London to Nice, Bordeaux, Marseille or Lyon from £62...

...by Eurostar & high-speed TGV.  From £115 return.  No baggage fees, no airport taxes, less stress, up to 90% less CO2, direct to the city centre, children under 4 go free.  Book online here

Take Eurostar & TGV high-speed train from London to Nice, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Avignon, Strasbourg, Perpignan or anywhere in France

The no-fly zone...  More and more people are getting fed up with flying and are taking the train to France.  London to Nice, anyone? This is a double-deck TGV to Nice, boarding in Paris. 

Buy train tickets from London to anywhere in France

 

UK to France by high-speed train...

Travel to France the civilised stress-free way, by high-speed train.  Take Eurostar from London to Lille or Paris, then a 186 mph TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) through the French countryside with a glass of red wine in hand to Avignon, Marseille, Nice, Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rennes or Nantes...  Or save time, taking a late afternoon Eurostar to Paris then a couchette on the overnight Train Bleu from Paris to Cannes, Antibes or Nice.  It's comfortable and affordable:  London to to Lyon or Bordeaux from £109 return, London to Nice, Marseille or Perpignan from £119 return.  Unlike a flight, that's city centre to city centre, with no baggage fees, no airport taxes, significantly less impact on the environment and infants go free.  Bring your own bottle of wine if you like, there are no rules against that on the rails!

Train times, fares & how to buy tickets...

London to Paris & Disneyland Paris

Other UK towns & cities to Paris   Versailles

London to Avignon, Marseille, Toulon, Cannes, St Tropez, Nice, Monte-Carlo

London to Nîmes, Montpellier, Béziers, Narbonne, Perpignan

London to Biarritz, Lourdes & Tarbes

London to Lyon

London to Bordeaux

London to Strasbourg

London to Limoges, Brive, Cahors, Toulouse

London to Le Mans, Angers, Rennes & Nantes

London to Normandy

London to Mont St Michel

London to Calais, Lille, Boulogne, Etaples, Amiens & Northern France

London to Bourg St Maurice, Chamonix & the French Alps (Ski Trains page)

London to Corsica

London to anywhere else in France

What are French TGV trains like?

What are French overnight couchette trains like?

Train travel within France, a beginner's guide

International trains from Paris to other European cities

International trains from other European cities to Paris

 Choose your destination here...

   Wait for the page to load then select your destination here:    

 

Also on this page...

 Route map:  UK to France by train...

Route map for taking the train from London to France

About changing trains in Lille

How to buy train tickets to & within France

Hotels & accommodation in France   

Send your luggage in advance   

Car hire in France   

Holidays & tours to France by train   

Short breaks to France by train   

The Train Bleu restaurant at Paris Gare de Lyon

Information on other pages...

How to change stations in Paris by metro or taxi  

Buying UK train tickets to connect with Eurostar

European train travel general information

Train seat numbering plans

Ski holidays in the French Alps by train

Luggage arrangements on trains

Left luggage facilities in Paris

Taking your bike

Taking your dog

Taking your car - motorail

People with disabilities

What's Eurostar like?

Sponsored links...

 


Useful country information

Train operator in France:

 

SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer).  To check train times & fares & book trains within France see www.raileurope.co.uk (UK residents) or www.tgv-europe.com (for residents of any country, but see this advice on using it).  To check for disruption affecting trains in France (in French), see www.infolignes.com.  Eurostar trains from London to Paris: www.eurostar.comCorsican Railways Nice-Digne railway Petit Train Jaune.

   

Buy French train tickets:

 

...in the UK  ...in the USA  ...in Canada   ...in Australia  ...in NZ  ...in Asia, Africa, S.America   ...direct from SNCF

Paris bus & métro:

 

www.ratp.fr.  For a Paris metro map, select 'plans'.

Railpasses:

 

Beginner's guide to European railpasses    Buy a rail pass online

Time zone & dialling code:

 

GMT+1 (GMT+2 from last Sunday in March to last Saturday in October).   Dial code +33     

Currency:

 

Tourist information:

 

www.franceguide.com    Guidebooks     Tours to France by train

Hotels & guesthouses:

 

Paris hotels   France hotels   Finding accommodation in France  Reviews: www.tripadvisor.com

Motorail & car hire:

 

Motorail: taking your car by train    Car hire in France

Page last updated:

 

1 May 2013.  Train times being updated for 8 Dec 2012 to 8 June 2013.


London to Paris

  Buy London to Paris Eurostar train tickets online

Booking tips:

- This form connects to www.eurostar.com with print-at-home tickets & no booking fees.

- To book an inward journey starting in Paris, click here.

- St Pancras is Eurostar's London station.  You can book through tickets to Paris starting in 130 UK towns & cities, or buy a special connecting ticket from any UK station.

- Booking opens 120 days before departure.

- For journeys beyond Paris, it can be better to book at www.raileurope.co.uk, see the section relevant to your final destination for advice. 

- Business Premier & Leisure Select = 1st class, drinks & meals included.  Standard = 2nd class.

- Tips on choosing a specific seat

- Buying connecting train tickets within the UK

Eurostar train first class from London to Paris & Brussels

A Eurostar at St Pancras in London.  More information about Eurostar.

Eurostar train first class from London to Paris & Brussels

Eurostar first class.  Tips for choosing your seat.

Eurostar second class from London to Paris & Brussels

Eurostar standard class.  Only cars 5 & 14 have power sockets for laptops.  Cars 1 & 18 are family-friendly with baby-changing rooms.

Tips for choosing your seat

 
 
 
   

Introducing Eurostar:  See the London to Paris page...

Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train from London to Paris via the Channel Tunnel, taking just 2 hours 15 minutes at up to 300km/h (186 mph).  In London, Eurostar leaves every hour or two from the beautifully-restored St Pancras station, and in Paris it arrives at the equally historic Gare du Nord in the city centre.  From central London to central Paris, Eurostar is faster than flying as well as more comfortable, more convenient and more reliable.  Typically, 95% of Eurostar trains run on time or within 15 minutes, against just 63-68% of flights on the same routes.  So it's not surprising that Eurostar has now captured over 70% of the London-Paris market from the airlines.  See the London to Paris by Eurostar page for more information, including the three classes of accommodation on board, check-in procedures, luggage arrangements, food & drink, and tips for choosing the best seats.

Eurostar times, fares & online tickets:  www.eurostar.com

Eurostar fares work like airline fares, so book in advance for the cheapest seats.  Fares start at £39 one-way or £69 return 2nd class, £107 one-way or £189 return 1st class (limited availability, no refunds, no changes to travel plans).  Some Eurostars stop at Ebbsfleet & Ashford in Kent, many call at Lille in Northern France, a few call at Calais Fréthun station a few kilometres outside Calais.  If you're only going from London to Paris, you should buy tickets online at www.eurostar.com with print-at-home tickets, or you can collect them from the e-ticket machines at the station, or they can be sent to any UK, French or Belgian address.  You can book by phone, calling Eurostar on 08432 186 186 (+44 1233 617575 from outside the UK).  Eurostar bookings open 120 days before departure.  If you are going beyond Paris, it can be better to book the whole journey at www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com as explained belowTips on choosing a specific Eurostar seat.

City breaks to Paris...

www.railbookers.com, www.eurostar.com & www.lastminute.com all sell cheap breaks from the UK to Paris combining Eurostar with a hotel.  This is often cheaper than booking Eurostar and a hotel separately (allegedly, buying a hotel-inclusive deal can sometimes be cheaper than buying a normal Eurostar ticket on its own, if the cheaper fares have sold out).  For short break and longer holidays by train to all parts of France, try the French Travel Service, www.f-t-s.co.uk or call 0844 84 888 43 (please quote 'seat61' when you book).  If you'd like to visit the Versailles whilst in Paris, see here.

The alternative to EurostarLondon to Paris by train & ferry

It's still possible to travel from London to Paris by train & ferry if you want, although it takes 9 hours and you now have to buy separate train and ferry tickets.  It also costs more than a cheap return ticket on Eurostar.  But you get to sail across the English Channel from the White Cliffs of Dover, you avoid going through the Channel Tunnel if that's an issue for you, and if you have to travel at very short notice it can sometimes be cheaper.  For more information see the London to Paris by train & ferry page.


Other UK towns & cities to Paris

UK towns & cities to Paris with a Eurostar through ticket...

You can buy through tickets to Paris from over 130 different UK towns and cities, just use the Eurostar booking form above to see which UK stations have through tickets to Paris & book online.  Incidentally, you can only buy tickets to or from these 130 regional UK stations using the UK version of the Eurostar website, as these 130 UK towns & cities will not be listed as destinations if you use the French, Belgian or US versions of the Eurostar website.  So if you live in France and want to buy a one-way or return ticket from (say) Paris to York, you will need to clear your cookies so that when you go to www.eurostar.com you arrive at the country selection page, then select 'United Kingdom', irrespective of where you actually live.  It seems that UK train companies don't want to do business in euros, only pounds.  Or perhaps they just don't want French or Belgians going anywhere beyond London!

UK towns & cities to Paris with separate Eurostar & UK train tickets...

If your local station isn't listed on the Eurostar booking form, or if you find no availability when you try and book a through ticket, you can buy a separate train ticket to London.  You can either buy a normal domestic ticket at whatever the cheapest price happens to be, or you can buy a ticket to a special destination called 'London International CIV', designed for use with Eurostar tickets.  There are fares from most UK stations to 'London International CIV', which include the Underground fare across London to St Pancras (if required), they generally have few or no time restrictions, and you're covered by the international CIV conditions of carriage so if there's a delay to the UK train and you miss your Eurostar, you are entitled to be re-booked on a later one, no problem.  With these tickets you can travel affordably even in the Monday-Friday business peaks if you need to connect with a Eurostar.  For more details and to check prices & buy tickets from your local station to London International, see the How to buy connecting UK train tickets page.

West of England or South Coast to Paris...

By ferry+train:  If you live in the West Country or along the south coast, consider a ferry crossing from Plymouth, Poole, Southampton, Portsmouth or Newhaven to France, then a train onwards to Paris.  First check ferry routes, times and fares at the Seat61 Ferry shop (all routes & operators), or at Brittany Ferries, www.ldlines.co.uk or www.condorferries.co.uk.  Then check UK train times from your local station to the UK port using www.nationalrail.co.uk.  Finally, check train times & fares from the French port to Paris and book online at either www.raileurope.co.uk (in English, for UK residents) or www.tgv-europe.com (for residents of any country).  Allow at least an hour, preferably 90 minutes, between train and ferry on both sides of the Channel.

By Night Riviera sleeper + Eurostar:  From Devon or Cornwall, you can also use the overnight Night Riviera sleeper train to London then a morning Eurostar to Paris, for details see here.

Scotland to Paris...

By daytime trains...  You can buy through tickets from Glasgow or Edinburgh to Paris by daytime inter-city train & Eurostar at the Eurostar website.  This occasionally (wrongly) comes up with 'no trains available', but you can always buy a separate ticket from Scotland to London International CIV as explained here.

By Caledonian Sleeper + Eurostar:  A time-effective way to avoid flying is to hop on the overnight Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness, Aviemore, Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee, Fort William, Glasgow, Edinburgh to London, then take a morning Eurostar to Paris.  See the Caledonian Sleeper page for details.

Belfast or Dublin to Paris...

Belfast or Dublin to Paris using Eurostar, via London:  You can buy a cheap SailRail train+ferry ticket from Belfast to London for £49, or Dublin to London for €46 each way, see the Northern Ireland page or Ireland page for timetables, fares & full details.  Then book Eurostar separately at www.eurostar.com, from £39 one-way or £69 return.  Allow plenty of time to cross London, including time for the Eurostar check-in and any delay to your train from Scotland or Holyhead to London.  When connecting with a non-changeable, non-refundable Eurostar, bear in mind that the all-weather cruise ferries are very reliable, but the fast ferries can be cancelled in bad weather.

Belfast or Dublin to Paris using the Rosslare-France or Cork-France ferries, avoiding London:  Travel by train from Belfast to Dublin then Dublin to Rosslare or Cork (see www.irishrail.ie), then sail either by Irish Ferries cruise ferry from Rosslare to Roscoff or Cherbourg in France (see www.irishferries.com) or by Brittany ferries (www.brittany-ferries.co.uk) from Cork to Roscoff or Cherbourg for a train to Paris (see www.tgv-europe.com).  To plan this, start by checking ferry sailing dates & times at www.irishferries.com or www.brittany-ferries.co.uk.  Then work out the best connection from Dublin to Rosslare or Cork using www.irishrail.ie, then the connection from Belfast also at www.irishrail.ie.


