before boarding the Eurostar train from Paris to London. There are separate lines for EU passport holders and all other passport holders. The check is made after you go upstairs to the London Hall.

How Long Are You Underwater on the Eurostar

The speed limit in the Channel Tunnel for trains is 160kph / 100mph. The Channel Tunnel is under the English Channel for 37.9 km or 23.5 miles, which is the worlds longest undersea tunnel. When riding the Eurostar you’ll be underwater for about 13 minutes.

Is Eurostar Quicker Than Flying

It takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to go from Paris to London on Eurostar. With security and customs checks taking an additional 30 minutes, your total travel time from the city center can be 3 hours. Eurostar is quicker than flying due to airport security taking longer than train security and the location of the airports.

Riding Eurostar

Does the Eurostar Feel Fast

The Eurostar does not feel fast while you are riding on it. It is a very quiet and smooth train and you’ll have trouble figuring out how fast you are going without looking at a speedometer. Even though you’ll be travelling at around 100mph through the tunnel and 160mph outside of the tunnel, it won’t feel that fast.

Is It Better To Fly or Take Eurostar to Paris and London

It is better to take Eurostar to Paris and London versus flying. When riding on Eurostar the stations are in the city center, which will save you time and money once you reach your destination. If you fly, you’ll be landing at a remote airport and need to take a train into the city. It is also a big time saver to ride Eurostar versus flying.

Is Eurostar Scary

Eurostar is not scary and will not feel different than riding any other train. Most trains go through several tunnels at some point, and the Channel Tunnel will feel just like any other tunnel, just a little longer. If you didn’t know you were underwater you wouldn’t be able to tell. Riding Eurostar should not be a frightening experience as it is a very smooth and quiet train ride.

Is Eurostar a Double Decker Train

The Eurostar is not a double decker train, it is a single level train. Seats can be purchased in 3 separate classes, but all classes are on the same level. There are no stairs to negotiate when riding on Eurostar. You’ll have a choice of sitting in the direction of travel or away from it, but there are no levels to choose from.

Can You See Underwater on Eurostar

Eurostar trains have nice picture windows at the seats that let you see outside. When you are in the underwater section of the ride you will only see the inside of the Channel Tunnel. You cannot see underwater while riding on Eurostar, so no you will also not see any fish.

Does Eurostar Check Your Bags

There is a bag check before boarding Eurostar. Since you are changing countries while on the train, your bags must pass through customs, where they will be scanned and checked. It is a much quicker check than at an airport. You’ll load all of your luggage onto the belt and it’ll be scanned in a matter of seconds.

Do You Keep Your Luggage With You On Eurostar

When riding Eurostar you’ll keep your bags with you on the train. Your bags will either go in the luggage racks at the end of the car, or in the overhead space above your seat. There is plenty of space for your bags. You’ll need to label all of your bags with your name before riding. Simply put your bags on the racks, find your seat and enjoy the ride, then grab your bags on the way off the train.

Luggage racks on Eurostar

Are There Tables on Eurostar

Each train car on Eurostar will have tables. Not every seat will have a formal table though, as most just have a fold down tray from the back of the seat in front of them. If you want to sit at a table, reserve seats that face each other, as those seats have tables between them.

seats and tables on Eurostar

Booking Train Tickets In Europe

We book our train tickets in Europe using either Trainline or Rail Europe . These services offer an easier customer experience as we’ve found our credit cards work better when booking through these sites. Eurostar Tickets can be booked on either platform. In addition Rail Europe offers rail passes if you are planning a longer trip.

Eurostar is a marvel of the train world. What many once thought was impossible is now possible by travelling under the English Channel. It is certainly one of the most unique and memorable short rides on a train you can take.

No matter if you are travelling from Paris to London on Eurostar or the other way around, we hope you have an enjoyable and memorable trip!

Robert Marmion

Robert Marmion

How to Take the Eurostar Between London and Paris

travel to france via eurostar

  • Where Do Trains Depart From?
  • Disneyland Paris Route
  • Check-in Procedures

Services at Eurostar Stations

  • Other Services and Perks
  • Advantages of Taking the Eurostar

If you assume air travel is always the most efficient way to get from one major European city to the next, think again. The high-speed Eurostar train whisks you to Paris from London— or in the opposite direction— in as little as two hours and 16 minutes, traveling at speeds of up to 186 miles per hour. When you consider travel to and from the airport, complex security procedures, and waiting time until take-off, flying between the two capitals isn't necessarily quicker. This is especially true since Eurostar trains depart from and arrive in city centers, making it much easier to get around and start your urban adventure! Keep reading for full details on how to take the high-speed service, how to prepare for your trip, and make the most of your journey along the way. 

