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London to Paris on the Eurostar (Tips to make the most of your journey) · UK Travel Planning

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Your host is the founder of the UK travel planning website, Tracy Collins.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: In this podcast, Tracy shares destination guides, travel tips, and itinerary ideas, as well as interviews with a variety of guests who share their knowledge and experience of UK travel to help you plan your perfect UK vacation.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Join us as we explore the UK from cosmopolitan cities to great villages, from historic castles to beautiful islands, and from the picturesque countryside to seaside towns.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_01: Hello and welcome to episode 40 of the UK Travel Planner Podcast.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_01: This week we are addressing a question asked by many travellers: how to travel from London to Paris by train.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_01: So whilst there are various options to complete the journey from London to Paris, including air travel, coach tours, drive and or seaferry across the English Channel, which for many ways was the traditional way to cross the channel, since the tunnel opened for passenger trains in November 1994, the Eurostar train service has been the preferred travel option for millions of people every year.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: Myself and Doug included.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_01: In this podcast, Doug and I chat specifically about the Eurostar train service from London to Paris, sharing our experience as frequent travellers over the years on this service, plus at the end answering some frequently asked questions, including some which come from members of our UK and London travel plan and Facebook community.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, if you're planning to travel from London to Paris on the Eurostar, this is definitely going to be the podcast episode for you.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: So as I was saying, um Doug and I have taken this train quite a lot over the years.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_02: Certainly have, yeah.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_02: I took it probably about six months after it first opened, and since that time, service has got better and better and faster and more efficient.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_01: Excellent.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_01: And I know it's something that you know I I've taken Dominique over, which was small to Disneyland Paris.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um and uh oh, I don't know, a lot look so many times we've been over, I've actually lost count to be honest.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: But um so I thought it would be a really good uh good good episode for us to chat about.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_01: So Doug, would you like to kick off and give an overview of what the Eurostar service is?
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, thanks Tracy.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, the Eurostar is basically it's a high-speed train service that runs from London St.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_02: Pancras International, that's in North London.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_02: Um the train runs then to Paris, Gardenord, and the the Eurostar train itself leaves North London, travels through the Kent countryside, then passes uh through the Channel Tunnel uh under the English Channel.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_02: The tunnel itself is about 31 miles long with about 23 and a half miles actually underneath the English Channel.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_02: The journey time actually within underneath the um underneath the the the channel uh the English Channel is about twenty minutes.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_02: So when you come out of the tunnel in the northern in northern France, the train the train really speeds up, doesn't it?
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_02: You can feel the speed.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it goes really fast.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so the the world uh journey time is about two hours twenty minutes.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_02: I think the fastest is two hours sixteen minutes.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, it's so it really is an excellent way to get from from London to Paris.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_01: So obviously, if you're thinking about taking the Eurostar, it's useful to know what sort of tickets are available um to take you over there.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_01: So again, Doug, there's something I think you can explain probably better than me.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, but basically, it's just like m all um other trains in the UK, but ostensibly uh first class and a standard class travel.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_02: We know no longer use the word second class, it's a standard class travel.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_02: So you have two um you've got standard class and standard premiere, and you have a business premiere.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_02: So the basically the three.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_01: And also we said um because th there's so much information really about the tickets, um, that I know you've written about them on our Eurostar travel um guide.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: So uh what I'll do is actually uh rather than spend 20 minutes of the podcast talking about the various ticket options, um we'll can we'll put a link to that so you can actually decide if if actually going first or standing fast is what would suit you.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_02: So one thing I would say at that point is I've spent a lot of time looking at trends within the the the all-style prices and that there is a lot of fluctuation there.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_02: Um so one very good bit of advice I would say to anybody is if you're looking to travel, it's worth doing your homework, it's worth having a look good look through and looking for trends, but if you see a price that you're happy with, is to book it at that point because I've I've heard and I've seen it myself, you find a price thinking that's gonna get better, and the price doesn't actually goes up.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I can imagine as obviously because things like days of the week, the month seasons, if the sport events that sort of impacts.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_02: Most definitely, yeah.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_02: You see that.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_02: I mean the the rule of thumb is um book it as early as you can, but I'm not always convinced that that is actually the case.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_02: Just you just got to look for trends.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_01: Keep looking.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, no worries.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_01: So obviously, so imagine so now we've we've all got our tickets, we're gonna go across to Paris.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so I know we we often get asked, so what is the actual procedure?
