Train Travel

How to travel by train from London to France . . .

Standard Country information

The main train operator in France is SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer). Timetables and booking is available by visiting www.voyages-sncf.com

Tourist information: visit www.franceguide.com

Hotels & guesthouses: visit www.expedia.co.uk.

Backpacker hostels: visit www.hostelbookers.com

Paris bus & métro: visit www.ratp.fr

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

Currency: £1 = approx 1.4 Euros. $1 = approx 0.8 euros

UK to France by train

Without doubt the most popular tourist attraction in Paris is The Eiffel Tower, built in 1889 - a sight not to be missed on a trip of the capital. It's easy to travel by train from the UK to France. Eurostar from London to Lille only takes 1 hour 40 minutes, then change onto a TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse - High Speed Train) to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan, Bordeaux, Rennes, or Nantes in just a few hours. Alternatively jump on the afternoon to Paris then the overnight 'Train Bleu' from Paris to Toulon, Cannes, Nice or Monaco-Monte Carlo. London to Paris is £59 return, Lyon or Bordeaux £99, Marseille, Perpignan, or Nice £109.

London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train from London (Waterloo station) to Paris (Gare du Nord) via the Channel Tunnel. Its a regular service running approximately every hour through the day. It takes 2 hours 40 minutes - Eurostar reaches 186 mph (300 km/h) on lines capable of allowing this speed. Amazingly, Eurostar is faster than flying from central London to central Paris as well as more reliable.

Eurostar times & fares - www.eurostar.com

For the cheapest seats on Eurostar - book in advance. Booking early gets you from London to Paris starting at £59 return 2nd class or £139 return 1st class (Saturday night required unless you book at least 21 days in advance - it's a leisure return fare, limited but good availability, no refunds, no changes). Eurostar doesn't run on Christmas Day. Some Eurostars Stops can include Ashford in Kent Lille in Northern France. and a few at Calais Fréthun station a few kilometres outside Calais.

Scotland & the North of England to Paris

You will need to purchase a separate train ticket to get to the Eurostar station, but a few UK train companies offer special fares from UK stations to Paris. GNER (0845 7 225 225, www.gner.co.uk) offer fares to Paris from Leeds or York (from £91 return) and Edinburgh (from £101 return). Direct fares are available from ScotRail from Scotland to Paris or Brussels via the overnight sleeper to London then Eurostar - see www.firstscotrail.com. Most UK stations sell saver tickets to 'London International' which includes an underground fare across to Waterloo station with virtually no time restrictions so you can travel affordably even in the Monday-Friday business peaks. You cannot buy these tickets online, only from ticket offices when you show your Eurostar ticket or booking reference. Sometimes, a cheap Advance fare to London can be cheaper than a Saver to London International, so check fares to London at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

If Paris is just the start of your travels, www.eurostar.com can now book tickets to the most popular destinations in France. It is often better, however, to book journeys beyond Paris either through a specialist ticketing agency or online at www.voyages-sncf.com.

If you're travelling from London to Paris, the easiest and cheapest way to book is online at www.eurostar.com. Tickets can be sent to any UK address, or you can choose to pick up tickets at the station before departure. You can also book by calling Eurostar on 0870 5 186 186 (+870 5 186 186 from outside the UK). Eurostar bookings are now available to purchase up to 4 months before departure.

Even at 186mph Eurostar trains are very smooth and quiet. An meal and free drinks are included. Passengers can use either of the two bar cars serving drinks and snacks. Eurostar is entirely non-smoking. There are now two categories of first class on Eurostar, 'business' first class with flexible tickets, access to VIP lounges in London, Paris & Brussels and a 15 minute minimum check-in, and 'leisure select' 1st class, with much cheaper fares but no flexibility, a 30-minute minimum check-in and no access to lounges.

Eurostar + Hotel: City breaks to Paris<./p>

You can find short breaks to Paris combining Eurostar and hotel at www.eurostar.com and www.lastminute.com.