London to Disneyland Paris

London to Disneyland by direct Eurostar...

A Eurostar runs direct from London to Disneyland Paris daily except Tuesdays & Saturdays (daily in school holidays).  It leaves London St Pancras at 10:14, calling at Ebbsfleet 10:33, Ashford at 10:58 and arriving Marne la Vallée-Chassy, the station right next to Disneyland Paris, at 13:57.  The entrance to the Disneyland Park, Disney Studios and Planet Hollywood is just outside the station to the right.  Book online at www.eurostar.com.  Returning, the Eurostar leaves Disneyland (Marne la Vallée-Chassy) daily except Tuesdays & Saturdays at 18:02 (17:02 Sundays) and arrives Ashford 19:03 (18:03 Sundays), Ebbsfleet 19:28 (18:28 Sundays) and London 19:46 (18:46 on Sundays).  Remember to allow for the 30 minute Eurostar check-in, at the top floor level of Marne la Vallée-Chassy station.

See www.disneylandparis.com to book holidays and short breaks to Disneyland Paris, including the Eurostar, hotel accommodation and entrance to the Disneyland park.


London to Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice

 

Travel by Eurostar & TGV high-speed train from London to Nice, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Avignon, Strasbourg, Perpignan or anywhere in France

Relax by train:  A TGV is the stress-free way to the South of France.  What are TGV trains like?

Take Eurostar & TGV to the South of France...

London to Nice by train from £62...

Option 1, changing at Lille:  The most relaxing way from London to the South of France is to take Eurostar to Lille and make a simple same-station change of train onto a 186 mph high-speed TGV to Avignon, Marseille, St Raphael, Cannes, Antibes or Nice.  This avoids the need to cross Paris.

Option 2, changing trains & stations in Paris:  Alternatively, you can take Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, take the metro or a taxi to the Gare de Lyon, then take a high-speed TGV train to Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice or Monte Carlo.  Crossing Paris isn't as easy as a simple same-station change at Lille, but there's a wider choice of departures and you'll often find cheaper prices available this way.  And why not stop off in Paris for a while, or have lunch at the remarkable Train Bleu station restaurant at the Gare de Lyon (or at least visit the bar)?  Most trains from Paris to Marseille, Nice & Monte Carlo (and a few from Lille) are now operated by impressive double-deck TGV Duplex.  Make sure you book an upper deck seat for the best views along the scenic Rhône Valley and even more scenic Côte d'Azur!

Option 3, direct Eurostar trains from London to Provence on Summer Saturdays:  This year, not only is there a long-established summer Saturdays direct Eurostar from London to Avignon (Saturdays 7 July to 1 September, leaving London at 07:17, see the timetable below), they have added an service from London to Lyon, Avignon & Aix-en-Provence leaving London at 07:17 on Saturdays from 4 May to 29 June 2013, see details on the Eurostar website.

What's the journey from London to Nice like?

Settle back into your TGV seat and watch the scenery glide past with a glass of red to hand.  As far as Lyon, the TGV passes rich green farmlands and picturesque French 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, then through the hills of Provence to reach Marseille.  Watch out for a 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.  Take a bottle of your favourite wine with you (there are no rules against this on the rails), put your feet up and enjoy the ride...

Or take the overnight Train Bleu couchette train from Paris to Nice & the Côte d'Azur...

This takes little more time out of your day than flying.  Take the 15:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord, then a time-effective Intercités de Nuit couchette train with comfortable air-conditioned couchettes (simple sleeping berths with lightweight sleeping-bag, pillow, mineral water provided, 6 or 4 berths per compartment) overnight from Paris Austerlitz to Cannes, Antibes, Nice or Monte Carlo arriving in time for breakfast.  Travelling this way may also save a hotel bill, too.  This option is also shown in the timetables below.  In 1st class couchettes you have the option of booking a whole compartment for sole or dual occupancy for an extra charge.

 London ► Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo    (Option 1, changing trains in Lille)  

 Eurostar (30 minute check-in)

Mondays to Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

 London St Pancras

depart

06:50

08:58

12:58

15:04

06:57

 07:17 ***

08:58

12:58

08:58

12:58

15:04

16:04 w

 Lille (Europe)

arrive

09:30

11:26

15:30

17:26

09:29

|

11:30

15:30

11:30

15:30

17:26

18:26 w

 Easy change at Lille onto a high-speed TGV...

 Lille (Europe)

depart

10:26

13:03

16:02

18:26

10:26

|

13:03

16:02

13:03

16:02

18:26

19:23 f

 Avignon TGV

arrive

14:38

17:08

20:08

22:43

14:38

 13:47 ***

17:08

20:08

17:08

20:08

22:43

23:26 w

 Aix en Provence

arrive

15:01

17:31

20:31

|

15:01

Direct

17:31

20:31

17:31

20:31

|

|

 Marseille

arrive

15:16

17:46

20:46

23:16

15:16

Eurostar

17:46

20:46

17:46

20:46

23:16

23:59 w

 Toulon

arrive

16:14

   19:14 m

 21:44 h

 

16:14

London-

   19:14 m

  21:40 v

   19:14 m

   22:15 m

  

  

 St Raphael (for St Tropez)

arrive

17:09

   20:12 m

  

 

17:09

Avignon

   20:12 m

  22:28 v

   20:12 m

   23:08 m

 

 

 Cannes

arrive

17:33

   20:36 m

 

 

17:33

on

   20:36 m

  22:53 v

   20:36 m

   23:35 m

 

 

 Antibes

arrive

17:46

   20:47 m

 

 

17:46

 Summer

   20:47 m

  23:08 v

   20:47 m

   23:47 m

 

 

 Nice

arrive

18:05

   21:05 m

 

 

18:05

 Saturdays

   21:05 m

  23:26 v

   21:05 m

   00:05 m

 

 

How to read these timetables  Each column is a service you can take.  You read downwards, changing trains at the grey bar.  No Eurostars on 25 December.

 London ► Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo    (Option 2, changing stations in Paris)

 Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Mon-Sat

Mon-Fri

Sat

Mon-Sat

Daily

Daily

Note B

Daily

Daily

Daily

Note E

Daily

Note F

Fri,Sun

Fri,Sun

Note A

Daily

 London St Pancras

depart

05:40*

05:40

06:18

07:55*

07:55*

09:17*

10:25

10:25*

12:25

12:25

12:25

13:31

14:31

15:31

16:22

15:31

20:01

 Paris Gare du Nord

arrive

09:17*

09:17

09:47

11:17*

11:17*

12:47*

13:47

13:47*

15:47

15:47

15:47

16:47

17:47

18:47

19:47

18:47

23:17

 Cross Paris by metro or RER to the Gare de Lyon and board a high-speed TGV...

Sleeper

Hotel

 Paris Gare de Lyon

depart

10:49

10:19

11:07

12:37

12:49

14:19

14:49

15:07

16:49

17:07

17:45

18:19

18:49

20:37

21:07

21:23**

08:49

 Avignon TGV

arrive

|

|

13:52

15:21

|

|

|

17:49

|

19:49

|

|

|

23:20

23:53

|

11:30

 Marseille

arrive

|

13:28

14:26

15:50

|

17:24

|

18:24

|

20:24

|

21:29

|

23:56

00:29

|

|

 Toulon

arrive

|

  

 

  

16:40

  

18:40

 

|

 

21:40

 

22:40

  

 

06:44

|

 St Raphael

arrive

|

 

 

 

17:28

 

19:28

 

|

 

22:28

 

23:28

 

 

07:46

13:32

 Cannes

arrive

15:53

 

 

 

17:53

 

19:53

 

21:53

 

22:53

 

23:53

 

 

08:12

13:57

 Antibes

arrive

16:06

 

 

 

18:06

 

20:06

 

22:06

 

23:06

 

00:06

 

 

08:24

14:09

 Nice

arrive

16:26

 

 

 

18:26

 

20:26

 

22:26

 

23:26

 

00:26

 

 

08:41

14:26

 Monte Carlo

arrive

 17:01n

 

 

 

18:52

 

21:19n

 

23:20n

 

00:19n

 

 

 

 

 09:24n

15:19n

 Menton

arrive

 17:11n

 

 

 

19:05

 

21:31n

 

23:31n

 

00:30n

 

 

  

 

 09:36n

15:31n

How to buy tickets    What is Eurostar like?    What are TGVs like?     What are Intercités de Nuit couchette trains like?

 

Relaxing by train from
London to Nice...

Chill out by high-speed train from London to Nice!

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 from www.voyages-sncf.com.  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.  Buy a bottle of wine from the bar car or feel free to bring your own!  To anyone who has only known the stresses of airports, flights & motorways, chilling out on a high-speed train is a revelation...  How to buy tickets

London to Nice by train:  A first class 'club duo' table for two on the upper deck of the Paris-Nice TGV Duplex.

Please check the notes...

* Exact Eurostar times vary, so check for your date of travel when you book.

** The Train Bleu overnight train arrives/departs Paris Gare d'Austerlitz, not the Gare de Lyon.

***  Summer Saturdays direct Eurostar London-Avignon, with no need to change in Lille, fares from £71 one-way or £109 return 2nd class, £140 one-way or £249 return in 1st class.  Runs on Saturdays from 6 July to 7 September 2013.  Arrives/departs Avignon Centre station, not Avignon TGV station.  60 minute check-in.  Buy tickets at www.eurostar.com.  Eurostar have now added a service from London to Lyon, Avignon & Aix-en-Provence leaving London on Saturdays from 4 May to 29 June 2013. See details on the Eurostar website.

Note A:  Runs daily except 24, 31 December.  By Eurostar London-Paris & the famous Train Bleu Intercités de Nuit couchette train between Paris & the South of France, with 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats.

Note B:  Runs on Fridays & Saturdays only until 31 March 2013, then every day.

Note C:  Runs daily until 30 March, also 22 April to 5 May, Sat & Sun 11 May to 8 June.

Note D:  Only runs on Saturdays & Sundays until 31 March 2013.  Runs every day from 1 April 2013 onwards.

Note E:  Until 31 March 2013, only runs as far as Toulon.  From 1 April 2013, runs every day between Paris, Toulon & St Raphael. Extends to Cannes, Antibes & Nice only on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays.

Note F:  Only runs on Fridays, and doesn't run at all before 5 April.

a = departs from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz, not the Gare de Lyon.

c = Avignon Centre station in the town centre, not Avignon TGV station.

f = arrives/departs at Lille Flandres station, an easy 500m walk from Lille Europe Eurostar/TGV station.

h = extended to Toulon on Fridays only.

m = change at Marseille.

n = change at Nice.

t = only calls at Toulon from 1 April 2013 onwards.

v = Connection only runs from 1 April 2013 onwards, no connection before then. Change at Nice.

x = change at Aix en Provence.

w = Only runs until 31 March 2013.  No service after that.

y = Direct TGV from Nice to Lille Flandres.  Starts from Marseille rather than Nice on certain dates, check online for your date of travel.

Avignon TGV station is 3 miles from Avignon city centre.  A shuttle bus (navette) links Avignon TGV with the post office (la Poste) in the city centre.  The bus runs every 20 minutes from around 05:45 to 22:35 Monday-Saturday, 06:15 to 22:35 on Sundays, journey time 10-15 minutes, fare around €1.30.  It's easy to find the bus, just walk out of the TGV station by the main northern exit, walk ahead and to the left.  There's a ticket office for the shuttle bus across the bus bay.  You can confirm bus times at www.tcra.fr (click horaires et plans then Les lignes de bus... then look for Les navettes).  A new rail link is under construction from Avignon TGV station to Avignon centre station, from December 2013 shuttle trains will run every 15 minutes.

Aix en Provence TGV station is 10 miles from Aix city centre.

St Tropez:  For St Tropez, travel by train to St Raphael.  Buses leave St Raphael bus station (right next to the railway station) for St Tropez every hour or two, journey time 90 minutes, fare just €2.  See www.varlib.fr for bus times - click Horaires then look for bus 7601.  You will need to buy a ticket on the bus.  Be warned that traffic into St Tropez in high summer can be a nightmare, with major delays.

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.

There are many other trains between Paris, Avignon, Aix & Marseille, only a small selection is shown here.

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.raileurope.co.uk or www.voyages-sncf.com, times may vary on  certain dates.

 Monte Carlo, Nice, Cannes, Marseille, Avignon ► London    (Option 1, changing trains in Lille)

 High-speed TGV...