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: So um we'll we'll take talk you through that as well because I think that's useful to be able to kind of listen to what we do or listen to what you have to do when you arrive.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so obviously you you're gonna be going to St.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_01: Pancras International.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_01: That's the first thing to realise, which is in North London.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_02: That's a very good start.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um go to the right station because London King's Cross is right next door to St.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_02: Pancras Station.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_02: So make sure you get the St.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_02: Pancras and then follow the signs to the all-star uh arrivals and departures.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_01: So, and obviously the thing that you need to do is make sure you've got your all your documents with you.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_01: Don't forget your passport.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_02: Don't forget your passport, yeah.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_02: That that's right.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_02: So you arrive at the the station and and it's very straightforward.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_02: You scan in your barcode that's on your ticket.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_02: Uh but before that, actually backtracking slightly it's important you allow yourself so much more time to get to this uh station because I don't think it's the the best sign posted to the the the all-star part of it.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_01: I think um well we'll we'll put some we'll put some pictures on with the show notes uh basically but I think the key thing is really is depending on the class of the ticket that you really need to check what your latest check-in time and do give yourself plenty of time to be there.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_01: Really can't stress that enough.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_02: That's true, because the business premier is considerably less uh than the the standard than the standard premiere.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_01: But the thing to think about is when you arrive at St.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_01: Pancras International, look for the Eurostar departure.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_01: So it's not a separate station, it's actually located within St.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_01: Pancris International itself.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um so you need to think about that.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_01: So so you've arrived at at St.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_01: Pancras International.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe you've um I was kind of gonna give this as a tip, but I'll I'll mention this now as well, is that um it's worth um sto stocking up on a few um you know some snacks for the trip as well.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_01: Um there's plenty of shops that you can go, there's cafes as well.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_01: So if you want to have a uh a meal before you get on the train, you can do that.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_01: But I mean there there is a cafe metropole which is on the train itself, but yeah, you can stack up a stock up with the marks and spensers, um simply food, which I always head to for sandwiches and and snacks and things like that.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_01: So so basically, so you arrive at the ticket gate, um, and all passengers got to do the same thing, don't they?
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_02: They have.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_02: So now we are Sam all I've been waiting for you because I've been sending over my house ready to to scan this in, and you've just you've gone back to some food and drink.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_02: So so we ever every passenger, yeah, you've got to scan in your barcode of the barcode reader.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_02: It's very, very easy.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_02: There's just a it's just like a normal ticket barrier, and there's a little screen, and you just hold your your barcode uh against the screen, and the they'll tell you if you're okay, and a green light.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_01: And the gate's open, yeah.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, if they don't, anyway, they're they're always um Eurostar staff members there that can help you out.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_01: So once you get through there, basically that's the point where you go through security.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_01: So you've got to imagine it's basically like an airport.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_01: Things, you know, you your uh luggage is scanned um and you get checked.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um so yeah, just think of it as that.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_01: So just and uh we're gonna talk about luggage in a second, but just the whole time you have your luggage with you, just imagine that you're taking hand luggage on an aeroplane.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_01: This is basically what it's your luggage.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_01: You have the luggage with you at all points, you don't actually check it in anywhere.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_02: No.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so that's important to see.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_01: So you go through security, um, get everything checked, uh, your bags checked and everything.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_01: Then you go through UK passport control because effectively you are leaving UK soil at this point.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_01: You're gonna be passing over to the French passport control.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_01: So you go through the UK passport control, and then the next stop is that your passport control into France.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: So kind of effectively, I would imagine then in that little part of St.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_01: Pancras International, that's maybe a little bit of France because you've you've passed through the passport control.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_01: Not 100% sure about that, but I guess it is because you've yeah, yeah.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_01: You're kind of stamped in your or is stamped if if they do that, um, then you're gonna be into the departure lounge, um, which can get very, very busy.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_01: I think that's worth saying as well.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_01: It can get very busy, especially if there's a few trains going out, because just to remember as well, that that the trains from London, St.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_01: Prank West, Eurostar also head to Brussels, um, and they also go to Amsterdam, so you can get there, and there could be a few trains leaving that morning, so it can get busy.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um shall we talk about the departure lounge?