Help the environment - travel by Eurostar

Research commissioned by Eurostar has estimated that a trip from London to Paris on an aeroplane emits 122kg of CO2 per passenger, whereas a Eurostar train emits 11 Kg of CO2 per passenger. Not only does the aeroplane emit 10 times the CO2 of Eurostar, the CO2 is emitted directly into the upper atmosphere which is proven to do more than 2.5 times the damage of the same emission at ground level.

Eurostar is moving to St Pancras from 14 November 2007

On 14 November 2007, the final section of the UK high speed line will open, and Eurostar will then move to St Pancras as its London terminal. The London-Paris journey time will be cut to just 2 hours 15 minutes, city centre to city centre.

Direct Eurostar to Disneyland Paris

It couldn't be easier to get to Disneyland Paris with a Eurostar train direct from London to Disneyland Paris every day. Leave London 09:30 and arriving Marne la Vallée-Chassy, the station right next to Disneyland Paris, at 13:30. Step outside the station and you are at the entrance to the Disneyland Park, Disney Studios and Planet Hollywood. Check times and book online at www.eurostar.com. To book holidays and short breaks to Disneyland Paris, including the Eurostar, hotel accommodation and entrance to the Disneyland park, visit www.disneylandparis.com.

You can still travel from London to Paris by train and ferry if you want, using a combined train+ferry ticket. A much longer journey than Eurostar, as well as less convenient but it is normally cheaper and you can watch the White Cliffs of Dover disappear in the distance.

With the opening of Eurostar in 1994, the stations at Dover Western Docks and Calais Maritime were closed, so you will need to take a bus (£1), taxi (£4) or walk between Dover Priory station and Dover Eastern Docks. Again in Calais, there are buses between the ferry terminal and Calais Ville station for the train to Paris, for a small charge.

Note: It is no longer possible to cross the Channel by SeaCat fast catamaran, as Hoverspeed stopped all Dover-Calais sailings from 7 November 2005. Only conventional ships remain for foot passengers.

South Eastern Trains sell combined train+ferry tickets from London to Calais or Paris with tickets available in advance or on the day of travel. The fare does not include the bus transfer between station and port in Dover and in Calais.

Tickets are available at Charing Cross station (ticket windows 7 & 8) either in advance or on the day of travel. To check times and fares visit www.rail-canterbury.co.uk or on 01227 450088. Train-ferry-train tickets to Paris can be combined with onward tickets to Spain, Italy, Switzerland etc.

London to the South of France overnight

For an easy overnight journey, you can leave London in the late afternoon and arrive in the South of France, with just one change at Lille. You could also travel from Paris on the Train Bleu.

London to Marseille, Cannes, Nice (via Lille, 29 June - 3 September 2006):

Leave London at 16:39 on Eurostar and arrive in Lille at 19:29 - a short walk to Lille Flandres station and then onto the overnight train from Lille to the south of France, leaving Lille Flandres at 21:25 and arriving next morning in Avignon at 06:32, Marseille at 07:49, Toulon at 08:50, Les Arcs at 09:32, St Raphael (closest to St Tropez) at 09:48, Cannes at 10:12, Antibes at 10:30, and Nice at 10:55. Change at Nice for Monaco-Monte Carlo, Menton and Ventimiglia. Running daily from 29 June to 3 September 2006, the southbound sleeper also runs on May 1, 24, 29, June 2, 4, 6. It has reclining seats, 6-berth 2nd class couchettes and 1st class 4-berth couchettes - be aware there is no sleeping car.

Nice, Cannes, Marseille - London (via Lille, 28 June - 2 September 2006):

The Northbound Nice-Lille overnight train runs daily from 28 June to 2 September 2006, also runs on May 23, 28, June 1, 3, 5. It leaves Nice at 19:11, Antibes at 19:33, Cannes at 19:47, St Raphael at 20:15, Les Arcs at 20:34, Toulon at 21:13 and Marseille at 22:04, Avignon at 23:08, arriving in Lille (Flandres station) next morning at 08:26. It has reclining seats, 6-berth 2nd class couchettes and 1st class 4-berth couchettes - again be aware there is no sleeping car. Return to Lille Europe station from Lille Flandres, a a short walk back - Eurostar leaves Lille (Europe station) at 10:12, arriving in London Waterloo at 10:58.

