Turning left for less Turning left for less
  • Home
  • Beginners guide
  • Reviews
    • Hotel reviews
    • Flight reviews
    • Airline Lounge Reviews
    • Travel companies, luggage, travel tech & apps
    • Destination Dining
  • Destinations
    • Barbados
    • Las Vegas
    • Alicante
    • Marbella
    • All other destinations
  • About us
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact us
    • Privacy & Disclosure
      • Join our email list & data protection
    • Youtube and Podcast
  • BOOKING ENQUIRY
Categories
  • Air France
  • Airlines
  • Airport hotels
  • American Airlines
  • Avios
  • Black Friday 23
  • Black Friday 24
  • British Airways
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Business class
  • Cashback
  • competition
  • Credit cards
  • cruises
  • Destinations
  • Emirates
  • Etihad
  • Finnair
  • First class
  • General
  • Guide
  • Heathrow and Gatwick
  • Hilton
  • hotels
  • IHG
  • London hotels
  • Lounges
  • Marriott
  • Michelin star dining
  • News
  • Offers
  • Oneworld
  • parking
  • Qatar
  • reader questions
  • Reader review
  • Reviews
  • Skyteam
  • Star Alliance
  • Starwood
  • This Week in Travel
  • Trains
  • UK country hotels
  • UK hotels
  • USA
  • Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Turning left for less Turning left for less
Turning left for less Turning left for less
  • Home
  • Beginners guide
  • Reviews
    • Hotel reviews
    • Flight reviews
    • Airline Lounge Reviews
    • Travel companies, luggage, travel tech & apps
    • Destination Dining
  • Destinations
    • Barbados
    • Las Vegas
    • Alicante
    • Marbella
    • All other destinations
  • About us
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact us
    • Privacy & Disclosure
      • Join our email list & data protection
    • Youtube and Podcast
  • BOOKING ENQUIRY
paris river, bridge in paris, london to paris
  • Trains

Is it Possible to Go on a Day Trip from London to Paris? My experience on Eurostar

  • 27/02/2023
  • Sylvie Simpson

I recently spent some time in London for work, and I thought it would be good to start and finish with something fun. With the week ending with the TLFL event, I decided to attempt a day trip from London to Paris on the first day. Although I love flying, the idea of going through airport security twice a day didn’t sound appealing, so I booked a return train trip with Eurostar instead.

My reasons behind the trip were to tick Paris off my bucket list and see as much of the city as possible in a day – with the hope of returning someday to see the sights I missed. So, is a day trip from London to Paris worth it? Here’s everything you need to know.

 

In this post:

  • Travelling to London
  • One Day in Paris
  • The Train Home – Eurostar from Paris to London
  • Working Remotely on the Eurostar
  • The Cost of a Day Trip from London to Paris
  • How to Plan a Day Trip to Paris on the Eurostar
  • Other Ways to Travel from London to Paris on a Day Trip
  • Final Words – Is a Day Trip from London to Paris Worth it?

Travelling to London

I started my journey right at the bottom of Cornwall in St Ives and boarded the 9:55 pm Night Riviera Sleeper Train from St Erth. You can read my review of one of my past trips on the Night Riviera here. 

The train was due to arrive in London at 5:30 am, but when I woke up at 5:45, we were stuck 10 minutes out of Paddington with an engine issue. 

Luckily it was fixed in time, and minus a shower, I dropped my luggage off at The Chilworth Hotel (review coming soon) and boarded the London Underground to London St Pancras. I wasn’t too worried about being late because I now know how Eurostar check-in works from a previous trip to Brussels in September. You can read my full review here, comparing Standard and Standard Premier classes.

 I got through security in 5 minutes and had 1 hour to spare. I highly recommend booking an EARLY Eurostar ticket to avoid the huge queues I encountered mid-afternoon on my previous trip!

 I had a ticket for the 8:01 am train, which travels directly to Paris at 11:20 am (10:20 am UK time). The total journey time from London to Paris is 2 hours and 19 minutes. I booked a ticket in Standard due to the relatively late booking 11 days before departure.

the eurostar
The Eurostar at St Pancras is ready to depart.

 

One Day in Paris

paris river, bridge in paris, london to paris
Crossing one of the famous bridges in Paris

I booked the Tootbus hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Arriving at Gare De Nord station, there weren’t any stops nearby, so I got a taxi to the stop directly outside the Eiffel Tower. Because this was my first time in Paris, the goal was to see all the major sights, visit some shops and try some French cuisine.