Mondays to Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

 Nice

depart

 

 

  05:55m

 09:27y

  08:55m

  

  05:55m

Direct

 09:27y

 08:55m

 

 05:55m

 08:55m

  09:27y

 Antibes

depart

 

 

  06:15m

 09:46y

  09:15m

  

  06:15m

Eurostar

 09:46y

 09:15m

 

 06:15m

 09:15m

  09:46y

 Cannes

depart

 

 

  06:27m

 09:58y

  09:28m

  

  06:27m

Avignon-

 09:58y

 09:28m

 

 06:27m

 09:28m

  09:58y

 St Raphael (St Tropez)

depart

 

 

  06:51m

 10:22y

  09:51m

 

  06:51m

London

 10:22y

 09:51m

 

 06:51m

 09:51m

  10:22y

 Toulon

depart

 

  

  07:47m   

 11:17y

  10:46m

 

08:15

on

 11:17y

 10:46m

 

 07:47m

 10:46m

  11:17y

 Marseille

depart

 

07:14

09:14

12:14

13:10

05:52w

09:14

 Summer

12:14

13:10

06:44

09:14

13:10

12:14

 Aix en Provence TGV

depart

 

07:30

09:30

|

13:29

06:09w

09:30

 Saturdays

|

13:29

|

09:30

13:29

|

 Avignon TGV

depart

07:15

|

09:51

12:48

13:52

06:32w

09:51

  16:27 ***

12:48

13:52

07:15

09:51

13:51

12:48

 Lille (Europe)

arrive

11:35

12:01

13:57

  17:07f

17:57

10:22f

13:57

|

  17:07f

17:57

11:35

13:57

17:57

  17:07f

 Easy change at Lille onto Eurostar  (30 minute check-in)

 Lille (Europe)

depart

13:35

13:35

16:35

18:35

18:35

11:34

15:30

|

20:30

20:30

12:34

15:30

18:35

18:35

 London St Pancras

arrive

14:03

14:03

17:03

19:03

19:03

11:57

16:03

 21:11***

21:06

21:06

12:57

16:03

19:06

19:06

 Monte Carlo, Nice, Cannes, Marseille, Avignon ► London    (Option 2, changing stations in Paris)

 High-speed TGV...

Mon-Fri

Daily

Daily

Daily

Daily

Daily

Note C

Daily

Daily

Daily

Note D

Mon-Fri, Sun

Mon-Fri, Sun

Daily

Note A

 Menton

depart

 

 

 

  05:59 n

 

 

  08:00 n

 

10:53

 

  11:59 n

 

 

  16:29 n

 18:59 n

 Monaco - Monte Carlo

depart

 

 

 

  06:12 n

 

 

  08:13 n

 

11:05

 

  12:12 n

 

 

  16:41 n

 19:12 n

 Nice

depart

 

 

 

07:31

 

 

09:34

 

11:34

 

13:34

 

 

17:34

19:55

 Antibes

depart

 

 

 

07:53

 

 

09:54

 

11:54

 

13:54

 

 

17:54

20:14

 Cannes

depart

 

 

 

08:07

 

 

10:06

 

12:06

 

14:06

 

 

18:06

20:26

 St Raphael (for St Tropez)

depart

 

 

 

|

 

 

10:31

 

12:31

 

14:31

 

 

|

20:51

 Toulon

depart

 

 

 

09:21

 

 

|

  

13:20

 

|

 

 

 19:20 t

21:52

 Marseille

depart

 

06:10

07:36

|

10:36

11:36

|

13:36

|

15:36

|

 

16:36

|

|

 Avignon TGV

depart

06:14

|

08:14

|

|

12:14

12:31

14:13

|

16:08

|

16:41

|

|

|

 Paris Gare de Lyon

arrive

08:53

09:23

10:53

13:11

13:41

14:53

15:11

16:53

17:11

18:53

19:11

19:19

19:41

23:11

07:37 **

 Cross Paris by metro or RER to the Gare du Nord and take Eurostar  (30 min check-in)

Hotel

Sleeper

 Paris Gare du Nord

depart

11:13

11:13

13:13

15:13

15:13

16:13

17:13

18:13*

19:13

20:13

21:13

21:13

21:13

07:13*

09:13

 London St Pancras

arrive

12:30

12:30

14:39

16:39

16:39

17:39

18:30

19:39*

20:41

21:39

22:39

22:39

22:39

08:30*

10:39

 How much does it cost?

London to Nice, Cannes, Avignon or Marseille

from £68 one-way, £119 return...

London to Avignon, Marseille, Toulon, Cannes, Antibes or Nice starts at £68 one-way or £119 return 2nd class, £135 one-way or £239 return 1st class by Eurostar+TGV via either Paris or Lille. 

Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.

Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £54 one-way, £95 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £65 one-way, £109 return.  Senior fare (over 60) from £65 one-way, £109 return.

Like air fares, adult, youth & senior fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.  Non-changeable, non-refundable.  Not valid on overnight trains. 

How to buy tickets.

Or buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets...

It can sometimes be cheaper & more flexible to split the booking and buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris or Lille by Eurostar starts at £39 one-way or £69 return.  Cheap Prems fares from Lille or Paris to Avignon, Marseille, Nice or Monaco by TGV start at just £19 each way.  Check these online booking systems.

Fares for Eurostar + overnight couchette train...

1. London to Paris by Eurostar...

 From £39 one-way, £69 return 2nd class.

 From £107 one-way, £189 return 1st class.  Child, youth, senior fares 

2. Paris to Cannes, Antibes, Nice or Monaco starts at £18 one-way, £36 return in a reclining seat, £33 one-way or £66 return in a 6-berth 2nd class couchette, or £57 one-way or £114 return in a 1st class 4-berth couchette.  Fares rise as cheaper tickets are sold.

How to buy train tickets from London to anywhere in France...

The cheapest and easiest way to buy train tickets from London to France is online, with three websites to choose from:  www.raileurope.co.uk, www.eurostar.com & www.voyages-sncf.com.  The pros & cons of each website are explained here, with step-by-step booking instructions.  It's a good idea to try two or three options to compare prices.  You can also buy tickets by phone, although a booking fee is charged.  If you live in the USA, Canada, Australia or NZ, click here.

  Option 1, buy tickets online at www.raileurope.co.uk...

 

Buy train tickets from London to Nice, Avignon, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux or anywhere in France

Children under 4 go free, no ticket required.

Children = children over 4 but under 12.

Youth = anyone under 26.  Senior = anyone over 60.

You can buy tickets starting in London, Ebbsfleet or Ashford.

Starting your journey from other UK towns & cities:  You can buy a special add-on ticket to connect with Eurostar from almost any station in Britain, with better terms and conditions than buying a regular domestic UK train ticket to London, see the advice here.

If you live in the UK, the best way to buy train tickets to or within France is arguably www.raileurope.co.uk, French Railways UK subsidiary.  Their website can sell you a ticket from London, Ebbsfleet or Ashford to anywhere in France by Eurostar, TGV, overnight couchette train or any other French train, with all the cheap deals available and no booking fee if you use a debit card & collect tickets at the station.  In fact, it can sell you a ticket for any train journey within France, and for most direct international trains to or from France.  It's backed by a UK call centre if you need any help or after-sale service.

Booking tips...

  Option 2, buy tickets online at www.eurostar.com...

 

Buy Eurostar & TGV train tickets from London to France

This links to www.eurostar.com & sells tickets from London or 130 UK towns & cities to key French cities

If your French destination isn't listed, use www.raileurope.co.uk instead, as this can book to any station in France, & can also book overnight trains.

This  form is set up for journeys starting in the UK.  To book journeys starting in France, go to www.eurostar.com.

Advantages:  www.eurostar.com sells through tickets to major cities in France from London & from 130 other UK towns & cities, and is very simple to use.  It can sometimes be the cheapest option, but not always, so check other options too.  There are no booking fees, just a small fee if you use a credit card.  Tickets can be printed at home or collected at the stations, or can be sent free of charge to any UK or French address.  It accepts overseas credit cards as well as UK cards.  www.eurostar.com allows you to choose a specific seat on Eurostar if you like, other sites don't.

On the other hand, www.eurostar.com is limited in what it can book, as it only sells direct tickets from the UK to the most popular French cities without stopovers.  It won't book overnight trains, only daytime trains.  www.raileurope.co.uk & www.voyages-sncf.com can book tickets to anywhere in France, can book overnight trains, can sell tickets for journeys within France, and can be used to book journeys with stopovers.  www.eurostar.com only sells the special combined Eurostar+TGV fares, www.raileurope.co.uk or www.voyages-sncf.com can sell separate Eurostar tickets and French tickets which can work out cheaper.

Booking tips...

  Option 3, buy tickets by phone or in person...

You can buy train tickets to France by phone, although a small fee is charged for phone bookings.  Simply call Rail Europe on 0844 848 5 848 (lines open 09:00-19:00 Monday to Friday, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, £8 booking fee), or call an agency such as Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 772050 (8% booking fee).  Rail Europe have a travel centre for personal callers at 193 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EU, open 10:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, 10:00-17:00 Saturdays.  Alternatively, there is a Trainseurope desk at St Pancras International, located in the National Rail travel centre under platforms 1-4, open 10:00-17:00 every day of the week (ironically, Eurostar's own ticket office at St Pancras cannot sell tickets beyond Paris!).  For more information about how to buy European train tickets, see the How to buy European train tickets page.

Option 4, tailor-made travel & hotel arrangements from www.railbookers.com...

A hassle-free option is to get a reliable specialist agency such as Railbookers to arrange your whole trip, with train bookings, hotels and transfers all sorted with one phone call.  Just tell them when and where you want to go, and they'll create the best rail holiday or tour for you.  UK residents can call www.railbookers.com on 020 3327 0761.  US & Canadian residents can call them toll-free on 1-800-408-3280 or see website.  Australian residents can call their Sydney office toll-free on 1300 971 526 or see www.railbookers.com.au.  New Zealand residents call toll-free on 0800 002 034 or see website.  They get very positive reviews and take good care of their guests.

  Option 5, buy online at www.loco2.com (for anyone from any country)

www.loco2.com is a new company, aiming to make train booking easier.  Booking usually opens 92 days ahead.  They connect to the same data as raileurope.co.uk, so offer the correct European prices, but they accept credit cards from any country so can be used wherever you live, as long as you get a print-at-home or collect-at-station delivery option, which you usually do for journeys within or starting in France, or involving Eurostar and onward connections from Paris.

  Option 6, buy online at www.tgv-europe.com (for anyone from any country)

Anyone from any country worldwide can buy tickets direct from French Railways at www.voyages-sncf.com.  This shows all the cheapest prices, currently has no fees, and offers a full range of seating options.  Tickets are in many cases print-at-home or can be collected at French stations.  They will send tickets to any country worldwide except the USA.  There are some Machiavellian redirections to various Rail Europes, but these (and how to get around them) are explained when you click on any tgv-europe.com link on this page.

  If you live in the USA...

     If you live in Australia, Canada, Asia, Africa, South America...

 Sponsored links...

 

London to Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan

Easily the most stress-free way to travel from London to the south of France is to take a Eurostar to Lille and make a simple same-station change of train onto a 186 mph high-speed TGV direct to Nîmes, Montpellier, Béziers, Narbonne or Perpignan, with no need to cross Paris.  South of Lyon, the TGV runs along the 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 bound for Sète, Narbonne or Perpignan, 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.  Alternatively, you can take a late afternoon Eurostar to Paris, change trains & stations in Paris, then take a time-effective overnight Intercités de Nuit couchette train to Narbonne or Perpignan.  This takes no more time out of your day than flying!

 London ►Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan

 Eurostar (30 minute check-in)

Mondays to Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

 London St Pancras depart

06:50

10:58

14:04

16:22

06:57

10:58

12:58

16:22

10:14

14:04

17:04

16:22

 Lille (Europe) arrive

09:26

13:26

16:26

|

09:29

13:26

15:30

|

12:54

16:26

19:26

|

 Easy change at Lille  onto a high-speed TGV...

 Lille (Europe) depart

11:02

14:53

17:03

(see

11:02

14:53

17:03

(see

14:53

17:03

20:02

(see

 Nîmes arrive

15:32

19:31

21:29

note

15:32

19:31

21:29

note

19:31

21:29

00:55

note

 Montpellier arrive

15:59

20:00

21:56

A)

15:59

20:00

21:56

A)

20:00

21:56

01:33

A)

 Béziers arrive

16:49

|

  22:47 p

|

16:49

|

-

|

|

22:47

-

|

 Narbonne arrive

17:05

21:03

  23:04 p

06:15

17:05

21:03

-

06:15

21:03

23:04

-

06:15

 Perpignan arrive

17:41

  22:36 c

  23:40 p

07:13

17:41

22:14

-

07:13

  22:36 c

23:40

-

07:13

How to read these timetables  Each column is a service, and you read downwards.  There's a change of trains at each of the grey bars.

