France without flying Advice for buying tickets to France

Take a high-speed train to France

It's the civilised alternative to flying.  Take Eurostar from London to Lille or Paris, then a 300 km/h TGV Train à Grande Vitesse through the French countryside with a glass of red wine in hand from Lille or Paris to Avignon, Marseille, Nice, Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rennes or Nantes...  It's affordable, too:  London to Paris from £52 one-way or £78 return, Paris to Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice, or Perpignan from around €25 each way.  Centre to centre, no baggage fees, no airport taxes, significantly less impact on the environment & infants go free.

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

  London to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille

  London to Nîmes, Montpellier, Sète, Agde

Interactive map:  Click on a destination...  ...for train times & fares from London, and how to buy tickets. See detailed map of the French rail network

  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

  London to Vichy & Clermont Ferrand

  London to Le Mans, Angers, Rennes & Nantes

  London to Normandy

  London to Mont St Michel

  London to Calais, Lille & 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 from other UK towns & cities

  How to cross Paris by metro or taxi

  About changing trains in Lille

  Travel to France using an Interrail pass

  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 to Paris from other European cities

  Trains from Paris to other European cities

  Trains from Nice to other European cities

  Trains from Marseille to other European cities

  Trains from Lyon to other European cities

  Trains from Bordeaux to other European cities

  Trains from Toulouse to other European cities

  Trains from Strasbourg to other European cities

Station guides

Other useful information

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Useful country information

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London to Paris

	Buy Eurostar tickets at www.eurostar.com   Buy tickets at www.eurostar.com and print your ticket or show it on your phone in the Eurostar app.   Eurostar bookings open up to 6 months ahead, sometimes longer.   Business Premier & Standard Premier = 1st class with drinks & meals. Standard = 2nd class.   For journeys beyond Paris, it can be better to book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, see the relevant destination section on this or other pages.  Tips for choosing a specific Eurostar seat  Advice on buying connecting tickets from other UK towns & cities 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.

Option 1, by Eurostar: See the Eurostar page

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

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

It takes 9 hours and you now have to buy separate tickets for train, ferry & French train, there are long walks between train & ferry on both sides of the Channel and it costs more than a cheap advance-purchase Eurostar ticket.  But you get to sail across the English Channel, 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 be cheaper.  There's also an overnight 'sleeper' option, with a cosy cabin on the overnight Portsmouth-Caen ferry.  

Short breaks to Paris

For cheap breaks from the UK to Paris combining Eurostar with a hotel, check the following companies.  A short break is sometimes cheaper than booking Eurostar and a hotel separately - and if you need to travel at short notice, sometimes cheaper than a regular Eurostar ticket.

  Railbookers, www.railbookers.co.uk

  Eurostar, www.eurostar.com

  Last Minute, www.lastminute.com

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Other UK towns & cities to Paris

Use a London International CIV ticket

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

These exist from most stations in Britain, they include the Underground fare across London to St Pancras if needed, they generally have few or no time restrictions (so an off-peak price may apply 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 CIV, see the Starting Your Journey from the UK Regions page.

Or book Britain to France at www.raileurope.com

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

West of England or South Coast to Paris

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.  Check ferry routes, times & fares at the Direct Ferries website which covers all routes & operators, or at www.brittany-ferries.co.uk, www.dfds.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 or www.raileurope.com.  Finally, check train times & fares from the French port to Paris and book online at www.sncf-connect.com, www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.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 more information see here.

Scotland to Paris

By daytime trains:  You can buy tickets from Glasgow or Edinburgh to Paris by daytime inter-city train & Eurostar at www.raileurope.com.  Or 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.

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 around £55, or Dublin to London for €52 each way, see the Northern Ireland page or Ireland page for timetables, fares & full details.  Then book Eurostar separately at www.eurostar.com, from £52 one-way or £78 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.raileurope.com or www.sncf-connect.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

• The Disney train won't run after June 2023:  For years, a Eurostar has run direct from London to Disneyland Paris several times a week.  It was suspended during the pandemic, but resumed in 2022.  However, Eurostar have announced that it will not run after 6 June 2023.