Where Do Eurostar Trains Depart From? 

On the London-Paris route, Eurostar trains travel between St. Pancras International Rail Station in central London to Gare du Nord in central Paris . London Underground (subway) and Paris Metro trains frequently serve the stations, making it easy to get to your departure point. In Paris, Gare du Nord is additionally served by commuter-line train RER B. 

The high-speed trains travel at breathtaking speeds over land and beneath the Channel Tunnel (Chunnel), which runs below the English Channel.

Eurostar to Disneyland Paris: An Alternative Route 

Thinking of booking a trip to Disneyland Paris? Eurostar runs directly from London and Paris to Marne-la-Vallée during school holidays and at other times. With the ability to take as much luggage as you want and the quick journey time, it can be an ideal way to give the children a treat. 

From the Marne-la-Vallée station, it's only a two-minute walk to the park. You can then easily get to central Paris if desired using the RER commuter-line train A. 

If you book the Disney Express luggage service you can leave your bags at the station.

Check-in Procedures for Eurostar Trains 

Passengers are expected to check-in at least 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time and must do so in person (online check-in is not available). Either print your ticket in advance, use an e-ticket by downloading the Eurostar app on your phone, or print your tickets using your reservation reference at dedicated hubs next to the check-in kiosks. Entrance is through automatic gates; scan your ticket's barcode and go through. 

 You will be routinely scanned along with your bags. Most of the time, you will not be asked to take off shoes, but you will need to remove coats, coins, and other items from pockets and sometimes jewelry. 

Once through the security area, you will need to present your passport to immigration authorities. Currently, you will have to pass through immigration checks with both French and U.K. border authorities.

Eurostar stations on both sides of the English channel are equipped with various services, including restaurants and cafés, duty-free shops, outlets for plugging in phones and laptops, and free Wi-Fi.

Business-class travelers and "Carte Blanche" members benefit from dedicated, fast-track lines and a Business Premier lounge. Meals, snacks, hot and cold drinks, newspapers, and power outlets at most seats are available in the lounges.

Hungry? Make sure to take a look at our full guide to the best restaurants in and around the Eurostar stations in London and Paris , and find something good to eat. 

Other Eurostar Services and Perks 

  • There's an excellent 2-for-1 offer on many museums and galleries, which you can take advantage of by just showing your Eurostar ticket and your passport. Click on the Eurostar Plus Culture link on the Eurostar site.
  • In Paris , there are offers on museums like the Musee d’Orsay , the Grand Palais, and the Jeu de Paume.
  • Eurostar also offers Eurostar Plus Gourmet in partnership with a top table which gives you up to 50 percent off your bill in certain restaurants. Again just present your Eurostar ticket (and take your passport with you as well) when paying your bill. Check the site for the offers which change regularly. These apply to Paris, and to Lille.
  • Eurostar Plus Shopping gives you 10 percent off your purchases at Galeries Lafayette in both Paris and Lille.

Top Advantages of Taking the Eurostar 

There are many reasons to take the high-speed service when trying to get between Paris and London. These are the main advantages to consider: 

Speed & Efficiency 

  • Trains to Paris can take as little as two hours, 16 minutes. Journeys are a little longer for trains that briefly stop at Ebbsfleet or Ashford in the U.K.
  • Trains go from city center to city center, saving you time.
  • Trains depart about once every hour daily, except on Dec. 25.
  • If you wish to book for onward travel to other destinations in France beyond Paris, the Eurostar reservation system also allows you to reserve seats for high-speed trains to Avignon, Strasbourg, Lyon, Troyes , Antibes , Nice , and Bordeaux . Some are now direct from London. 

Reasonable Fares & Good Deals 

  • Fares can be competitive compared to air travel, especially if you book in advance. You can even get good deals on first-class seats if you start looking several months ahead. While it's admittedly easier to find $30 one-way airfares, once you take into account the cost of transportation between airports and airlines taxes, the Eurostar can often prove less expensive. 

