In 1994, Eurostar changed the way people traveled between London and Paris. In 2007, they reinvented the art of travel once more…On November 14, 2007, Eurostar moved to it’s new home in Central London, St Pancras International Station. This move brought about exciting changes. St Pancras is served by a brand new high speed rail line, High Speed 1 (HS1), which allows Eurostar trains to travel at a top speed of 186mph for the entire journey. Traveling on this high-speed line has reduced travel times by at least 20 minutes. This brings London and Paris even closer together!
Most of us spend 8 hours a day sitting behind a desk working, dealing with meetings and appointments, or sitting in class daydreaming about far-away places. In that same 8 hours, you could be discovering London and Paris and Eurostar makes it possible!
For those who have traveled to New York City and have had the privilege to walk through Grand Central Station, well, you know how amazing a train station can be. The train station becomes part of the journey, rather than just where the train stops.
In London, St Pancras International has become a destination station much like Grand Central Station is in New York. Eurostar departs and arrives into this restored, state-of-the art landmark.
Travelers to London will definitely want to discover St Pancras International station. It boasts a spectacular selection of shopping and dining experiences such as:
- A diverse range of stores and boutiques
- A world-class Brasserie
- A Gastro-pub
- A Farmer’s Market
- Europe’s longest champagne bar, measuring 295 feet long!
This station serves as Eurostar’s new permanent home. All passengers looking to travel to Paris or Brussels on Eurostar will find this station a welcomed bonus to their trip.
With Eurostar traveling entirely on dedicated high speed tracks, travel times have been reduced. This opens the door for travelers to see even more of Europe. Daytrips between England and Paris are more achievable then before. Weekend trips to Europe can be even more exciting with the possibility to travel to several countries instead of remaining in one.
Think about it, you fly to London, hop on the Eurostar and in just over 2 hours, you’re in Paris! From there, well, your options are limitless! If you’ve not been to Paris before however, here are a few suggestions to make the most of your time.
Of course, you have to see the Eiffel Tower, try your hardest to fit you and the Tower all in one picture without cut-off heads! Most people want to see the Arc d’Triomphe and Notre Dame also. Both are very much worth some of your time.
You should ride the Paris Metro, even if it’s just once, just so that you can say “I’ve been on the Metro”! You can compare the service to that of your own subway system back home, plus, it’s a great way to get from one side of Paris to the other, without taking a cab.
Stop in a cafe en-route to the Champs-Elysees. Have a croissant or other fine French pastry while you sit, people-watching. There is no better way to get a feel for your surroundings, then to watch the locals interact. If people-watching is not your thing, well, then surely head to the Champs-Elysees to lighten your wallet a bit!
If you’re undecided on how to spend your day, you may want to consider taking a tour. The Paris Historical Tour will take you back in time with visits to the Pantheon and Notre Dame. Another great idea is the CityRama Paris L’Open Tour. Offered in a 1 or 2 day pass, this tour allows you to experience the best of what Paris has to offer. There are over 50 hop-on hop-off locations and 4 routes you can travel on. A great way to get a panoramic view of Paris.
If you’re taking the train from Paris to London, no worries, there is something for everyone in London!
Below you can find a few of our favorite places to go in bustling metropolis.
If this is your first time in London, you’ll want to check out as many major tourist attractions as you can. These include, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London Bridge and The Tower of London. There are many more, but those are a few of the most notable.
By taking a panoramic bus tour, you can catch a glimpse of nearly all of the most sought after tourist stops. The Total London Experience is a great guided tour that will take you to all of London’s major sites.
You could also get yourself a London Pass and fill your time with some galleries, museums or even a river cruise down the Thames. A great commodity to have while visiting London!
While in London, one of the fastest, most efficient ways of getting from one side of the city to the other is by taking the Underground (commonly referred to as the Tube). The London Underground is one of the easiest subway systems to figure out. You can get your London Travel Card before you go and be all set to start exploring.
London and Paris are two of the most visited cities in Europe, with good reason of course! Eurostar brings these two cities closer together, making it possible to travel to not one, but two countries in the same day! Plus, once you get to Paris, there is a whole world to explore. Trains depart from a number of Paris train stations to cities all over Europe. All you need is a Eurostar ticket and a rail pass and your options are virtually limitless!
Tags: eurostar, london, paris, rail travel
I’m planning on going to London this weekend. Thanks for the tips about the pass. Who knows, maybe I’ll even make it to Paris while I’m there. I had no idea it was a 2 hour train ride.
Did you make it to Paris this weekend? The Eurostar is a great train! It does make traveling between London and Paris a breeze, and you can also take it from London to Brussels. And of course, there are tons of things to do in both Paris and Brussels so either city is a perfect destination for a day trip! Love to hear about your adventures in London (and maybe Paris, too!).