• Until 6 June 2023, the direct Eurostar runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays and on additional dates in school holidays, leaving London St Pancras at 10:14, arriving Marne la Vallée-Chessy, the station next to Disneyland Paris, at 14:04.  The entrance to the Disneyland Park, Disney Studios & Planet Hollywood is just outside the station to the right.

  In the return direction it leaves Marne la Vallée-Chessy (Disneyland) on Fridays & Sundays at 16:55, arriving London St Pancras at 18:47.  It also ran on Mondays & Wednesdays at 17:59 arriving London 19:46.  Remember to allow time for the minimum 30 minute Eurostar check-in, at the top floor level of Marne la Vallée-Chessy station.

• The alternative:  Book a regular Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Nord 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 Châtelet les Halles or Gare de Lyon, journey time about 58 minutes, fare a few euros (see www.ratp.fr), OR you can use www.raileurope.com to book a journey from London to Marne la Vallée by Eurostar and French TGV train with one easy change at Lille.

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

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London to Versailles

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

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

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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.

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

Which route to choose?

• Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille:  By Eurostar to Lille Europe and make a simple same-station change onto a direct TGV from Lille to Marseille for an onward train to Cannes or Nice.  This is the easiest option as there's no need to cross Paris, although not the most frequent or fastest.

• Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Paris:  By Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, change stations in Paris by taxi or metro, then take an impressive double-deck TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Cannes or Nice.  This is the fastest option with the widest choice of departures.  It's often cheaper than going via Lille, too.  How about lunch in Paris at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant?

• Option 3, by Eurostar & the Paris-Nice sleeper:  Take Eurostar to Paris, have dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant and sleep your way to St Raphael (for St Tropez), Cannes, Antibes or Nice in a cosy couchette.

• Option 4, by Eurostar & lo-cost Ouigo train:  By Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, change stations in Paris by taxi or metro, then by lo-cost high-speed budget-airline-on-rails Ouigo train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice.  Ouigo fares from Paris to Nice start at just €19, but it's a no-frills train with no catering, no 1st class and airline-style baggage fees.

• Option 5, the ferry alternative:  It's slower & usually costlier than Eurostar, but if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, live on the south coast, or travel at short notice when Eurostar is expensive, it's a viable option.  Travel from London to Paris by train & ferry either via Dover-Calais or overnight via Portsmouth-Caen as shown here.  Then take onward trains from Paris, booked at www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com.

What's the journey to Nice like?

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

Option 1, London to Nice via Lille

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

Timetable outward

Timetable inward

Notes for the timetable

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

How to buy tickets   Tips for changing trains at Lille   How to reach St Tropez, Monte Carlo, Juan les Pins, Menton

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

How much does it cost?

• London to Lille by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way, £78 return standard class or £115 one-way, £199 return in standard premier (1st class).

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

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

• 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.

How to buy tickets

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

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Lille by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Lille to the South of France by TGV

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

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Option 2, London to Nice via Paris

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

Timetable outward

Timetable inward

Notes for the timetable

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

Eurostar links London & Paris almost every hour, there's no obligation to book the exact one shown above as connecting with a particular TGV.  By all means book an earlier one if it has cheaper tickets available or if to spend some time in Paris between trains.  Lunch at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?

Always check train times for your specific dates using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, as the times shown here can vary.  Don't book any Eurostar tickets until you have confirmed onward train times.  Eurostar doesn't run on 25 December.  How to reach St Tropez, Monte Carlo, Juan les Pins, Menton

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Cannes or Nice starts at €25 each way.

• 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.

How to buy tickets

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

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at Paris Nord.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Cannes or Nice by TGV Duplex

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

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Option 3, London to Nice by sleeper

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

London ► Toulon, Cannes, Antibes, Nice

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, normally leaving London St Pancras at 15:31 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 18:50.