Fare from London to Lille:

A return ticket, 2nd class from £55 return 2nd class, £125 return first class (limited availability, Saturday night away, no refunds, non-changes). For one-way trips, buy a return and throw away the return portion.

Fare from Lille to: In a couchette

6-berth, 2nd class 4-berth, 1st class

Marseille: Cheapest one-way: £29 ('Prems' internet fare) £50 ('Prems' internet fare)

Cheapest return: £58 ('Prems' internet fare) £100 ('Prems' internet fare)

Full fare one-way: £78 £120

Nice: Cheapest one-way: £29 ('Prems' internet fare) £50 ('Prems' internet fare)

Cheapest return: £57 ('Prems' internet fare) £100 ('Prems' internet fare)

Full fare one-way: £84.50 £130

Reclining seats are available on overnight trains in France, 2nd class couchettes with 6-berth compartments, and 1st class couchettes with 4 berth compartments are also available. Some French night trains still have a sleeping-car with 1- & 2-berth rooms.

Sleeping cars called T2 are used by the French Railways, with real beds in compact, carpeted rooms. A great design with nine 'lower' rooms for use as 2-berth or 1-berth, and nine 2-berth 'upper' rooms with a small sofa and two beds up in the roof space on either side. All bed linen, soap and towels are supplied, and all rooms have a washbasin. An attendant can supply drinks and snacks. You will need to have a 2nd class ticket to travel in a 2 berth sleeper and a 2nd class sleeper supplement. For a single room you will need a 1st class ticket or railpass + 1st class sleeper supplement. For passengers of the same sex, travelling alone who do not want to pay for a 1st class ticket and single supplement may book a berth in a 2-berth room which they will share with another passenger of the same sex. All sleeper compartments have a normal lock and a security lock which CANNOT be opened from outside, even with a staff key, so you'll be both safe and snug.

Couchettes are basic padded bunks, each supplied with a clean pillow and (on French night trains, replacing the traditional sheet and blanket) a special lightweight sleeping-bag. 2nd class couchettes have 6 bunks in each compartment (upper, middle & lower on each side of the compartment), 1st class couchettes have 4 bunks (upper & lower each side of the compartment). There are washrooms and toilets at the end of the corridor.

French Railways (SNCF) have now relaunched their overnight service as 'Corail Lunéa', and passengers get a small bottle of mineral water, earplugs and tissues. There's a security lock on the door which CANNOT be opened from outside (even with a staff key), and plenty of staff are on duty if you need them. Only passengers with tickets and reservations are allowed on board, and there are minimal stops between midnight and 06:00 to ensure a smooth and secure journey through the night.

Men and women are mixed in couchettes, as you don't normally fully undress, but on French night trains, women travelling alone can ask for a berth in a ladies-only compartment if they prefer. If you have children, you can ask the train staff for an additional child safety rail for their bunk. France is one of the few countries which have 1st class couchettes. These are more comfortable than 2nd class couchettes, but not as comfortable as 2nd class sleepers. To travel in a 1st class couchette, you need a 1st class ticket or railpass + couchette supplement.

London to Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo - using the 'Train Bleu'...

Use the famous 'Train Bleu' overnight sleeper from Paris to the South of France. Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London at 15:11 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 18:53. Cross by métro to Paris Gare d'Austerlitz. The 'Train Bleu' leaves Paris Austerlitz at 21:17 daily, arriving in Toulon at 05:57, Les Arcs at 06:39, St Raphael (closest to St Tropez) at 07:05, Cannes 07:33, Antibes 07:52, Nice at 08:15, Monte Carlo at 08:38, Menton at 08:48 and Ventimiglia at 08:59. It has reclining seats, 2nd class 6-bunk couchettes, 4-bunk 1st class couchettes, and a sleeping car with 1 and 2 bed compartments.

