London to Nice, Bordeaux, Marseille or Lyon from £68... ...by Eurostar & high-speed TGV.  From £120 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 The no-fly zone...  A 186 mph double-deck TGV to Nice, boarding at Paris Gare de Lyon.

Take a high-speed train to France...

It's the civilised alternative to flying.  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 from Lille or Paris to Avignon, Marseille, Nice, Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rennes or Nantes...  It's comfortable & affordable:  London to to Lyon or Bordeaux from £62 one-way or £110 return, London to Nice, Marseille or Perpignan from £68 one-way or £120 return.  That's city centre to city centre, 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, no rules against that on the rails!

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

Train times, fares & tickets...

  London to Paris

  Other UK towns & cities to Paris & France

  London to Disneyland & Versailles

  London to Nice, Cannes, S.Tropez, Monaco, Toulon

  London to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille

  London to Nîmes & Montpellier

  London to Narbonne, Carcassonne, Perpignan

  London to Biarritz, Irun, Lourdes & Tarbes

  London to Lyon & Grenoble

  London to Bordeaux

  London to Strasbourg

  London to Limoges, Brive, Cahors, Toulouse

Interactive map:  Click on a destination...  ...for train times & fares from London, and how to buy tickets.

  London to Vichy & Clermont Ferrand

  London to Le Mans, Angers, Rennes & Nantes

  London to Normandy

  London to Mont St Michel

  London to Calais, Lille, Amiens & Northern France

  London to Bourg St M, Chamonix & French Alps

  London to Corsica

  London to any other destination in France

  Eurostar information & check-in procedures

  Starting your journey from other UK towns & cities

  How to cross Paris by metro or taxi

  About changing trains in Lille

  How to buy train tickets from UK to France

Train travel within France...

  Train travel in France, a beginner's guide

  What are French TGV trains like?

  What are French overnight trains like?

  Paris to Nice by TGV

International trains to & from France...

  Trains from Paris to other European cities

  Trains from Nice to other European cities

  Trains from other European cities to Paris

Station guides...

  Station guide: London St Pancras

  Station guide: Lille Europe

  Station guide: Paris Gare du Nord

  Station guide: Paris Gare de l'Est

  Station guide: Paris Gare de Lyon

  Station guide: Paris Gare d'Austerlitz

  Station guide: Paris Gare Montparnasse

  Station guide: Paris Gare de Bercy

  Train Bleu restaurant at Paris Gare de Lyon

Other useful information...

  Useful country information - dial code, tourist info...

  European train travel general information

  Luggage on trains & Left luggage at stations

  Child age limits & travel with kids

  Taking your bike & Taking your dog

  Taking your car - motorail

  Train seat numbering plans

  Eurail passes - for overseas visitors

  InterRail passes - for European residents

  People with disabilities

  Hotels & accommodation in France

  Short breaks to France by train

  Holidays & tours to France by train

  Ski holidays in the French Alps by train

  Car hire in France

  Travel insurance & EU Health Cards

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Useful country information

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London to Paris

	Buy Eurostar tickets at www.eurostar.com   You can buy tickets direct from Eurostar at www.eurostar.com. You print out your own ticket.   Eurostar bookings open 120 days ahead, or at certain periods up to 180 days ahead.   Business Premier & Standard Premier = 1st class with drinks & meals. Standard = 2nd class.  You print your own ticket or collect it at the station.   For journeys beyond Paris, it can be better to book at www.loco2.com, see the section relevant to your final destination for advice.  Tips on choosing a specific Eurostar seat  Buy special connecting UK train tickets A Eurostar at St Pancras in London.  See guide to travel by Eurostar. Eurostar first class.  See tips for choosing your seat. Eurostar standard class. See tips for choosing your seat. The cafe-bar:  Each Eurostar has two café-bars serving drinks & snacks including a range of wraps & sandwiches plus hot dishes such as Chicken Tikka Massala.

See the London to Paris Eurostar page

Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord via the Channel Tunnel, taking just 2 hours 15 minutes at up to 300km/h (186 mph).  Typically, 95% of Eurostar trains run on time or within 15 minutes, against just 63%-69% of flights on the same routes, and it's not surprising that Eurostar has now captured over 70% of the London-Paris market from the airlines.  For more information including the 3 classes on board, check-in procedures, luggage arrangements, food & drink, & tips for choosing the best seats, see the London to Paris by Eurostar page.

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

Eurostar fares work like airline fares, so book in advance for the cheapest seats.  Fares start at £44 one-way or £58 return 2nd class, £112 one-way or £169 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.  You can book online at www.eurostar.com with print-at-home tickets, or you can collect them from the e-ticket machines at the station.  You can book by phone, calling Eurostar on 03432 186 186 (+44 1233 617575 from outside the UK).  Eurostar bookings open 120 days before departure, or at certain periods up to 180 days ahead.  Tips on choosing a specific Eurostar seat.

Short city breaks to Paris...

For cheap breaks from the UK to Paris combining Eurostar with a hotel, check the following companies.  A short break can be cheaper than booking Eurostar and a hotel separately - and in some cases if you need to travel at short notice, cheaper than a regular Eurostar ticket, if the cheaper fares have sold out.

  Railbookers, www.railbookers.co.uk

  Eurostar themselves, www.eurostar.com

  Last Minute, www.lastminute.com

 French Travel Service, www.f-t-s.co.uk, 0844 84 888 43 (pls quote 'seat61' when you book).

The alternative:  London 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.

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Other UK towns & cities to Paris

UK regional centres to Paris with a Eurostar through ticket...

