If it's within your budget to do London and Paris, especially as this may be the only chance you get, then I'd do it. Book your return Eurostar train from St Pancras station to the Gare du Nord in Paris well in advance and you should get reasonably economical fares. The trip from city centre to city centre sghould only take 3 to 4 hours all in, so it's much quicker and cheaper than air travel as you will be in the city at each end.

If your return flight is early to get back home, then come back to London the day before.

You cant lose either way - do you want to do two cities or a city and the countryside. You would likely benefit from having a car in the countryside so o you want to drive? Either way you will have a fabulous trip!

If you are going to do London/Paris I would arrive in London and head straight for Paris from the airport and spend your time there, then take the eurostar to London (book on www.eurostar.com as soon as tickets are available for your dates to get the best deal) and spend the last part of your trip so you dont have to worry about your flight home.

I would definitely choose the Paris option. You can't see much of England in 5 days but you can have a great visit in Paris in that time. What time of year are you going?

I meant to fly directly from London to Paris when you arrive...

I would think it is worth getting out of the "world capital" that is London to see one of the proper British cities, some are almost as different as Paris is from London. I suggest you look at York or Edinburgh as truely representative of country.

Paris, is well, lovely but will always be there.

We are going at the end of July. Thank you all for the information! Very helpful.

If you all like outdoor activities, then stay in England, and spend some of your vacation in a smaller city and/or out in more rural areas. You answered your own question about where to go!

........Eurostar travel time London city centre ( St. Pancras Rail Station ) to Paris city centre (Gare du Nord Station ) is 2 hours and 15 minutes. And they are usually right on time.

Hi b,

You can't go wrong either way.

Since you have to fly RT London, I suggest going directly to Paris for 6 nights and taking the train back to London.

I think it would really depend on the desires of the people in the trip, as staying in the UK or going to Paris could both work. I just wouldn't probably do the Paris thing given you have to be back in London to leave, that doesn't sound like a good use of time or money (going back to London).

I'd probably stay in the UK but I wouldn't move to Bath for the rest of my time, that's for sure. There are lots of beautiful parts of England, such as the Lake district, and you could go north and see it and perhaps Edinburgh or Wales for a change of pace. And July is a good time weather-wise as (usually) it isn't that hot in Scotland or England, for that matter.