Monte Carlo, Nice, Cannes to London - using the 'Train Bleu'...

The northbound 'Train Bleu' leaves Ventimiglia at 20:01, Menton at 20:14, Monte Carlo at 20:25, Nice at 20:49, Antibes at 21:08, Cannes at 21:22, St Raphael at 21:49, Les Arcs at 22:15 and Toulon at 22:56, arriving at Paris (Gare d'Austerlitz) at 07:45 next morning. It has reclining seats, 2nd class 6-bunk couchettes, 4-bunk 1st class couchettes, and a sleeping-car with 1 and 2 bed compartments. A Eurostar leaves Paris Nord at 10:19, arriving back in London at 11:55.

The easiest and cheapest way to book is online at the French Railways website www.voyages-sncf.com. Bookings open 90 days before departure. To get the best deals you need to know what you are doing - don't try to book your ticket direct from London to the South of France - the premium prices will be shown. Investigate your trip in stages - London to Lille return and then Lille to the South and France and back. Special 'Prems' internet fares start at just 40 euros one way from Lille to Nice including couchette.

Tickets can be posted to any UK address if you request it. Select 'payment online in euros' if you want to see the cheap 'Prems' fares, as these fares will not show up if you select 'payment in GBP by contacting Rail Europe in London'. You can collect your tickets from any main train station in France if your journey starts there.

If you live overseas, www.voyages-sncf.com will send tickets to many countries, but not to USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Singapore. To get round this, you can book the Eurostar online at www.eurostar.com, selecting the option to pick up tickets at the station in London. Then you can book the French train online at www.voyages-sncf.com, leaving 'France' selected which allows you to pick up tickets at the ticket office in Lille or Paris.

London to the South of France by TGV

France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) travels through most of France at speeds of up to 186 mph. Take the Eurostar to Lille and change onto a high-speed TGV direct to Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Toulouse, Angoulême, Nîmes, Montpellier, with no need to cross Paris. There are new double decker TGV Duplex on some trains from Lille to Marseille. TGVs have first and second class, with a buffet-bar car serving drinks and snacks. TGVs are completely non-smoking.

TGVs run all over France

**TIMETABLE**

Double-check train times for your date of travel using www.voyages-sncf.com. Regular buses link St Raphael with St Tropez.

Avignon TGV station is 3 miles from Avignon city centre. A shuttle bus meets most arrivals and departures, taking 10 minutes to or from the city.

Aix en Provence TGV station is 10 miles from Aix city centre. Double-check train times for your date of travel at www.voyages-sncf.com.

Special combined Eurostar & TGV fare from London to Avignon, Marseille, Toulon, Cannes, Nice, Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan, or Narbonne : From £109 return 2nd class, £189 return 1st class.

As cheaper seats are sold, prices increase - so book early and shop around for the best prices. Seats must be booked at least 14 days in advance and are not valid on overnight trains. A slightly cheaper journey is sometimes possible, combining a Eurostar fare London-Paris with ultra-cheap 'prems' fares for train journeys within France.

London to Paris by Eurostar:

Paris to Perpignan, Nice, etc. by overnight train: In a 2nd class: Regular fare (approx): £60 return £90 return £120 return

How to buy tickets - online at www.eurostar.com:

The easiest way to book train tickets from London to destinatins in France is direct with www.eurostar.com. Generally you will get the cheapest fares available, but overnight trains have to be booked separately and its only to the major destinations in France.

Reservations open 90 days before departure. Tickets are sent to any UK address or you can choose to pick them up at Waterloo station in London on departure. Cheaper tickets may involve changing trains at Lille which is easy - a journey across Paris is rush hour is less attractive.

All destinations in France accessible by visiting www.raileurope.co.uk and www.voyages-sncf.com. These sites give you more control over your journey, and will also book overnight trains. www.eurostar.com will only show the combined Eurostar+TGV through fares from London. Using www.raileurope.co.uk and www.voyages-sncf.com, you can sometimes find a slightly cheaper journey by combining a London-Lille/Paris Eurostar fare with an ultra-cheap 'Prems' fare within France.