You can buy through tickets to Paris from over 100 major British cities & larger towns using www.eurostar.com.  Just type the station name into the journey planner and see if it is recognised.  Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, York, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff are all recognised, as are larger towns such as Reading, Basingstoke, High Wycombe or Milton Keynes, although smaller towns & villages aren't included.  A Eurostar through ticket is usually much cheaper than buying a separate train ticket to London.  You must use the United Kingdom version of www.eurostar.com so that payment is taken in pounds - even if you live in France and want a Paris to York ticket!  See more information about Eurostar through tickets & how they work here.

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

Alternatively, even if your local station isn't one of Eurostar's select 100+ stations, you can usually buy a separate ticket to a special destination called London International CIV, designed for use with Eurostar tickets.  These exist from most stations in Britain, they include the Underground fare across London to St Pancras if needed, they generally have few or no time restrictions (so an off-peak price applies even in the peak), 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.  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.

Any station in Britain to anywhere in France with www.loco2.com...

At www.loco2.com you can book from ANY British station to Paris or anywhere in France as one transaction.  It simply adds a ticket from your chosen British station to London International CIV (as described above) to an onward Eurostar + French train ticket.

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 www.brittanyferries.co.uk, 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 www.loco2.com.  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 £53, or Dublin to London for €50 each way, see the Northern Ireland page or Ireland page for timetables, fares & full details.  Then book Eurostar separately at www.eurostar.com, from £45 one-way or £58 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.loco2.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.

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London to Disneyland

London to Disneyland by direct Eurostar...

• A Eurostar runs direct from London to Disneyland Paris on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays (runs on additional dates in school holidays).  It leaves London St Pancras at 10:14, calling at Ebbsfleet 10:34, Ashford at 10:58 and arriving Marne la Vallée-Chessy, the station right next to Disneyland Paris, at 14:03.  The entrance to the Disneyland Park, Disney Studios and Planet Hollywood is just outside the station to the right.  Check days of running and book online at www.eurostar.com.

• Returning, the Eurostar leaves Marne la Vallée-Chessy (Disneyland) on Fridays & Sundays at 16:55, arriving Ashford 18:06, Ebbsfleet 18:27 and London St Pancras at 18:47.  It also runs on Mondays & Wednesdays at 18:01 arriving Ashford 19:04, Ebbsfleet 19:26 and London 19:46.  Remember to allow for the 30 minute Eurostar check-in, at the top floor level of Marne la Vallée-Chessy 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 or buy Eurostar tickets separately at www.eurostar.com.

• If the direct Eurostar is fully-booked or too expensive, don't worry.  You can book a regular London-Paris Eurostar at www.eurostar.com then simply use the RER (express metro) every 15 minutes between Paris Nord and Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy (Disneyland), changing at Chatelet les Halles or Gare de Lyon, journey time about 58 minutes, fare a few euros, OR you can try www.loco2.com to book a journey from London to Marne la Vallée by Eurostar and French TGV train with one easy change at Lille.

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London to Versailles

How to get to the Chateau de Versailles...

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

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

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London to Nice & Cannes

Chill out by train to Nice... Lunch at the Train Bleu restaurant, then stroll to your TGV.  There's no check-in to worry about. Relax. A table for two in first class, upper deck on a TGV Duplex from Paris to Nice, perfect... Chill... Bring your own picnic & wine or visit the café-bar.  You arrive in the centre of Nice.

London to Nice by train from £68...

It's easy to travel from London or anywhere in the UK to Cannes, Nice or Monte Carlo by Eurostar and high-speed TGV, a chance to chill out with a good book and a glass of wine, and maybe even have lunch in Paris on the way.  It's affordable, too, with cheap fares if you book in advance, centre to centre with no hidden fees.

What are the options?

• Option 1, via Lille:  By Eurostar to Lille Europe, a simple same-station change, then TGV from Lille to Marseille and an onward train to Nice.  This is the easiest option if you've lots of baggage, kids or mobility problems, as there's no need to cross Paris.

• Option 2, via Paris:  By Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, then impressive double-decker TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice.  This is the fastest option, with a wider choice of departures & often cheaper fares than going via Lille.  How about lunch in Paris at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant?

• Option 3, overnight:  Unfortunately, the Paris-Nice sleeper train was discontinued in December 2017.

What's the train ride to Nice like?

Settle back into your TGV seat and watch the scenery glide past with a glass of red to hand.  From Lille or Paris 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...

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

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

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

For more photos of the train ride from Paris or Lille to Nice, see the Paris to Nice by train page.  Photo courtesy of Mike Sloan.

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Option 1, London to Nice via Lille...

This is the easiest option as there's no need to cross Paris, just one easy same-station interchange at Lille & Lyon.  Take a Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille Europe and change onto a direct TGV to Lyon Part Dieu by-passing Paris, and change onto another TGV from Lyon to Toulon, St Raphael, Cannes, Antibes or Nice.  Ideal if you've luggage, kids or mobility problems.  But for a wider choice of departures and in many cases cheaper fares, also check out journeys via Paris in option 2 below.  Tips for changing trains at Lille.

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

How to buy tickets   What is Eurostar like?   What are TGVs like?   Tips for changing trains at Lille  

How to reach St Tropez, Monte Carlo, Juan les Pins, Menton    No Eurostars run on 25 December.

Always check train times for your specific dates using www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu, as the times here don't take account of day-to-day changes in timetable.  Don't book any Eurostar tickets until you have confirmed onward train times.

How much does it cost?