How to buy tickets     About changing trains in Lille    What is Eurostar like?     What are TGVs like?     What are Intercités de Nuit couchette trains like?

Note A:  By 16:22 Eurostar to Paris, arriving Paris Nord 19:47.  Cross Paris by métro.  Then take the overnight Intercités de Nuit couchette train leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:53 with 2nd class 6-berth & 1st class 4-berth couchettes for Narbonne and Perpignan.  Does not run on 24 or 31 December.

Note B:  By overnight Intercités de Nuit couchette train to Paris Gare d'Austerlitz, with 2nd class 6-berth and 1st class 4-berth couchettes, arriving 07:22.  Cross Paris by métro.  The Eurostar leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 09:13.  Does not run on 24 or 31 December.

c = Change trains at Montpellier.

f  = Lille Flandres station, not Lille Europe.  It's an easy 500m 6-minute walk between stations.

m = extended to start in Perpignan, Narbonne & Béziers on Mondays only.

n = change trains at Narbonne.

p = extended to Narbonne & Perpignan on Fridays & Sundays only.

Eurostar times may vary, so check times when you buy tickets.   There are many other journey possibilities changing trains and stations in Paris.

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com, as times vary on  certain dates.

 Perpignan, Montpellier, Nîmes ► London

 High-speed TGV...

Mondays-Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

 Perpignan depart

   05:18 m

   08:22 n

  10:51 c

13:18

22:20

05:18

   08:22 n

13:18

22:20

-

  07:21 n

  10:51 c

13:18

22:20

 Narbonne depart

   05:55 m

10:58

  11:27 c

13:55

23:16

05:55

10:58

13:55

23:16

-

08:27

  11:27 c

13:55

23:16

 Béziers depart

   06:11 m

|

  11:24 c

14:11

|

06:11

|

14:11

|

-

|

  11:24 c

14:11

|

 Montpellier depart

07:02

11:59

13:02

15:02

(see

07:02

11:59

15:02

(see

07:02

09:29

13:02

15:02

(see

 Nîmes depart

07:29

12:25

13:29

15:29

note

07:29

12:25

15:29

note

07:29

09:55

13:29

15:29

note

 Lille (Europe) arrive

12:01

  17:07 f

17:57

19:57

B)

12:01

  17:07 f

19:57

B)

12:01

14:30

17:57

19:57

B)

 Change at Lille onto Eurostar  (30 minute check-in)...

 Lille (Europe) depart

13:35

18:35

18:35

20:30

|

15:30

20:30

20:30

|

15:30

15:30

18:35

20:30

|

 London St Pancras arrive

14:03

19:03

19:03

21:03

10:39

16:03

21:06

21:03

10:39

16:03

16:03

19:06

21:03

10:39

 How much does it cost?

London to Nimes, Montpellier, Perpignan

from £68 one-way or £119 return...

Combined Eurostar+TGV fares start at £68 one-way or £119 return 2nd class, £135 one-way or £239 return 1st class from London to Nîmes, Montpellier, Narbonne or Perpignan by Eurostar+TGV.

Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.

Children under 4 free.  Children under 12  £53 one-way, £94 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £57 one-way, £99 return.  Senior fare (over 60) from £57 one-way, £99 return.

Like air fares, the adult, youth & senior fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early and shop around for the cheapest departure.  Not valid on overnight trains.  See the how to buy tickets section or go straight to www.raileurope.co.uk.

Separate Eurostar and TGV tickets...

It can sometimes be cheaper & more flexible to buy separate Eurostar and TGV tickets.  London to Paris or Lille by Eurostar starts at £69 return.  Cheap Prems fares from Lille or Paris to Montpellier or Perpignan by TGV start at just £19 each way.  How to buy tickets.

Fares for Eurostar + overnight couchette train...

1. London to Paris by Eurostar...

 From £39 one-way, £69 return 2nd class.

 From £107 one-way, £189 return 1st class.  Child, youth, senior fares 

2. Paris to Perpignan or Narbonne starts at £18 one-way, £36 return in a reclining seat, £33 one-way or £66 return in a 6-berth 2nd class couchette, or £57 one-way or £114 return in a 1st class 4-berth couchette.  Fares rise as cheaper tickets are sold.

How to buy tickets...

Click here for advice on how to buy tickets.  Remember it is often cheaper to split the booking into London-Paris and Paris-onwards.


London to Biarritz, Irun, Lourdes & Tarbes

There are two options:  You can travel by Eurostar to Paris, change trains and stations, then take either a daytime TGV or an overnight couchette train from Paris to Biarritz or Lourdes.  Or 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 and stations in Paris.  Times via Paris (which has the most frequent departures) are shown below.  You can check train times for either route at www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com.

 London ► Biarritz, Irun, Lourdes, Tarbes

 Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Mon-Fri

Daily

Daily

Fri, Sat

Daily

Fri

Mon, Fri, Sun *

Sun-Fri

Daily

 London St Pancras depart

05:40

 09:17 e

 09:17 e

12:25

12:25

13:31

17:31

20:01

20:01

 Paris Gare du Nord arrive

09:17

 12:47 e

 12:47 e

15:47

15:47

16:47

20:47

23:17

23:17

 Cross Paris by metro to the Gare Montparnasse & board a high-speed TGV...

sleeper

hotel

hotel

 Paris Gare Montparnasse depart

10:28

14:28

14:28

17:28

17:28

19:28

  21:54 a

07:28

08:28

 Dax

14:58

18:58

18:58

21:58

21:58

23:58

07:21

11:58

12:58

 Bayonne

15:35

19:35

|

22:36

|

00:35

08:12

12:35

|

 Biarritz

15:48

19:48

|

22:48

|

00:48

08:25

12:48

|

 St Jean de Luz

16:01

20:01

|

23:01

|

01:00

08:38

13:01

|

 Hendaye (frontier, French side)

16:11

20:11

|

23:11

|

01:11

08:50

13:11

|

 Irun (frontier, Spanish side)

-

20:21

|

 

|

  

09:01

13:21

|

 Pau

 

 

20:02

 

23:04 

  

06:22

 

14:02

 Lourdes

 

 

20:37

 

23:31 

 

05:55

 

14:36

 Tarbes

 

 

20:54

 

23:45 

 

05:37

 

14:51

 Tarbes, Lourdes, Hendaye, Biarritz ► London

 High-speed TGV

Mon-Sat

Mon-Fri

Sat, Sun

Daily

Mon-Sat

Daily

Daily

Daily

Mon, Fri, Sun *

 Tarbes

06:07

 

 

10:10

 

 

15:58

 

22:44

 Lourdes

06:24

 

 

10:30

 

  

16:22

 

22:26

 Pau

06:53

 

 

10:57

  

  

16:51

 

21:59

 Hendaye (frontier)

|

06:45

07:40

|

09:45

12:45

|

17:45

19:08

 St Jean de Luz

|

06:59

07:54

|

10:00

12:59

|

18:00

19:23

 Biarritz

|

07:14

08:08

|

10:15

13:14

|

18:14

19:38

 Bayonne

|

07:26

08:20

|

10:28

13:26

|

18:27

19:52

 Dax

08:00

08:00

08:52

12:00

11:00

14:00

18:00

19:00

20:58

 Paris Gare Montparnasse arrive

12:35

12:35

13:40

16:33

15:33

18:33

22:33

23:33

  07:18 a

 Cross Paris by metro to the Gare du Nord for Eurostar (30 min check-in)

hotel

hotel

sleeper

 Paris Gare du Nord depart

15:13e

15:13

14:13

18:13e

17:13

20:13

07:13

07:13

09:13

 London St Pancras

16:39e

16:39

15:30

19:39e

18:30

21:39

08:30

08:30

10:39

How to read these timetables...  Each column is a service you can take.  You read downwards, changing trains where you come to the grey bar.

How to buy tickets    What is Eurostar like?    What are TGVs like?   What are Intercités de Nuit couchette trains like?

*  By Intercités de Nuit couchette train with 1st class 4-berth and 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, and reclining seats.  Not 24, 31 December.  It runs daily at certain times of year.  It now runs via Toulouse.

a = the sleeper train arrives/departs Paris Gare d'Austerlitz, not Paris Gare Montparnasse.

d = change trains at Dax. 

e = the exact time of the Eurostar connection varies by day of the week, so check when booking.

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com, as times vary on certain dates.

 How much does it cost?

London to Lourdes, Biarritz, Tarbes

from £68 one-way or £119 return...

Combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Lourdes, Biarritz, Hendaye or Irun start at £68 one-way or £119 return 2nd class, £135 one-way or £239 return 1st class.

Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.

Children under 4 free.  Children under 12  £54 one-way, £95 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £65 one-way, £109 return.  Senior fare (over 60) from £65 one-way, £109 return.

Like air fares, adult, youth & senior fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early and shop around for the cheapest departure.  Not valid on overnight trains.  How to buy tickets.

Separate Eurostar and TGV tickets...

It can sometimes be cheaper and more flexible to buy separate Eurostar and TGV tickets.  Eurostar fares start at £39 one-way or £69 return from London to Paris or Lille.  Ultra-cheap Prems fares from Lille or Paris to Biarritz or Lourdes by TGV start at an amazing £19 each way.  How to buy tickets.

Fares for Eurostar + overnight couchette train...

1. London to Paris by Eurostar...

 From £39 one-way, £69 return 2nd class.

 From £107 one-way, £189 return 1st class.  Child, youth, senior fares 

2. Paris to Lourdes, Biarritz, Hendaye or Irun starts at £18 one-way, £36 return in a reclining seat, £33 one-way or £66 return in a 6-berth 2nd class couchette, or £57 one-way or £114 return in a 1st class 4-berth couchette.  Fares rise as cheaper tickets are sold.

How to buy tickets...

Click here for advice on how to buy tickets.  Remember it is often cheaper to split the booking into London-Paris and Paris-onwards.

On board the TGV...

Refurbished TGV interior by Christian Lacroix, second class   First class car on TGV-Atlantique

TGV 2nd class (left) & 1st class (right).  The interior is designed by Christian Lacroix, with power sockets at all seats.  On the TGV Atlantique route from Paris to Brittany, Bordeaux, Biarritz, Lourdes, Tarbes & the Spanish border, one 1st class car has a conventional open plan layout, the other two have a unique layout with bays of two seats facing across a table one side of the aisle, and semi-compartments of 4 seats around a table on the other, as pictured above.  Very civilised! 1st class photo courtesy of Rafal Tomasik.


London to Lyon

London to Lyon by train from £61 one-way or £109 return...

The easiest and most painless way to travel from London to Lyon is to take Eurostar to Lille and make a simple same-station interchange in Lille onto a direct TGV to Lyon, with no need to change trains and stations in Paris.  Relax over a glass or two as you swish past the French countryside, the green hills just north of Lyon are especially pretty.  It's almost as fast as flying, but far more enjoyable with no airport security queues in sight.  Services with one easy change at Lille are shown in the timetables below.

Alternatively, you can take Eurostar all the way to Paris, change trains and stations in Paris, and take a TGV from Paris to Lyon.  Although not as simple as the route via Lille, going via Paris offers an almost hourly departure from London, and cheap fares seem more plentiful this way.  You can also (of course) stop off in Paris.  Train times via Paris are not shown below, but there are hourly Eurostars from London to Paris Gare du Nord (journey 2 hours 40 minutes) and hourly TGVs from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon (journey 2 hours).  Almost all Paris-Lyon TGVs and a few Lille-Lyon services are now impressive double-deck TGV Duplex.  If you want to go via Paris, just check times using either www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com.

 London ► Lyon

 Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Mondays to Fridays

Saturdays

 London St Pancras depart

06:50

08:58

10:58

12:58

14:04

15:04

17:04

06:57

08:58

10:58

12:58

16:04

 Lille (Europe) arrive

09:30

11:26

13:26

15:30

16:26

17:26

19:26

09:29

11:30

13:26

15:30

18:26

 Easy change at Lille onto a high-speed TGV...