  You can take the 16:22 Eurostar from London if you like, but as you're catching a sleeper I'd play safe and book the 15:31.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to the Côte d'Azur by Intercité de Nuit overnight train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:04 every day, arriving Toulon 07:09, St Raphael (for St Tropez) 08:07, Cannes 08:31, Antibes 08:43 & Nice Ville 09:08.

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

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

Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Toulon ► London

• Step 1, travel from the Côte d'Azur to Paris by Intercité de Nuit overnight train, leaving Nice Ville at 19:11, Antibes 19:34, Cannes 19:46, St Raphael 20:13 & Toulon 21:12, arriving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 07:54 next morning.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 11:13 arriving London St Pancras 12:30.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to the South of France by overnight train starts at €19 in a reclining seat, €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €59 in a 1st class couchette.

• Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

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

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

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

  Eurostar should always be booked as a round trip if you're returning, as Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways, but Paris-Nice is one-way ticketed so it makes no difference whether you book a round trip as a return or as two one-ways.  I find it easier to book one way at a time!  By all means book one way by sleeper, the other way by TGV.

• Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, sometimes less for these overnight trains.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• If you want sole occupancy of a 4-berth couchette compartment for 1, 2 or 3 people, see the instructions on the Intercités de Nuit page.

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at Paris Nord.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Cannes or Nice by Intercité de Nuit

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

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Option 4, London to Nice by lo-cost Ouigo

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

There's no reason why you can't use a Eurostar ticket from London to Paris and a lo-cost Ouigo ticket from Paris to Cannes or Nice, as long as you allow plenty of time between trains in Paris, meaning 2 or 3 hours not the usual hour you can safely allow with regular trains.

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

London ► Cannes, Nice

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 10:22 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 13:57, or any earlier departure.

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Nice by Ouigo high-speed train, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:10 daily, arriving Cannes at 21:26 & Nice at 21:59.  There's no catering, so bring food & drink.

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

Nice, Cannes ► London

• Step 1, travel from Nice to Paris by Ouigo high-speed train, leaving Nice at 06:01 or Cannes at 06:31, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 11:46.  There's no catering on Ouigo, so bring food & drink with you.

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

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

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

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

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

How to buy tickets

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

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

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

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at Paris Nord.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Cannes or Nice by Ouigo

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

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Connections on the Cote d'Azur

St Tropez

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

• Step 2, travel from St Raphael to St Tropez by bus, departure every hour or so, journey time 1h25, fare around €3.

  Buses leave St Raphael bus station (Gare Routière in French, located right next to the railway station) and arrive at St Tropez bus station.  See zou.maregionsud.fr for bus times (English selector at the bottom of the page or click menu and look for the English selector).  You can use the journey planner or click menu then schedules and enter bus 876 (formerly 7601).

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

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

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

Juan les Pins, Villefranche sur Mer, Beaulieu sur Mer

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

Monaco-Monte Carlo, Menton & Ventimiglia

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

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How to buy train tickets to France

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

	For hotels... www.booking.com allows you to book your accommodation before train bookings open, with free cancellation. Click here for suggested hotels in Paris.

Option 1, buy at Raileurope.com

• Go to www.raileurope.com

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

• When does booking open?

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

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

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

• Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead

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

• How to book

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

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

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

• Method 1

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

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

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

  3.  If you want to travel via Lille:

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

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

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

  4.  If you want to travel via Paris:

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

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

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

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

  7.  Check out, paying for all tickets as one transaction.

• Method 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Check out, paying for all tickets as one transaction.

• Travelling from the UK regions

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

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

• Child fares & infants

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

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

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

• Choose an upper deck seat on a TGV Duplex

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

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

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

• Check if a Carte Avantage will save money

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

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

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

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

• After booking, you can view & change your Eurostar seats

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

  You can also download the Eurostar app and load your Eurostar booking into it using the 6-character booking reference.  You can then manage your booking in the app should you need to change it.