Luggage Allowance & Check-In Procedures

  • You are allowed two bags free of charge—far more than on many airlines these days.
  • You can check-in as late as 40 to 45 minutes before your train leaves, so you won't have to spend hours inside the departure zone.
  • Security procedures are generally quicker than in major airports—although this can depend on current regulations and guidance from local authorities.

Environmentally-Friendly

Taking the train generates less pollution and carbon emissions than flying or driving do. In 2007, Eurostar launched its " Tread Lightly" initiative , aiming to make all Eurostar journeys to and from St Pancras International carbon-neutral and to eliminate the use of fossil fuels by 2030. They have new goals established that include reducing train energy use by 5 percent and plastics and paper usage by 50 percent.

History of the Eurostar

Eurostar runs through the Channel Tunnel (also popularly known as the Chunnel), a 31.4-mile undersea rail tunnel that goes from Folkestone in Kent in the U.K. to Coquelles in Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France. More than 200 feet deep at its lowest point, it has the distinction of having the longest undersea portion of any tunnel in the world.

The tunnel accommodates high-speed Eurostar trains and roll-on, roll-off vehicle transport, and international freight via the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle .  It was way back in 1802 that French mining engineer Albert Mathieu first put forward an underwater tunnel. 

It was an ingenious plan, envisaging a railway that would use oil lamps for lighting, horse-drawn carriages, and a mid-Channel stop to change the horses. But fears about Napoleon and French territorial ambitions put a stop to that idea.

Another French plan was proposed in the 1830s, when the English put forward various schemes. In 1881 things were looking up with the Anglo-French Submarine Railway Company digging on both sides of the Channel. But once again, British fears stopped the digging.

There were numerous other proposals from both countries over the next century, but it wasn’t until 1988 that the politics were settled and serious construction started. The Tunnel finally opened in 1994.

Given the history of the two countries and the byzantine politics in both parliaments, it’s incredible that the tunnel was built and now operates so successfully.

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The best Eurostar destinations for a fly-free European escape

From Paris to Rotterdam, these are the Eurostar destinations you can visit from the UK

eurostar destinations

As you make your way through historic towns and across beautiful countryside at a leisurely pace, you’ll have the chance to watch everyday life unfold outside your window, without the stress of airport arrivals and baggage reclaim.

Luckily, Eurostar has you covered with picturesque routes across Belgium, the Netherlands and France. While the travel time might look longer when you compare flight times to Eurostar train routes, factor in the fact that you’ll be deposited in the city centre - meaning no need to catch a shuttle bus or train at the other end - and shorter check-in times, and travelling by train becomes a no-brainer.

What’s more, with up to 80 per cent less carbon emissions than travelling by plane, the environmental impact of train travel is even more appealing.

There is also the ease and comfort of rail travel, which means you can arrive at your destination feeling less stressed or tired, and in a better headspace to make the most of your trip.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride as we introduce you to some of the best places to visit along the Eurostar route, and where to stay once you’re there.

Where does the Eurostar go?

There are more than 20 stops on the Eurostar route, spread across the UK , the Netherlands, Belgium and France. From London, passengers can travel directly to Brussels, Lille, Paris, Disneyland Paris, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, while connections from those cities can whizz you further afield to the likes of Bordeaux and Provence .

How long does the Eurostar take?

One of the shortest routes on the Eurostar is the one hour and 22-minute journey between London and Lille, and getting to Brussels can take only a minute over two hours. The quickest Eurostar from London to Paris is just two hours and 12 minutes, while travelling from London to Biarritz will take you somewhere between eight and 10 hours.

How fast does the Eurostar go?

One of the fastest trains in Europe, the Eurostar reaches 160 kilometres per hour (100 mph) as it travels through the Channel Tunnel. It goes fastest on lengths of its high-speed train lines, which run through the UK, France and Belgium, reaching a top speed of 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph).

It also clocked up a record speed of 334.7 kilometres per hour on a section of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, which links London with the Channel Tunnel, in 2003.

What are the best Eurostar destinations?