 Lille (Europe) depart

11:02

13:03

14:53

  16:02

17:03

18:26

20:02

11:02

13:03

14:53

16:02

20:02

 Lyon (Part Dieu) arrive

14:00

16:00

18:00

  19:00   

20:00

21:30

23:24

14:00

16:00

18:00

19:00

23:24

 London ► Lyon  (Continued)

 Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Sundays

 London St Pancras depart

08:58

12:58

14:04

15:04

17:04

 Lille (Europe) arrive

11:30

15:30

16:26

17:26

19:26

 Easy change at Lille onto a high-speed TGV...

 Lille (Europe) depart

13:03

16:02

17:03

18:26

20:02

 Lyon (Part Dieu) arrive

16:00

19:00

20:00

21:30

23:24

 Lyon ► London

High-speed TGV

Mondays to Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

 Lyon (Part Dieu) depart

05:50

09:00

11:00

15:00

17:00

05:50

11:00

17:00

05:50

09:00

11:00

15:00

17:00

 Lille (Europe) arrive

08:57

11:57

13:57

17:57

19:57

08:57

13:57

19:57

08:57

11:57

13:57

17:57

19:57

 Easy change at Lille onto Eurostar (30 minute check-in)

 Lille (Europe) depart

09:30

13:35

16:35

18:35

20:30

09:30

15:30

20:30

09:30

13:35

15:30

18:35

20:30

 London St Pancras arrive

09:57

14:03

17:03

19:03

21:03

09:57

16:03

21:06

09:57

14:03

16:03

19:06

21:03

How to read these timetables   Each column is a service, and you read downwards.  There's a change of trains at each of the grey bars.

How to buy tickets    About changing trains in Lille    What is Eurostar like?    What are TGVs like?

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com, as times vary on  certain dates.

 How much does it cost?

London to Lyon by train

from £61 one-way or £109 return...

Combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Lyon start at £61 one-way or £109 return 2nd class, £129 one-way or £229 return 1st class.

Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.

Children under 4 free.  Children under 12  £48 one-way, £85 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) from £59 one-way, £99 return.  Senior fare (over 60) from £59 one-way, £99 return.

Like air fares, the adult, youth & senior fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early and shop around for the cheapest departure.  How to buy tickets.

Separate Eurostar and TGV tickets...

It can sometimes be cheaper and more flexible to buy separate Eurostar and TGV tickets.  London to Paris or Lille by Eurostar starts at £35 one-way, £69 return.  Cheap Prems fares from Lille or Paris to Lyon by TGV start at just £19 each way.  How to buy tickets.

How to buy tickets...

Click here for advice on how to buy tickets

Remember it is often cheaper to split the journey, first booking from London to Lille or Paris & back, then booking from Paris or Lille to Lyon & back.  Why is this?

Refurbished TGV interior by Christian Lacroix, first class   Refurbished TGV interior by Christian Lacroix, second class

TGV 1st class, refurbished.  Panorama photo...

 

TGV 2nd class, refurbished.  Panorama photo.


London to Bordeaux

London to Bordeaux by train from £61 one-way or £109 return...

The easiest and most painless way to travel from London to Bordeaux is to take Eurostar to Lille and make a simple same-station interchange in Lille onto a direct TGV to Bordeaux, with no need to change trains and stations in Paris.  Relax over a glass or two 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, as shown below.  Via Paris, there are hourly Eurostars to Paris Gare du Nord (in 2 hours 20 minutes) and hourly TGVs from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Bordeaux (3 hours) - the train times via Paris aren't shown here, but you can easily check them using the online timetable at www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com.

 London ► Bordeaux

 Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Mondays to Fridays

 Saturdays

Sundays

 London St Pancras depart

08:58

10:58

14:04

08:58

10:58

12:58

08:58

10:14

14:04

 Lille (Europe) arrive

11:26

13:26

16:26

11:30

13:26

15:30

11:30

12:54

16:26

 Easy change at Lille onto a high-speed TGV...

 Lille (Europe) depart

  13:08 f

  14:44 f

  17:08 f

  13:08 f

  14:44 f

17:08

  13:08 f

  14:44 f

  17:08 f

 St Pierre des Corps (Tours)

15:59

17:59

19:59

15:59

17:59

19:59

15:59

17:59

19:59

 Poitiers arrive

16:41

18:41

20:41

16:41

18:41

20:40

16:41

18:41

20:41

 Angoulême arrive

17:33

19:33

21:33

17:33

19:33

21:29

17:33

19:33

21:33

 Bordeaux St Jean arrive

18:37

20:37

22:37

18:37

20:37

22:47

18:37

20:37

22:37

How to read these timetables   Each column is a service, and you read downwards.  There's a change of trains at each of the grey bars.

f = Arrives/departs Lille Flandres station, an easy 500m 6-minute walk from Lille Europe Eurostar/TGV station.

How to buy tickets    About changing trains in Lille    What is Eurostar like?    What are TGVs like?

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.raileurope.co.uk (UK residents) or www.tgv-europe.com (anyone), as times vary on  certain dates.

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.co.uk.

 Bordeaux ►London

 High-speed TGV

Mondays to Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

 Bordeaux St Jean depart

07:23

11:23

09:23

11:23

09:23

11:23

 Angoulême depart

08:21

12:21

10:21

12:21

10:21

12:21

 Poitiers depart

09:12

13:12

11:12

13:12

11:12

13:12

 St Pierre des Corps (Tours)

10:01

14:01

12:01

14:01

12:01

14:01

 Lille (Europe) arrive

  12:57 f

16:39

14:37

16:39

14:37

16:39

 Easy change at Lille onto Eurostar (30 minute check-in)

 Lille (Europe) depart

16:35

17:35

15:30

17:35

15:30

18:35

 London St Pancras arrive

17:03

18:09

16:03

18:03

16:03

19:06

 Fares

London to Bordeaux by train

from £61 one-way or £109 return...

Combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Bordeaux start at £61 one-way or £109 return 2nd class, £129 one-way or £229 return 1st class.

Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.

Children under 4 go free.  Child aged 4 but under 12  £48 one-way, £85 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £59 one-way, £99 return.  Senior fare (over 60) from £59 one-way or £99 return.

Like air fares, the adult, youth & senior fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early and shop around for the cheapest departure.  See the How to buy tickets section or go straight to www.raileurope.co.uk.

Separate Eurostar and TGV tickets...

It can sometimes be cheaper and more flexible to buy separate Eurostar and TGV tickets.  Eurostar fares start at £39 one-way or £69 return from London to Paris or Lille.  Ultra-cheap Prems fares from Lille or Paris to Bordeaux by TGV start at an amazing £19 each way.  See the How to buy tickets section.

How to buy tickets...

Click here for advice on how to buy tickets

Remember it is often cheaper to split the journey, first booking from London to Lille or Paris & back, then booking from Paris or Lille to Bordeaux & back.  Why is this?


London to Strasbourg

London to Strasbourg by train from £61 one-way or £109 return

There are two options:  You can travel by Eurostar to Paris, walk over to the nearby Gare de l'Est and take a high-speed TGV from Paris to Strasbourg (this is the fastest route with the most departures and probably the cheapest fares).  Or there are a couple of services a day with one same-station change at Lille, slightly slower but avoiding a 10 minute walk in Paris if you have very heavy luggage or mobility problems.  Train times for both routes are shown here.  You can check train times at www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com.

 London ► Strasbourg  (via Paris)

Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Mon-Fri

Sat

Mon-Fri

Mon-Fri

Sat

Sun

Daily

Daily

Mon-Fri, Sun

Sun

Mon-Fri

Mon-Fri, Sun

Fri, Sun

 London St Pancras depart

07:01

07:31

07:55

09:17

09:31

09:22

10:25

13:31

14:31

15:31

15:31

16:22

17:31

 Paris Gare du Nord arrive

10:17

10:47

11:17

12:47

12:47

12:47

13:47

16:47

17:47

18:47

18:47

19:47

20:47

 10 minutes walk to the Gare de l'Est then high-speed TGV...

 Paris Gare de l'Est depart

10:55

11:25

12:55

13:55

13:55

13:55

15:25

17:55

18:55

19:55

19:55

20:55

21:55

 Strasbourg arrive

13:14

13:42

15:14

16:18

16:18

16:18

17:42

20:14

21:14

22:14

22:14

23:15

00:14

 London ► Strasbourg  (via Lille)

 Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Mon-Fri

Saturdays

Sundays

 London St Pancras depart

06:50

14:04

06:50

12:58

14:04

 Lille (Europe) arrive

09:30

16:26

09:30

15:30

16:26

 Easy change at Lille onto a high-speed TGV...

 Lille (Europe) depart

11:26

17:26

11:26

17:26

17:26

 Strasbourg arrive

14:59

21:00

14:59

21:00

21:00

How to read these timetables   Each column is a service, and you read downwards.  There's a change of trains at each of the grey bars.

f = Arrives at Lille Flandres station, an easy 500m 6-minute walk from Lille Europe Eurostar/TGV station.

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com, as times vary on certain dates.

How to buy tickets    What is Eurostar like?    What are TGVs like?

 Strasbourg ► London  (via Paris)

 High-speed TGV...

Mon

Mon-Sat

Mon-Fri, Sun

Mon-Fri, Sun

Daily

Daily

Mon-Fri, Sun

Sat

Mon-Fri, Sun

Daily

Mon-Fri, Sun

 Strasbourg depart

05:41

06:46

07:16

08:46

10:16

11:42

14:46

14:46

15:46

16:46

17:46

 Paris Gare de l'Est arrive

08:05

09:05

09:35

11:05

12:35

14:05

17:05

17:05

18:05

19:05

20:05

 10 minutes walk to the Gare du Nord for Eurostar (30 min check-in)...

 Paris Gare du Nord depart

09:13

10:13

11:13

12:13

13:13

15:13

18:13

19:13

19:13

20:13

21:13

 London St Pancras arrive

10:39

11:39

12:30

13:30

14:39

16:39

19:39

20:39

20:41

21:39

22:39

 

 Strasbourg ► London  (via Lille)

High-speed TGV

Monday-Friday

Saturdays

Sundays

 Strasbourg depart

06:01

09:01

06:01

09:01

06:01

09:01

 Lille (Europe) arrive

09:32

 13:06 f

09:32

 13:06 f

09:32

 13:06 f

 Easy change at Lille onto Eurostar (30 minute check-in)

 Lille (Europe) depart

11:35

16:35

11:35

15:30

12:34

15:30

 London St Pancras arrive

11:57

17:03

11:57

16:03

12:57

16:03

On board a TGV to Strasbourg...

 

New designer interiors...  The new TGV trains from Paris to Strasbourg, Nancy, Metz & Reims feature chic new interiors by designer Christian Lacroix.  Left:  1st class.  Right:  2nd class. 

Watch the video - inside a Christian Lacroix TGV

 How much does it cost?

London to Strasbourg by train

from £61 one-way or £109 return...

Combined Eurostar+TGV fares start at £56 one-way or £99 return 2nd class, £124 one-way or £219 return 1st class.

Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.

Children under 4 free.  Children under 12  £43 one-way, £75 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) from £54 one-way, £89 return.  Seniors (60+) from £54 one-way, £89 return.

Like air fares, the adult, youth & senior fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early and shop around for the cheapest departure.  How to buy tickets.

Separate Eurostar and TGV tickets...

It can sometimes be cheaper and more flexible to buy separate Eurostar and TGV tickets.  Eurostar fares start at £39 one-way or £69 return from London to Paris or Lille.  Ultra-cheap Prems fares from Lille or Paris to Strasbourg by TGV start at an amazing £19 each way.  How to buy tickets.

How to buy tickets...

Click here for advice on how to buy tickets

Remember it is often cheaper to split the journey, first booking from London to Lille or Paris & back, then booking from Paris or Lille to Lyon & back.  Why is this?


London to Limoges & Toulouse

Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV with one easy change at Lille...

This is the easiest option, as you make just one simple change of train at Lille.  There's no need to change trains and stations in Paris.

London ► Toulouse

Toulouse ► London

Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV or Téoz train, changing trains & stations in Paris...

This means changing trains and stations in Paris, but there is a wider choice of departures, and often more cheap fares available.  Trains from Paris Austerlitz via Limoges and Brive are conventional 125mph trains using the classic Paris-Toulouse route, most now composed of stylish and comfortable 'Téoz' carriages, see the photos below.  The trains from Paris Montparnasse to Toulouse are 186mph TGV trains, using the high speed line the long way round via Bordeaux.

