London to Paris Day Trip

[Tedirene]

Hi,

 

We are looking at doing a day trip on Eurostar from London to Paris in September. Has anyone done this? Is it feasible? Any suggestions, please.

 

Ted

[MarlboroBell]

I've done it. It's entirely feasible. You'll be looking at a very long day though -- very probably an early start and a late finish. (I've even done Eurostar as a day trip to Disneyland, but they've changed the timings of the Disney train and it's less feasible these days.)

 

I'd say a two-day, one-night trip works better, but on the first train out/last train back you can be in Paris by 9am and leave at 9pm. You'll be exhausted the next day, though!

[TLCOhio]

Hi, We are looking at doing a day trip on Eurostar from London to Paris in September. Has anyone done this? Is it feasible? Any suggestions, please. Ted

 

There have been earlier posts on this board and/or the French board about this subject. YES, it's possible. The Eurostar is fast and nice going from London to Paris. And, back. But, you will consume a net of about five hours or so traveling just in the train. Then you have the added time getting to the train station, checking in, logistics in Paris, etc. Depending on what you are doing the day before and after such a long trip, plus your personal energy levels, it can be a long, demanding day. Paris is Paris!!! It's fun and exciting. If you haven't been there and you want a small sampler, it can work. Is it worth in time and cost? That's a personal decision.

 

Tell us more about your past France travel experiences and interests for what you want to do and see in Paris. Below are some of my visual samples for what you can enjoy in Paris. Many of the top attractions are fairly close together and walking around there, on a nice weather day, can be heavenly.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

At the Tuileries, there are gardens, cafes and places to sit, watch and enjoy near the Louvre:

 

 

 

In Paris, along the Seine, this is a view of the Louvre from the d’Orsay Museum:

 

 

 

Looking at Notre Dame, this angle shows the flying buttresses supporting the walls:

 

 

 

Inside the d”Orsay Museum with post-1850’s art, an old train station was converted to housing treasures, including from Monet, van Gogh, Renoir, etc.:

 

 

 

 

On a nice Paris day, people are enjoying the Louvre courtyard, the Louvre's famed glass pyramid by architect IM Pei and in the background the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel built in 1805: :

 

 

 

At the Sunday market near the Bastille, fresh seafood:

 

[Tedirene]

Marlborobell,

 

Thanks for the information. I had a look at the timetable and saw that it would be a long day. We are booked on the Star Princess from the 9th Sept so will have 26 days to get over it.:D

 

Terry,

 

Thanks for your information and great photos. Sorry about posting something that had already been done - didn't see it. I/we have never been to France before - this will be our first time. As I said above, we will have a few weeks to get over the "trauma":D We were looking at an organised package for the day, including the train.

 

Ted

[Giantfan13]

Hi,

 

We are looking at doing a day trip on Eurostar from London to Paris in September. Has anyone done this? Is it feasible? Any suggestions, please.

 

Ted

 

Ok Ted, you are talking to the expert here. (LOL). We did this exact thing last august, so what would you like to know.

 

Yes, it is a very long day, but what the hell. If this may be your only chance to see Paris, even if it is only for a day, go for it..

The Eurostar is great and was also a thrill to ride. We didn't take the very first train out, I believe we caught an 8:30 train, arrived in Paris at about 11AM. It gets youto Gard Nord.

From there, you can buy some sort of Travel pass for Paris. From Gard Nord, you can walk a bit, still underground, to one of the Paris Metro stations. If you really need help, I can look it up.

From our itinerary, we went first to Sacre Coeur (a couple of stops on the metro). from there we walked to Pigalle to see the Moulin Rouge. Back on the metro to the Arc of Triumph. Switch metro lines and go to the Eiffel Tower. From there we took the Bat a Bus which is the sort of hop on hop off cruise boat that travels along the Seine from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame and back. It stops at all the major sites. We took the boat to the Louve, went in to view some of the works of art, walked along the Seine to Notre Dame, stopping where we wanted along the way. WE wandered around Notre Dame for a while, then rode the Bat a Bus an entire loop back to Notre Dame (takes about 90 minutes). From Notre Dame we took the metro back to Gard Nord to catch the Eurostar back to London. We again didn't do the very last train of the evening just in case we missed our train we wanted to make sure there was one after us. We got back to London about 10PM (I think).

Again, yes it was a long day, lot's of walking, but do we regret it, NOT ONE BIT.