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_01: So you go with it.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_01: So you've still got your luggage with you, you find a seat, sit yourself down, and then what do you do?
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_02: I'll have a look at the screens because there's so many screens there around the round the whole uh lounge area, and look for your train on there.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_02: It usually has a train ID number.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's four digits at 9025, for example.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_02: The and then you look for the your departure time and see if it's on time, it's you would any other train sort of thing.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_02: And then you just sit back and relax, you know.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_02: And when it gets towards your departure time, again, there's no rush.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_02: You'll see people starting to stand up and queue for a long time.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_02: There's no need to.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_02: There really is no need to.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_01: No, when they when they announce it.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um so obviously the the you'll get an idea because you'll probably be there when another train may leave, so you'll kind of see the process when they get up and then they go and queue up.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then you go you have to again take your luggage with your on the trouble eaters and call that to take it um up to take the Eurostar um train itself.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_02: And there's no steps there, that's uh moving walkway.
• 10:24
  unknown: Yeah.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so you go up on the walkway.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_01: So you believe me, it will be you will know because it will be called out.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_01: So um, you know, at this point you kind of just follow everybody else because they're all going on, they're gonna well if it was the same train as you going on.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_01: You'll be all going on the same train, but your your ticket will get checked, so don't worry.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_01: So once you get up there, um then basically you're gonna you know look for your um whichever carriage you're your coach number, yeah.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_02: And each coach or every one or two coaches, they'll have an attendant and they'll sort of take you off and guide you to the right area.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_02: And worth remembering, the your style trains are long trains, so they're not one or two coaches long, they are pretty long.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, they are.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_02: And just for anybody out there who's a bit of a train enthusiast like me, this is a good opportunity to go and get some photos of the train if you want one, like I did.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_01: Well, if you've got time, because it's it's time it's quite a long yes, they are they are long trains, and um so uh one thing to think about, um, it's really important, and uh because I usually get the usually do this wrong, so it's good to know is that the coaches are clearly marked.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so you make sure you've got the correct one, and the seat ranges are also clear at the door of the coach.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_01: So check that your seat and board the coach from the correct end, otherwise you're gonna be walking all the way through the coach um to find your seat with your luggage.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_02: So obviously they're all the same time or the people trying to be the same.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so we can get a bit, it can get a bit careful.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: So just make sure that you get on at the right end of the coach so that you're nearer your seats.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_01: Again, you have your luggage with you, so you're clap you're getting on the train with your luggage and the at the end of each of the there are places where you can store your luggage.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_01: There's plenty of space.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_02: There is, there's lots of space, lots of storage spaces on these trains.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and the rule of thumb is keep your bags um light as you possibly can.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_02: You need to be able to lift it really yourself.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, and then uh we uh above the seats as well, the kind of racks so you can put smaller bits of luggage up there as well.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_02: Which isn't if you've got a rigid um suitcase, they don't fit particularly well there.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_01: No, yeah.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_01: That's more for bags or backpacks or fit.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_02: That's all, or the back of the seats as well, there's a few spaces.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, there is space then.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_01: So in terms of configuration, because I know we were asked about this, there are tables uh of four, and there also are um two seats next to each other at airline station.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_02: Airline station, a drop-down table.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so have a uh a drop-down table.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_01: So basically, um also at the end of when you get on, you'll see that uh as you get on the train, you'll see at the end of the carriages there are newspapers and magazines.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_01: I still think they're there.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think I think so, yeah.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_01: Um so they're usually free, so you can well they are free, so you can help yourself if there's something you want to read.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_01: They're quite often there in French, though.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_01: So unless you want to kind of practice your French.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_02: And the financial times, which yeah, nothing.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_01: Well, some people might um so obviously though, if you do need some assistance, you can arrange it in advance with the Eurostar.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_01: So just contact the help center for any specific uh requirements that you may have.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so we've kind of talked about saying you're on the train, but I think we'll just talk a little bit more about luggage because I know this is probably one of the most I we get asked this a lot about what can you know, what can you take on, what happens with the luggage.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_01: And like I say again, it's kind of stressed in that you keep it with you at all times.