 London ► Limoges, Brive, Toulouse

 Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Sat

Daily

Mon-Fri

Daily

Mon-Fri

Mon-Fri

Sun

Mon-Sat

Sat, Sun

Fri

Fri

Daily

Daily

Sat

Thur, Fri, Sun

Daily **

Daily

 London St Pancras

07:31

09:17e

10:25

10:25

12:25

12:25

13:01

12:25

12:25

14:31

13:31

13:31

14:31g

12:58

15:04

18:01

20:01

 Paris Gare du Nord arrive

10:47

12:47e

13:47

13:47

15:47

15:47

16:17

15:47

15:47

17:47

16:47

17:17

17:47g

|

|

21:17

23:17

 Cross Paris by metro from the Gare du Nord to the Gare d'Austerlitz or the Gare Montparnasse...

TGV*

TGV*

Sleeper

Hotel

 Paris Austerlitz depart

TGV

13:53

15:53

TGV

16:53

17:53

17:53

TGV

18:12

18:59

TGV

18:42

19:41

(via

(via

22:57

 07:55***

 Paris Montparnasse dep.

12:25

|

|

16:25

|

|

|

18:25

|

|

19:25

|

|

Lille*)

Lille*)

|

|

 Limoges

|

16:55

18:54

|

19:54

20:54

20:54

|

21:24

22:44

|

21:54

22:50

22:55

22:55

|

 10:56***

 Brive

|

17:55

19:59

|

-

22:01

22:01

|

22:28

23:49

|

-

23:53

23:57

23:57

|

 12:01***

 Cahors

|

19:11

-

|

-

23:11

23:11

|

23:41

01:02

|

-

-

-

-

05:23

 13:12***

 Toulouse

18:02

20:22

-

21:58

-

-

-

00:10

00:46

02:06

01:06

-

-

-

-

06:45

 14:22***

How to read these timetables  Each column is a service you can take.  You read downwards, changing trains where you come to the grey bar.

How to buy tickets    What is Eurostar like?    What are TGVs like?    What are French overnight trains like?

*  By Eurostar London-Lille & direct TGV between Lille, Limoges & Brive.  Northbound, arrives London 16:03 on Saturdays, not 14:03.  Saves crossing Paris, so a good option!

**  By Intercités de Nuit couchette train between Paris & Toulouse, with 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, 1st class 4-berth couchettes, reclining seats.  Southbound, you leave London 17:31 on Saturdays.

*** Runs two hours later on Sunday mornings.

e = Eurostar connection varies on certain dates or days of the week. 

g = Eurostar connection leaves London 14:01 on Saturdays.

Trains marked TGV are 186mph TGV trains.  Trains running via Limoges are 125mph Téoz trains, see photos below.

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com, as times may vary on  certain dates.

 Toulouse, Brive, Limoges ► London

 TGV or Téoz...

Mon-Fri

Sat, Sun

Mon-Fri

Tue-Sat

Mon, Fri,

Sat, Sun

Daily

Sat

Sun

Mon-Sat

Daily

Daily

Mon-Fri,

Sun

Daily

Daily

Daily **

 Toulouse

-

-

-

04:58

-

07:46

-

-

06:46

10:58

10:49

-

16:38

16:50

22:34

 Cahors

-

-

-

|

-

|

06:50

-

07:56

|

12:01

-

17:50

|

23:50

 Brive

04:53

05:00

-

|

07:00

|

08:00

08:00

09:00

|

13:14

15:00

19:03

|

|

 Limoges

05:59

06:04

07:06

|

08:06

|

09:06

09:06

10:06

|

14:17

16:06

20:06

|

|

 Paris Montparnasse arrive

|

|

|

10:33

(TGV

13:40

|

|

|

16:33

|

|

|

22:33

|

 Paris Austerlitz arrive

09:19

09:18

10:18

TGV

via Lille *)

TGV

12:07

12:07

13:18

TGV

17:18

19:07

23:18

TGV

06:51

 Cross Paris by metro to the Gare du Nord for Eurostar (30 minute check-in)

Hotel

Hotel

Sleeper

 Paris Gare du Nord depart

11:13

11:13

 13:13 e

 13:13 e

|

15:13

14:13

14:13

15:13

18:13e

19:13

21:13

07:13e

07:13e

09:13

 London St Pancras

12:30

12:30

 14:39 e

 14:39 e

14:03

16:39

15:30

15:30

16:39

19:39e

20:41

22:34

08:30e

08:30e

10:39

On board a Téoz from Paris to Limoges, Brive & Toulouse...

SNCF Teoz train... 1st class 'Teoz' coach   2nd class 'Teoz' coach

Téoz:  Although merely 125mph trains, not TGVs, most Paris-Limoges-Brive-Toulouse trains now use stylish air-conditioned Téoz coaches like this, with a unique interior design.  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 bar or refreshment trolley service.  Above centre:  1st class.  Above right: 2nd class.  Watch the videoSeating plan.

 How much does it cost?...

London to Toulouse by train

from £68 one-way or £119 return...

London to Toulouse by Eurostar+TGV or Téoz starts at £68 one-way or £119 return 2nd class, £139 one-way or £239 return 1st class.

Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.

Child under 4 free.  Children under 12 from £54 one-way, £95 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) from £65 one-way, £109 return, seniors (60+) from £65 one-way, £109 return.

Like air fares, adult, youth & senior fares increase as cheaper seats are sold, so book early and shop around for the cheapest departure. Not valid on overnight trains.  How to buy tickets.

London to Limoges by train

from £56 one-way or £99 return...

London to Limoges starts at £56 one-way, £99 return 2nd class, £124 one-way, £219 return 1st class. Children under 4 free. Children under 12 £43 one-way, £75 return.  Youths (aged 12-25) from £54 one-way, £89 return. Seniors (over 60) from £54 one-way, £89 return.

Separate Eurostar and French train tickets...

It can be cheaper and more flexible to buy separate Eurostar and French train tickets.  London to Paris or Lille by Eurostar from £39 one-way, £69 return.  Cheap Prems fares from Lille or Paris to Limoges or Toulouse from just £19 each way.  How to buy tickets.

How to buy tickets...

Click here for advice on how to buy tickets

Remember it is often cheaper to split the journey, first booking from London to Paris & back, then booking from Paris to Limoges, Brive or Toulouse & back.  Why is this?


London to Le Mans, Nantes, Rennes

The best way to reach Brittany is by taking a Eurostar to Lille and making one easy change of train in Lille onto a direct TGV to Brittany.  This avoids the need to change trains and stations in Paris.  There are a couple of good services daily, and these are shown below.  There are other services available too - use www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com to find them if you don't see a service that suits you in the timetable below.

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 are a wider choice of departures and sometimes cheaper fares.  The 'via Paris' option is not shown here, but you can easily check times via Paris using the journey planner at www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com.

 London ► Nantes, Rennes & Brittany

 Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Mondays to Fridays

 London St Pancras depart

06:50

06:50

10:58

10:58

15:04

15:04

17:04

 Lille Europe arrive

09:30

09:30

13:26

13:26

17:26

17:26

19:26

 Easy change at Lille onto a high-speed TGV...

 Lille Europe depart

  11:00 f

  11:00 f

13:52

13:52 *

17:52

17:52

   19:52 Fri

 Le Mans

14:28

14:28

16:27

16:27 *

20:28

20:28

   22:28 Fri

 Rennes

15:46

|

17:49

 |

21:58

|

|

 Angers

 

15:15

 

17:09 *

 

21:10

   23:11 Fri

 Nantes

 

15:53

 

17:52 *

 

21:49

   23:49 Fri

 London ► Nantes, Rennes & Brittany

 Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Saturdays

Sundays

 London St Pancras depart

06:57

06:57

10:58

12:58

12:58

10:14

10:14

15:04

15:04

 Lille Europe arrive

09:29

09:29

13:26

15:30

15:30

12:54

12:54

17:26

17:26

 Easy change at Lille onto a high-speed TGV...

 Lille Europe depart

  11:00 f

  11:00 f

13:52

17:52

17:52

13:52

13:52

17:52

17:52

 Le Mans

14:28

14:28

16:27

20:28

20:28

16:27

16:27

20:28

20:28

 Rennes

15:46

|

17:49

21:58

|

17:49

 |

21:58

|

 Angers

 

15:15

 

 

21:10

 

17:09

 

21:10

 Nantes

 

15:53

 

 

21:49

 

17:52

 

21:49

How to read these timetables...  Each column is a service you can take.  You read downwards, changing trains where you come to the grey bar.

What is Eurostar like?    What are TGVs like?    About changing trains at Lille

* = runs Monday-Thursday. Does not run on Fridays.

Fri = Runs on Fridays only.

f = departs from Lille Flandres station, an easy 500m 6-minute walk from Lille Europe Eurostar/TGV station.

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com, as times may vary on  certain dates.

 Nantes, Rennes & Brittany ► London

 High-speed TGV...

Mondays to Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

 Nantes

 

05:57

 

10:05

 

05:57

 

10:05

 

10:05

 

 Angers

 

06:38

 

10:43

 

06:38

 

10:43

 

10:43

 

 Rennes

06:07

 |

10:04

|

06:07

 |

10:04

|

10:04

|

11:14

 Le Mans

07:33

07:33

11:33

11:33

07:33

07:33

11:33

11:33

11:33

11:33

12:32

 Lille Europe arrive

10:16

10:16

14:06

14:06

10:16

10:16

14:06

14:06

14:06

14:06

15:07

 Easy change at Lille onto Eurostar (30 minute check-in)

 Lille Europe depart

11:35

11:35

16:35

16:35

11:35

11:35

15:30

15:30

15:30

15:30

16:35

 London St Pancras arrive

11:57

11:57

17:03

17:03

11:57

11:57

16:03

16:03

16:03

16:03

16:57

 How much does it cost?

London to Nantes or Rennes by train

from £61 one-way or £109 return...

Combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Nantes, Angers or Rennes start at £61 one-way or £109 return 2nd class, £129 one-way or £229 return 1st class.

Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.

Children under 4 free.  Children under 12 £48 one-way, £85 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £59 one-way, £99 return.  Seniors (over 60) from £59 one-way, £99 return.

Like air fares, the adult, youth & senior fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early and shop around for the cheapest departure.  How to buy tickets.

Separate Eurostar and TGV tickets...

It can be cheaper and more flexible to buy separate Eurostar and TGV tickets.  London to Paris or Lille by Eurostar starts at £39 one-way, £69 return.  Cheap Prems fares from Lille or Paris to Rennes or Nantes by TGV start at just £19 each way.  How to buy tickets.

How to buy tickets...

Click here for advice on how to buy tickets

Remember it is often cheaper to split the journey, first booking from London to Paris or Lille & back, then booking from Paris or Lille to Nantes, Rennes, etc. & back.  Why is this?


London to Normandy

  Brittany Ferries 'Bretagne' about to sail from Portsmouth to France...

A great way to go:  Brittany Ferries' excellent ship, the Bretagne waiting to sail overnight from Portsmouth to France...

There are two ways to reach Normandy, for example St Malo, Caen, St Lo, Arramanches, Cherbourg, or Le Havre.  You can travel by Eurostar and connecting trains via Paris, or you cross the Channel by ferry with Brittany Ferries or new operator LD Lines.  Caen makes a good base for visiting the D-Day beaches, although you can't get to the beaches by train, you'll need to use buses or a hire car.

By Eurostar...

Travelling by Eurostar and connecting trains will take about 6-7 hours and involves a change of trains and stations in Paris.  Fares start at £99 return 2nd class (£109 return to Cherbourg), £219 return 1st class (£229 to Cherbourg), booked in advance. Check fares and book online at www.raileurope.co.uk (see the advice above) or call them on 0844 848 5 848.

By ferry...

To go by ferry, you take a train from London (Waterloo) or your local station to Poole, Southampton or Portsmouth, then a taxi from the station to the port, then you cross the English Channel by ferry to Normandy.  First, check out the ferry routes, times and prices, using the Seat61 Ferry Shop or the operators' own websites, for example www.brittany-ferries.co.uk or www.ldlines.co.uk.  Routes include Portsmouth-St Malo, Portsmouth-Caen (Ouistreham), Portsmouth-Le Havre & Poole-Cherbourg.  Many of the ferries run overnight with comfortable cabins, allowing you to spend a full day at work on one day, sail overnight and arrive in Normandy for breakfast next morning.  Then check UK train times and fares from your local station to Portsmouth, Southampton 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.  If taking a ferry from Portsmouth Continental Ferry Port, remember the station you want is Portsmouth & Southsea, not Portsmouth Harbour, taking a taxi to the ferry terminal.

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!).  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.comFeedback would be very welcome...


