Rail travel to 

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How to travel by train from

London to France . . .

How to travel by Eurostar & TGV high-speed train from the UK to Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Perpignan, and other destinations in France ...

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 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.voyages-sncf.com (for residents of any country, but see this advice on using it).  To check for disruption affecting trains in France (in French), click here or see www.infolignes.com.  Eurostar trains from London to Paris: www.eurostar.comCorsican Railways Nice-Digne railway.

 

 

Buy French train tickets:

 

...in the UK  ...in the USA  ...in Australia  ...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:

 

GMT+1 (GMT+2 from last Sunday in March to last Saturday in October)

Currency:

 

£1 = approx 1.25 euros.   $1 = approx 0.8 euros.    Currency converter

Tourist information:

 

www.franceguide.com    Guidebooks     Tours to France by train

Hotels & guesthouses:

 

Paris hotels     France hotels     Finding accommodation in France

Motorail & car hire:

 

Motorail: taking your car by train    Car hire in France

Page last updated:

 

21 April 2008.  Train times valid from 9 Dec 2007 to 14 June 2008.


 UK to France by train...

  Take Eurostar and a TGV high-speed train from London to destinations all over France...

Above:  Boarding a French high-speed TGV.  More and more people are taking the relaxing no-hassle way from the UK to France, by Eurostar & TGV...

 

Taking the train is easily the most civilised and stress-free way to reach France.  Hop on Eurostar from London to Lille or Paris, then take a 186mph TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse or High Speed Train) to Avignon, Marseille, Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes or Nantes, through the countryside with a glass of vin rouge to hand...  Or save time, taking a late afternoon Eurostar to Paris then a couchette on the overnight 'Train Bleu' from Paris to Cannes, Antibes, Nice or Monte Carlo.  It's comfortable and affordable:  London to Paris starts at £59 return, London to Lyon or Bordeaux from £99 return, London to Marseille, Perpignan, or Nice from £109 return.  Unlike a flight, that's city centre to city centre, with no baggage fees, no airport taxes, infants go free, and bring your own bottle of wine for the journey if you like.  This page explains the best routes, train times, fares, and will help you buy the cheapest tickets.

On this page:

London to Paris

Other UK towns & cities to Paris

London to Disneyland Paris

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

London to Avignon, Marseille, Toulon, Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Monte-Carlo, Menton

London to Nîmes, Montpellier, Béziers, Narbonne, Perpignan

London to Lyon

London to Bordeaux

London to Strasbourg

London to Biarritz, Lourdes & Tarbes

London to Limoges, Brive, Cahors, Toulouse

London to Le Mans, Rennes & Nantes

London to Normandy

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

London to Corsica

London to any other destination in France

Buy train tickets to & within France     

What are French TGV trains like?...

What are French 'Corail Lunéa' overnight trains like?

Changing trains in Lille

Hotel accommodation in France

Short breaks to France by train

Escorted tours to France by train

On other pages:

Train travel within France - a beginner's guide

How to change trains & stations in Paris by metro, RER or taxi      Buying UK train tickets to connect with Eurostar

Taking your bike    Taking your dog     Taking your car     People with disabilities     What's Eurostar like?     European train travel information

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 London to Paris

Introducing Eurostar...

Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train from London to Paris via the Channel Tunnel.  In London, Eurostar now leaves from the beautifully-restored St Pancras station, and in Paris it arrives at the equally historic Gare du Nord in the city centre.  Eurostar runs every hour or so throughout the day, taking just 2 hours 15 minutes now that the whole UK high-speed line has been competed between London and the Channel Tunnel.  On the special high-speed lines, Eurostar reaches 186 mph (300 km/h).  From central London to central Paris, Eurostar is faster than flying as well as more comfortable, more convenient and more reliable.  It's not surprising that Eurostar has now captured over 70% of the London-Paris market from the airlines...

A Eurostar at St Pancras International...

A Eurostar at St Pancras International...

   

Eurostar first class

Eurostar 1st class...

    

Eurostar second class

Eurostar 2nd class...