How to buy tickets - online at www.raileurope.co.uk

Breaking your trip down into sections, usually provides the cheapest fares. London or Paris to Lille and then from Paris or Lille to your final destination. For comparison book from London to your destination. Make sure you allow at least 90 minutes if your journey involves changing trains and stations in Paris, at least 40 minutes if it involves changing trains at Lille. This includes an allowance for the 30 minute Eurostar check-in on the return journey.

Tickets are sent from a UK office and normally arrive through the post in a couple of days. This is the cheapest way to book, apart from a small difference in exchange rates: Fares on www.raileurope.co.uk are exactly the same as those on www.voyages-sncf.com, but have been converted from euros into pounds. You may get a slightly better exchange rate if you buy in euros at www.voyages-sncf.com, although you'll then be dealing direct with SNCF (French Railways) in France without the back-up of a UK call centre.

How to buy tickets - online at www.voyages-sncf.com

You can easily buy tickets for both Eurostar and any train within France at the official French Railways website, www.voyages-sncf.com. Paying in euros direct with French Railways at www.voyages-sncf.com is the absolute cheapest way to buy tickets. The 'English' button is a UK flag at the bottom. French train reservations open 90 days before departure. There's no booking fee, and tickets can picked up at main stations in France. Alternatively if you prefer you can have them sent to any address in Europe.

To get the absolutely cheapest fares you will need to select 'payment online in euros' if you want to see the cheap 'prems' fares as these will not show up if you select 'payment in GBP by contacting Rail Europe in London'. You will also get a better exchange rate from your own bank if you buy in euros. The advantage of buying in sterling is that it (a) lets you 'hold' a booking without payment for some days until you call Rail Europe to pay and confirm, and (b) you can arrange to pick up the tickets at their travel centre in Piccadilly, London, if that is convenient for you.

How to buy tickets - by phone:

If you prefer to book by phone, call Rail Europe on 0870 5 848 848 (lines open 08:00-21:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, 10:00-17:00 Sundays, a £6 booking fee applies), or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 512400 (lines open 0900-1700 Monday-Saturday, an 8% booking fee applies).

How to buy tickets - if you live in the USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, etc.

Tickets are available for Eurostar and trains within France online at www.raileurope.com, North America's largest European rail agency and a subsidiary of French Railways. Tickets can be sent to any address in the USA, Canada or worldwide. Just be aware that the prices may be higher than those charged in Europe. Alternatively, just by collecting tickets at French stations will enable you to purchase tickets at European prices. Book the London-Paris Eurostar online at www.eurostar.com, selecting the option to pick up tickets at the station in London. Then book trains within France online at www.voyages-sncf.com as shown above, ensuring 'France' is selected which allows you to pick up tickets on the day of travel at the ticket office at any main station in France.

London to Lyon

There are two options between London and Lyon: You can take Eurostar to Lille and travel to Lyon by direct TGV or you can travel by Eurostar to Paris, change stations and take a TGV from Paris to Lyon.

**TIMETABLE**

If you do want to travel through Paris, there are hourly Eurostars to Paris and hourly TGVs from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Lyon. Almost all Paris-Lyon TGVs are now double decker TGV Duplex. Double-check train times for your date of travel using www.voyages-sncf.com.

Special combined Eurostar & TGV fare from London to Lyon :

£99 return 2nd class, £179 return 1st class.

As cheaper seats are sold, prices increase - so book early and shop around for the best prices. Seats must be booked at least 14 days in advance. A slightly cheaper journey is sometimes possible, combining a Eurostar fare London-Paris with ultra-cheap 'prems' fares for train journeys within France.

The easiest and cheapest way to book is online. By phone call Rail Europe on 0870 5 848 848 (lines open 08:00-21:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, 10:00-17:00 Sundays), or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 512400 (lines open 0900-1700 Monday-Saturday).