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

Option 2, buy at Thetrainline.com

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

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

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

• Thetrainline.com can do several things Raileurope.com can't:  It can book lo-cost Ouigo trains, it can sell Espace Privatif on overnight trans, and it can sell tickets with a Carte Avantage discount (if you have such a card).

  Thetrainline.com also lets you choose your seat from a seat map on TGVs & Intercités when booking a 1st class ticket.

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

  Apart from these differences you should find prices are the same on both sites, it really comes down to personal preference.

Option 3, buy at SNCF-connect.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

  There is no ability to specify a stopover duration, so if you use it to book from London to a French destination all in one go, check that the time between trains in Paris is at least 60 minutes.  If it's less than this, or if you want more than this for a robust connection or to have lunch in Paris, you'll need to book London-Paris and Paris onwards as two separate bookings, as per method 2.

Or have your trip arranged as a package

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

    UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com

    Canada call 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com

    Australia call 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au

    New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or see website

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

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

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

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

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

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

Escorted tours to France by train

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

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

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

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

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London to Avignon, Aix, Marseille

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

Which route to choose?

• Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille:  This is the easiest option.  Take Eurostar to Lille Europe, where you make an easy same-station change onto a direct TGV to Avignon, Aix or Marseille.  No need to cross Paris, ideal if you've baggage, kids or mobility problems.

• Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Paris:  By Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, change stations by taxi or metro, then an impressive double-deck TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon, Aix or Marseille.  There's a much wider choice of departures and often cheaper fares this way.  How about lunch at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?  You can also travel time-effectively with an evening Eurostar to Paris after a full day's work, an overnight hotel then a morning TGV to the south taking just 2 or 3 hours.

• Option 3, by Eurostar a lo-cost Ouigo train.  A cheap option using France's budget-airline-on-rails.  This can be the cheapest option, but Ouigo trains have no first class, no catering, baggage limits.  Connections between Ouigo & Eurostar aren't covered by the Railteam arrangement if there's a delay, so you have to allow lots of time between trains Paris.

• Option 4, the ferry alternative:  It's slower & usually costlier than Eurostar, but if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, live on the south coast, or at short notice when Eurostar is expensive, it's a viable option.  Travel from London to Paris by train & ferry either via Dover-Calais or overnight via Portsmouth-Caen as shown here.  Then take onward trains from Paris, booked at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

• Option 5, by summer-only direct London-Lyon Eurostar:  Unfortunately, the direct Eurostar to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille has been cancelled for 2020 & 2021 due to COVID-19 and will probably not run in 2022 either.

Option 1, London to Provence via Lille

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

Timetable outward

Notes for the timetable

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

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

Shaded = time-effective journey with overnight stop in Lille.  I suggest the Crowne Plaza EuroLille or Novotel Suites Lille Europe, both hotels are located at Lille Europe station with good reviews.  By all means choose an earlier evening Eurostar and/or later morning TGV outbound, or an earlier afternoon TGV and/or later morning Eurostar inbound.

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

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

How much does it cost?

• London to Lille by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way, £78 return standard class or £115 one-way, £199 return in standard premier (1st class).

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

• 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.

How to buy tickets

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

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Lille by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Lille to the South of France by TGV

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

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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 2h20, change stations in Paris by metro or taxi as explained here, then take a 300 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Marseille in as little as 3h05.  Although a same-station change in Lille is easier (see option 1 above), you'll find a wider range of departures via Paris and often cheaper fares.  Why not take an earlier Eurostar and explore Paris, or have lunch at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon before boarding your TGV to the Sunny South of France?

Timetable outward

Timetable inward

Notes for the timetable

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

Eurostar links London & Paris almost every hour, there's no obligation to book the exact one shown above to connect with a particular TGV.  By all means book an earlier one if it has cheaper tickets available or if to spend some time in Paris between trains.  Lunch at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?

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

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

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

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

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

• 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.

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.