London to Calais, Lille & Northern France...

London ► Calais & Lille by Eurostar...

Regular Eurostars link London with Lille (Lille Europe station, an easy 500m walk from Lille city centre) and a few Eurostars call at Calais Fréthun, a couple of miles outside the town of Calais itself.  Go to www.eurostar.com to check times, fares and to book online.  The other way to reach Calais is by train and ferry via Dover, see the London to Paris by train and ferry page.

London ► Boulogne, Etaples, Le Touquet, Amiens & Northern France...

The easiest way to reach any of these places is to take Eurostar from London to either Calais Fréthun (though only a few Eurostars call here) or Lille (served by regular Eurostars throughout the day), and change there onto a French regional train.  The good news is that the online system at www.raileurope.co.uk (in English for UK users, tickets sent to any UK address) or www.tgv-europe.com (in several languages, tickets sent to any European address) can book both the Eurostar and the regional French train.  The not-so-good news is that neither of these websites is very good at identifying journey opportunities.  So the best way to check train times and buy tickets is this:

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

 

French Alps ski resort connections...

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

Dark blue line = stations served by Eurostar ski train & Rail Europe Snow Train

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

There are three ways to reach the French Alps by train, getting your holiday off to a good start stress-free:

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

A direct Eurostar runs from London to the French Alps every Saturday from late December to April.  It leaves London & Ashford 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 and most civilised 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.  There's also an overnight Eurostar on Friday nights, although without any sleeping berths!  See the Ski by Train page for details.

Take the Eurostar Ski train to the ski resorts this winter!

2. Eurostar & Lyria ski train every winter Saturday from London to Chamonix-Mont Blanc, click here for details...

There's a new Eurostar & Lyria ski train linking London with Swiss ski resorts every winter Saturday which also has a connection at Martigny for Chamonix, see the ski by train page for details.

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

Alternatively, you can take regular, scheduled trains running daily, year-round to destinations all over the French Alps.  You can travel by day, taking Eurostar to Paris, crossing Paris by Metro, then a high-speed TGV to the Alps, or overnight, taking Eurostar to Paris, crossing Paris by Metro, then taking an overnight train with couchettes.  Here are the 2012-2013 times:

 London ► French Alps

 Eurostar (30 min check-in)

Saturdays

15 Dec to

30 March

Daily

all year

Fridays

 14 Dec to

26 April

Fridays

 14 Dec to

26 April

Daily

all year

Fridays

 14 Dec to

29 March

See Note A

Fri, Sat, Sun

(daily at times)

See Note A

Fri, Sat, Sun

(daily at times)

 London St Pancras depart

07:31

10:25e

10:25

10:25

10:24

12:25

18:01

18:01

 Paris Gare du Nord  arrive

10:47

13:47e

13:47

13:47

13:47

15:47

21:17

21:17

 Cross Paris by metro to the Gare de Lyon for high-speed TGV...

sleeper

sleeper

 Paris Gare de Lyon depart

12:17

15:11

15:49

16:15

14:41

18:15

 23:12 *

  23:12 *

 Chambéry

|

|

|

|

17:43

|

|

|

 Albertville

15:51

|

20:04

|

 19:14 g

21:57

|

06:05

 Moutiers-Salins

16:39

|

20:36

|

 19:49 g

22:38

|

07:14

 Aime la Plagne

17:00

|

20:51

|

 20:04 g

22:53

|

07:31

 Bourg st Maurice (for Les Arcs)

17:20

|

21:07

|

 20:20 g

23:09

|

07:49

 Annecy

 

|

 

|

 

 

06:59

 

 St Gervais

  

  19:55 b

  

21:36

 

  

08:45

 

 Chamonix

  

  20:50 c

  

-

 

 

   09:50 d

 

 French Alps ► London

 High-speed TGV...

Daily

Sat, Sun

9 Dec to

28 April

Sat, Sun

all year

Sat, Sun

9 Dec to

31 March

Daily except Sats all year

Mon-Fri

all year

Sundays

9 Dec to

31 March

See note B

Saturday,

Sunday

See note C

Fridays

(Mon-Fri at times)

See note B

Saturday,

Sunday

See note C

Fridays

(Mon-Fri at times)

 Chamonix

07:14 c

 

   13:14 c

 

 

   13:14 c

 

   18:14 d

  19:14 d

 St Gervais

08:03 b

 

   12:03 b

 

 

   14:03 b

 

19:13

20:26

 Annecy

|

 

|

 

 

|

 

21:02

22:00

 Bourg st Maurice (for Les Arcs)

|

09:13

|

10:06

12:41g

|

14:09

|

|

20:05

21:08

 Aime la Plagne

|

09:32

|

10:26

12:57g

|

14:33

|

|

20:27

21:29

 Moutiers-Salins

|

09:49

|

10:50

13:12g

|

14:52

|

|

20:48

21:45

 Albertville

|

10:23

|

11:35

13:47g

|

15:24

|

|

21:35

22:25

 Chambéry

|

|

|

|

16:25

|

|

|

|

22:15

23:10

 Paris Gare de Lyon arrive

12:49

14:03

16:49

15:20

19:15

19:49

19:19

  06:31 *

  06:18 *

  06:31 *

  06:18 *

 Cross Paris by metro to the Gare du Nord for Eurostar (30 min check-in)   

 Paris Gare du Nord depart

15:13

16:13

19:13

19:13

21:13

21:13

21:13

08:43

08:43

08:43

08:43

 London St Pancras arrive

16:39

17:39

20:39

20:39

22:39

22:39

22:39

10:00

10:00

10:00

10:00

How to read these timetables  Each column is a service you can take.  You read downwards, changing trains where you come to the grey bar.

Important:  Trains to the Alps vary enormously by date & time of year, in fact I'd call SNCF's timetable on these routes a shambles, so use these times as a rough guide, and check for your own date of travel using www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com.

* = The Intercités de Nuit couchette trains depart/arrive at Paris Gare d'Austerlitz, not Paris Gare de Lyon.

Note A:  By Intercités de Nuit couchette train between Paris & the Alps.  Runs on Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights all year round, runs every day in the winter ski season from 14 December 2012 to 23 March 2013 and in high summer from late June to late August.  Check www.raileurope.co.uk to see if it's running when you want to travel.  This train has 1st class 4-berth & 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats.  Couchettes are recommended, seats are not recommended.  The Eurostar connection leaves London at 17:31 on Saturdays, not 18:01.

Note B:  By Intercités de Nuit couchette train between the Alps & Paris.  Runs on Saturday & Sunday nights all year round.  This train has 1st class 4-berth & 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats.  Couchettes are recommended, seats are not recommended.

Note C:  By Intercités de Nuit couchette train between the Alps & Paris.  Runs on Friday nights all year round, and runs Mondays-Fridays in the winter skiing season from 14 December 2012 to 22 March 2013, and possibly in high summer from late June to late August.  Check www.raileurope.co.uk to see if it's running when you want to travel.  This train has 1st class 4-berth & 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats.  Couchettes are recommended, seats are not recommended.

b = change at Bellegarde.

c = change at Bellegarde & St Gervais.

d = change at St Gervais.

e = Eurostar leaves London at 09:31 on Saturdays.

g = change at Chambéry.

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

How to buy tickets online...

Click here for advice on how to buy tickets

How to buy tickets by phone...

Call Rail Europe on 0844 848 5 848 (lines open 09:00-19:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, no longer open on Sundays).  For more information about booking European train tickets, see the How to buy tickets page.


London to Corsica

UK to Corsica by train & ferry...

  Corsica Ferries' Mega Express II from Nice arrives in Ajaccio at sunset

Above:  Arriving in Ajaccio at sunset on Corsica Ferries Mega Express II from Nice...

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, SNCM (www.sncm.fr) & Corsica Ferries (www.corsicaferries.com), sail from Marseille, Toulon or Nice on the mainland to Bastia, Ajaccio and occasionally Calvi on Corsica.  There are also ferries from Italy (Savona & Livorno).  The crossing from Nice to Bastia takes 5 hours by ship or just 3 hours by fast ferry.  There are daily overnight ferries from Marseille 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 SNCM's overnight ferry from Marseille...

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

SNCM's superb cruise ferry Danielle Casanova at Bastia, about to sail for Marseille   A cabin on the SNCM cruise ferry Danielle Casanova   Corsica Ferries' Mega Express II at the quayside in Nice's old port

More cruise liner than ferry:  SNCM's Danielle Casanova at Bastia, about to sail overnight to Marseille.

 

A standard cabin on the Danielle Casanova...

 

Corsica Ferries Mega Express Two at the quayside in the old port of Nice, bound for Ajaccio.

Tailor-made 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.com (020 3327 0761) can tailor-make a holiday to Corsica by train and ferry for any length of time, leaving on any date you like, using a variety of train and ferry options.

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

A scenic narrow-gauge train service links Bastia, Ponte Leccia, Corte, Vizzavona & Ajaccio (four trains per day), with a branch from Ponte Leccia to Ile Rousee & 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 www.ter-sncf.com/corse//index.asp or 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.  Brand-new air-conditioned trains with panoramic windows are due in service at some point, linking Bastia & Ajaccio in under 3 hours at up to 100 km/h even on Corsica's narrow metre-gauge tracks.

Taking the train across Corsica, from Ajaccio to Bastia

Vizzavona:  An Ajaccio-Corte-Bastia train at Vizzavona...

  Train travel inCorsica - Viaduc du Vechju, between Vizzavona & Corte

The Viaduc du vechju, in central Corsica


Other destinations in France...

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

Mont St Michel...

Versailles...


Changing trains in Lille...

  Lille Europe station, served by TGV and Eurostar.

Lille Europe station is a modern station on the London-Paris TGV line on the edge of the city centre.  The other two platforms and the two non-stop tracks are out of sight underneath the the concourse to the right.  The main exit towards the city centre is in the background, it's a bridge across the tracks leading through the glass wall to the left.

  Conway's Irish Pub on Lille Europe station

Conway's Irish pub is the best place to wait in Lille Europe station, for a beer, coffee or meal.

  Lille Flandres station

Lille Flandres station, the original station 500m from Lille Europe in the city centre.

The easiest way to travel from London to major cities in the south of France is to change from Eurostar to a French high-speed TGV at Lille Europe station.  This is a simple same-station interchange that avoids the need to change trains and stations in Paris using the metro or taxi.  The TGVs from Lille by-pass Paris to the east on a high-speed avoiding line.

TGVs run direct from Lille to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice, Bordeaux, Nîmes, Montpellier, Narbonne, Perpignan, Le Mans, Rennes, Nantes, Strasbourg & Toulouse.  However, for destinations such as Reims, Clermont Ferrand, Versailles you'll have to change in Paris as there's nothing from Lille.

Lille Europe station...

Lille Europe is a modern glass-and-steel station with four platforms straddling the London-Paris/Brussels high-speed line.  When you arrive by Eurostar, go up the escalators (or use the lifts) to the main concourse above the tracks, and check the indicator boards to see which of the four platforms your onwards TGV train will leave from.  Allow at least 20 minutes to change trains on the outward journey, at least 40 minutes (which includes the 30 minute Eurostar check-in) on the return journey back to London.

Lille Europe has a coffee shop, small mini-market, newsagents and an Irish pub, a ticket office, staffed information point, car hire offices (Europcar, Hertz, Avis, Alamo), waiting room, bureau de change & (chargeable) WiFi access.  The Eurostar check-in is at the extreme north end of the concourse in Hall 4.  Lille Europe has no left luggage lockers, but there is a staffed left luggage office hidden away at the extreme south end of the concourse in Hall 1, charging €4 per item for 2 hours, €5.50 per item for up to 10 hours, €9.50 for up to 24 hours.  There is no ATM, although you'll find one if you walk into town. 

Conway's Irish Pub is the best place to wait between trains inside Lille Europe station, while you have a coffee or beer or quick meal.  Alternatively, there's a 'Quick' fast-food hamburger restaurant on the far side of the square opposite the station's main entrance in the EuraLille shopping centre, which has free WiFi and a children's soft play area.  If you have time, there are plenty of restaurants in the city centre 10 minutes walk away, and Lille's Moules Frites are as good as those in Brussels.

Visiting Lille city centre...

Lille is a very pleasant city, great for a short break.  The mayor insisted that the high speed line was built through central Lille, whilst mayors in other cities wanted to keep it out of town.  Lille's mayor was proved right, as over the last decade since the line was built it has transformed Lille's economy, from run-down mining town to vibrant city of northern France.  You can easily pop into the city centre if you have a long wait between trains, it's just 500m away.  Walk off the concourse via the main pedestrian exit, down the escalators to the 'arches' underneath the road bridge, and walk straight ahead of you.  Lille's restaurants do a great 'moules et frites', some say better than Brussels...