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_01: It's like we would catch any train if you're in the UK, that you the train the the luggage is either behind your seat or it goes um, you know, at the end of the carriage, or it goes if it's small enough and can go in the kind of um the rack above your head.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_01: So that that's basically it for luggage, but you are expected you will have to put it on the train, you will have to take it off the train at the other end.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_02: And if the official line from your star is for standard class and standard premium, you can have two lots of uh luggage with you, uh maximum 85 centimetres long.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_02: In business premium, you can take three.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_01: Families obviously um book those.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_02: So um or if you want to face the direction of travel.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, uh, yeah, I think that's important because I know you you always like to do that.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_02: I have a preference for um facing direction of travel, yeah.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_02: Sometimes going backwards leaves me a bit a little bit nauseous at times.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, I'd rather go forwards if I can.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and then basically uh once you're on there to settle yourself down, um there's free Wi-Fi, so you kind of get us uh access to uh Wi-Fi on the Eurostar.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_01: There's also um there's like socket charging charge, charge things up.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_01: Um and then so I'm trying to think what else about the journey.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_01: I mean the journey goes really fast, and uh you know, and somebody was at because I get a bit claustrophobic, and I know um somebody was mentioned that they they're they're a little bit worried about going under the channel tunnel um or through the the channel tunnel for those sort of 20 minutes where you know that you're underneath the tunnel.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_01: And I say obviously I get a little bit myself a bit claustrophobic, but I'm actually fine on the Eurostar.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_01: I think the fact that it's 20 minutes um and you know I can distract myself and and not really think about it.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, it's it's light because the lights are on in the carriage, so you you know, to be honest, it's it's pretty quick.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_01: So um, but it but I understand if people can get a little bit a little bit concerned about that, but but I found that um I'm totally fine with that.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so obviously, you know, you after a couple of hours you you arrive, you go obviously go through the French countryside very, very fast.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_01: Unfortunately, it's not the prettiest part of France.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_01: So I will say, yeah.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um going into Paris, but you arrive in at the Gardner uh train station.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_01: Um it's very easy when you arrive at the Gardner.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_01: You literally get off the train, walk turn the platform, like and and that's it.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_01: You're you're you there's no passport control because you've been through that when you got on at in in uh St.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_01: Pancrites, so international.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_01: So you've done all of that to get off the train and you walk, and that's it.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_01: You're actually in the Gardner.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_01: So you have the options if you're um travelling on to your hotel.
• 16:13
  SPEAKER_01: So we've tried different ways in the past something with this because generally we'll catch because we we tried we generally stay in the same hotel, which is um opposite the Louvre in uh in Paris, which is then premier arrondissement, um, which because we really like it.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um so usually we we can get there by the Paris Metro, which is fairly straightforward, and we've done that quite a few times.
• 16:33
  SPEAKER_01: I've also we've also talked taken the RER, which is um uh another train system in Paris which takes you mainly out to the suburbs, an express train.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, an express train.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but generally if you're gonna be staying in in the centre of Paris, you'll you'll take the Paris Metro.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_01: If you are gonna be changing trains and going on to another one of the other major train stations in Paris, um you need to just check which is the best route.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_02: And there's a lot of walking.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_02: There's a lot of walking on the uh metro between yes, there is, yeah.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_01: That's when you're actually in Paris.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_01: But but also I think it apply it does it does work to have a plan B because the last time we went over, we we arrived and there was a strike.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_01: So we we there was no transportation whatsoever.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_01: So we ended up walking.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_01: Um so you do have to be careful around the garden or it's not it's not the kind of yeah, not the nicest area of Paris, shall we say.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_01: So you do have to be um you know be careful around that area.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but the other option really is you can get a taxi, and I I have taken a taxi before um and not had a problem with that.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_01: So there are options to get to your hotel.