Eurostar times & fares:  www.eurostar.com

Eurostar fares are like airline fares.  You must book in advance for the cheapest seats, if you wait until the day of departure it will cost you a lot more.  If you book early, London to Paris fares start at £59 return 2nd class or £149 return 1st class (limited but reasonably good availability at these prices, no refunds, no changes).  There are no Eurostar services on Christmas Day.  Some Eurostars stop at Ashford in Kent, many call at Lille in Northern France, a few call at Calais Fréthun station a few kilometres outside Calais.

One-way fares on Eurostar...

There has always been a problem with one-way fares on Eurostar.  If you ask for a one-way journey you will normally only be offered an expensive £155 business-orientated fully-flexible one-way fare, even when a cheap £59 return is available on the same train!  However, as of October 2007, Eurostar have at long last introduced an affordable £44 one-way fare, at least on a trial basis.  This can be bought online at www.eurostar.com.  If you can't find this £44 fare, the time-honoured method of travelling affordably one-way on Eurostar has always been to buy a return ticket and throw away the return portion after using the outward part.  There are no problems in doing this, as everybody does it!  See this advice on buying one-way Eurostar tickets.

How to buy tickets:  www.eurostar.com

If you're only going from London to Paris, the easiest and cheapest way to buy tickets is online at www.eurostar.com.  Tickets will be sent to any UK address or you can choose to pick up tickets at the station before departure (useful if you live in the USA, Canada, Australia and so on).  You can also book by calling Eurostar on 0870 5 186 186 (+870 5 186 186 from outside the UK).  Eurostar bookings now open 120 days (4 months) before departure.  If you are going beyond Paris, www.eurostar.com can book tickets to the most popular destinations in France, although it is often better to book journeys beyond Paris at www.raileurope.co.uk or www.voyages-sncf.com as explained below.

Eurostar moved to St Pancras on 14 November 2007...

The final section of high-speed line between London and the Channel Tunnel opened on time on 14 November 2007.  Eurostar now uses St Pancras as its London terminal, no longer leaving from Waterloo.  An all-new Eurostar timetable has been introduced and the London-Paris journey time has been cut to just 2 hours 15 minutes, city centre to city centre.  PDF format timetable for the new Eurostar service, November 2007 to July 2008

What's it like on board Eurostar?  What's the journey like?

See the Eurostar page for more information about Eurostar, including station facilities at St Pancras, checking in, luggage arrangements, food and drink on board, and an account of the Eurostar journey.  You must check-in for your Eurostar at least 30 minutes before departure (15 minutes for 'Business first' ticket holders), to allow time for a security check before accessing the terminal departure lounge.  There is a virtual tour of Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.

The environmentally sound way to travel...

Eurostar has commissioned research estimating that a trip from London to Paris on a Eurostar train emits 11 Kg of CO2 per passenger, over ten times less than the 122 Kg per passenger emitted by a London-Paris flight.  In addition, planes emit the CO2 directly into the upper atmosphere, where it does 2.5 times the damage of the same CO2 emitted at ground level.  Another good reason for treating yourself to a train journey!  More information on the environmental impact of trains versus flights.

City breaks to Paris (Eurostar + hotel): 

You can find short breaks to Paris combining Eurostar and hotel at www.eurostar.com and www.lastminute.com.  This is often cheaper than trying to book 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 all the cheaper fares have sold out).  To pre-book city tours or evenings out whilst in Paris, try www.isango.com

London to Paris by train & ferry...

It's still possible to travel from London to Paris by train and ferry if you want.  It takes about 9 hours, and you now have to buy separate train and ferry tickets.  Taking train and ferry also normally costs more than a cheap return ticket on Eurostar.  But on the plus side, 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 when all cheap Eurostar tickets are sold out, it can sometimes be cheaper, as the domestic trains and the ferries are both basically a 'walk up, buy a ticket and hop on' type of service.  For more information, see the London to Paris by train and ferry page.


 Other UK cities to Paris

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

You can now buy through tickets from 68 UK towns and cities to Paris, at the Eurostar websiteClick here to see the range of UK places served by the new through tickets, and book online.  Generally (though not always), this is the cheapest option.