Lille Flandres station...

Lille's original station is a terminus called Lille Flandres, in the city centre an easy 500m walk from Lille Europe.  One or two TGVs to the south leave from Lille Flandres rather than Lille Europe.  Walk off the main concourse via the main pedestrian exit, down the short escalators to the 'arches' underneath the road bridge, and walk straight ahead of you along the main road into town until you come to Lille Flandres, in the city centre.  You can't miss it!

Incidentally, the station facade at Lille Flandres was originally the Gare du Nord station building in Paris, built in 1869-1892.  It was dismantled & moved to Lille at the end of the 19th century when a new bigger Gare du Nord was built.  The clock and top storey were added when the station was rebuilt at Lille.


Send your luggage in advance

Enjoy your journey without heavy luggage... 

Let www.carrymyluggage.com deliver your bags door to door.

If you'd like to enjoy your train journey free of heavy luggage, making it easy to get on and off trains with nothing more than a lightweight daypack or handbag, www.carrymyluggage.com will collect your luggage at your home address a few days before you leave, and will deliver it to addresses all over the EU, so it will be waiting at your hotel when you arrive.  It's not cheap, you can reckon on around £78 per case each way, but this is door to door, covering collection from your home in the UK or other EU country and delivery to an address in another EU country.  I've also arranged a 10% discount if you use the Promo code 'seat61' when booking your bags online.  www.carrymyluggage.com are a reliable company, they also work with companies such as Great Rail Journeys, Virgin Trains, First Great Western, Hull Trains, and South West Trains.


The Train Bleu restaurant, Paris Gare de Lyon...

If you've time for lunch or dinner in Paris...

...consider eating at the famous and remarkable 'Train Bleu' restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon, on the main concourse, website www.le-train-bleu.com.  Originally the Gare de Lyon's grand buffet, it opened in 1900 and decorated in a sumptuous art nouveau style which it retains to this day.  The two set menus cost around €56 or €68 including a half bottle of wine, the food is excellent and the surroundings are perhaps the most spectacular in which you will ever eat a meal.  Truly an experience in itself!  Just go to www.le-train-bleu.com & email them to book a table, though you'll often find a table free even if you just turn up.  The Man in Seat 61 says:  "This place is special, and beautifully, authentically, typically French.  I ordered a Rum Baba for dessert, expecting a feeble confection of the sort served in most British restaurants.  A bottle of exotic Martinique rum materialised on my table.  The waiter reappeared, carrying a generous sausage-shaped sponge roll.  Whipping out a long knife, he deftly slashed the Mark of Zorro into the sponge, and with a flamboyant gesture emptied half the bottle of Martinique rum over the top.  One deliciously dangerous Rum Baba later, I somehow still managed to stagger onto my train to Nice..."

...Or just a coffee or beer while waiting at the Gare de Lyon...

A well-worn leather armchair in the Train Bleu's tranquil bar section is far better than a draughty cafe table downstairs on the concourse - it's not the cheapest coffee in the world, and the vintage plumbing in the gents might be suspect, but the place makes up for that with bags of character!

Train Bleu restaurant, Paris Gare de Lyon   Inside the Train Bleu restaurant, Paris Gare de Lyon

The entrance to the Train Bleu restaurant, up the steps from the main train departure concourse at the Gare de Lyon.

 

A dining room at Versailles?  No, the Train Bleu restaurant for lunch before taking the train to the South of France... Beats a burger at Luton Airport any day...

The set menu starter at the Train Bleu restaurant, Paris Gare de Lyon   One of the set menu mains at the Train Bleu restaurant, Paris Gare de Lyon

Set menu, starter....

 

Set menu, main course...

...or at the Gare du Nord, try 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), just across the road from  the front of the Gare du Nord.  It's good quality French cuisine in classic Parisian brasserie surroundings, and so handy for Eurostar.  Main dishes cost around €18-€20.


Motorail to France

French Motorail train  

 

For Motorail car-carrying trains to the south of France, see the motorail page.

French Motorail from Calais no longer operates, but a French Railways 'Auto Train' car carrying service operates from Paris to major French cities including Nice and Narbonne.  There are also Motorail trains to the South of France from Düsseldorf in Germany, which is just a few hours drive from Dutch ports and 3 hours 45 mins drive from Calais or Dunkirk.  For details see the motorail page.

 


Short breaks to France by train

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:


Holidays & escorted tours to France by train

 

020 3327 0761 (UK)

1-800-408-3280 (USA)

1300 971 526 (Aus)

0800 002 034 (NZ)

 

01904 730 727

 

01904 527120

  French Travel Service - holidays by train to France
 

0844 84 888 43

Please quote 'seat61'

Several good companies organise holidays & tours to France by Eurostar & high-speed TGV, with regular departures, no airport hassles and no whole days spent in cramped coach seats on motorways.  Treyn Holidays & Great Rail Journeys offer escorted tours where you travel as a group with a tour manager and all the legwork done for you.  The French Travel Service offers affordable train+hotel holidays to destinations all over France.  Railbookers can tailor-make a holiday to key French cities to meet your own requirements, with departure on any date you like.

Railbookers for tailor-made tours, holidays & breaks to France by train....

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!  See the Railbookers France page for suggested destinations, itineraries & prices.

  UK call 020 3327 0761, www.railbookers.com

Call toll-free 1-800-408-3280 or www.us.railbookers.com.

Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au

  New Zealand call toll-free 0800 002 034 or see website.

French Travel Service (FTS), www.f-t-s.co.uk, 0844 84 888 43. Please quote 'Seat61.com' when you call...

A well-known firm established over 45 years ago and originally part of French Railways, the French Travel Service is now a family business offering affordable train+hotel holidays all over France (even Corsica!) with travel by train instead of plane.

Great Rail Journeys, www.greatrail.com, 01904 527 120...

GRJ offers five-star escorted tours to France by train, with 1st class train travel and 5* or 4* hotels.  Tours include an 8-day tour to Nice & the Cote d'Azur, the Pyrenees or Lake Annecy & Mont Blanc, all with overland travel from London by train.  Great Rail Journeys also offer holidays by train to other European countries.  Check the tour details & prices online, then call 01904 527120 to book or use their online booking form.

Treyn Holidays, www.railholidays.com, 01904 730 727...

Treyn Holidays offers escorted tours to France by train, with 3* or 2* hotels and travel by Eurostar & TGV.  For example, they offer a 6-day tour to Annecy & Chamonix in the French Alps, or a 7-day holiday from London to Nice & the French Riviera.  Check prices at www.railholidays.com, then book online or call 01904 730 727.


Car hire

Take the train to France, then hire a car:  www.holidayautos.co.uk

City centres and cars don't mix well, so stick with the train for city-based tours.  But if you want to get out of the cities and into the countryside, hiring a car can be a great idea.  Start by trying Holiday Autos, www.holidayautos.co.uk, they're part of Lastminute.com so are reliable and have a wide range of locations and very good prices.

Compare 50 different car hire companies:  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.


The Thomas Cook European Timetable

Thomas Cook European Timetable -  click to buy onlineThomas Cook Rail Map of Europe - buy onlineThe Thomas Cook European timetable has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  Published since 1873, it costs £14.99.  It's essential for any serious traveller and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Still not convinced you need one?  More information on what the Thomas Cook Timetable contains.  You can buy the latest monthly edition online at www.thomascookpublishing.com with worldwide delivery or buy it in person from selected UK branches of Thomas Cook (ask at the bureau de change), or from W H Smiths in Victoria station in London.  Or buy the twice-yearly independent traveller's edition with laminated cover from Amazon.co.uk:  Winter/Spring 2012/13 edition (Dec 2012 to June 2013) or (when available) Summer/Autumn 2013 edition (June to Dec 2013)

The Thomas Cook Rail Map of Europe is the best and most comprehensive map of train routes right across Europe, from Portugal in the west to Istanbul, Moscow & Ukraine in the east, from Finland in the north to Sicily & Crete in the south.  High speed & scenic routes are highlighted.  Highly recommended!  Buy online at www.amazon.co.uk (worldwide delivery).  See an extract from the map.


Recommended guidebooks

Paying for a guidebook may seem an unnecessary expense, but it's a tiny fraction of what you're spending on your whole trip.  You will see so much more, and know so much more about what you're looking at, if you have a decent guidebook.  I recommend the Lonely Planet or Rough Guides as the best ones out there for independent travellers.  Click the images to buy the books - if you buy anything at Amazon through these links, Seat61.com gets a small commission (at no extra cost to you) to help support the site.  My own book, an essential handbook for train travel to Europe based on this website called "The Man in Seat 61", was first published in June 2008 and revised April 2010, and is available from Amazon with shipping worldwide.

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.

    Lonely Planet Paris - click to buy onlineLonely Planet France - click to buy onlineLonely Planet Western Europe - click to buy onlineLonely Planet Europe on a shoestring - click to buy onlineThe Man in Seat 61 book - click to buy online

 

 

 

 

 


Find hotels in France...

 

◄◄◄◄ Search all the main hotel booking sites at once...

Finding the right hotel just got a whole lot easier - HotelsCombined.com

I'm a big fan of www.hotelscombined.com as it checks all the main hotel booking sites (Opodo, Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com, AsiaRooms, LateRooms etc.) to find the widest choice of hotels & the cheapest rates.  Try it and see!

Hotels near the Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est, Gare de Lyon & other Paris stations:

If you need to stay over between trains, here are some suggestions that are both very close and get good reviews:

Special hotels for that romantic break in Paris...

There's the famous & flashy Paris Ritz in the Place Vendôme of course (over €500 a night) or the similarly-priced Le Meurice, but if you want a really special hotel for a luxury break or romantic weekend and can afford to splurge around €290 a night, I'd recommend the small, sumptuous and intimate L'Hotel.  It's on the bohemian left bank, walking distance from the Seine, the Ile de la Cité & Notre Dame.  Oscar Wilde spent the last days of his life here in room 16, and the hotel has been used by many famous people from Sinatra to Mick Jagger.  Rooms are on the cosy side, but they are beautifully decorated and have character that other hotels lack.

Other hotel sites worth trying...

Backpacker hostels...

www.hostelbookers.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelbookers 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 & health card...

Get travel insurance, it's essential...

  Columbus direct travel insurance

Never travel without insurance from a reliable travel insurer with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover loss of cash (up to a limit) & belongings, and cancellation. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year (I have an annual policy myself).  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, though, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, Seat61 gets a little commission if you buy through these links, and feedback from using insurance for rail & ferry travel is always welcome.

In the UK, use www.confused.com to compare prices & policy features across major insurance companies.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65 (no age limit), see www.JustTravelCover.com.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct's other websites.

   If you live in the USA or Canada, try Travel Guard USA.

Get an EU health card, it's free...

If you're a UK citizen travelling in Europe, you should apply for a free European Health Insurance Card, which entitles you to free or reduced rate health care if you become ill or get injured in many European countries, under a reciprocal arrangement with the NHS.  This replaced the old E111 forms as from January 2006.  The EHIC card is available from www.ehic.org.uk.  It doesn't remove the need for travel insurance, though.

Get a spare credit card, designed for foreign travel with no currency exchange loading & low/no ATM fees

Taking out an extra credit card costs nothing, but if you keep it in a different part of your luggage you won't be left stranded if your wallet gets stolen.  In addition, some credit cards are better for overseas travel than others.  Martin Lewis's www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency exchange commission loadings when you buy something overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use an ATM abroad.

You can avoid ATM charges and expensive exchange rates with a Caxton FX euro currency Visa Card, or their multi-currency 'Global Traveller' Visa Card, see www.caxtonfx.com for info.

Get an international SIM card to save on mobile data and phone calls...

Mobile phones can cost a fortune to use abroad, and if you're not careful you can return home to find a huge bill.  Consider buying a global pre-paid SIM card for your mobile phone from www.Go-Sim.com, which can slash costs by up to 85%.  Go-Sim cuts call costs in 175 countries worldwide, and you can receive incoming calls and texts for free in 75 countries.  It's pay-as-you-go, so no nasty bills when you get home.  It also allows cheap data access for laptops & PDAs.  A Go-Sim account and any credit on it doesn't expire if it's not used between trips, unlike some others, so a Go-Sim phone number becomes your 'global phone number' for life.

 


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