London to Strasbourg

There are two ways to travel to Strasbourg: by Eurostar to Paris, walk over to the nearby Gare de l'Est and take a train from Paris to Strasbourg (the best route), or Eurostar to Brussels (once a day) and then EuroCity train from Brussels to Strasbourg. You can check train times at www.voyages-sncf.com.

**TIMETABLE**

Please double-check train times for your date of travel using www.voyages-sncf.com. Paris-Strasbourg trains use air-conditioned 'Corail' coaches and some now use modernised Corail cars with unique interior designs called 'Corail Téoz'.

Special combined fare from London to Strasbourg :

£89 return 2nd class, £169 return 1st class.

As cheaper seats are sold, prices increase - so book early and shop around for the best prices. Seats must be booked at least 14 days in advance. A slightly cheaper journey is sometimes possible, combining a Eurostar fare London-Paris with ultra-cheap 'prems' fares for train journeys within France.

The easiest and cheapest way to book is online. By phone, call Rail Europe on 0870 5 848 848 (lines open 08:00-21:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, 10:00-17:00 Sundays), or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 512400 (lines open 0900-1700 Monday-Saturday).

London to Bordeaux

Again there are two ways to travel to Bordeaux: Take the Eurostar to Lille and travel by direct TGV to Bordeaux - with this option there is no need to change stations but they are not as frequent. Through Paris, there are hourly Eurostars to Paris and hourly TGVs from Paris to Bordeaux. Check times for travel via Paris by using the online timetable at http://bahn.hafas.de or www.voyages-sncf.com.

**TIMETABLE**

Special combined Eurostar & TGV fare from London to Bordeaux :

£99 return 2nd class, £179 return 1st class.

As cheaper seats are sold, prices increase - so book early and shop around for the best prices. Seats must be booked at least 14 days in advance and are valid for changing at Lille or in Paris. A slightly cheaper journey is sometimes possible, combining a Eurostar fare London-Paris with ultra-cheap 'prems' fares for train journeys within France.

The easiest and cheapest way to book is online. By phone, call Rail Europe on 0870 5 848 848 (lines open 08:00-21:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, 10:00-17:00 Sundays), or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 512400 (lines open 0900-1700 Monday-Saturday).

London to Toulouse

Take the Eurostar to Lille and travel take the direct TGV to Toulouse - this means you don't have to change in Paris although it only runs one or two services a day. Alternatively, take Eurostar to Paris, change trains and stations, and take a daytime train from Paris to Toulouse. Or you can take Eurostar to Paris and the 'Occitan' overnight train with sleeping-car and couchettes to Toulouse. You can easily check train times via Paris at http://bahn.hafas.de or www.voyages-sncf.com.

By TGV via Lille:

Depart London (Waterloo) by Eurostar at 08:39, arriving Lille Europe at 11:26. Leave Lille Europe at 12:16 by high-speed TGV, arriving Toulouse 20:12. Return fares for start at £119 return 2nd class, £200 return first class. This is an 'apex' fare which must be booked at least 7 days in advance, Saturday night away. Returning, leave Toulouse early at 05:27 arriving Lille Europe at 13:04. A Eurostar leaves Lille Europe at 13:42 arriving London 14:27.

By overnight train:

Leave London by Eurostar at 17:09, arriving Paris Nord at 20:59. Travel across Paris by métro to the Gare d'Austerlitz. Leave Paris Austerlitz at 22:56, arriving in Toulouse at 06:41 the next morning. There is no sleeping car on this train but it does have reclining seats, 6-berth 2nd class couchettes and 4-berth 1st class couchettes. Returning, leave Toulouse at 22:35 arriving Paris Austerlitz at 06:43 - 1st & 2nd class couchettes available.

How to buy tickets - online:

The easiest and cheapest way to book is online. By phone: call Rail Europe on 0870 5 848 848 (lines open 08:00-21:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, 10:00-17:00 Sundays), or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 512400 (lines open 0900-1700 Monday-Saturday).