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

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

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

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Option 3, London to Provence by lo-cost Ouigo

In 2013, SNCF (French Railways) launched a budget-airline-on-rails called Ouigo, www.ouigo.com.  Ouigo operates several no-frills trains a day from Paris to Lyon, Aix en Provence, Avignon, Marseille, Nîmes & Montpellier using special double-deck TGV Duplex trains with one class, no catering, no 1st class.  Like budget airlines, there are baggage limits and extra fees for large or additional bags.  For more information about Ouigo including ticketing buying tips, travel tips & photos, see the Ouigo page.

There's no reason why you can't use a Eurostar ticket from London to Paris then a cheap Ouigo ticket from Paris to Lyon, Avignon, Aix or Marseille, as long as you allow plenty of time between trains, meaning several hours not the usual hour to cross Paris you'd allow with regular trains.

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

How to buy tickets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What are the trains like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at Paris Nord.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to the South of France by Ouigo

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

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London to Nîmes, Montpellier, Carcassonne, Perpignan

• Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille:  By Eurostar to Lille Europe and make a simple same-station change onto a direct 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, by Eurostar & TGV via Paris:  By Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, change stations in Paris by taxi or metro, then by impressive double-deck 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, by Eurostar & sleeper train from Paris to Carcassonne or Perpignan:  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 or Perpignan on the intercité de nuit overnight train.  This is the most time-effective option of all!

• Option 4, the ferry alternative:  It's slower & usually costlier than Eurostar, but if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, live on the south coast, or at short notice when Eurostar is expensive, it's an option.  Travel from London to Paris by train & ferry either via Dover-Calais or overnight via Portsmouth-Caen as shown here.  Then take onward trains from Paris, booked at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille

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

Timetable outward

Timetable inward

Notes for the timetable

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

*  Runs on Fridays, also runs on Thursdays & Sundays from 9 March to 5 November 2023.

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

***  Nimes Pont du Gard & Montpellier Sud de France are out-of-town stations several km from each city. Nimes & Montpellier St Roche are in the centres.

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

m = Change trains at Montpellier St Roch.  Times may vary, check online.

s = Change trains at Montpellier Sud de France.  Times may vary, check online.

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

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

How much does it cost?

• London to Lille by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way, £78 return standard class or £115 one-way, £199 return in standard premier (1st class).

• Lille to Nimes, Montpellier or Perpignan by TGV starts at €25 each way.

• 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.

How to buy tickets

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

• When using www.raileurope.com, remember to click More options and enter Lille Europe if you want to find journeys via Lille.

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Lille by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Lille to the South of France by TGV

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

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Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Paris

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

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

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

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

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

Option 3, by Eurostar & sleeper train

This is the most time-effective option.  The Paris-Perpignan-Cerbère intercité de nuit overnight train was discontinued in 2016, but it was saved and reinstated in 2017, running daily in summer, only Friday & Sunday nights off-season.  It leaves Paris attached to the Paris-Toulouse intercité de nuit and it now serves Carcassone as well as Perpignan.  It has 4-berth 1st class and 6-berth 2nd class couchettes.  If you want to use it, here's how.

London  ► Carcassonne, Narbonne, Perpignan, Port Vendres

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 15:31, arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 18:50.

  In theory you can take the later 16:22 Eurostar, but when catching a sleeper I'd play safe and take an earlier train.

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

  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?

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Carcassone or Perpignan by intercité de nuit overnight train, running daily in summer (July to September) and Friday & Sunday nights in winter.  It leaves Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:14 (time may vary) and arrives Carcassone at 07:34, Narbonne 08:13, Perpignan at 09:17, Collioure 09:43, Port Vendres 09:48 & Cerebère 10:03.

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

  You can check if it's running on your dates at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com, but don't look further than 2 or 3 months ahead.

Port Vendres, Perpignan, Narbonne, Carcassone  ► London

• Step 1, 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 18:32, Collioure 18:47, Port Vendres 18:52, Perpignan 19:21, Narbonne 20:43, Carcassone 21:22, arriving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 06:50. 

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

  You can check if it's running on your dates at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com, but don't look further than 2 or 3 months ahead.

