TRAVEL ARTICLES
Friday, 20 February 2009
London to Paris: is Eurostar better than flying?
London to Paris: Train vs Plane
London and Paris are the two most visited cities in Europe. If you are going to travel between these two great capitals here are some points to consider whether to fly or get the Eurostar.
Travel Time
Travel by train from London to Paris takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. A flight takes around 1 hour.
While flying is technically quicker, once you have factored in getting to and from airports, checking in, clearing security and reclaiming bags, Eurostar works out to be a faster option.
Benefits of Train Travel
There is less transit hassle to travel on the Eurostar. You pass through both countries customs before you board. Clearing customs and baggage screening takes no longer than 20 minutes and you only need to be there 30 minutes before departure.
You carry your bags onboard and as you have already cleared customs, once you reach your destination you can walk off the train and straight out of the station.
Benefits of Flying
Despite the train being faster overall, there are some instances in which flying is the better option. First of all you might be flying to Paris via London on alliance airlines which includes a stopover in your ticket.
Another reason to consider flying is if you are going one-way. For example if you are flying from the US to London, then onto Paris, then returning to the US from Paris. One-way tickets on Eurostar are not good value and often cost more than a return ticket. In this case it would be cheaper to fly.
If you are going one-way and still want to experience the Eurostar you could buy a return ticket and just not use the return. A discount return ticket will cost as much as a one flight so the expense is comparable.
Train Station v Airports
The advantage that Eurostar has over flying is in the location of the train stations. The Eurostar London station is the magnificent St Pancras Station, which is a destination in itself. This restored Victorian Gothic masterpiece is close to central London and has an impressive departure facilities.
Eurostar in Paris arrives at Gare du Nord (North station), which is close to central Paris and well connected with the metro and regional rail services.
As the train stations are centrally located the time and expense of transferring to airports is avoided.
Overall the benefits of Eurostar outweigh the benefits of flying, which is now the most popular way to travel between London and Paris.
London and Paris are the two most visited cities in Europe. If you are going to travel between these two great capitals here are some points to consider whether to fly or get the Eurostar.
Travel Time
Travel by train from London to Paris takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. A flight takes around 1 hour.
While flying is technically quicker, once you have factored in getting to and from airports, checking in, clearing security and reclaiming bags, Eurostar works out to be a faster option.
Benefits of Train Travel
There is less transit hassle to travel on the Eurostar. You pass through both countries customs before you board. Clearing customs and baggage screening takes no longer than 20 minutes and you only need to be there 30 minutes before departure.
You carry your bags onboard and as you have already cleared customs, once you reach your destination you can walk off the train and straight out of the station.
Benefits of Flying
Despite the train being faster overall, there are some instances in which flying is the better option. First of all you might be flying to Paris via London on alliance airlines which includes a stopover in your ticket.
Another reason to consider flying is if you are going one-way. For example if you are flying from the US to London, then onto Paris, then returning to the US from Paris. One-way tickets on Eurostar are not good value and often cost more than a return ticket. In this case it would be cheaper to fly.
If you are going one-way and still want to experience the Eurostar you could buy a return ticket and just not use the return. A discount return ticket will cost as much as a one flight so the expense is comparable.
Train Station v Airports
The advantage that Eurostar has over flying is in the location of the train stations. The Eurostar London station is the magnificent St Pancras Station, which is a destination in itself. This restored Victorian Gothic masterpiece is close to central London and has an impressive departure facilities.
Eurostar in Paris arrives at Gare du Nord (North station), which is close to central Paris and well connected with the metro and regional rail services.
As the train stations are centrally located the time and expense of transferring to airports is avoided.
Overall the benefits of Eurostar outweigh the benefits of flying, which is now the most popular way to travel between London and Paris.
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