• Eurostar offer combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Nice, Cannes, Antibes or Toulon, starting at £68 one-way or £120 return 2nd class, £134 one-way or £238 return 1st class via either Paris or Lille.  Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.  Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £63 one-way, £111 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £65 one-way, £114 return.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here to see how to buy train tickets to France

On board the TGV.  More TGV info & tips...

The direct Lille-Nice TGV is usually single-deck TGV with a Christian Lacroix designer interior as shown below, but you may find this train consists of two TGV units, one of which is a TGV Duplex double-decker.  You can tell which sort of TGV you are booking if you use www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu as both sites will give you the option of an upstairs or downstairs seat if it's a Duplex.  If you don't get that choice, it's a single-decker.

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Option 2, London to Nice via Paris...

This is the fastest, cheapest & most frequent option, if you don't mind changing trains & stations in Paris.  Take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in just 2h16, change stations in Paris by metro or taxi as explained here, then take a 186mph double-decker TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice in 5h37.  Although a same-station change in Lille is easier, you'll find a wider range of departures via Paris, and usually cheaper fares available.  Why not take an earlier Eurostar and have lunch at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon before chilling out on an afternoon TGV Duplex to the Sunny South of France?  For an account of the journey in pictures, see the Paris to Nice by train page.

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

* = The 05:40 Eurostar from London usually doesn't run in July & August.

Fri = This TGV runs on Fridays only.

f = arrives/departs at Lille Flandres station, 450m 6-minute walk from Lille Europe Eurostar/TGV station.

How to buy tickets    What is Eurostar like?    What are TGVs like?    How to reach St Tropez, Monte Carlo, Juan les Pins, Menton

Always check train times for your specific dates using www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu, as the times here don't take account of day-to-day changes in timetable.  Don't book any Eurostar tickets until you have confirmed onward train times.

How much does it cost?

• There are combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Nice, Cannes, Antibes or Toulon, starting at £68 one-way or £120 return 2nd class, £134 one-way or £238 return 1st class via either Paris or Lille.

• Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £63 one-way, £111 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £65 one-way, £114 return. 

• Alternatively, you can buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £45 one-way, €69 return.  Paris to Nice, Cannes, Antibes or Toulon starts at just €25 each way.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here to see how to buy train tickets to France

The TGV Duplex from Paris to Nice.  More Paris-Nice TGV info, scenery & tips...

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Connections to other towns on the Cote d'Azur...

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 €3.  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. 

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

Juan les Pins, Villefranche sur Mer, Beaulieu sur Mer...

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

Monaco-Monte Carlo, Menton & Ventimiglia...

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

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How to buy train tickets from the UK to anywhere in France...

It's easy to buy train tickets from anywhere in Britain to anywhere in France, here I'll explain the best options.  Booking online saves paying phone booking fees, and I recommend using www.loco2.com.  But don't forget there are other ways to book online too.  You can also book by phone or in person, or get a train travel specialist to arrange a tailor-made trip.

	For hotels... Try my two favourite hotel sites... (1) www.booking.com allows you to book your accommodation before train bookings open, with free cancellation. (2) hotelscombined.com has just been named as the World's Leading Hotel Comparison Site at the World Travel Awards 2013: Click here for suggested hotels in Paris.

Option 1, buy online at www.loco2.com...

• Use www.loco2.com.  You can buy one-way or return tickets, in either direction, in €, £ or $.  Infants under 4 go free with no ticket necessary, children under 12 can travel at the child rate.

• International credit cards accepted...  Anyone from any country can use www.loco2.com, as all credit cards are accepted and you'll usually get a print-at-home or a collect-at-station ticket.

• Booking usually opens 92 days ahead.  Eurostar usually opens 120 days ahead and at certain periods up to 180 days ahead, but I strongly recommend waiting until your onward French trains open for booking, so that times & prices can be confirmed before you buy a non-refundable non-changeable Eurostar ticket.  Just so you know, the big annual timetable change happens on the 2nd Sunday in December, and most years, bookings for dates after this up to and including the Christmas & New Year period open around mid-October, significantly less than 92 days ahead.  On the other hand, in recent years French Railways have opened bookings further ahead than the usual 92 days over the summer months, so by all means try a booking and see if trains appear. 

• You can book from any station in Britain...  www.loco2.com allows you to book to or from any British station (even Little Kimble), not just from London.  It usually does this by adding a ticket from your local station to London International CIV (if one is available), which gives you travel to London St Pancras (including the Underground if you need it) and the protection of the CIV international conditions of carriage so if your UK train is delayed and you miss your Eurostar, you are entitled to travel on a later one even if you have a non-changeable ticket.  In many cases these fares have fewer or no peak-hour restrictions, too, so they allow Monday-Friday peak-time travel at off-peak prices.  More explanation (and the ability to buy a ticket to London International CIV separately if you need to) here.  Little Kimble to Juan les Pins?  No problem!

• You can book to any station in France.  This system can sell tickets to or from any French station on any French train, including TGVs, Intercités, overnight couchette trains or TER local trains, although it cannot sell the special iDTGV trains which run once or twice a day on a handful of routes.

• Fares vary like air fares, so book as far ahead as you can:  Fares for Eurostar & French long-distance trains are cheaper in advance, more expensive closer to the date of travel, so book as early as you can and search for the cheapest departures.  Remember that the cheapest tickets mean no refunds, no changes.

• Tip:  Want to go via Lille to avoid crossing Paris?  A same-station change in Lille is much easier than crossing Paris, although you'll usually find a wider choice of departures and often cheaper prices via Paris.  To filter out the many options via Paris leaving just the ones via Lille, simply click '+ Add via/stopover' and enter 'Lille Europe'.  If you don't see any journeys, try adjusting the departure time.  For some destinations such as Orleans or Clermont Ferrand there are no direct services from Lille so you'll really have to go via Paris.