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_01: I would suggest, as I would with anything, is if you know you haven't been to Paris before, so the first trip that you actually plan ahead and you know what you are doing when you get there.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um so obviously, say the Paris Metro, you go to the end of the platform, and then you'll see on your left, you'll see that the signs for the actual Paris Metro to go down for that.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and you can, you know, you can do that.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_01: So that that's fairly straightforward, really.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_01: And you can always ask um, you know, for buying tickets.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so one thing I would say the uh with with Paris is obviously there's it could be a potential language barrier there.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_02: So what Tracy L just reinforce and have that plan and know exactly what you're gonna be doing when you get off the train.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think that's really important.
• 18:18
  SPEAKER_01: So uh next we're gonna just go through some of the questions that we had from our um our UK and London travel planning Facebook group communities, so because we did ask, so we're gonna ask though I'm gonna answer those questions in the next section.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_01: So one of the questions that we have been asked is um, and I think this is quite a common question, quite quite a few people are interested in that, is um is if they want to go to Paris or if you want to go to Paris for a day, is it worth that or is it worth you know considering uh booking a tour or doing that independently?
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um so again, I said this is quite an interesting question because it is a very big day trip to do.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, there are quite a lot of day tours from London that have been organised, which include the train, and they will escort you and take you around Paris.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_01: And actually, I've kind of taken a challenge, so I'm gonna be doing that in June this year.
• 19:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I'm gonna take one of those and I'm gonna report about that.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_01: So there will be a podcast coming about my experience doing that.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm also gonna go over to Paris of Back in the day and see how much I can get done.
• 19:22
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, I'm not Paris isn't isn't new to me, so therefore, um I'm gonna go and go with it with a first-time visitor's eyes on to think about doing the main things.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_01: And and Doug's dying to tell you this, but you you popped over to see me in Paris once, didn't you?
• 19:35
  SPEAKER_02: I did, I surprised you in Paris on the way back from Switzerland, and uh I on a last-minute decision, I came down on the Eurostar and had a cup of coffee because I couldn't find a cup of tea.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_02: And so uh just had a drink and came straight back.
• 19:50
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you did, so you popped over you did pop over the day.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_01: So we know it is possible, obviously, to get the Eurostar um from London to Paris and back again.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_01: I guess the question is how much can you actually get done in a day and how much so that's the thing.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, again, it depends on on time of year.
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_01: You've got to think about things like daylight if you want to have the hours of daylight and um time differences, but I will be back to report on that to see exactly if it is possible, and then basically you can make your own judgment about whether it is worth it for you.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_01: So that kind of I hope that answers that question.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but honestly, you know, if that's something that you know it comes up a lot, and I I don't know if you have the opportunity, maybe it's one of those things that you want to do.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_01: So um, yeah, we've been asked as well about um getting to St.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_01: Pancras International in the morning.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_01: If you've got an early train, we tend to stay near St.
• 20:39
  SPEAKER_01: Panquis, we just find it really easy to stay in one of the hotels opposite the train station.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I'd love to actually stay in the St.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_01: Pancras International Hotel at some point.
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_01: That would be a real bucket list.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_01: But um, yes, we so that's what we do, don't we?
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_02: We do, we do.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_02: It makes Laneslav so much easier.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_02: There's literally across the road from the the station the mom usually catch, we catch the first train, which is a minute past six at the moment.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, so we've done that.
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_01: So again, it makes you you've got the full day when you get over to Paris.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_01: So that's one option, or obviously again booking yourself a t a taxi or a black cab to get yourself to to St.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_01: Paint West International at you know in time.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and then at the end of the day, on the way back, because yeah, you've had a long day, you will be pretty tired, is maybe consider booking a hotel for that night as well.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, again, yeah.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so that you're that you're close to the though I I think it's less of an issue on the way back because obviously you can get yourself across London if necessary.
• 21:31
  SPEAKER_02: And and another good advantage with that would be if you book the night before and the night after, you haven't got to take everything with you to Paris.
