London - Paris Trip Plan
Aug 10th, 2012, 01:24 AM
#1
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London - Paris Trip Plan
Below is my London Paris trip plan for 9 days.
Some of the days plan may not be possible in reality.. I will need to rearrange or remove some attractions. Please help with your suggestions.
Day 01: Frankfurt to Paris by train - Eiffel Tower,Notre Dame, La Sainte-Chapelle/Conciergerie
Day 02: Paris - Place de la Concorde,Champs Elysées,Sacre Coeur, Arc De Triomphe
Day 03: Paris - The Louvre Museum, Museé d'Orsay
Day 04: Paris - Day trip to Disney Land
Day 05: Paris - Day trip to Versailles and start off to London
Day 06: London - Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, British Museum
Day 07: London - Bukingham Palace, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square ,Webminster Abbey
Day 08: London - 1/2 day at Windsor Castle, Globe Theatre,Piccadilly Circus
Day 09: London to Franfurt (via Paris) - Victoria and Albert Museum and start off to Frankfurt
Some of the days plan may not be possible in reality.. I will need to rearrange or remove some attractions. Please help with your suggestions.
Day 01: Frankfurt to Paris by train - Eiffel Tower,Notre Dame, La Sainte-Chapelle/Conciergerie
Day 02: Paris - Place de la Concorde,Champs Elysées,Sacre Coeur, Arc De Triomphe
Day 03: Paris - The Louvre Museum, Museé d'Orsay
Day 04: Paris - Day trip to Disney Land
Day 05: Paris - Day trip to Versailles and start off to London
Day 06: London - Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, British Museum
Day 07: London - Bukingham Palace, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square ,Webminster Abbey
Day 08: London - 1/2 day at Windsor Castle, Globe Theatre,Piccadilly Circus
Day 09: London to Franfurt (via Paris) - Victoria and Albert Museum and start off to Frankfurt
Aug 10th, 2012, 01:35 AM
#2
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Good morning!
You need to get a map of both cities and see where the sights are and map out your transportation as you are bit all over the place which is not the best use of your time.
Your Day 6 is going to short change all of the places. Spend the morning at the Tower (you will see Tower Bridge from here so you can remove it from day 7 as it makes no sense on that day). Then you can got to St Pauls. The Museum of London is a great smaller museum and its right by St Pauls. I dont think you will have time to fit in the British Museum so you may want to choose to do that instead. Either way you can fit two of the three in on that day.
Picadilly Circus is a walk by and you can do it on the day you do Trafalgar Sq. It's no where near the Globe.
Why are you going back through Paris? Wouldnt it make more sense to fly to London, take the train to Paris and then go back to Frankfurt rather than spend time going back to Paris?
You need to get a map of both cities and see where the sights are and map out your transportation as you are bit all over the place which is not the best use of your time.
Your Day 6 is going to short change all of the places. Spend the morning at the Tower (you will see Tower Bridge from here so you can remove it from day 7 as it makes no sense on that day). Then you can got to St Pauls. The Museum of London is a great smaller museum and its right by St Pauls. I dont think you will have time to fit in the British Museum so you may want to choose to do that instead. Either way you can fit two of the three in on that day.
Picadilly Circus is a walk by and you can do it on the day you do Trafalgar Sq. It's no where near the Globe.
Why are you going back through Paris? Wouldnt it make more sense to fly to London, take the train to Paris and then go back to Frankfurt rather than spend time going back to Paris?
Aug 10th, 2012, 01:54 AM
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Good Morning!! Thank you very much for you suggestions. I will modify the day 6 and day 7 plan accordingly.
I figured out the plan by checking it approximately on google maps. Since i cannot relay on just that i have posted here.
Flying to London is a great idea which saves a lot of time. I am not aware about the air fares though.
My brother was in London in June 2012, following week after the queens Diamond Jubilee. He said he didnt get an entry for Bukingham Palace? Is it always the same through out the year? Please let me know.
I figured out the plan by checking it approximately on google maps. Since i cannot relay on just that i have posted here.
Flying to London is a great idea which saves a lot of time. I am not aware about the air fares though.
My brother was in London in June 2012, following week after the queens Diamond Jubilee. He said he didnt get an entry for Bukingham Palace? Is it always the same through out the year? Please let me know.
