London or Paris first?
 

We are planning a week long trip in October split between London and Paris. We'll fly into one and out of the other and take the Eurostar between. There are reasonable flight options for each itinerary. Any particular reason, other than personal preference, to choose one over the other as our starting point?

London.

You get there jet lagged. The language is English, so there is less confusion to find your way around. Once jetlag is gone, you are ready for Paris.

Absolutely no difference IMO - there are advantages and disadvantages to both. I'd probably just choose the one that has the best schedule.

The only slight difference is -- flying out of the UK will be more expensive since the departure taxes are higher. So all other things being equal - flying into London, Eurostar to Paris, fly home from CDG

I agree w/ Michael_Paris - London for all the same reasons .... and You'll board Eurostar in an English speaking country

I agree that London should be first. I like London but Paris is to be lingered over.

Check the airfare from your home city to London return from Paris and vv. Prices for a Eurostar ticket London to Paris are often more than a oneway Paris to London ticket, at least when I've needed to purchase oneway tickets in the past. Also, check if you are in Paris one a free museum day, I think it's first Sunday of the month. In the case of London it doesn't matter since most museums are free. Do the math, one of the two options will cost less, I'm sure!

"<i>Prices for a Eurostar ticket London to Paris are often more than a oneway Paris to London ticket, at least when I've needed to purchase oneway tickets in the past.</i>"

It is often cheaper to buy a R-T Eurostar ticket and discard the return portion.

We did that same trip a few years ago - Always end in Paris - better food

Looks like London first is the way to go. Thanks everyone!

I'd choose whichever gives you the best airfare.

I suspect I must be the opposite sort of traveler in the sense that if I'm spending some time in a country in which I am not easily dealing with the language, not that Paris, for example, is not beautiful and often can be fun, I've enjoyed returning to the US with the final week (after a week or two on the Continent and its menus and signs and sometimes but not always helpful local citizens) or so in London where at least we are children of the same mother, divided by a common language. In any event, the Eurostar is a fine invention.

A tiny update to my post, above. On the off chance that one is a lover of good Scotch whisky and one has a non-stop final US destination from Europe, Heathrow with all its faults presents a splendid opportunity for Scotch or many other kinds of shopping because one clears security before emergence into the great hall of shopping and one can return with secured and sealed liquids of more than 3 ounces.

And don't forget with your Eurostar ticket there is 2 for 1 entry to several Museums.So keep your ticket.

We fly London then eurostar to Paris. However our best flights are from London so we do a round trip . That way we get to spend extra time in London. This year we fly in spend the night to recoup, take train to Paris for 3 weeks then back to London for 5 days, then direct flight hme. Returning from Paris we are most often routed thru Atlanta...and I hate Atlanta airport

<<< And don't forget with your Eurostar ticket there is 2 for 1 entry to several Museums.So keep your ticket. >>>

Presumably this is in Paris