You would also have time to book the River Cruise add-on for one day in Paris, but I wanted to leave some time free in case I found something spontaneously on the day.

the eiffel ower
The Eiffel Tower in January

 This enabled me to see all the major sights and even get off for a look around the Arc de Triomphe Area. I ended up trying food at a local bakery and going to Subway. However, if you wanted to eat at a restaurant, you would still have time. I saw lots of the touristy areas in Paris and the landmarks, but I know that having one day to explore Paris, I missed out on some hidden gems.

 To get back to Gare De Nord, I took the tube. It was a longer route with two changes, but it still got me to Gare De Nord on time. It’s recommended that you get to the Eurostar terminal 90 minutes before your train’s scheduled departure (or 45-60 minutes for Business Premier).

 

The Train Home – Eurostar from Paris to London

The train back to London was 19:13-20:36. security took a bit longer in Paris than in London, but it was still much faster than when I travelled to Brussels in the summer. There were some lovely cafes, duty-free shops, and a convenient waiting room with plugs upstairs. I even managed to do a work meeting between going through security and getting on the train!

The Eurostar journey ran smoothly and on time, and I was soon back at The Chilworth Hotel before 21:15.

 

Working Remotely on the Eurostar

I was also expected to do a full day of work during this trip, with the idea of working in the waiting rooms and Eurostar each way. I thought this was completely feasible due to the large amount of travel time. I also planned to arrive at Gare De Nord early for my work meeting before going through security. I ended up working out the time difference wrong and doing the meeting after security.

The  WIFI and signal on the Eurostar were much worse than on other trains. I’ve travelled on, especially when you add in the signal break when travelling through the channel tunnel. If you plan to work on the Eurostar, I recommend doing something offline or downloading what you need before your journey. You could even open the tabs you need while there’s a good signal so you can carry on working in the tunnel.

 

 

The Cost of a Day Trip from London to Paris

– Ticket from London to Paris – Tickets range from £39-£240 depending on how far in advance you book. The average cost is around £79.

– Ticket from Paris to London – ‘Same as above’.

– Toot Toot Bus Paris – £34.85

– Food and Drink – £10+

– Transport in Paris – Metro 2.40 + Taxi £18

– The London Underground – £6

 

 

How to Plan a Day Trip to Paris on the Eurostar

  • Book Your Tickets in Advance – There’s a huge price range on Eurostar tickets, and one of the main factors that affect this is how far in advance you buy your ticket.

 

  • Book Cancellable Tours with Get Your Guide – I always use the Get Your Guide app to add the attractions/tours I like to my wishlist. When the trip comes closer, I book my favourite ones and read the cancellation policy.

 

  • Look at the weather before you travel – The week I travelled, it was a rainy week in London. Luckily, the day I booked Paris, the weather looked much better. If you’re going on a day trip, the last thing you need is extra packing, such as coats you don’t end up wearing.

 

  • Bring a European Adapter – This one catches lots of people out. Although most seats on the Eurostar have both plug sockets available, this doesn’t apply in the city, and if you haven’t printed off your tickets, you’ll need a good phone battery to get through the ticket barriers!

 

  • Read up on the sights you want to see before you travel – If you have one day in Paris, I highly recommend writing a list of what you want to know so you can plan your day accordingly. If you want to be more spontaneous about the day, book a hop-on hop-off bus ticket and get off at your best spots.

 

  • Look ahead to how to travel to St Pancras from your starting destination – If you’re familiar with London, this one won’t apply, but if you’re like me (who always gets on the tube the wrong way etc.), it’s good to leave extra time and have a plan of exactly how to get from A to B. I usually use Google maps for this.

 

 

Other Ways to Travel from London to Paris on a Day Trip

There are always plenty of cheap flights from London to Paris. With London having four airports and Paris 2, I’m sure you would be able to find a good deal on your travel day!

 

If your companion voucher is due to run out or you’ve accumulated a high Avios balance, I highly recommend a day trip from London to Paris. Going through security twice in one day would be easier in first class or Club class, where you can use the lounges and fast-track through security. Having travelled both ways on the Eurostar, it might have been good to mix things up a bit and fly one way. However, you should keep in mind that the airports in Paris are much further away from the city centre than Gare de Nord.

However, it’s not possible to drive to Paris from London for a day trip. The journey duration is around 5 hours and 47 minutes, which would not work for a day trip! The same applies to bus travel (8 hours, 47 minutes!).

 

Final Words – Is a Day Trip from London to Paris Worth it?

It’s definitely possible to travel to Paris and back to London in a day while still having plenty of time to see Paris. Considering the time needed to get through security on the way back to London, you should have around 6 hours in Paris.

