Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Eurostar Is the Most Efficient Way Between London and Paris

Eurostar
While the distance between Paris and London is relatively short — 288.5 miles–depending on what mode of transportation you take, you can make the trip on a nine-hour bus ride, a six-hour drive via car and ferry, a one-hour-and-10-minute flight, or a two-and-a-half hour Eurostar ride.

Now that short flight doesn’t include the hour plus it may take to get to and from the airport in London and Paris, plus the annoying lines and all the time you’ll spend waiting around prior to departure. If you have your own car, or if you rent one, it can be confusing driving in a foreign country, especially if you don’t understand French. Plus, when you’re on the London side, you have to deal with a whole new way of driving! Have you ever driven on the other side of the road in a seat that’s in the other side of the car? I have, and let me tell you, it feels weird. I couldn’t drive properly. Sometimes I would be grabbing for things that weren’t there. And to have the gear shift on the other side? It just feels strange–as if suddenly you’re using things made for left-handed people. There is of course, the bus, which may be the most cost-effective option, but nine or more hours on a smelly, dirty bus isn’t a very pleasant way to cross the Channel.

The most efficient way to go between London and Paris is by rail on the Eurostar.

eurostar, st. pancras station, london
St. Pancras Station, London

High-speed train is clearly the way to go when traveling to London from Paris or Paris from London. All you have to do is take the Metro or Underground, Uber, or a Taxi, or heck if you’re close enough, you can walk straight to Gare du Nord in Paris or St. Pancras station in London. Word of caution — make sure you get there an hour early; it’s not like your typical train situation where you can arrive 15 minutes before your departure and be all good. Once you’re there, you go through security, which is relatively quick, and then the border crossing — make sure you have a pen so you can fill out those customs forms! And then, as soon as you know it, you’re relaxing in large, comfy seats and you’re ready to get to your destination.

If you’ve opted for an upgraded seat in Standard Premier or Business Premier, you have a shorter check-in time, plus you have outlets at your seats and a meal. Two-and-a-half hours later you step off the train and voila — you’re right in the middle of London or Paris and ready to go!

For more information, visit eurostar.com.

St. Pancras Image Credit: Herry Lawford via Flickr

Ann Binlot
Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…
Passports are really expensive (but it’s worse in these countries), study reveals
If you think the U.S. passport fee is high, see how it ranks compared to some other countries
A person holding a passport down.

The cost of travel these days seems to get more expensive, with gas a never-ending yo-yo and hidden fees in your flights. Planning on traveling out of the country? Then you'll also need to factor in your passport fees. If you think a U.S. passport costs a pretty penny, you might be a bit more thankful for the price compared to a few other countries. We have the passport study results to get familiar with.
Countries with the highest passport fees
So, how much is a passport? The initial passport fee for one might seem like a lot, but remember that it lasts for quite some time. When you break it down over the 10 years, you'll hold it before it needs to be renewed, and it becomes a great investment.
The expensive ones

Australia - $230
Mexico - $170
Switzerland - $140

Read more
The very best airport watering holes, from LAX to JFK
Flying this travel season? We suggest a good drink at one of these outstanding airport bars
A beer pint at the airport.

Travel season is upon us, which means moseying through an airport en route to a special trip or vacation. That process is made all the better with a quality drink.

Fortunately, today's airports are pretty generous when it comes to quality food and drink options. Yet, with so many terminals and slim windows in between flights, it pays to know exactly where you are going. So we rounded up the best watering holes in some of the busiest airports in the country.

Read more
The travel mistakes experts say everyone makes when they visit Cancun
Before you book that Cancun vacation, see what the experts say are the worst mistakes we always make
A gorgeous shot of Cancun, Mexico and the water.

From Spring Break to summertime, Cancun, Mexico, remains one of the most popular spots for people to flock to when they are in need of a sunny getaway. But as with visiting anywhere new, there are a ton of slips to be made if you don't plan it right. Travel experts put together all the mistakes we make when we aim our sights on a Cancun vacation. See how many you're guilty of and how to avoid making future ones.

The packing faux pas
It all starts before you even get there. Travel agent Mary DeSpain believes a lot of the blunders people make happen before they leave for the trip. According to Mary, "Cancun is a phenomenal destination. Don’t waste it with bad planning!"
Some things you don't want to mess up

Read more