Eurostar: London – Paris

I came back to London last night after a few amazing days in Paris. Time sure flies by quick when you’re having fun, but now I’m back in London and the last few months of uni.

It is a saying: it is not the destination but the journey. At least I think this is a great saying and for me this was the case when travelling to Paris. When Kjell Steinar and I talked about going, we wanted to take the train. A train that goes under water between two countries is something I would like to try and it was actually quite special. I thought the train would be under water for quite some time, but in reality it only takes about 20 minutes.

Eurostar has several trains that go between London and Paris each day and the journey is only two and a half hours long. If you’re living in London, like me, or you’re visiting and wants to see Paris as well before returning home, then the train is the perfect way to travel. It is easy, cheap and quick. And you really don’t have to worry about weight limit on your suitcase either, which sometimes (or rather very often) is a problem when flying. On Eurostar’s webpage they say that you can have two suitcases each and hand luggage without paying anything extra, but if you’re travelling with a bicycle, large musical instruments and so on then you would have to pay an extra fee.

Check in is very easy. You have to show up at least 30 minutes before departure so that they can scan your luggage but you don’t have to check it in like on an airplane. You carry it with you on the train and find a place for it. Very easy. And also, you don’t have to worry about any liquids, you can bring drinks and stuff without the staff taking it away. I am perhaps stating the obvious, but you have to remember your passport. In both London and Paris they have a passport security check, you are after all travelling between two countries.

In London you travel from London St. Pancras International, the home of Eurostar. The station is very modern with several shops and a couple of cafes where you can buy a snack and a drink. Our train left very early in the morning so we took a taxi, but it is very easy to take the London Underground to St. Pancras. You can take the Piccadilly, Victoria, Hammersmith and City, Circle, Metropolitan and Northern Line. Then your next stop is Gare du Nord International in Paris. The train station in Paris is very central and you can very easily take the metro to wherever you want to go.

I really recommend taking the train from London to Paris. It is so quick and easy and worry-free and you are in central Paris in no time. For me it was the perfect start of a perfect romantic weekend with my boyfriend. I would definitely take the train again.