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 09:03 and arriving London St Pancras at 10:39.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Carcassone, Perpignan or Cerbère starts at €35 one-way in a 6-berth 2nd class couchette or €63 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.  Children under 4 go free, without their own seat or berth.

How to buy tickets

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.  Click here for 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.thetrainline.com & www.sncf-connect.com, but not at other websites selling French train tickets.

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What's the sleeper train like?

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

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London to Biarritz, Hendaye & Lourdes

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

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

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

• Option 3, by Eurostar & sleeper train.  New from the timetable change on 13 December 2021, an Intercité de Nuit sleeper train is reinstated between Paris Gare d'Austerlitz & Tarbes/Lourdes.  This is the most time-effective option.  I recommend dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling over the bridge across the Seine to the nearby Gare d'Austerlitz to catch the sleeper south!

• Option 4, the ferry alternative:  It's slower & usually costlier than Eurostar, but if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, live on the south coast, or at short notice when Eurostar is expensive, it's an option.  Travel from London to Paris by train & ferry either via Dover-Calais or overnight via Portsmouth-Caen as shown here.  Then take onward trains from Paris, booked at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Timetable outward

Timetable inward

Notes for the timetable

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

s = On Sunday mornings, the earliest Eurostar connection is at 08:13 from Paris arriving London at 09:30.

Eurostar links London & Paris almost every hour, there's no obligation to book the exact one shown above to connect with a particular onward train.  By all means book an earlier one if it has cheaper tickets available or if to spend some time in Paris between trains.

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

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Biarritz or Lourdes by TGV starts at €25 each way.

• 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.

How to buy tickets

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

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at Paris Nord.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Southwest France by TGV Duplex Océane

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

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London to Lyon & Grenoble

• Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille:  This is the easiest option.  Take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille Europe and make a simple same-station interchange onto a direct TGV to Lyon Part Dieu, with no need to cross 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 change at Lille are shown in the timetables below.  Map of Lyon showing station.

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

• Option 3, the ferry alternative:  It's slower & usually costlier than Eurostar, but if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, live on the south coast, or at short notice when Eurostar is expensive, it's an option.  Travel from London to Paris by train & ferry either via Dover-Calais or overnight via Portsmouth-Caen as shown here.  Then take onward trains from Paris, booked at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

• Option 4, summer-only direct London-Lyon Eurostar:  Unfortunately, the direct Eurostar to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille was cancelled in 2020, 2021 due to COVID-19 and won't run in 2022.  It may not run in 2023, we shall see...

Option 1, London to Lyon & Grenoble via Lille

Timetable outward

Notes for the timetable

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

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

How much does it cost?

• London to Lille by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way, £78 return standard class or £115 one-way, £199 return in standard premier (1st class).

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

• 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.

How to buy tickets

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

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Lille by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

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

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

Option 2, London to Lyon via Paris

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

Train times

• Eurostar links London St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord almost every hour taking 2h20.  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi, then TGV Duplex trains link Paris Gare de Lyon with Lyon Part Dieu every hour taking 2 hours.

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

  Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris southbound, 90 minutes northbound (as northbound you have to allow for the Eurostar check-in).

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

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

• 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.

How to buy tickets

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

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

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

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

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London to Bordeaux

• Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille.  This is the easiest option.  Take Eurostar to Lille Europe in 1h30 and make an easy interchange in Lille onto a direct double-deck TGV Duplex to Bordeaux now taking as little as 4h26 with no need to change trains and stations in Paris.  Relax over a glass 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 you can see in the timetable below, and most involve a short 500m 6-minute walk between Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations, as shown by the little 'f' against their departure time from Lille.

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

• Option 3, the ferry alternative:  It's slower & usually costlier than Eurostar, but if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, live on the south coast, or at short notice when Eurostar is expensive, it's an option.  Travel from London to Paris by train & ferry either via Dover-Calais or overnight via Portsmouth-Caen as shown here.  Then take onward trains from Paris, booked at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Option 1, London to Bordeaux via Lille

Timetable outward

Timetable inward

Notes for the timetable

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

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

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

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

Shaded = time-effective journey with overnight stop in Lille.  By all means choose an earlier evening Eurostar outbound, or later morning Eurostar inbound.  I suggest the Crowne Plaza EuroLille or Novotel Suites Lille Europe, both hotels are located at Lille Europe station with good reviews.