• 21:38
  SPEAKER_02: You could leave stuff in London for the day.
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_01: So that's a good thing.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_01: So I know we've had a few questions again about luggage.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_01: So luggage I mean, hopefully we've answered most of those questions that people have asked specifically about, you know, where you put luggage.
• 21:52
  SPEAKER_01: And again, large pieces of luggage, if you've got large suitcases, they can go at the end of the um actual carriage.
• 21:58
  SPEAKER_02: That's right, yeah.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: There's there's plenty of uh luggage uh storage area.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_02: Um I think one of the things we said about uh people wishing to get on trains, I think that part of the is so they can be the first to put the luggage um and store it away.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_02: So otherwise you're gonna may have to lift it onto top of all the luggage that's already stored there.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_01: And then the next question we've got is just about food options.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_01: So, yes, there are food options on the train.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_01: It says the cafe metropole, so you can go, we've got photos of that, we'll put that on on the insurance as well.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so you can get food on the train, or if you prefer, as I said, there's plenty of places in at St.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_01: Practis International to buy things before you get on train.
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, I noticed when we looked in the uh the cafe on the way back from Paris to London that they actually sold the um visitor oyster card as well, in that.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, oh okay.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_01: That's good to know.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_01: So yes, you can buy food, beverage, you can take at the moment bottles of alcohol unopened in in your luggage.
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_01: Uh that that I don't think that's an issue, but again, just double check that.
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, if you want to be 100% sure, but I don't think it's a problem if you've bought some um alcohol in the UK and you want to take it over to France with you.
• 23:02
  SPEAKER_01: I know I've bought um alcohol before at the Juty Free, or you spit Juty Free, in in the in the uh Paris Garden or before getting on the train.
• 23:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um so it's never been a problem.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_01: So I I think that's uh answered quite a lot of questions, but we were gonna share with you our last thing we're gonna do is we're gonna share with you our top tips for those of you catching the Eurostar.
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_01: So to summarise, here are our top tips for anybody taking the Eurostar from London to Paris.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_01: So number one, arrive early in to arrive at the station with plenty of time to check in and go through security.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_01: Number two, bring your passport.
• 23:37
  SPEAKER_01: You will need a valid passport to travel on the Eurostar.
• 23:40
  SPEAKER_02: Pack light.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_02: You need to carry your own luggage on and off the train.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_02: Nobody's there to help you.
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_02: So make sure you pack accordingly.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_01: So use the uh luggage storage.
• 23:51
  SPEAKER_01: So if you've got larger items of luggage that won't fit in the overhead racks, use the luggage storage area at the end of each carriage and make sure the luggage is secure.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_01: Bring snacks and drink.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_01: Uh while there is food and drink available on the Eurostar, it is a little bit pricey and the range is a bit limited.
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_01: So if you bring your own, you can save money and ensure that you've got something to eat and drink during the journey.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_02: And don't forget to bring a travel adapter if you're planning to charge any electronic devices on the uh USR.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_02: Make sure you bring a travel adapter that's suitable for France.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_02: And also be aware of the time difference.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_02: France is one hour ahead of the UK, so make sure you adjust your watch and plan accordingly.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_01: And also, so don't forget to um research your onward travel once you arrive in Paris.
• 24:37
  SPEAKER_01: So consider booking a taxi or pre-arranging a transfer if you need it.
• 24:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um, just make sure that you you're aware of public transportation options in advance um so you're not caught off guard, because obviously, if it's a it's a new city you've not been before, it's good to be prepared.
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so that's really it for this episode.
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_01: I just want to say um thanks for tuning in again and listening.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_01: We really um love all your support and we're enjoying reading the reviews.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you can find um links to all the information we talked about in today's episodes in the show notes at uktravelplanner.com forward slash episode 40.
• 25:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you can also find lots of travel tips and information for visiting Paris on my worldwide travel website, tracy's travels in time.com, which I will also put links to those different articles in the show notes.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but that just leaves us to stay until next week, doesn't it?
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yep, yep.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_01: Happy UK travel planning.