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

Alternatively, you can buy a train ticket to London separately from your Eurostar ticket.  You can either buy a normal domestic ticket, at whatever the cheapest price happens to be, or you can buy a ticket to a destination called 'London International', designed for use with Eurostar tickets.  There are European Open or Saver fares from most UK stations to 'London International CIV', which include the Underground fare across London to St Pancras (if required) and which generally have few or no time restrictions.  This is the major advantage, as it means you can travel affordably even in the Monday-Friday business peaks if you need to connect with a Eurostar.  To check prices from your local station to London International, and to buy these tickets online, see the How to buy train tickets page.

West of England or South Coast to Paris...

If you live in the West Country or along the south coast, also consider a ferry crossing from ports such as Plymouth, Poole, Southampton or Portsmouth to France, then a train onwards to Paris.  Step 1, check ferry routes, times and fares at the Seat61 Ferry shop, or at Brittany Ferries, www.ldlines.co.uk or www.condorferries.co.uk.  Step 2, check UK train times from your local station to the UK port using www.nationalrail.co.uk.  Step 3, check French train times and fares from the French port to Paris, and book online, at either www.raileurope.co.uk (in English, for UK residents) or www.voyages-sncf.com (English button at the bottom).  Allow at least an hour, preferably 90 minutes, between train and ferry on both sides of the Channel.

Scotland to Paris...

You can book through tickets from Glasgow or Edinburgh to Paris by daytime inter-city train & Eurostar at the Eurostar website.  Alternatively, a time-effective way to avoid flying is to hop on the overnight Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness, Aviemore, Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh to London, then take a morning Eurostar to Paris.  See the Caledonian Sleeper page, then book Eurostar separately at the Eurostar website.  Allow plenty of time to cross London, including time for the Eurostar check-in and any delay to your sleeper train from Scotland to London.

Northern Ireland to Paris...

You can buy a Belfast-London combined train+ferry ticket using the booking form on the Northern Ireland page, which also has timetables, fares & advice for this journey.  Then book Eurostar separately using the online booking form above.  Allow plenty of time to cross London, including time for the Eurostar check-in and any delay to your train from Stranraer or Holyhead to London.

 

 

 London to Disneyland Paris

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Direct Eurostar to Disneyland Paris: This is Sleeping Beauty's castle.Disneyland Paris by direct Eurostar...

A Eurostar runs direct from London to Disneyland Paris every day, leaving London St Pancras at  08:53, calling at Ashford at 09:26 and arriving Marne la Vallée-Chassy, the station right next to Disneyland Paris, at 12:27.  The entrance to the Disneyland Park, Disney Studios and Planet Hollywood is just outside the station to the right.  Double-check Eurostar times and book online at www.eurostar.com.  Returning, the Eurostar leaves Disneyland (Marne la Vallée-Chassy) at 19:35 and arrives Ashford 20:37 and London 21:13.  Remember to allow for the 30 minute Eurostar check-in, at the top floor level of the station.

Disneyland Paris information & holidays...

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


 

 London to Calais, Lille & Northern France...

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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 from 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.voyages-sncf.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:

  • Go to the German Railways all-Europe online timetable, http://bahn.hafas.de.  The English button is at upper right.  This system is excellent at identifying journey opportunities, even ones which involve a change of train.

  • Enter 'London' and your final destination, for example 'Boulogne', 'Amiens', 'St Quentin', Le Touquet or 'Etaples', whatever...

  • Find a journey option that looks suitable for you, and make a note of the trains.  Some suggested journeys will involve a change at Lille (often involving an easy 500m walk between Lille Europe station where the Eurostar arrives and Lille Flandres station), some a change at Fréthun and occasionally even a change in Paris (via Paris is admittedly a long way round, but it can sometimes be a better bet).

  • Now go to at www.raileurope.co.uk (in English for UK users, tickets sent to any UK address) or www.voyages-sncf.com (in several languages, tickets sent to any European address), and first book the Eurostar from London to Calais Fréthun or Lille and back.

  • Still at www.raileurope.co.uk or www.voyages-sncf.com, click 'add another ticket' and book the regional train from Calais Fréthun or Lille to your final destination and back.

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 more information.


 London to Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice

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St Tropez.  Travel to the South of France by train!

