Sue_xx_yy

I cannot help you with deciding what is most important, but some logistical tips.

1. Watch out for closing days, many places are not open 7 days a week.

2. Getting to Versailles from Paris central is about 2 hours round trip on the RER (in local pronounciation, r "eh" r, not r eee r). This is a commuter railway. I won't go into the details now, but to take a tour of the interior and see the gardens and have lunch and so forth will take the better part of a day.

2. The Eiffel Tower will have lineups for the elevator, can't be helped. The lines IME tend to start shortening after 3 p.m. We spent 3 hours up in the tower, because the views are not only lovely but there are panels that help you to understand what you are seeing (i.e. what a given building is in the given viewscape.)

3. The Louvre takes the better part of a morning or an afternoon for a first look, and you have to be very selective as the place is enormous. Consider opting instead to see the National Gallery as London is your main stop. There are many, many masterpieces in the NG to rival that smug-faced woman in black over in the Louvre.

Finally: I can think of no better mad cap escapade than to go with my 14 year old and college-aged daughter on a crazy day trip to Paris. Normally I wouldn't recommend this but you will never get those girls at that age grouping again. You will return exhausted but I bet none of you would ever forget the day "we all made that stupid but memorable crazy run to Paris, getting up at 5:30 a.m and returning by mid evening....." Just be sure to plan it so that you have the next day to relax in London.

Sue_xx_yy

That said, I second Flanner - London is one of the most fascinating cities I've ever seen, I prefer it to Paris although I've never been sorry to have had the chance to visit Paris 3 times. So if you decide to spend all your time in London, you won't be disappointed.

Andrew

My first real trip to Europe was ten days to London and Paris. I enjoyed London, but I fell in love with Paris. Six days is indeed not that much time. Personally, I would still try to sneak in a day in Paris, even if to see the Eiffel Tower at night and wander around for a few hours before heading home. It would make the most sense to do that if flying out of Paris with enough time to catch the flight out of London same day, in my opinion. (It would be easier of course just to fly out of Paris home instead of from London, but I assume that's not possible/practical.)

ssander

Sue_xx_yy nailed when she said you will have a never-to-be-forgotten blast taking a day-trip to Paris with your daughters.

Just be sure to plan well, since you'll have limited time. Get one of the first trains of the day and come back after dinner. What you do in-between is up to you, but here are my thoughts of some things to do:

1. Don't go up the Eiffel Tower...take a Seine cruise and you'll see it fine...or just check it out from Trocadero.

2. Pick ONE museum...depending on your art taste...either Orsay or Louvre and spend a couple of hours only. [Orsay may be a better choice, since it's impressionist collection can't be matched in London, but a lot of the Louvre's genres can between the Brit. Museum and the Nat. Gallery.]

3. Get a book with a self-guided walk, pick one that seems interesting, and do it.

4. Don't go to Versailles...it's obviously great, but too time-consuming for a day-trip to Paris.

5. After dinner, take a little walk along the river on Ile St Louis before heading back to Gare du Nord.

...all just my opinion.

SS

carolyn

My first two picks would be Notre Dame and St. Chapelle which is just across the street from it. Google the S.C. images and see if you are not sold!

RM67

Do Paris as a day trip using Eurostar and do it right in the middle of your six days - flying straight onto Paris on your arrival day won't give you quite as much time and you'll probably be tired after the transatlantic flight anyway.

So 2 days London, 1 day Paris, 2 days London.

I personally would not do any museums as that could eat a lot of time, especially with queuing. Wander, see the Eiffel tower (but don't go up) see either sacre coeur or notre dame, have pâtésserie, try and catch a street market, use the river bus.

Do not stay overnight - get a lateish train back.

ssander

Suggestion...both Notre Dame and St Chapelle can have long lines. If you are there when that is not the case, by all mean go into whichever has a short line.

However, if that is the case, and if you are there on a Sunday, Notre Dame can be experienced without the lines...pop in during an early mass.

The nave, crossing, choir and apse are obviously in use and cannot be toured, but you can walk around the aisle and at least one of the transepts.

If you are a Catholic, you'll want to participate as well.

The experience is one you will not forget -- mystical! (...and I am not Catholic.)

SS