To help you choose the perfect place for a European holiday by train from the UK, we've selected the very best Eurostar destinations, from Paris to Brussels. Here's where to go along the Eurostar route and where to stay while you’re there.

eurostar destinations

HOTELS IN PARIS

One of the best Eurostar destinations, the French capital can be reached directly from London St Pancras in just over two hours. Paris has it all. Enchanting Haussmannian architecture, world-renowned sights, a thriving art scene, the dramatic Eiffel Tower, and the rich collections of the Louvre. But when you’re not on the trail of its bucket-list sights, take some time to really get to know the city by going off the beaten track.

Leave your itinerary behind, pick an arrondissement and simply stroll the streets looking out for traditional bakeries, chic independent stores and Gothic design.

Where to stay: Stay right in the heart of the action at the Hôtel Duc de St Simon . From here, you can walk to the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Seine. With space at a premium in Paris, the courtyard garden and terrace are both a real bonus. Relax at the hotel bar before getting your beauty sleep in the soundproofed bedrooms.

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rotterdam yellow cubic houses

HOTELS IN ROTTERDAM

You can reach this cool Dutch city on a direct train from London in three hours and 13 minutes. Europe’s largest port and the Netherlands' second city is best loved for its modern architecture and urban design rooted in innovation and sustainability – must-see examples include the redeveloped Kop van Zuid docklands with their Rem Koolhaas designed De Rotterdam tower, the gloriously reimagined Centraal Station and the unique Markthal or Market Hall.

Other things to do in Rotterdam include leisurely boat trips on the city’s canals and rivers and people-watching everywhere from grand cafés to hipster pop-ups, all serving coffee roasted in this caffeine-fuelled city itself.

Where to stay: You’re within waking distance of all the main sights when you stay the Mainport Design Hotel with its river and skyline views. The most luxurious rooms with their private saunas and whirlpool baths will tempt you to stay in, however, as will the eighth-floor, swimwear-free spa with its Finnish sauna and hammams.

Aix-en-Provence

eurostar destinations

HOTELS IN AIX-EN-PROVENCE

Take the Eurostar from London to Paris or Lille and change on to a connecting TGV InOui train to reach Provence in just over six and a half hours. Once the capital of Provence, the city of Aix-en-Provence is filled with grand, stately buildings. But it’s the city’s markets that are the real draw, with abundant displays of fresh fruit and veg, local lavender products, cured meats and, of course, the region’s cheeses.

It’s also the perfect city to base yourself in to explore the stunning Provence countryside, whether you choose to cycle along sunflower fields or take long walks past rolling hills of lavender that stretch far as the eye can see.

Where to stay: A little outside the city centre, Château de Saint-Girons allows you to truly make the most of your trip to Provence. Housed in a chateau that dates back to the 18th century, the typical Provençal home features shuttered windows, tiled roofs and high ceilings. Take a dip in the pool, relax on the terrace, or explore the gardens before heading out into the countryside.

eurostar destinations

HOTELS IN BRUSSELS

It takes only one hour and 53 minutes to reach Brussels directly from London. Thought the Belgian city was just the headquarters of the European Union? Think again. Brussels is so much more than a political hub. Alongside the historical architecture of the Grand Place, the Royal Palace and the Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert, the city has a playful side.

First, there’s the Manneken Pis, the city’s 17th-century weeing statue. Then, there’s the Tintin sights – a huge Tintin mural, the Comics Art Museum, and even a Tintin boutique. Don’t miss sampling the city’s lively restaurant scene, either.

Where to stay: Within walking distance of Brussels' top sights, the stylish apartments at Sweet Inn make the ideal city centre retreat. You can cook meals in the kitchen, and relax on the comfortable sofas in front of the TV after a long day of exploring on foot.

eurostar destinations

HOTELS IN BRUGES

Eurostar trains to Brussels include a ticket for any local train of your choosing within 24 hours of your arrival, and within 24 hours of your departure. This makes it easy to travel on to Antwerp, Bruges or Ghent. If you can only choose one, pick Bruges. You can reach Bruges in three hours and 25 minutes via Eurostar to Brussels and a local train.

When you arrive you’ll be greeted by a fantastically well-preserved Medieval city. Narrow cobbled streets, colourful gabled houses, and church spires overlooking calm canals mean Bruges’ reputation as a fairytale city is well deserved.