How much does it cost?

• London to Lille by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way, £78 return standard class or £115 one-way, £199 return in standard premier (1st class).

• Lille to Bordeaux by TGV starts at €25 each way.

• 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.

How to buy tickets

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

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

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Lille by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Lille to Bordeaux by TGV

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

Option 2, London to Bordeaux via Paris

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

Train times

• Eurostar links London St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord almost every hour taking 2h20.  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi, then take a TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux St Jean taking just over 2 hours.  Most Paris-Bordeaux TGVs are the new double-deck TGV Duplex Océane with a cafe-bar & free WiFi.

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

  I'd allow at least 1 hour 10 minutes between trains in Paris southbound, 2 hours northbound (as northbound you have to allow for the Eurostar check-in).

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

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

• 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.

How to buy tickets

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

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

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

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

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

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London to Strasbourg

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

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

• Option 3, the ferry alternative:  This is slower & usually costlier than Eurostar, but if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, live on the south coast, or at short notice when Eurostar is expensive, it's a viable option.  Travel from London to Paris by train & ferry via Dover-Calais or overnight via Portsmouth-Caen as shown here.  Then take a train from Paris to Strasbourg, booked at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Option 1, London to Strasbourg via Lille

Timetable outward

Timetable inward

Notes for the timetable

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

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

Shaded = time-effective journey with overnight stop in Lille.  By all means choose an earlier evening Eurostar.  I suggest the Crowne Plaza EuroLille or Novotel Suites Lille Europe, both hotels are located at Lille Europe station with good reviews.

How much does it cost?

• London to Lille by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way, £78 return standard class or £115 one-way, £199 return in standard premier (1st class).

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

• 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.

How to buy tickets

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

What are the trains like?

1. London to Lille by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Lille to Strasbourg by TGV

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

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London to Limoges, Brive & Toulouse

Take Eurostar to Paris.  There are then two rail routes from Paris to Toulouse:  The classic route from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to Toulouse via Limoges & Brive uses conventional 200 km/h (125 mph) trains.  The high-speed route from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Toulouse via Bordeaux uses 300 km/h (186 mph) TGVs, this is a longer way round but it's still faster, especially since 2 July 2017 when the Tours-Bordeaux high-speed line opened.

Timetable outward via high-speed line

Timetable outward via classic route

Timetable inward via high-speed line

Timetable inward via classic route

Notes for the timetable

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

*  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.

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

Eurostar links London & Paris almost every hour, there's no obligation to book the exact one shown above to connect with a particular onward train.  By all means book an earlier one if it has cheaper tickets available or if to spend some time in Paris between trains.

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

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Limoges starts at €20 each way. 

• Paris to Toulouse starts at €25 each way.

• 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.

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.

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at Paris Nord.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Toulouse by TGV Duplex Océane

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

...or Paris to Limoges, Brive or Toulouse by Intercité

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

...or Paris to Toulouse by Intercité de nuit sleeper train

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

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London to Vichy & Clermont Ferrand

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

Timetable outward

Timetable inward

Notes for the timetable

Eurostar links London & Paris almost every hour, there's no obligation to book the exact one shown above to connect with a particular onward train.  By all means book an earlier one if it has cheaper tickets available or if to spend some time in Paris between trains.  Lunch at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?

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

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

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

• 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.

How to buy tickets

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

Using an Interrail pass

• Using an Interrail pass for a straightforward round trip from London to France usually costs more than cheap advance-purchase tickets booked a few months ahead.  But if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, or you live far from London, it can be a useful alternative.  How to travel to France using an Interrail pass.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

Eurostar e320 at Paris Nord.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Vichy & Clermont by Intercité

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

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