• Tip:  Choose an upper deck seat on a TGV Duplex:  I recommend an upstairs seat for the best views if you use a double-decker TGV Duplex in France.  These now operate almost all services from Paris to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Nice, and some services from Lille to the South, too.  Unlike some sites, www.loco2.com allows you to choose upper or lower deck.  Seat numbers 11-58 = lower deck.  61-128 = upper deck.

• Tip:  Upgrade to 1st class on French trains often for very little extra cost!  Most booking sites won't let you mix & match 2nd class on Eurostar (on which 1st class is expensive) with 1st class on your onward French train, on which 1st class can cost little more than 2nd class and can even be cheaper, because of the way the pricing quotas work.  With Loco2 there's an easy solution:  Before running the enquiry, click '+ Add via/stopover', enter Paris Nord (or Lille), select 'specific duration' & enter (say) 1 hour.  In the search results, instead of showing a total price for London to your French destination, it will allow you to select a class & price from London to Paris (or Lille) and a separate class & price from Paris (or Lille) to your final destination.  See if there's a cheap 1st class fare for your onward French train!

• Tip:  Don't be afraid to split the booking in Paris!  For complete control, first book from your local station to Paris (or Lille), add to basket, then book from Paris to your final destination remembering to allow at least 60 minutes to cross Paris trains southbound, 90 minutes including Eurostar check-in northbound.  Add to basket and checkout.  You can easily adjust the Paris time this way, to stop off in Paris or perhaps have lunch at the Gare de Lyon.  SNCF's database now has some sub-standard 40-minute cross-Paris connections when I'd recommend at least 60 minutes, so this is the way to avoid those, too (Loco2 cannot edit these sub-standard connections out, but have thoughtfully added a warning when a sub-60-minute cross-Paris connection comes up).

• Tip:  Children under 4 go free, but what if you want them to have their own seat?  Babies & infants go free on all European trains (see age limits here) and don't need a ticket, you just bring them along, but they don't get their own seat.  If you want them to have their own reserved seat on a French long-distance train, you can pay a fixed fee called Forfait Bambin.  This can't yet be booked on Loco2, so you'll need to book from your local station to Paris or Lille using www.loco2.com, then book your onward French train separately using www.trainline.eu.  There's more explanation about Forfait Bambin on the train travel with children page.

• Tip:  If you want sole or dual occupancy of a couchette compartment on a French overnight train:  On French overnight trains you can book sole or dual occupancy of a 4-berth couchette compartment, this facility is called Espace Privatif, see details of the cost & how to buy tickets here.  However, Espace Privatif can't be booked online at Loco2, you need to use www.trainline.eu instead.

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

• Who powers Loco2?  www.loco2.com connects to SNCF's Sabre & Resarail system for prices in euros.  Prices should be the same as you'll find on French Railways' own site en.oui.sncf.

• The Man in Seat 61 says:  "Loco2 has been started by two young entrepreneurs who are passionate about European train travel, and it shows.  They use the trains themselves, and want to make booking them easy.  What they have been able to do so far is remarkable.  They've added a connection to UK National Rail so you can book through to or from any British station, and they've now added a connection to DB (German Railways), Trenitalia and Renfe with more connections likely to come.  This is the site to watch..."

Option 2, other ways to buy train tickets online...

• Option 2, book with Eurostar:  www.eurostar.com sells tickets from London to around 70 major French towns & cities, so more limited than Loco2 and it can't book overnight couchette trains, but it can be worth checking prices at www.eurostar.com.  It has one potential advantage, after payment you can choose your specific seat on Eurostar (although not on any onward French trains).  It issues print-at-home tickets and accepts all credit cards so can be used by anyone from any country.

• Option 3, split the booking, using Eurostar.com then Trainline.eu:  For complete control and the maximum choice of seating options, I myself often split the booking.  You can book from London to Paris (or Lille) at www.eurostar.com with an opportunity to choose your seat on Eurostar, then book the onward French train at www.trainline.eu with a full range of seating options including the ability to select upper or lower deck on a TGV Duplex or a table for two in 1st class, and on some TGV routes a forward-facing seat.  Both sites issue print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets and accept all credit cards so work fine for anyone from any country.  Splitting the booking in this way allows you to adjust your cross-Paris transfer time so that you have at least 60 minutes between trains and/or can have time for lunch in Paris.  It also allows you to mix and match 2nd class on Eurostar (as 1st class is expensive) with a cheap 1st class deal on the French train, as this sometimes costs only a little more than 2nd class, and in some circumstances can actually be cheaper.  Unlike some other sites, Trainline.eu can sell iDTGV tickets, and can sell Forfait Bambin tickets if you have an infant or baby and want them to have their own seat on a French train, you can see how Trainline's features compare with other websites for booking French trains in this comparison table.

• Option 4, buy from Rail Europe in the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, Africa or South America:  If you live outside Europe you can book with www.raileurope.com (USA), www.raileurope.ca (Canada) or www.raileurope-world.com (Australia, NZ, Asia, Africa, South America).  All these sites charge a booking fee, and at the time I write this, none give seating options.  I'd also recommend a price comparison with the other sites mentioned above, as I have known www.raileurope.com suppress the cheapest fares for the US market, meaning you could make significant savings using www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu instead.  In addition, see this table comparing the features of the various sites selling French train tickets.

Option 3, buy tickets by phone...

• You can buy tickets by phone, although a booking fee is charged.  In the UK, try International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Mondays-Fridays.