Where to stay: With its corniced ceilings, traditional furniture, chandeliers, and roll-top baths, B&B De Corenbloem Luxury Guesthouse feels like a luxurious home from home. In fact, you’d never know how close it is to the city centre, with its large garden and country house appeal.

eurostar destinations

HOTELS IN BORDEAUX

It takes five hours and 55 minutes to reach Bordeaux from London, with a change in Paris. A trip to Bordeaux could easily be spent travelling across the surrounding countryside going from winery to winery on the trail of your favourite red in this famous wine region. But that would be to ignore one of the most popular cities in France.

Bordeaux boasts a host of historic buildings and cultural sights, including its famous wine museum, the Cité du Vin. One of the best ways to experience the city is to join the locals walking along the pretty Garonne River.

Where to stay: For a city hotel that feels more like a countryside retreat, stay at the Casa Blanca B&B . Situated within walking distance of the CAPC and Place de La Bourse, one of the highlights here is the plant-filled conservatory, with its trailing ivy and chic furnishings. Repurposed furniture, private balconies and city views make this a cut above the standard hotel.

eurostar destinations

HOTELS IN AMSTERDAM

Take the Eurostar in London and you can enjoy strolls along the canals of this Dutch city in just three hours and 55 minutes. Amsterdam is one of Europe's greatest cities, with so much to do on a city break. First, there’s the canals that criss-cross Amsterdam, lined by pretty houses, which make it such a delight to stroll or cycle around. Then, there’s the wonderful collections on display in the Museum Quarter.

And in this creative city, there’s always a new independent shop to find, an innovation in eco-friendly living to try, or an inventive new restaurant menu to sample.

Where to stay: The Blossom House is a stylish guesthouse in the centre of the city – the Anne Frank Museum is just around the corner, and the Prinsengracht runs from the end of the street. Tea and coffee makers in every room, and streaming services, mean there’s all the comforts you’d expect, too. Be aware that the top floors are only accessible by stairs.

lille architecture

HOTELS IN LILLE

The shortest Eurostar journey, you can arrive in Lille in just one hour and 22 minutes from London. Part of the joy of this lively university city is its walkability: its compact historic centre with the 17th-century Flemish brick townhouses, UNESCO-listed town-hall belfry, Gothic Palais Rihour, old stock market and 19th-century cathedral can be explored wholly on foot.

Along the way, refuel on some of Lille’s famously wonderful food and drink, from Michelin-starred restaurants and cosy bistros to craft beer bars and pâ tisseries including iconic Meert, with its famed waffles loaded with sugar, butter and Madagascan vanilla.

Where to stay: Part of the Relais & Châteaux group, the Clarance Hotel Lille occupies an 18th-century mansion built for a countess, tucked away in a secluded garden where organically fruit, vegetables and herbs are lovingly grown for its Michelin-starred restaurant, Alexandre Miquel. Among it 19 rooms and suites with classic-meets-contemporary decor are the loft-like Clarance Suite with its private entrance, balneotherapy tub and wonderful views over the Old Lille roofscape.

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travel to france via eurostar

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Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in France set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact France’s Embassy in the UK .

Countries may restrict travel or bring in rules at short notice. Check with your travel company or airline for changes.

Visit TravelHealthPro (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre) for general COVID-19 advice for travellers .

Public spaces

You’re strongly recommended to wear a face mask in health settings. In some areas, people aged 6 and above may need to wear a face mask.

Passport validity requirements

If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, follow the Schengen area passport requirements .

Your passport must be:

  • issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
  • valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

Check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

Contact the French Embassy in the UK if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to .

Passport stamping

At French border control, you may need to:

  • show proof of where you intend to stay, for example, a hotel booking or proof of address if visiting your own property
  • show proof of insurance for your trip – check FCDO’s travel insurance guidance
  • show a return or onward ticket
  • prove that you have enough money for your whole stay

Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through France as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.

You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets.

If you live in France, read our Living in France guide for passport stamping information.

Proof of accommodation and funds

You may need to show proof of where you intend to stay. Read about documents you may need for short stays on the French government website . This will differ depending on where you are staying.

Staying with family, friends or a third party

You may be asked to provide an ‘attestation d’accueil’ (welcome invitation) from your host. The French resident hosting you must get the ‘attestation d’accueil’ from their local mayor’s office, and send the original ‘attestation’ before you enter France. Be prepared to show proof that you have at least €32.50 euros a day for the duration of your stay.

