Allyson Klein

I'm planning a whirlwind European tour and am considering a day trip to Bath when in London - any comments whether to go or not? Also thinking about the same approach for Giverny from Paris - any suggestions? <BR>

Ellen

<BR>Both Bath and Giverny are very nice stops. But, if this is your first time to both areas, there are other more noteworthy stops which are actually easier to get to as well. <BR>For day trips from Paris, perhaps Versailles is the most well known and it is quite a spectacle. It is a quick train ride from Paris. To get to Giverny really would require a car for the best ease. I believe you can take public transportation to Vernon and then hire a cab or take the bus to Giverny. There is also a nice museum of impressionism nearby Monets home but nothing could rate better than the Museum d' Orsay, in my opinion. <BR> <BR>For Bath, I think its great. There are organized tours that include Bath with Stonehenge and Salisbury all in one day. It is a full day but really good. Also, don't exclude Windsor castle which is really easy to get to on your own. <BR>Ellen

Joyce

Giverny is VERY easy to access. Take the train from the St. Lazare station to Vernon. A bus meets all trains in Vernon. You step off the train and onto the bus which whisks you to the gardens. TIP: Take the train which will get you to Vernon at about 9:30 for the 10:00 opening of the gardens, otherwise you will have long lines to get in. While in Paris be sure to see Monet's Water Lilies displayed in a special room at L'Orangerie. Then go to Lescure, 7 rue de Mondovi (just across the Place Concorde) for lunch - a very reasonable, excellent restaurant.

Carole

Whilst I really like Bath another place to consider for a day trip from London would be Cambridge - home to Cambridge University. It has to be one of my favourite places in England. In fact we spent the day there yesterday again for my birthday. It is quintessentially English. Take a punt down the river - either guided to find out a bit about the city or self hire if you fancy having a bit of fun.

Christina

Yes, Giverny is very worthwhile if you have about <BR>a full day to spend on it (which it will take due to <BR>transport difficulties) and if it's a time of year when <BR>the garden will be in bloom. If not, I wouldn't think <BR>it worth it. I also think that Giverny is not very easy to get to, <BR>mainly in terms of wasted time, although you don't <BR>need a private car. There are only a couple trains <BR>a day to Giverny at a time appropriate for visiting <BR>the garden. Perhaps the one at 9 is the best bet if <BR>what the post said is true; the problem is that the <BR>buses in Giverny are not scheduled at a time to <BR>meet the train--I took the noon train, I think (a popular <BR>one for this run) and had to wait about 30-45 min. <BR>after arriving for a bus to show up to go to Giverny. <BR>Then, there were only a couple return times for the <BR>train in late afternoon, which also were not at a <BR>convenient hour, and only a few returns for the <BR>bus which did not coordinate with the train. <BR> My tip--forget the bus and take a cab, <BR>espec. If you have more than one person; it's <BR>not that far (3-4 miles, I think) and the bus is <BR>actually quite expensive, so cab won't be much or <BR>any more expensive. And be sure you note when <BR>the return trains are to Paris or you'll get stuck there. <BR>If you want a bus tour, however, which could be <BR>quite convenient and time-saving, there are some <BR>run by Paris Vision, one of the main tour companies <BR>in Paris. <BR>

Roger

Bath is a nice town to visit for the day and you can take the train. However, I feel that others towns offer more. This is my personal opinion and many others may not agree with me, but I would visit York. More to see, only a two hour train trip, good scenery on the way and just a fun place. You can walk the old Walls, visit the Shambles, see the Minster, the Viking Center and the old train display.

Kat

Here's a BIG vote for Bath which is easy to reach by train from London and there is so much to do and see: <BR>- the Assembly Rooms (yes,as in Jane Austen's 'Persuasion') <BR>- the Roman baths and museum <BR>- the cathedral <BR>- great shopping at dozens of small, unusual shops around the cathedral area <BR>- eat lunch at The Hole in the Wall <BR> <BR>I've enjoyed many areas in England -- most of them positively overflowing with charm. My two favorite day trips from London, however, are Bath and Warwick. Of course, champagne no longer is available on the trains after Maggie deregulated. Oh well.

Elaine

I've been to Giverny twice, once independently and <BR>once on a tour bus (either Cityrama or Paris Vision, <BR>I forget which). Independently was not hard, although I did have to wait for a taxi in Vernon for <BR>about 20 minutes. Giverny is breathtaking as long <BR>as it is flower season, and the crowds can be bad. <BR>If you're going on your own, find out which days <BR>the tour buses go and avoid those days if you can. <BR>If you do take a tour bus, follow this strategy: <BR>when everyone gets off the bus they start touring <BR>the house and studio first. You follow the signs <BR>for the waterlily pond and go there first, before <BR>everyone else. <BR> <BR>Bath is gorgeous because of its well-preserved <BR>architecture and charm, the Disney store notwithstanding. It is an easy day trip (Brit Rail has a "deal") and is also worth an overnighter. <BR>Be sure to walk a few blocks from the Abbey and <BR>Pump Room to see the Royal Crescent and the Circus. <BR>When I was last there a few years ago there was <BR>an outstanding restaurant called Popjoy's. If it's <BR>still there, it's a wonderful dining experience.

Monica

My Mother and I LOVED Giverny. We were there in October and many of the flowers were in bloom. It was not crowded at all. The ponds were lovely and we enjoyed wandering around. We took the train to Vernon, which we met a couple on board. We shared a taxi instead of waiting for the bus because the bus didn't run too often. Very inexpensive taxi ride when sharing it. I agree that there are not a whole lot of trains to Vernon, but if you take the 9am train (I believe that's the correct time we went), then you'll have time to visit the place, then head back to paris for the remainder of the day.

RJD

To get full information on Giverny including details on how to get there, which is not diffcult, see their web site. Plug "Giverny" into any search engine. It's a lovely place, calm and a delight for the senses. Visit if you can.

Peter Goodman

We were in Giverny in June - 08:15A train from St Lazare - to Vernon - bus ride (15 minutes 10ff each way) - the driver will give you a schedule - Giverny opens during the summer at 10A - we arrived a few minutes before 10A - if you are a Monet fan it is breathtaking!!! - we took a 13:30 train back - <BR>also musee marmottan has wonderful monet's - it is in 16th arrondisement - I like it much better than Orangerie - <BR>