Option 4, have your trip professionally arranged:  Railbookers... 

• Rather than book trains & hotels yourself independently, you can get an expert company such as Railbookers to arrange your whole trip to your own specification.  Hotels, train tickets and transfers can all be sorted as one booking in one phone call.  As you're then booking a package, they'll look after you if anything happens such as a strike or major delay.  Railbookers now operate in the UK, USA & Australia.  Just tell them when and where you want to go, and they'll create the best rail holiday or tour for you.

    UK call 020 3327 0761, www.railbookers.co.uk.

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, see website.

    Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, see website.

    Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, see website.

    New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

Option 5, take an escorted tour to France by train...

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

    Rail Discoveries, www.raildiscoveries.com, 01904 730 727...

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

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London to Avignon, Aix, Marseille

Relax by train to Provence:  A TGV is the stress-free way from the UK to Provence...  What are TGV trains like?

London to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence or Marseille from £68...

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

• Option 1, via Lille:  By Eurostar to Lille Europe, a simple same-station change, then TGV to Provence.  Ideal if you've baggage, kids or mobility problems, as there's no need to cross Paris!

• Option 2, via Paris:  By Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, then an impressive double-decker TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon, Aix or Marseille.  There's a wider choice of departures and often cheaper fares this way.  How about lunch in Paris at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon?  Or travel time-effectively with an evening Eurostar to Paris in 2h20, an overnight hotel then a morning TGV to the south in 2 or 3 hours?

• Option 3, by direct Eurostar train from London to Avignon & Marseille up to 4 times a week in summer, no service in winter.  See the Direct Eurostar to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille page.

Option 1, London to Provence via Lille...

This is the easiest option.  Take a Eurostar from London to Lille, make one simple same-station change of train at Lille onto a direct TGV to Provence, by-passing Paris.  Ideal if you've luggage, kids or mobility problems.  But for a wider choice of departures and in many cases cheaper fares, also check out journeys via Paris in option 2 below.

* On the 14:03 TGV from Lille, you need to change trains at Lyon Part Dieu as well.

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

How to buy tickets   What's Eurostar like?   What are TGVs like?   What are Intercités de Nuit couchette trains like?    Map of Marseille

Avignon TGV station is 3 miles from Avignon city centre & Avignon Centre station.  A new rail link from Avignon TGV station to Avignon Centre station opened in 2013 and shuttle trains now run every 30-45 minutes, journey time 5 minutes, fare around €1.80.  If you'd rather travel to Avignon Centre, simply specify 'Avignon Centre' when booking at www.loco2.com and it'll add the shuttle train for an extra £1.50.  Map of Avignon showing stations.

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

Always check train times for your specific dates...  The timetables here are simplified, and don't take account of day to day changes in timetable.  Please check train times for your date of travel using www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu, times may vary on certain dates, and remember that booking only opens 92 days ahead.  No Eurostars run on 25 December.

How much does it cost?

• There are combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence & Marseille, starting at £68 one-way or £120 return 2nd class, £134 one-way or £238 return 1st class via either Paris or Lille.

• Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £63 one-way, £111 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £65 one-way, £114 return. 

• Alternatively, you can buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £45 one-way, £58 return.  Paris to Nice, Cannes, Antibes or Toulon starts at just €25 each way.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here for details of how to buy train tickets to France

On board the TGV.  TGV info & tips...

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Option 2, London to Provence via Paris...

This is the fastest, cheapest & most frequent option, if you don't mind changing trains & stations in Paris.  Take Eurostar from London to Paris in just 2h16, change stations in Paris by metro or taxi as explained here, then take a direct 186mph double-decker TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice in 5h37.  Although a same-station change in Lille is easier, you'll find a wider range of departures via Paris and often cheaper fares available.  Why not take an earlier Eurostar and explore Paris for a while, or have lunch at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon before boarding your TGV to the Sunny South of France?

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

* = Times vary, it leaves Paris at 20:37 on Mondays and Fridays arriving Marseille 00:01.

** = The 05:40 Eurostar from London usually doesn't run in July or August.

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

Avignon TGV station is 3 miles from Avignon city centre & Avignon Centre station.  A new rail link from Avignon TGV station to Avignon Centre station opened in December 2013 and shuttle trains now run every 15-30 minutes, journey time 5 minutes, fare around €1.80.  If you'd rather travel to Avignon Centre, simple specify 'Avignon Centre' when booking at www.loco2.com and it'll add the shuttle train for an extra £1.50.  Map of Avignon showing stations.

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

Always check train times for your specific dates...  The timetables here are simplified, and don't take account of day to day changes in timetable.  Please check train times for your date of travel using www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu, times may vary on certain dates, and remember that booking only opens 92 days ahead.

How much does it cost?

• There are combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence & Marseille, starting at £68 one-way or £120 return 2nd class, £134 one-way or £238 return 1st class via either Paris or Lille.

• Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £63 one-way, £111 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £65 one-way, £114 return. 

• Alternatively, you can buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £45 one-way, £58 return.  Paris to Avignon, Aix or Marseille starts at just €25 each way.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here for details of how to buy train tickets to France

• Can't find any cheap tickets?  You can also try the budget Ouigo option shown here.

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Option 3, by direct Eurostar from London to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille...

• In May 2015, Eurostar introduced a direct train from London to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille once a week on Saturdays all year round and up to 5 times a week in summer. 

  See the Direct Eurostar to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille page

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Option 4, the budget option:  Ouigo...