Second homes in France

You will need to be able to prove ownership or tenancy of your property, such as a tax or utility bill.

Staying in a hotel or other commercial accommodation

You may be asked for confirmation of your reservation when entering France. Be prepared to show proof that you have at least €65 euros a day for the duration of your stay.

Other circumstances

If you do not have an ‘attestation d’accueil’ (welcome invitation) or any pre-booked accommodation, you may be asked to prove you have at least €120 euros a day for the duration of your stay.

For more information on these requirements, visit the French government’s website on travel conditions for British citizens.

Visa requirements

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area, which France is part of, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel:

  • as a tourist
  • to visit family or friends
  • to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
  • for short-term studies or training

If you are travelling to France and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you will need to meet the French government’s entry requirements. Check which type of visa you may need on the France Visas website .

If you are travelling to France for work , read the guidance on visas and permits.

If you stay in France with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

British citizens who cannot return to the UK before their visa, permit or visa-free limit expires should contact their local prefecture in France .

Vaccination requirements (other than COVID-19)

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and vaccination certificates you may need on TravelHealthPro.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of France. Check the French Directorate General of Customs and Excise website . Declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food and drink into the EU

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions for medical reasons, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons. Check the rules about taking food and drink into the EU on the European Commission website.

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London Mayor Urges Action to Avert Chaos on Eurostar Amid New Border Checks

L ondon Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the British government to intervene to prevent potential chaos on the Eurostar rail link with France.

This call comes as the European Union plans to implement new biometric border controls, requiring travelers from non-EU countries like Britain to register facial and fingerprint scans upon entry.

Earlier this week, HS1, the operator of the rail line between London and the Channel Tunnel, warned of potential long delays and service limitations on Eurostar trains due to the upcoming border checks.

Khan emphasized the need for government support to address these issues, as disruptions could have detrimental effects on London’s retail and leisure industries, especially during the crucial Christmas trading period.

Eurostar, responsible for passenger rail services connecting London to Paris and other European capitals, previously experienced a 30% reduction in peak capacity in London when border checks were introduced after Brexit in 2020. The implementation of new biometric controls raises concerns about further disruptions and capacity limitations.

Khan stressed the importance of maintaining the success of the Eurostar for London and the UK’s economic prosperity. He called on the government to take proactive measures to ensure smooth operations and mitigate potential disruptions caused by the new border checks.

As the deadline for the EU’s new border controls approaches, there is growing urgency for collaborative efforts between the government, HS1, and Eurostar to address logistical challenges and safeguard the efficiency of cross-border travel via the Eurostar rail link.

Read the full post on London Mayor Urges Action to Avert Chaos on Eurostar Amid New Border Checks

London Mayor Sadiq Khan tries to handle the Eurostar disruptions and chaos (Credits: BBC)

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Eurostar to require API - France Forum

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Eurostar to require API

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' class=

the new UK border rules come into force on 1 April but the Eurostar Lon/Par is already requiring API before it issues tickets

https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/your-trip/travel-documents/advance-passenger-information

there is currently no ID check on presenting your ticket and no check against any passenger manifest when the french and british security/immigration check your passport

i wonder if this will change ? i doubt it

the current system allows a passenger to use a ticket booked in a different name (a breach of the terms of the ticket)

there is a name check when boarding a premier or business coach but no ID check

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Man electrocuted in ‘ball of fire’ on top of Eurostar train heading to UK

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(FILES) A picture taken in Paris on December 10, 2020 shows the Eurostar train stationed at Gare du Nord. A man was killed by an electric shock after climbing on top of a stationary Eurostar train in Paris, a police source and prosecutors said on February 9, 2024. (Photo by Eric PIERMONT / AFP) (Photo by ERIC PIERMONT/AFP via Getty Images)

A man was electrocuted ‘in a ball of flames’ after climbing on to a train at the Eurostar railway station in Paris .

The victim, who has not been identified yet, was seen running across the tracks of platforms 12 and 13 at Gare du Nord just before 10pm on Thursday.

‘He got on to the roof of a Eurostar wagon that was motionless,’ an investigating source said.