However, if you caught the first and last Eurostar, you would have 11 hours to enjoy Paris, and you could see the Eiffel tower at night!

It’s not typically cheaper to do a same-day return journey on the Eurostar (unless there’s a special offer). I recommend staying one night in Paris, so you can enjoy an evening and have two days to explore the city.

 

Eiffel Tower Paris
 

 

If I’d had more time and didn’t have to be back in London early the next day, I would have preferred to spend 1-4 nights in Paris. For a first-time visitor, this is enough time to see all the major sights in Paris, have a nice Lunch and maybe even visit an attraction. It may even be a good idea to mix it up a bit and fly to Paris and get the Eurostar home again. 

 

Have you ever been on a day trip from London to Paris? Let me know in the comments below.

Like this:

Like Loading...
Tweet
Share
Pin2
Share
Reddit
WhatsApp
Pocket
Email
Flip
2 Shares
Sylvie Simpson

Previous Article
  • General

Air Transat Club Class Experience Part 2: Is it Worth the Upgrade?

  • 26/02/2023
  • Callum Elsdon
View Post
Next Article
Maldives
  • General
  • News

NEWS: Oman Air Expansion, BA profits, loyalty extensions and downgrades and Boeing stops B787 deliveries

  • 27/02/2023
  • Michele
View Post
15 comments
  1. Tom Baum says:
    27/02/2023 at 6:41 am

    Lovely report, Sylvie

    But Subway? Why oh why – what a waste with so many Parisian options all around you?

  2. Abee says:
    27/02/2023 at 8:03 am

    My wife did a day trip to Paris with a friend in the early days of Eurostar when one didn’t have to go through Security! They enjoyed it.

  3. Liam says:
    27/02/2023 at 8:41 am

    Imagine going to Paris and eating Subway 🙄

  4. Mark says:
    27/02/2023 at 9:02 am

    We’re going for my Wifes 40th Tomorrow! Well it was just tomorrow, but the 4am start didn’t appeal so I changed the outbound ticket to this evening at no extra charge. Eurostars ticket flexibility is great

  5. Chris W says:
    27/02/2023 at 9:04 am

    Did you just say you went to Paris and ate Subway

  6. Sue says:
    27/02/2023 at 9:35 am

    I went on a day trip specifically to go to a recital that a friend in Paris was giving a couple of years ago. I decided to go quite last minute and so Eurostar was horrifically expensive (£300) compared to the cost of a return BA flight (£100). It was a Sunday so I drove to Osterley and parked there (free on a Sunday). I had timed everything and checked that all transport links were planned to be working properly, However you can’t legislate for unplanned engineering works which happened to be the case for the RER from Charles De Gaulle to Gare du Nord. So we had to catch a shuttle bus to the other branch. As my friend lives a few minutes walk from Gare du Nord that was not a problem. We had lunch in a local bistro, took the tube to the Champs Elysee afterwards and attended an afternoon piano recital in the American Cathedral, then made our way to Isle St Louis for the recital. Timing was very tight for my return so I decided to take a taxi back to the Airport. The cost of the day out was considerably less than the Eurostar ticket would have been.
    I know Paris pretty well, it is very walkable so if it is your first time download some walks that take you past the sights you want to see and buy a 10 contactless t+ ticket pass for the metro to get you to the right area. The ticket machines have instructions in English, and you can put an app on your phone. If you want to have a genuine French gourmet experience you will need to do some research and possibly book. Neighbourhood restaurants are often the best value in Paris, but they are not always immediately apparent, and as in any large city there are plenty of culinary tourist traps!

  7. J P Williams says:
    27/02/2023 at 9:51 am

    Sylvie,

    Do you like cakes? Next time in Paris, visit Fauchon. Steer clear of Subway.

    JP

    1. Sylvie Simpson says:
      27/02/2023 at 5:35 pm

      I will keep that in mind! I will be passing Paris by train on the way to Switzerland next week.

  8. rtbones says:
    27/02/2023 at 9:58 am

    Nice report. Did the mad day in Paris several years ago. First train out, next to last train back. I have been to Paris quite a few times and know the city well enough to get around. As others have said – it is very walkable. A carnet of 10 tickets for the Metro and a rough idea of what the folks traveling with me wanted to see and we were off. Was it exhausting? Absolutely. Did we have fun? Absolutely. I dont know that I’ll ever fly between London and Paris again – I do enjoy the Eurostar, though I’ve never tried to work on the train. Yes, there are times when tickets can get expensive, but a little planning can (usually) mitigate that.

    Like the others, though, I do have to question…Subway? In Paris?