• In 2013, French Railways launched a budget-airline-on-rails called Ouigo, www.ouigo.com.  Ouigo operates several trains a day from Paris to Lyon, Aix en Provence, Avignon, Marseille, Nîmes & Montpellier using specially-refitted double-decker TGV Duplex trains with just one class of seating, no catering and no 1st class.

• The disadvantage is that they have applied all the things people dislike about budget airlines to their trains:  A 30-minute check-in, stringent baggage limits (one item of hand luggage and one bigger bag not exceeding 55x35x25cm) with a €5 extra fee for additional or oversize bags (€20 on board the train if not paid in advance), and no catering.  But if you can't find any sufficiently cheap fares for the regular trains, or want to reach Marseille for as little as £48 from central London, you might want to consider it...

• Step 1, book a Eurostar ticket at www.eurostar.com from London to Paris Gare du Nord, from £45 one-way, £58 return.

• Step 2, transfer by RER suburban train from the Gare du Nord to Marne la Vallée-Chessy (the station for Disneyland Paris, as it happens).  Trains run every 10 minutes or so, take RER line B to Chatelet-les-Halles, then RER line A to Marne la Vallée-Chessy.  Journey time 50 minutes.

• Step 3, book a cheap Ouigo ticket from Marne la Vallée to Lyon, Aix, Avignon, Marseille, Nîmes or Montpellier from €10 each way at www.ouigo.com - don't forget you may need to add the €5 extra baggage fee for oversize or additional bags.

• This should be obvious, but I'd start with the Ouigo booking, then work backwards to find a connecting Eurostar. I'd allow at least 2 hours between Eurostar arrival and Ouigo departure, preferably more, as if you miss your Ouigo due to a Eurostar delay, you'll have to buy another ticket, and vice versa on the return journey.

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Sponsored links...

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London to Nîmes, Montpellier, Carcassonne, Perpignan

What are the options?

• Option 1, via Lille:  By Eurostar to Lille Europe, a simple same-station change, then TGV from Lille to Nîmes & Montpelier.  Change at Montpellier for Carcassonne.  Change at Montpellier for Narbonne & Perpignan, although on certain days you'll find a direct TGV from Lille.  This is the easiest option especially if you've lots of baggage, kids or mobility problems, as there's no need to cross Paris.  Travelling by high-speed train at up to 186mph, you can leave London in the afternoon and arrive in the South of France in the evening!

• Option 2, via Paris:  By Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, then impressive double-decker TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nîmes, Montpelier, Narbonne or Perpignan, change at Narbonne for Carcassonne.  This is usually the most frequent, fastest and usually cheapest option, although it involves changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  But how about lunch in Paris at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon between trains?

• Option 3, via sleeper train from Paris:  Runs daily from July to early September, and on Friday & Sunday nights in winter.  Take Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, then sleep in a couchette from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to Carcassone, Perpignan or Portbou on the intercité de nuit overnight train.  This is the most time-effective option of all!

Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille...

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

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

m = Change trains at Montpellier.  Time may vary.

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

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

Always check train times for your date of travel using www.loco2.com as times may vary on specific dates.

How much does it cost?

• There are combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Nîmes, Montpellier, Agde, Narbonne & Perpignan, starting at £68 one-way or £120 return 2nd class, £134 one-way or £238 return 1st class via either Paris or Lille.

• Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £63 one-way, £111 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £65 one-way, £114 return. 

• Alternatively, you can buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £45 one-way, £58 return.  Paris to Nice, Cannes, Antibes or Toulon starts at just €25 each way.

• By overnight train, Paris to Perpignan or Narbonne starts at £18 one-way, £36 return in a reclining seat, £26.50 one-way or £53 return in a 6-berth 2nd class couchette, or £45.50 one-way or £91 return in a 1st class 4-berth couchette.  Like air fares, prices rise as cheaper tickets are sold.  You can book sole or dual occupancy of a 4-berth compartment, this is called Espace Privatif, see details of costs & how to arrange this here.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here for details of how to buy train tickets to France.

• When using www.loco2.com, remember to click 'add via/stopover' and enter 'Lille Europe' if you only want to see journeys via Lille.

On board the TGV...  TGV info & tips...

Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Paris...

This option is usually faster, more frequent and in many cases cheaper than going via Lille, if you don't mind changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  Indeed, if you allow an extra hour or two, you can have a meal at the amazing Train Bleu restaurant inside the historic Gare de Lyon, making a virtue out of necessity!  You'll see the same great scenery along the rural Rhone Valley then across the South of France as taking the Lille route.

• I won't list all the possible options here, to find train times and prices via Paris, simply run an enquiry at www.loco2.com.

• Use the More options link and enter Paris as a via station with a suitable duration to add in a stopover for lunch or a longer stop.

• For help crossing Paris by metro or taxi, see the Paris metro page.

Option 3, by Eurostar & sleeper train...

This is the most time-effective option.  The Paris-Perpignan-Portbou intercité de nuit overnight train was discontinued in 2016, but it's now been saved and reinstated in July 2017, running daily in summer.  On the down side it now only runs on Friday & Sunday nights off-season, and as it is attached to the Paris-Toulouse intercité de nuit it's arrival in Perpignan isn't until almost 10am!  But it provides a useful overnight train from Paris direct to Carcassone and if you want to use it, here's how...

London  ► Carcassonne, Perpignan

• Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 16:31 daily, arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 19:47.   Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

• Travel from Paris to Carcassone or Perpignan by intercité de nuit overnight train, running daily in summer (July to September) and Friday & Sunday nights in winter.  It leaves Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:08 and arrives Carcassone at 07:35, Perpignan at 08:49, Port Vendres 09:24, Cerebère at 09:38.

