normal1983

Hello to all....I'm about to book the "chunnel" from London to Paris but I was hoping for add'l information before taking the plunge. We'll be at a hotel in Crowthorne and will need to take a taxi to London to catch the Eurostar to Paris. Distance from Crowthorne to London is approximately 46 miles or 1hr 15min according to google maps.

If I allot 1hr 30 min for travel, in order to arrive 30 minutes prior to the train departing, will that give me enough time to catch the train? Or should I give myself more time in case of heavy traffic? The train departs at 11.m. I'm not familiar with the traffic patterns in London so I do want enough time so as to not miss the train.

There is a train that leaves Bracknell, near Crowthorne, for San Pancras but would require a 1hr 30 min layover in San Pancras which I would rather not endure.

Thank you

alihutch

St Pancras is a beautiful station where I can easily spend 90 minutes....especially the champagne bar on the Eurostar platform. Also there are good restaurants on the station. However I'm pretty sure that there's no direct train from Bracknell to St Pancras!

ssander

What day are you going?

The British Library is right next door to St. Pancras station...an amazing place (a must-see IMHO) and free admission...it opens at 9:30 a.m. except Sundays (11 a.m.).

http://www.bl.uk/

SS

normal1983

No, you're right, alihutch. I believe there is a stop at London Waterloo if I read the site correctly then leaving from St Pancras. I'm not familiar with the distance from Waterloo to St Pancras but I've read that it will take about 15-25 minutes by taxi.

Since there is a change I think it would be easier just to take a taxi from Crowthorne to St Pancras and then catch the Eurostar. Taxi cost is about $50 I believe and would save us a bit of stress.

Although St Pancras is probably quite lovely, we will be anxious to get into Paris that day so we don't want to spend too much time at the station.

Any other thoughts that may help us out?

normal1983

ssander, we are leaving in August on a Friday. We've been to London before and have seen the British Library. It is awesome! If we weren't so short on time, I would love to see London all over again!

As we only have one day to see any sights (going to a wedding which will take most of our time in England) we will probably go to Hampton Court Palace. It is the closest "sight" to our hotel that we haven't seen yet.

janisj

There is no way on Earth a taxi from Crowthorne to St Pancras would cost as little as $50/£32. Just in from LHR, which is much closer than Crowthorne, a taxi is over £50 - and closer to £60 when the traffic is bad.

Plus I think you missed some details reading the train schedules.

You do have a choice of trains that go to either Paddinton or to Waterloo. But neither of those stations has rail service to St Pancras. If you read carefully you'll see the legs from Paddington or Waterloo to St Pancras are tube journeys. And the Waterloo option has tube line transfers . . . .

janisj

Have you considered flying from LHR to CDG - just another option. Train+Taxi or just Taxi to St Pancras plus the Eurostar will cost approx the same as bus or taxi to LHR, flight plus RER into Paris.

alihutch

There are trains direct from Bracknell to Waterloo, or trains from Crowthorne to Paddington with one change at Reading.
You can then get a taxi to St Pancras, there;s isn't a train link.(it would be the underground)
According to this website

http://www.taxiscrowthorne.co.uk/?_k...FZIs3godPidjSA

a taxi to St Pancras looks like at least £85 (about $130)

I'd still going via the tunnel, but do train + taxi to St Pancras.

alanRow

<<< There is a train that leaves Bracknell, near Crowthorne, for San Pancras but would require a 1hr 30 min layover in San Pancras which I would rather not endure. >>>

Would you rather endure missing the Eurostar? Do you turn up at airports at the last minute to make long haul flights?

normal1983

It looks like I've got some more research to do!!! Thanks for the link alihutch. I'll be looking into it. The $50 taxi cost was an approximation that I found when googling taxi fees. But you are never guaranteed accuracy when googling info so thank you janisj for the correction. Since we will possibly be traveling with another couple it would cost us only half as much.

I would rather take the tunnel just for the experience. The Eurostar website recommended arriving 30 minutes in advance so I was going by their recommendations, alanrow. And no, I don't turn up at the last minute. I'm a bit anal about being on time or early. My point in posting here for advice was so that I don't mess up and miss anything!

avalon

They do say 30 minutes but sometimes it takes a bit longer, if there is a long line at passport control and security. Then you might have a distance to walk to your coach. Lots of shops at St Pancras and some nice photo opportunities

petedxb44

Can ANYONE PLEASE PLEASE HELP :

I noticed your post regarding traveling through the Eurostar, And i need some advice & help. I am a Uk Citizen, with a Current 10 Year passport, the new one with the microchip in the back, i have recently just found out whilst away in France, that there is a Warrant out for my Arrest, for a Driving over 100 mph on Uk Motorway, and because i was away, it went to court in my abscence , and because i failed to appear , even though i didnt know , i have tried with a solicitor to explain to them, but they said i would be arrested as soon as i Fly back into the country & then taken to court ! I hate the British Justice System !

Anyway i have just had a death in the Family, and i need to come back for the Funeral, i have been told that i could get the Eurostar, as they only glance at your passport, and they do run it through a machine, is this true ?

With you being a experienced traveller, could you advise me please ?

Many Thanks in Advance,

jamikins

They definitely run it through a machine, its the same as passport control anywhere. We were just got back from Brussels last month and they ran ours, and everyone elses through the machine.

What does your solicitor advise, I'd follow their advice rather than random strangers on the internet.

avalon

So were you driving over 100mph or were you in France at the time of the incident?

normal1983

Beyond my expertise. Follow the advise of your attorney.

Hooameye

"I hate the British Justice System !"
Why? Because you got caught?

normal1983

I'm a bit surprised at the post by petedxb44. Why would you post something like that on this thread? I'm wondering if this is a legitimate post?

janisj

normal1983: "<i>Why would you post something like that on this thread? I'm wondering if this is a legitimate post?</i>"

It <i>might</i> not be legit - but more than likely our miscreant just did a search for "Eurostar" and your thread is the most recent that he could find that way . . . .

CarolA

Yes, but wouldn't that be a better therad on it's own... "HELP WANTED BY HER MAJESTY'S GOVERMENT"

Honestly, the only good advice here is "see an attorney" You may have to go to the court and pay your debt to get out for the funeral. But at some point the bill will come due..... (How can you not know you got a ticket for driving that fast?)

janisj

"<i>How can you not know you got a ticket for driving that fast?</i>"

Oh don't get me wrong - I think petedxb44 is a dope -- but it is entirely possible to get a ticket w/o knowing. It is done by camera.