elizabethhindle

going to london for 5 days, 04/07.... 2 adults (my son 26, and myself 60) trying to put together plan ...? to go to paris for the day...really want to e-tower and perhaps eat lunch there; also a trip to the lourve.....would do eurostar and hop on off bus or boat shuttle. is it worth it? also is it worth it to spend a day windsor castle (i've been before) or would hampton court be more interesting....already booked for london eye and phantom....so looking for a good pre-theater resturant either british or american...thanks for any help!!!
we are staying in the area of victoria station...

wilees

Personally I think that with only 5 days you are best to stay in London. A eurostar day trip to paris will be a very rushed trip - although it is managable if you really must.

instead consider a day trip to Oxford or somewhere like that.

Is it 5 full days or 3 full days and the day you arrive and the day you leave?

I enjoyed Windsor more than Hampton Court - others may disagree. But if you have already been there perhaps go to Hampton Court. Both take a good part of a day with travel included.

There are many good restaurants in London - it just depends on your ££ range.

janisj

if your 5 days includes your arrival day-as much as I LOVE Paris, I wouldn't do a day trip there. You will barely have time for the very basics of London. Has your son been to London before? If you both know London really well - then maybe a day trip to Paris would be OK - but I much prefer staying overnight in Paris and you just don't have the time.

Also FWIW - I personally would not pre-book the Eye. Weather is a very important consideration for when you "fly the Eye". What if the time you picked is in the middle of a rain storm?

W9London

Agree with the others that you'll have a rather limited time in London. Whether it is worth it really depends on you. But if it is very important for you to do the Paris day trip, it is doable.
If you want to get there in time for lunch, you'll need to take either the 7am or 8am Eurostar from London. Check-in is 30min before (plus time to pick up tickets from the machine), so expect it will be an early start. Louvre will be closed on Tuesdays. You should get the tickets on-line to avoid having to queue.

Alternatively, you might want to consider having a lunch at a nice French restaurants in London, and go to British Museum or Royal Academy of Arts for a similarly rewarding experience without crossing the channel?

rogerdodger

Just so you know about this option. A costly escorted day trip is offered by Premium tours. It encludes the train, a bus tour and either free afternnon or a tour of the Lourve. Good service I thought. However, you really can do it much cheaper on you own.