Just a note though, we didn't go up the Eiffel Tower as the lines were just too long, and we didn't go up into the tower at Notre Dame. We did go in Notre Dame, but if you want to go up into the tower, the lines are just too long, and we felt we would rather spend that time doing other things.

Go for it, you will not regret it. You will regret not going if you never have the chance to get back there and missed your opportunity to see Paris, if only for the day.

 

If I can be of any more help,. please ask away. I can look up more detailed info if you need it.

Just to tantalize you a bit, here are a few pix of our trip

 

First stop, the monument at Sacre Coeur

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europept2332.jpg

 

Up close and personal in the Lourve

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europept2447.jpg

 

The flowing fountains in the courtyard of the Louvre

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europept2473.jpg

 

Notre Dame in all it's grandeur on a glorious day

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europept2496.jpg

 

Strolling along the Seine, shopping at the vendors selling books, art and all sorts of stuff

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europept2490.jpg

 

On the Bat a Bus, sailing by the Eiffel tower

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europept2546.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Len

[FritzG]

We did it too. DH surprised me with the day trip to Paris while we were on a UK land trip. We took a very early train to Paris, and we were both able to sleep a bit. We took the ho/ho bus and got to see lots of Paris. We had a wonderful lunch at the restaurant at Musee d'Orsay. Then we took a fairly late train back to London. Was it a busy hectic day? Sure! Would we do it again? Definitely!! It's one of my fondest travel memories especially since it was a surprise from DH. One of the neatest things was that I remembered so much of the French I had learned in HS and college. It wasn't until DH asked if I knew what a store's sign said that I realized I was reading all of the signs and other things perfectly!

[skisteamboat]

I did something similar two years ago by taking the Eurostar to Brussels and then on the Belgium National Rail to Brugge. The Eurostar ticket allowsed free travel on the Belgium rail system.

 

If you want a guided day trip, check http://www.viator.com.

 

Cheers

[Tedirene]

Len,

 

Thanks for the information. From what you posted I starting to think you are right - we are talking to the experts!:D I really appreciated your response and we are now deciding whether to do it on own or with a tour guide. If I need any more details I will certainly post again!

 

Fritzg

 

A great surprise from DH - you have convinced us to go with it. Not having been there before we were a bit reluctant but you have given us confidence, thanks

 

skistreamboat,

 

Thanks. Checked out Viator and they had some good options there, both individual and group tours.

 

Ted

[cruzmaven]

We did this on an escorted tour last summer. We were picked up at our London hotel early and taken to the Eurostar station (too early as we sat around St Pancras for over an hour waiting for the tour kiosk to open and for our guide to arrive. We were in Paris by 10:30 or so local time, had a bus tour around the city, ended up at the Eifel Tower, escorted past the line, and up to the second level. After about 45 minutes at the tower we had a boat tour up and down the Seine (the exact type of boat photographed above) from the tower past Notre Dame and back. Then back on the bus for a short ride to the Louve for a few hours there. Then some time around the Opera House for shopping and coffee at a sidewalk cafe. I think we were back on the Eurostar around 8:30 and we were back in our Hotel by 11PM. We opted for first class on the Eurostar which gave us some more room and food and drinks.

 

Long, long day, not everything was perfect, but it was a nice introduction of Paris and a taste of the city. Wouldn't do it this was if we were familiar with the City and had more time, but as a day trip for newbies, it was very nice.

 

I remember the same tour is offered by several different names but is the same company. Prices vary depending on which site you book it through, so shop around - Viatour may not be your best option.

[John Bull]

 

Bat a Bus

 

Len

 

Bus drivers & francophiles will cringe :eek:

But I love it :D

 

Try "bateau bus" ;)

 

Salut,

Jean Le Taureau

[Giantfan13]

Sorry, my 4 years of High School french did absolutely nothing for me. LOL

 

Cheers

 

Len

[FritzG]

Len,

 

Thanks for the information. From what you posted I starting to think you are right - we are talking to the experts!:D I really appreciated your response and we are now deciding whether to do it on own or with a tour guide. If I need any more details I will certainly post again!

 

Fritzg

 

A great surprise from DH - you have convinced us to go with it. Not having been there before we were a bit reluctant but you have given us confidence, thanks

Ted

 

I'm glad you're going for it. I'm sure you'll have a great day.