  This train has 4-berth 1st class couchettes and 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, see the photos & information here.  Times may vary, so always check times online for your date of travel.  By all means book an earlier Eurostar if you'd like some time in Paris.  Tip:  Why not book an earlier Eurostar & have dinner at the famous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the Seine (5 min walk) to the neighbouring Gare d'Austerlitz to board your sleeper south?

Perpignan, Carcassone  ► London

• Travel from Perpignan or Carcassone to Paris by intercité de nuit overnight train, running daily in summer (July to September) and Friday & Sunday nights in winter.  It leaves Cerebère at 19:10, Port Vendres at 19:25, Perpignan at 20:00 or Carcassone at 21:07, arriving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 06:52.  Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord.

  This train has 4-berth 1st class couchettes and 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, see the photos & information here.  Times can vary, so always check times for your specific date of travel.

• Travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 09:13 and arriving London St Pancras at 10:39.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris starts at £44 one-way or £58 return in 2nd class, £112 one-way or £168 return in 1st class with meal & wine included.

• Paris to Carcassone, Perpignan or Portbou starts at £26.50 one-way or £53 return in a 6-berth 2nd class couchette, or £45.50 one-way or £91 return in a 1st class 4-berth couchette.  Like air fares, prices rise as cheaper tickets are sold.  Reclining seats start at £18 one-way, £36 return, but I strongly recommend booking a couchette in a safely-locked compartment so you can sleep, a seat is a false economy.

How to buy tickets...

• Use www.loco2.com.  Click here tfor full details on how to buy train tickets to France.

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

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London to Biarritz, Irun & Lourdes

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

• Option 1, via Paris.  This is the most frequent and usually cheapest option, although it means changing trains and stations in Paris.  You travel by Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, change trains and stations, then take a TGV high-speed train from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Biarritz or Lourdes.  Times via Paris are shown below, but this route has some seasonal variations so check times for your specific date online at www.loco2.com.  Why not take an earlier Eurostar and have lunch in Paris?

• Option 2, changing Lille & Bordeaux, which avoids Paris...  You can take Eurostar to Lille and travel by direct TGV from Lille to Bordeaux, with (usually) another change there.  This avoids the need to change trains and stations in Paris, but it usually works out more expensive.  I haven't shown this option here, but you can easily check train times at www.loco2.com - it may help to click More options and specify Lille (any station) in the via box.

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

* = The 05:40 Eurostar from London doesn't usually run in July & August.

e = the Eurostar connection runs an hour later on Saturdays.

f = the first Eurostar connection runs an hour later on Sunday mornings.

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu, as times vary on different dates.

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

How much does it cost?

• There are combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Biarritz or Lourdes, starting at £68 one-way or £120 return 2nd class, £134 one-way or £238 return 1st class via either Paris or Lille.

• Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £63 one-way, £111 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £65 one-way, £114 return.

• Alternatively, you can buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £44 one-way, £58 return.  Paris to Lourdes, Biarritz, St Jean de Luz, Hendaye or Irun starts at just €25 each way.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here for details of how to buy train tickets to France

On board a TGV Atlantique.   More TGV info & tips...

The interior is styled by designer Christian Lacroix, and there are power sockets at all seats.  On the TGV Atlantique route from Paris to Bordeaux & 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 below.  Very civilised!  Note that an increasing number of trains on this route are new TGV Duplex double-decker trains, some with the all-new Océane interior.

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London to Lyon & Grenoble

London to Lyon by train from £62 one-way or £110 return...

• The easiest and most painless way to travel from London to Lyon is to take Eurostar from London St Pancras 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.  Map of Lyon showing station.

• Alternatively, you can take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, change trains and stations in Paris, and take a TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon.  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.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.

• Direct London-Lyon Eurostar:  Eurostar now offer an early-morning direct train from London to Lyon running between 1 and 5 days a week for much of the year, see the Direct Eurostar to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille page for details.

* On Mondays May-September the Eurostar leaves London 07:19 arriving Lille at 09:51 (this is in fact the direct Eurostar to Lyon).  Still leaves 06:47 on Tue-Fri.

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

How to buy tickets    About changing trains in Lille    What is Eurostar like?    What are TGVs like?    Map of Lyon showing station

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.loco2.com as times vary significantly by date.

How much does it cost?

• There are combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Lyon or Grenoble, starting at £62 one-way or £110 return 2nd class, £129 one-way or £228 return 1st class via either Paris or Lille.

• Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £59 one-way, £104 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £60 one-way, £106 return.

• Alternatively, you can buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £45 one-way, £58 return.  Paris to Lyon or Grenoble starts at just €20 each way.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here for details of how to buy train tickets to France

On board the TGV.  TGV info & tips...

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London to Bordeaux

London to Bordeaux by train in as little as 5h45...

• Option 1, via Lille, easiest...  The easiest and most painless way to travel from London to Bordeaux is to take Eurostar to Lille Europe in 1h30 and make an easy interchange in Lille onto a direct double-decker TGV Duplex to Bordeaux now taking as little as 4h26 with no need to change trains and stations in Paris (although you may need to walk 500m between Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations).  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, and most involve a short 500m 6-minute walk between Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations, as shown by the little 'f'.  You can easily check times and buy tickets at www.loco2.com - Tip:  Click More options and enter Lille (any station).  If necessary, book London-Lille first, add to basket, then add Lille to Bordeaux..