‘He had earlier been seen crossing nearby tracks, not realising how dangerous the situation was.’

The tragedy was captured on CCTV from the Ile-de-France networks at the scene, according to Le Parisien.

The victim could be seen standing up before his body was engulfed in flames in a few seconds.

It is believed he was electrocuted by an overhead wire above the train headed to London.

‘He stood up, and then there was a ball of flame,’ said the source.

‘Emergency services were at the scene pretty much instantly, but they were unable to save the man, who was left unrecognisable.’

Firefighters extinguished the flames at 10.20pm, and the victim was pronounced dead within minutes.

Early police enquiries pointed to the man being an immigrant to France, who had been sleeping rough in Paris while working out how to get to the UK.

The Gare du Nord is the busiest railway station in the country and there are daily high speed rail services to London.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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travel to france via eurostar

Eurostar route map

Our network across Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK.

Where does Eurostar go?

Discover great deals on a larger network that includes high-speed direct and indirect routes between the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. That means connections to a wider range of European destinations, including Antwerp, Cologne and Düsseldorf, as well as the cities we’ve always served, such as London, Paris and Brussels. In winter, we’re also operating our Eurostar Snow service to ski destinations including Chambéry, Albertville, and Moûtiers.

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  1. Train to France

    With a quick station change in Paris you can travel all the way to Bordeaux by train. Before you know it you'll be sampling the food and wine and feeling like a local. Book a train to France. Travel in style and enjoy a hassle-free journey to France with Eurostar. Book cheap tickets to France now!

  2. Travel documents

    If you are travelling to and from London, you'll need to show a valid travel document, along with your ticket. Before your trip, please check the details below to see which document (s) are needed. Please note: Babies and children must have their own valid travel document (s). You don't need a passport if you're travelling between cities in ...

  3. Travel Information

    View all our fares and fees.. Train + Hotel † Savings based on Train + Hotel package bookings on Eurostar.com when compared at the time of booking to the price of the same standalone train and standalone hotel booked separately on Eurostar.com. Eurostar International Limited is an Appointed Representative of AWP Assistance UK Limited (trading as Allianz Global Assistance) which is authorised ...

  4. Book Eurostar train travel across Europe: Everything you need to know

    Eurostar tickets can usually be booked up to 330 days before your return travel date. Generally speaking, if you're considering a trip from London onward, you can expect prices to fall somewhere within the following margins for a one-way trip: Fare type. Average ticket cost (one-way) Standard. 51-172 pounds ($65-$219)

  5. Eurostar guide: everything you need to know before you travel

    Eurostar has been whizzing travellers across northern Europe for nearly 30 years via a rail network that connects France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK.

  6. Traveling on Eurostar Between London and Paris Through ...

    The side of the Chunnel was similarly well-fortified. Taking Eurostar between London, UK and Paris, France. Around an hour and 15 minutes remained until arriving in Paris. The views of the French ...

  7. London to Paris by Direct Eurostar train in 2h 16m

    It takes an average of 2h 34m to travel from London to Paris by train, over a distance of around 212 miles (342 km). There are normally 16 trains per day travelling from London to Paris and tickets for this journey start from £51 when you book in advance. First train. 06:01.

  8. Trains to France

    Travel on a high-speed train to France. Catch a Eurostar service to Paris or Lille from London and travel onwards in one of SNCF's Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) trains to Rennes, Strasbourg, Lyon, Dijon, Toulouse or even to the French Riviera. Watch the French countryside roll by at 186mph with a glass of wine in hand.

  9. London to France by train

    Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille. This is the most stress-free way to travel from London to the south of France. Take a Eurostar to Lille and make a simple same-station change of train onto a 300 km/h (186 mph) TGV direct to Nîmes & Montpellier with no need to cross Paris. South of Lyon the TGV runs along the scenic Rhône Valley ...

  10. 12 Things You Need To Know Before Riding Eurostar Between Paris and

    4 Is Eurostar Quicker Than Flying. 5 Does the Eurostar Feel Fast. 6 Is It Better To Fly or Take Eurostar to Paris and London. 7 Is Eurostar Scary. 8 Is Eurostar a Double Decker Train. 9 Can You See Underwater on Eurostar. 10 Does Eurostar Check Your Bags.

