starzizzle

So, I've finally narrowed down our late November 2 week vacation to London and France. We may fly into Edinburgh and take the train to London and stay there a few days and then head over to France. My question is, I'd really like to explore the Loire Valley, bayeux, Mont St Michel and then head over to Paris to finish our vacation. I was thinking about taking the train from London but I'm not sure how to get to the Northwest region of France, what kind of transportation is best to take to these areas? Also, we have a 3 year old with us but she likes exploring, and is a good traveler.

thursdaysd

Have you laid this out on a blank calendar page, because I really don't think you have time for everything you want to do.

There are direct trains from Paris St. Lazare to Bayeux, taking a couple of hours. For schedules for European trains see bahn.de, for info on buying tickets see seat61.com. Getting from Bayeux to Mont St Michel without a car is a bit more difficult, maybe someone else can help.

janisj

I agree -- especially if the entire trip is 2 weeks. 14 days including international flights nets about 11.5 days free on the ground and then you have tons of additional travel that will eat into your sightseeing time even more. So basically you are looking at about 8 days for: Edinburgh, London, Paris, Bayeux, Mont St Michel, the Loire - something has to give . . . unless you really mean 3 weeks.

starzizzle

It's more like 16-17 days, Edinburgh I'm not really sure about, we will more than likely land in London.

WoinParis

With a kid I recommend a car. She will have her own space can sleep etc. Instead of trains. And you'll save time on regional trains.

flanneruk

The quickest way from London to Bayeux is to fly to Caen on Flybe from Southend: crossing Paris with a toddler and luggage is no fun.

But neither is any of the other options for getting from London to Normandy quickly. In your shoes, I'd junk the driving round France and limit myself to the Paris, London and Edinburgh.

If I were dead set on the Loire Valley and Normandy, I'd junk the UK altogether.

bilboburgler

I finally got to write it "too much, too young", the Specials

Too many places and dragging a kid across Paris, yikes.

The easy places by train are Edinb, London and Paris. The French train system is mainly radial out of Paris (though there are exceptions) so you tend to have to go back into the city, change station and go out again.

It depends how new you are to all this European travel thing, if you've done it a few times before then try the three cities and say a quick car hire into the Loire, if not then just the three. There is a lot to do in London.

StCirq

Normandy is not usually any fun at all in November. The Loire Valley is pretty depressing, too. Do you really want to haul a three-year-old around in rain and wind and cold for 2+ weeks? I'd just hit a couple of cities, maybe the three you've mentioned, so you can find warmth and dry when you need it.

thursdaysd

Yes, can I ask why northern Europe in late November? I'd be headed to Nice or Lisbon. It will get dark early, and will probably be damp and chilly in London and Paris and colder in Edinburgh.

starzizzle

Well we went to Italy in January and it was cold and dark but we managed to go to Milan, Venice, Rome, Florence, Pisa in two weeks, so obviously we know what we are getting into when we say we would "like" to explore but also understand that we may not get to see it all. We aren't dead set on these areas, this post is my starting point to see what people recommend, we understand the limitations of traveling with a child, but pretty much anywhere in Europe around November December is going to be dark and gloomy, unfortunately that is the only time we can get off together as a family.

Mimar

But northern Europe is colder, darker, rainier, windier, and has shorter days than Italy. I agree; stick to cities for this trip.

janisj

Cities are much easier in winter. Edinburgh, London and Paris would be a piece of cake. Lots of indoor attractions plus parks if you get lucky and have good weather. Trying to squeeze in Normandy and/or the Loire would be an awful schlepp.

thursdaysd

If you consult Weather Underground you will see that Lisbon was in the 60s in late November last year, while London was low 50s or high 40s.

Brits who could afford it used to escape to Nice for the winter, that's why the sea front boulevard is the Promenade des Anglais.

jamikins

Milan, Venice, Rome, Florence, Pisa are all easy by train with little transportation issues and fairly short distances. Edinburgh to London to Paris is also simple using trains. Adding in Loire Valley or Normandy etc and you add a car rental and more complex transit which increases the time spent travelling and decreases the time spent enjoying your locations. Especially when the sun is only up for about 8 hours at the end of November in the UK.

thursdaysd

Daylight in Edinburgh, Nov 2017:

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/e...h=11&year=2017

Daylight in London, Nov 2017:

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/l...h=11&year=2017

Daylight in Lisbon, Nov 2017:

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/port...h=11&year=2017

Daylight in Florence, Nov 2017:

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/ital...h=11&year=2017

bilboburgler

We escape to Morroco in the winter, or the Canaries.