Above:  St Tropez is perhaps the nicest town on the French Riviera.  It has no station, but there is a bus link from St Raphael railway station.

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

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 from Lille to Avignon, Marseille, St Raphael, Cannes, Antibes or Nice, with no need to cross Paris.  As far as Lyon, the TGV passes rich green farmlands and small French villages with pretty churches.  After 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 impressive viaducts to reach Marseille.  Watch out for a dramatic viaduct over the Rhone 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've got better eyesight than me).  You'll catch a glimpse of Marseille harbour with its Chateau d'If of Count of Monte Cristo fame to your right just before arriving at Marseille St Charles station.  If you're bound for Cannes, Nice or Monte Carlo, the scenery along the Cote d'Azur is wonderful, especially beyond St Raphael, as the train runs all along the coast past yacht-filled harbours, rocky inlets and villas.  Take a bottle of wine with you (there's no rule against this on the rails), put your feet up and enjoy the ride...  Alternatively, there's a wide choice of departures via Paris, by Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, changing trains & stations by metro, then taking a TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to the south of France.  Some trains from Lille to Marseille and many from Paris to Marseille are now operated by impressive double-deck 'TGV Duplex'.  What are TGV trains like..?

...or save time with the overnight sleeper.

It takes no more time out of your day than flying.  Take a late afternoon Eurostar to Paris or Lille, then a time-effective 'Corail Lunéa' sleeper train with comfortable air-conditioned couchettes (simple sleeping berths with rug, pillow, mineral water provided) overnight to Cannes, Antibes, Nice or Monte Carlo arriving in time for breakfast.  Travelling this way may also save a hotel bill, and it's cheap, too.  There's a daily all-year-round sleeper train from Paris to the French Riviera (the famous 'Train Bleu', no less), also a summer-only direct sleeper from Lille which by-passes Paris.  Both these sleepers are shown in the timetables below.  What are Corail Lunéa trains like..?

 London ►South of France  (changing in Lille)

 Eurostar (30 minute check-in)

Mon-Sat Note J Daily

Daily

Daily

Daily Note A
 London St Pancras depart 07:00 07:19 08:53 10:00 13:00

14:34

17:26
 Lille (Europe) arrive 09:24 | 11:24 12:24 15:24

16:54

19:54

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

Sleeper
 Lille (Europe) depart 10:30 | 11:56   12:58 15:57

17:52

  21:25 f

 Avignon TGV arrive 14:37  14:12 c

|

  17:09 20:11 22:08   06:36 c
 Aix en Provence arrive

|

  16:34  17:33

20:34

| |
 Marseille arrive 15:09   16:49  17:47

20:49

22:45

07:49

 Toulon arrive 15:59      18:09 m  19:04m   21:41 h  

08:50

 St Raphael (for St Tropez) arrive 16:51      19:09m  21:40m    

09:46

 Cannes arrive 17:14      19:32 m  22:01m    

10:12

 Antibes arrive 17:20      19:47 m  22:16m    

10:31

 Nice arrive 17:49      20:06 m  22:32m    

10:55

 Monaco-Monte Carlo arrive Nice - Monte Carlo by local train takes 20 minutes...

Top tip:  I'd recommend going via Lille (timetable above) as it's so simple when you've got luggage and kids, compared to changing trains and stations in Paris by metro.  On the other hand, you often find a wider choice of departures and cheaper fares available via Paris (timetable below).

 London ►South of France  (changing in Paris)

 Eurostar (30 minute check-in)

Mon-Sat Daily Daily Mon-Fri Sat, Sun

Daily

Daily Note N Daily Daily Note B Note L
 London St Pancras depart 06:55 08:32 08:32 10:30 11:05 12:30 12:30

14:04

14:04

15:30

15:30

20:05
 Paris (Gare du Nord) arrive 10:17 11:47 11:47 13:53 14:20 15:56 15:56

17:26

17:26

18:56

18:56

23:26

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

Sleeper

Hotel
 Paris (Gare de Lyon) depart 11:42 13:16 13:42 15:16 16:50 17:42 17:16 18:42 19:20 20:20

  21:17 a

07:54
 Avignon TGV arrive | 15:59