• Option 2, via Paris, most frequent & quickest, London to Bordeaux in as little as 5h45...  There are hourly Eurostars to Paris Gare du Nord in 2h20, take the metro or a taxi to Paris Gare Montparnasse and hop on a TGV to Bordeaux St Jean taking as little as 2h04 since the new Tours-Bordeaux high-speed line opened in July 2017.  The train times via Paris aren't shown here, but you can easily check times and buy tickets at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.  Some of these TGVs are single deck, others are double-deck TGV Duplex.

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

* = On Mondays & Fridays the Eurostar leaves London earlier, at 06:13 or you can use the 07:19 when running.

f = This train arrives/departs Lille Flandres station, not Lille Europe, 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?

Always check train times for your date of travel at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu (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.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.

How much does it cost?

• There are combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Bordeaux or Angoulême, starting at £62 one-way or £110 return 2nd class, £129 one-way or £228 return 1st class via either Paris or Lille. 

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £59 one-way, £106 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £60 one-way, £106 return.

• Combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Tours, St Pierre des Corps or Poitiers, start at £49 one-way or £89 return 2nd class, £118 one-way or £209 return 1st class.

• Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.

• Alternatively, you can buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £45 one-way, £58 return.  Paris to Bordeaux starts at just €20 each way, Paris to Poitiers from €15 each way.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here for details of how to buy train tickets to France.

• Tip: Using www.loco2.com, click More options and enter Lille (any station).  If necessary, book London-Lille first, add to basket, then add Lille to Bordeaux..

On board the TGV to Bordeaux...  TGV info & tips

Most Lille-Bordeaux are double-deck TGV Duplex, see the photos here.  Some Paris-Bordeaux TGVs are single-deck with the Christian Lacroix interior, see the photos here.  Others are TGV Duplex, and some of these have the excellent new Océane interior.

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London to Strasbourg

London to Strasbourg in 5 hours by train from £57 one-way, £100 return

There are two good options: 

• Option 1, via Lille, the fastest & easiest way... There are two or three departures every day with one same-station change at Lille.  I have shown times for these easy options below.  It can take as little as 5h03 centre to centre, virtually as fast as flying.  Train times for both routes are shown here, you can check train times for specific dates and buy tickets at www.loco2.com.

• Option 2, via Paris, the most frequent way...  You can travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in 2h20 with departures almost every hour, it's just an easy 10-minute walk over to the Gare de l'Est next door, then you take one of the frequent high-speed TGVs from Paris to Strasbourg taking as little as 1h47 now that the final section of high-speed line opened on 3 July 2016.  This is the most frequent route and with the widest choice of departures.  I have not bothered to show times via Paris here as there are so many departures and it's easy just to run an enquiry to see times, prices & buy tickets at www.loco2.com.

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

Check train times for your date of travel using www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu as times vary on certain dates.

* = On some dates, depart Lille 19:35, arrive London 20:05.

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

How much does it cost?

• There are combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Strasbourg or Nancy, starting at £57 one-way or £100 return 2nd class, £123 one-way or £218 return 1st class via either Paris or Lille. 

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £55 one-way, £97 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £54 one-way, £96 return.

• Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.

• Alternatively, you can buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £45 one-way, £58 return.  Paris to Strasbourg starts at just €20 each way.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here for details of how to buy train tickets to France

On board the TGV...  TGV info & tips...

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London to Limoges, Brive, Toulouse

There are two rail routes from Paris to Toulouse:  The classic direct route from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to Toulouse via Limoges & Brive uses conventional 125mph trains, most now stylish and comfortable Téoz carriages, see the photos below.  The high-speed route from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Toulouse via Bordeaux uses 186mph TGVs, this is a longer way round but it's still faster, especially since 2 July 2017 when the Tours-Bordeaux high-speed line opens.

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

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

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

** Runs an hour later on Sunday mornings and doesn't go beyond Brive.  Check alternatives online.

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

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

Please check train times for your date of travel using www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu, as times may vary on  certain dates.

How much does it cost?

• There are combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Toulouse, starting at £68 one-way or £120 return 2nd class, £134 one-way or £238 return 1st class via either Paris or Lille.

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £63 one-way, £111 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £65 one-way, £114 return.

• Combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Limoges start at £57 one-way, £100 return 2nd class, £123 one-way, £218 return 1st class.  Children under 4 free.  Children under 12 £55 one-way, £97 return.  Youths (aged 12-25) from £54 one-way, £96 return.

• Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.

• Alternatively, you can buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £45 one-way, £58 return.  Paris to Limoges starts at €20 each way, Paris to Toulouse starts at just €25 each way.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here for details of how to buy train tickets to France

• Tip:  If you want the classic route via Limoges, it helps to click More options and add Limoges as a via station.

On board an Intercité from Paris to Limoges, Brive & Toulouse...

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London to Vichy & Clermont Ferrand

Just hop on a Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, change stations by taxi or metro to the Gare de Bercy, and catch a southbound express to the Massif Central...  Trains between Paris and Clermont are usually Intercités with the Téoz-style interior, see the photos above.

Eurostar times may vary at weekends, so please check times online for your specific date.

How much does it cost?

• Eurostar offer combined Eurostar+TGV fares from London to Clermont Ferrand starting at £57 one-way or £100 return 2nd class, £123 one-way or £218 return 1st class.  Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.  Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.

• Children under 4 go free.  Children 4 but under 12  £55 one-way, £97 return.  Youth fares (aged 12-25) start at £55 one-way, £97 return.

• Alternatively, you can buy separate Eurostar & TGV tickets.  London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £45 one-way, £58 return.  Paris to Vichy or Clermont starts at €20 each way.

How to buy tickets...

• Click here for details of how to buy train tickets to France

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