  9. Mikeact says:
    27/02/2023 at 10:07 am

    I drove many times on business for a day trip to Paris. Catching the early morning ferry from Newhaven over to Dieppe..easy drive to Paris for a few hours in the office, and back to catch the last ferry back to Newhaven and home to Brighton.

  10. JeanTh says:
    27/02/2023 at 10:43 am

    Interesting review! Don’t forget City Mapper app – very good for checking all transport options in an area.

  11. Clive Fletcher-Wood says:
    27/02/2023 at 11:48 am

    Before HS1 was opened we took my mother-in-law to Paris for her 80th birthday lunch. The reason for this was that she met her late husband at St Germain-en-Laye when they were both in the Navy in WWII; she was in Paris on VE-Day. A fine regulating decision saw us following a stopping train on a diversionary route (it was a Sunday), so we averaged 30.5 mph from Waterloo (then) to the Tunnel. The French chef-du-train was very smug when he announced that the train was now travelling at 186 mph, because of course it was in France. Nonetheless it was an excellent trip, even though we only crossed the square outside the Gare du Nord to the excellent Terminus Restaurant, where we had a table for 20 or so. (I think that the restaurant is still operating). It’s such a pity that the line didn’t go into Gare d’Austerlitz; the trains would then have run from a station named after Napoleon’s greatest victory to one named after his greatest defeat.

  12. Anthony Dunn says:
    27/02/2023 at 3:42 pm

    If travelling to/from Gare du Nord, the brasserie at Terminus du Nord directly opposite is an excellent gastronomic introduction or farewell to Paris.

    Subway?! Perish the thought.

  13. Jeremy says:
    27/02/2023 at 10:31 pm

    Early 2020 I did a hybrid day trip to Delft in Netherlands in order to catch an Art Exhibition that was about to close. Was not long that Eurostar service had been running to Rotterdam – then a local train from there to Delft, took in the show, tram to The Hague for another gallery, train to Schipol, evening flight to Gatwick! Great fun!

  14. Tom says:
    28/02/2023 at 12:10 pm

    Can’t believe Subway is even legal in France

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to Turning Left for Less

Subscribe

* indicates required
Choose One Subscription Type

BOOK YOUR DREAM TRIP HERE

Want to book your hotel with extra perks such as upgrades and free breakfast? Need help booking flights? Our experts at Winged Boots can help.

Visit our booking page here

Turning Left For Less on Instagram

turningleftforless

Champagne travel on a Prosecco budget. UK blog on how to travel in luxury for less. Forbes contributor. #avgeek #luxurytravel #miles #luxuryhotel

FLIGHT REVIEW Qatar Airways A350 Q-suite Includin FLIGHT REVIEW

Qatar Airways A350 Q-suite Including Al Mourjan lounge by Mark Hopwood

Link in bio

#flightreview #businessclass #luxurytravel #travelreview #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #instaaviation #avgeek #qatarairways #qatar #almourjanlounge #qsuite
LOUNGE REVIEW Air Canada’s refurbished London H LOUNGE REVIEW

Air Canada’s refurbished London Heathrow T2 Maple Leaf lounge

Link in bio

#businessclass #luxurytravel #travelreview #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #instaaviation #avgeek #loungereview #aircanada #heathrow
HOTEL REVIEW Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport – best HOTEL REVIEW

Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport – best of a bad bunch?

Link in bio

#hotelreview #luxurytravel #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #luxuryhotel #crowneplaza #crowneplazahotel #crowneplazadublinairport #dublin
FLIGHT REVIEW ITA Rome to Dubai – When Business FLIGHT REVIEW

ITA Rome to Dubai – When Business Class Feels More Like First Class – ITA’s A321neo Surprises!

Link in bio

#flightreview #businessclass #luxurytravel #travelreview #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #instaaviation #avgeek #ita #itaairways
FLIGHT REVIEW Virgin Atlantic Business Class From FLIGHT REVIEW

Virgin Atlantic Business Class From London to Atlanta – “I Was Wrong”

Link in bio

#flightreview #businessclass #luxurytravel #travelreview #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #instaaviation #avgeek #virginatlantic #virgin #upperclass
HOTEL REVIEW Le Royal Meridien, Dubai – Genuine HOTEL REVIEW

Le Royal Meridien, Dubai – Genuinely a Hidden Gem (Why do we keep going back?)

Link in bio

#hotelreview #luxurytravel #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #luxuryhotel #leroyalmeridiendubai #leroyalmeridien #dubai #uae
FLIGHT REVIEW ITA Business Class – London City FLIGHT REVIEW

ITA Business Class – London City to Rome – Almost Kicked Off for Taking a Photo!