London to the French Alps

Direct Eurostar ski train. In the winter months a direct Eurostar travels to the French Alps every Saturday. During the skiing season, this is the most direct way to reach the Alps from London and its available both to package and independent travellers.

The Snow Train. Originally a special charter train only available to package holidaymakers, but now available to independent travellers take Eurostar to Paris or Lille to connect with the special Friday night 'Snow Train' with overnight couchettes to the French Alpine resorts, running 19 January to early April 2007.

Regular trains. Alternatively, you can take the regular, scheduled trains running daily, year-round.

Ski train to Austria, the Bergland Express, visit Eurostar Ski Train: www.eurostar.com

Fantastic ski resorts of Val d'Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs, Méribel and the Trois Vallées can be accessed using the Eurostar Ski Train which runs from London every Saturday from 23 December 2006 to 14 April 2007. The return service runs every Saturday 30 December 2006 to 21 April 2007.

An extemely popular journey it can now be included as part of a package ski holiday. Independent travellers can travel on this train, but it is extremely popular so book early! Return fares start at about £195 standard class, £290 first class. See www.eurostar.com for times, fares and online booking.

London to Biarritz, Irun, Lourdes & Tarbes

There are two options: Eurostar to Lille and then direct TGV to Bordeaux with another change when you arrive - this avaoids changing in Paris. Or by Eurostar to Paris, change stations and take a TGV or an overnight train from Paris to Biarritz or Lourdes. You can check train times at http://bahn.hafas.de or www.voyages-sncf.com.

**TIMETABLE**

Sample fares - by day train:

Special combined fare by Eurostar & TGV from London to Biarritz or Lourdes:

£109 return 2nd class, £189 return 1st class.

As cheaper seats are sold, prices increase - so book early and shop around for the best prices. Seats must be booked at least 14 days in advance. Not valid on overnight trains.

A slightly cheaper journey is sometimes possible, combining a Eurostar fare London-Paris with ultra-cheap 'prems' fares for train journeys within France.

Sample fares - by overnight train:

**TIMETABLE**

Regular fare (approx): £60 return £90 return £120 return

How to buy tickets - online is the easiest and cheapest way to book. or by phone by calling Rail Europe on 0870 5 848 848 (lines open 08:00-21:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, 10:00-17:00 Sundays), or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 512400 (lines open 0900-1700 Monday-Saturday).

London - Le Mans, Nantes, Rennes

The best way to reach Brittany is by taking a Eurostar to Lille and travelling by direct TGV from Lille to Brittany. Visit www.voyages-sncf.com to find good deals.

You can also travel by Eurostar to Paris, change stations in Paris, and take a TGV from Paris (Gare Montparnasse) to Le Mans, Angers, Nantes, and Rennes. You can check times for this route at www.voyages-sncf.com.

London - Brittany

**TIMETABLE**

Special inclusive fare by Eurostar & TGV from London to Brittany via Lille:

A slightly cheaper journey is sometimes possible, combining a Eurostar fare London-Paris with ultra-cheap 'prems' fares for train journeys within France.

How to buy tickets - online is the easiest and cheapest way to book is online or by phone calling Rail Europe on 0870 5 848 848 (lines open 08:00-21:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, 10:00-17:00 Sundays), or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 512400 (lines open 0900-1700 Monday-Saturday).

London to Normandy

To see the sights of Normandy, including St Malo, Caen, Cherbourg or Le Harve you can travel by Eurostar and connecting trains via Paris, or you cross the Channel by ship with Brittany Ferries.

By Eurostar:

Travelling by Eurostar and connecting trains will take about 6-7 hours via Paris - you can check times at http://bahn.hafas.de. The cheapest fares are about £85 return 2nd class, £145 return 1st class (£10 more to Cherbourg). Tickets need to be booked at least 14 days in advance and with at least two nights spent away. To book, contact www.raileurope.co.uk on 0870 5 848 848 or any European rail agent.