  11. How to Take the Eurostar Between London and Paris

    On the London-Paris route, Eurostar trains travel between St. Pancras International Rail Station in central London to Gare du Nord in central Paris. London Underground (subway) and Paris Metro trains frequently serve the stations, making it easy to get to your departure point. In Paris, Gare du Nord is additionally served by commuter-line train ...

  12. How to travel by train from London to France

    The Eurostar to Paris is the most popular starting point for train trips from London to anywhere in France. London to Paris by train takes just 2h 16m on the Eurostar, as it shoots through the Channel Tunnel at up to 200 mph. It departs 15 times a day (up to 24 times a day during summer), between 05:40 and 20:00, from London St-Pancras to Paris ...

  13. Best Eurostar destinations to visit in 2023

    There are more than 20 stops on the Eurostar route, spread across the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. From London, passengers can travel directly to Brussels, Lille, Paris, Disneyland Paris, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, while connections from those cities can whizz you further afield to the likes of Bordeaux and Provence.

  14. Eurostar destinations

    Worth knowing. Eurostar is the only train in Europe that will take you from France and Belgium to the UK, travelling at high speed through the Channel Tunnel. Today, the company claims to have carried more than 130 million passengers since 1994. A handy tip, book travel to London 11 months in advance or 4 months for the other destinations.

  15. American citizen crossing from UK to France

    Eurostar is running and definitely open without restrictions to British residents. The UK is outside the Schengen area and the French border police checks passports in London before boarding the train so you cannot hope to fly under the radar and you could very easily be denied entry.. The most important question is whether having spent a mandatory quarantine in the UK is enough to ensure that ...

  16. Driving To France From The UK: LeShuttle

    Travel at the QUIETER TIMES**. The best fares are available if you can travel outside the busy times. LeShuttle operates 24/7. ** Quieter times - From Folkestone to Calais are generally between 00:00 - 06:00 & 22:00 - 00:00. Quieter times from Calais to Folkestone are generally between 00:00 - 08:00 & 22:00 - 00:00.

  17. Eurostar: Paris

    The main Eurostar connections to London. Launched in 1994, the Eurostar high-speed train allows to travel between France and Belgium to the United Kingdom, passing through the Channel Tunnel. The journey time in the tunnel is 35 minutes. From 160 km/h in the Channel Tunnel, the Eurostar reaches a maximum speed of 300 km/h once on the continent.

  18. Information on your trip

    Station guides. Everything you need to know about all of our stations, including facilities and departure process, plus much more. Find all the information you need to make the most of your travel with Eurostar. Read more on luggage allowance, travel documents, check-in and more.

  19. Entry requirements

    Your passport must be: issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the 'date of issue') valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ...

  20. 'I'm not using Eurostar ever again': Is it the end of ...

    This year marks the 30th anniversary of Eurostar carrying passengers from London to Paris. The first fare-paying passengers used the service to travel through the Channel Tunnel in November 1994.

  21. London Mayor Urges Action to Avert Chaos on Eurostar Amid New ...

    London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the British government to intervene to prevent potential chaos on the Eurostar rail link with France. This call comes as the European Union plans to implement new ...

  22. Trains from London to Paris

    Take a train from London to Paris. Travelling from London to Paris with us is simple, smart, and speedy. Go direct from city centre to city centre in just 2hrs 16mins. And whether you're going for work or play, we'll get you there feeling relaxed and rested. Read on to discover why taking Eurostar from London to Paris is the only way to travel.

  23. Eurostar to require API

    Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions.

  24. Travel documents

    If you are travelling to and from London, you'll need to show a valid travel document, along with your ticket. Before your trip, please check the details below to see which document (s) are needed. Please note: Babies and children must have their own valid travel document (s). You don't need a passport if you're travelling between cities in ...

  25. Man electrocuted in 'ball of fire' on Eurostar train heading to UK

    The incident happened on top a Eurostar train headed to London (Picture: AFP) A man was electrocuted 'in a ball of flames' after climbing on to a train at the Eurostar railway station in Paris ...

  26. Routemap

    Discover great deals on a larger network that includes high-speed direct and indirect routes between the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. That means connections to a wider range of European destinations, including Antwerp, Cologne and Düsseldorf, as well as the cities we've always served, such as London, Paris and Brussels ...