Link in bio

#flightreview #businessclass #luxurytravel #travelreview #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #instaaviation #avgeek #clubeurope #ita #itaairways #londoncity
HOTEL REVIEW Malmaison Oxford Hotel – A Prison HOTEL REVIEW

Malmaison Oxford Hotel – A Prison That You Won’t Want to Escape From

Link in bio 

#hotelreview #luxurytravel #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #luxuryhotel #malmaison #malmaisonoxford #malmaisonoxfordprisonhotel #oxford
HOTEL REVIEW Hotel du Vin, Birmingham Link in bi HOTEL REVIEW

Hotel du Vin, Birmingham

Link in bio

#hotelreview #luxurytravel #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #luxuryhotel #hotelduvin #hotelduvinbirmingham
FLIGHT REVIEW Gulf Air Business Class Bangkok to FLIGHT REVIEW

Gulf Air Business Class Bangkok to Manchester Via Singapore and Bahrain

Link in bio

#flightreview #businessclass #luxurytravel #travelreview #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #instaaviation #avgeek #gulfair
FLIGHT REVIEW Etihad Business Class – Abu Dhabi FLIGHT REVIEW

Etihad Business Class – Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow After a Cancelled BA Flight

Link in bio

#flightreview #businessclass #luxurytravel #travelreview #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #instaaviation #avgeek #etihad
HOTEL REVIEW Hotel Spinale, Madonna di Campiglio HOTEL REVIEW

Hotel Spinale, Madonna di Campiglio – The Ultimate Ski Retreat?

Link in our bio

#hotelreview #luxurytravel #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #luxuryhotel #hotelspinale #hotelspinalemadonnadicampiglio #madonnadicampiglio #skiresort #skichalet
Checking out the new No 1 lounge at @heathrow_airp Checking out the new No 1 lounge at @heathrow_airport T2. Very impressed with the elegant feel to the lounge. It’s definitely a step up from the older style of No1. I’d go as far to say that it looks better than quite a few airline lounges. All drinks are included apart from champagne and there was a good selection of tasty food as well. Full review coming soon. #airportlounge #heathrowairport #luxurytravel #no1lounge
Hotel Review on the blog - Intercontinental O2, Lo Hotel Review on the blog - Intercontinental O2, London & the Cable Car Experience. 

Link in our bio

#hotelreview #luxurytravel #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #luxuryhotel #london #intercontinental #intercontinentalo2 #ifscloudcablecar
THE 8 BEST EUROPEAN SKI RESORTS by Turning Left fo THE 8 BEST EUROPEAN SKI RESORTS by Turning Left for Less

Take a look at our handpicked favourites in the article in our bio.

#luxurytravel #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #luxuryhotel #skiing #skiresort #skiholiday
New hotel review on the blog - Sofitel Kia Ora Moo New hotel review on the blog - Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Hotel, French Polynesia

Link in bio 

#hotelreview #luxurytravel #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #luxuryhotel #sofitel #sofitelkiaoramoorea #frenchpolynesia
Flight review on the blog - Thai Airways from Melb Flight review on the blog - Thai Airways from Melbourne to Bangkok – ‘Old School’ but Classy 🇦🇺✈️🇹🇭

Link in bio

#flightreview #businessclass #luxurytravel #travelreview #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #instaaviation #avgeek #thaiairways #thailand
HOTEL REVIEW 🇺🇸 Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beac HOTEL REVIEW 🇺🇸

Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach – Boutique Charm Meets Art Deco

Link in bio

#hotelreview #luxurytravel #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #luxuryhotel #miamibeach #southbeach #miami #nautilussonesta #boutiquehotel
HOTEL REVIEW 🇵🇫 Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resor HOTEL REVIEW 🇵🇫 

Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa, French Polynesia

Link in bio

#hotelreview #luxurytravel #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #luxuryhotel #frenchpolynesia #hiltonmoorea #hilton #moorea
FLIGHT REVIEW - New Air France A350-900 Business C FLIGHT REVIEW - New Air France A350-900 Business Class Suite Part 3 – The Free Extra Large Suite

Link in bio

#flightreview #businessclass #luxurytravel #travelreview #luxurytravelblog #travelblog #turningleftforless #instaaviation #avgeek #airfrance
Follow on Instagram
Categories
Contact us

[email protected]

Unit 143857

PO Box 6945

LONDON

W1A 6US

Privacy Policy

Find out about our privacy policy and advertising disclosure here.

Turning left for less
Champagne travel on a Prosecco budget

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

%d