By ferry:

To go by sea, take a train from London (Waterloo) to Poole, Southampton or Portsmouth and cross the Channel by ship to Normandy. Many of the ships crossing the channel have comfortable cabins enabling you to arrive early the next mornign refreshed. Visit www.Brittany-Ferries.co.uk or www.ldlines.co.uk for shipping times and fares on the Portsmouth-St Malo, Portsmouth-Caen (Ouistreham), Poole-Cherbourg & Portsmouth-Le Havre crossings. The ships also have restaurants, cinemas, and bars. You can check UK train times to Portsmouth, Southampton or Poole at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

London to Corsica

It's easy to get from London to Corsica by train and ship. Travel by train from London Waterloo to either Marseilles, Toulon or Nice, then by ship or fast ferry across the Mediterranean to Corsica. Year round services are provided by two ferry companies - SNCM and Corsica Ferries - between France (Marseille, Toulon or Nice) and Corsica (Bastia, Ajaccio or Calvi). The crossing from Nice to Bastia takes 4 hours 45 minutes, or just 3 hours 40 minutes on a fast ferry. Toulon to Bastia takes 8 hours 30 minutes on an overnight ship, or Toulon to Ajaccio 5 hours 45 minutes on a daytime ship.

Visit www.corsicaferries.com or www.sncm.fr to work out the best times and fares for the sea crossing. You can book online at these websites, or you can call SNCM's UK agent, Southern Ferries, on 020 7491 4968.

Then for train times and fares from London to Marseilles, Toulon or Nice, see the London to the south of France overnight or London to the south of France by TGV sections above.

Train travel in Corsica

A fantastic narrow guage train service operates in Corsica, a scenic narrow-gauge train for Bastia, Ajaccio, Calvi, and Corte.

London - Alps

**TIMETABLE**

1. Book direct with www.eurostar.com. Check dates, times & fares and book online. There is also an overnight Eurostar to the Alps on Fridays nights December-April, but as it has no sleeping berths or couchettes.

2. by overnight special 'Snow Train': www.snowtrain.co.uk

Tour companies like to book up the Snow Train for their Ski travellers, but seats are readily available for independent travellers. Book online with no booking fee, at www.snowtrain.co.uk, or call Rail Europe on 0870 5 848 848 (£6 booking fee charged).

The Snow Train runs every Friday from 19 January to early April 2007. Rail Europe used to offer two Snow Train options, the other one by bus from Folkestone to Calais to pick up a Snow Train that started in Calais, but this has been discontinued.

3. by regular train, daily, year-round:

You can travel by day, taking Eurostar to Paris, crossing Paris by Metro, then a high-speed TGV to the Alps, or overnight, taking Eurostar to Paris, crossing Paris by Metro, then taking an overnight train with sleeping-car and couchettes.

London - French Alps

**TIMETABLE**

Buy tickets by calling Rail Europe on 0870 5 848 848 (lines open 08:00-21:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, 10:00-17:00 Sundays). You can also try their website, www.raileurope.co.uk to check fares, times, and for online booking.

The Thomas Cook European Timetable

The Thomas Cook European timetable has train, bus and ferry times for every country in Europe, plus currency and climate information. It costs around £11.50 from the bureau de change of any UK branch of Thomas Cook, or you can buy online at www.thomascooktimetables.com.

The Thomas Cook Rail Map of Europe is easily the best and most comprehensive map of train routes all over Europe. High speed and scenic routes are highlighted. Visit online at www.amazon.co.uk.

Recommended guidebooks

The Lonely Planet guides are just about the best ones out there for the independent traveller.

Hotels in Paris & France - Hotels & guesthouses

Check out www.venere.com for a great site on looking for a good choice of hotels in Paris and other French cities. The price you see is the price you pay, and you just pay the hotel when you get there. Seat61 gets a small commission if you book through this link, to help support the site. Feedback from www.venere.com bookings is always welcome.

Backpacker hostels...

Generally a private room or dorm bed is available in a backpacker hostel and is a much cheaper option than a hotel if you're on a tight budget. For backpacker hostels in most French cities at rock bottom prices, see www.hostelbookers.com.

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