Aug 10th, 2012, 01:59 AM
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If you want to go into Buckingham Palace you can book a slot here: http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/vi...kinghampalace/
Its best to book to guarantee a spot. It is not open year round so check the dates for the closing.
I'd get a good guidebook (we like the Green Guide or Top 10 London) and look at the maps etc.
Check out the low cost airlines www.easyjet.com www.ryanair.com as well as German and British carriers to compare prices. You need to be very careful about luggage restictions with the low cost airlines and extra fees, so if you are comparing prices be sure you go through all the way until you have to pay to get the full price.
Its best to book to guarantee a spot. It is not open year round so check the dates for the closing.
I'd get a good guidebook (we like the Green Guide or Top 10 London) and look at the maps etc.
Check out the low cost airlines www.easyjet.com www.ryanair.com as well as German and British carriers to compare prices. You need to be very careful about luggage restictions with the low cost airlines and extra fees, so if you are comparing prices be sure you go through all the way until you have to pay to get the full price.
Aug 10th, 2012, 03:23 AM
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You may have too much planned in Paris on the days you are traveling.
I am not sure what days of the week you are planning on but be aware of the days museums are closed. The louvre is closed on Tuesdays. D'Orsay is closed on Monday. The museum pass site has all the hours and location info. You can plot out the sites on a map on the website.
Are you planning on going up in the ET, or just going to the area? Ste Chapelle is wonderful, but unless you go first thing the lines for security can be long (it is part of the Justuce comple).
I would put Dineyland last (if possible). That way you can use the Paris Museum Oass (4 day) for the attractions you want to see. It has to be used on consecutive days. It will save you time waiting in lines...especially at the Louvre and D'Orsay.
http://en.parismuseumpass.com/
I am not sure what days of the week you are planning on but be aware of the days museums are closed. The louvre is closed on Tuesdays. D'Orsay is closed on Monday. The museum pass site has all the hours and location info. You can plot out the sites on a map on the website.
Are you planning on going up in the ET, or just going to the area? Ste Chapelle is wonderful, but unless you go first thing the lines for security can be long (it is part of the Justuce comple).
I would put Dineyland last (if possible). That way you can use the Paris Museum Oass (4 day) for the attractions you want to see. It has to be used on consecutive days. It will save you time waiting in lines...especially at the Louvre and D'Orsay.
http://en.parismuseumpass.com/
Aug 10th, 2012, 09:10 AM
#6
When are you traveling? Buckingham Palace is only open til Oct 7. (It is usually only open in Aug/Sept - and sometimes the last week of July and first week of Oct - but was open earlier this year because of the Jubilee)
The Louvre and Musee d'Orsay on the same day will have your head spinning (and inside all day long)
In London plan on hitting two major sites a day plus one or two smaller ones. Tower+St Pauls, Westminster Abbey+British Museum, those sorts of duos.
The Louvre and Musee d'Orsay on the same day will have your head spinning (and inside all day long)
In London plan on hitting two major sites a day plus one or two smaller ones. Tower+St Pauls, Westminster Abbey+British Museum, those sorts of duos.
Aug 10th, 2012, 01:27 PM
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Whoah! You really, really need to look at a map of Paris. You're bouncing all over the place, which makes NO sense given your very short time there.
What time do you arrive from Frankfurt? Even if you weren't coming in on a train (and presumably having to find and check into your accommodations), you'd be hard-pressed to cover that territory (especially if you plan to actually go UP the Tour Eiffel - it's at the other end of the city pretty much from Notre Dame and Ste- Chappelle, which by the way you should see only if it's afternoon and sunny, on such a short trip).
Day 2 is pretty impossible too. Suggest you forget Sacré Coeur. The Champs Elysées is easily eliminated too - Paris has SO much more to offer.
Anyway, please get a map and group things more sensibly and get a sense of distances between things.
What time do you arrive from Frankfurt? Even if you weren't coming in on a train (and presumably having to find and check into your accommodations), you'd be hard-pressed to cover that territory (especially if you plan to actually go UP the Tour Eiffel - it's at the other end of the city pretty much from Notre Dame and Ste- Chappelle, which by the way you should see only if it's afternoon and sunny, on such a short trip).
Day 2 is pretty impossible too. Suggest you forget Sacré Coeur. The Champs Elysées is easily eliminated too - Paris has SO much more to offer.
Anyway, please get a map and group things more sensibly and get a sense of distances between things.
Aug 11th, 2012, 01:19 PM
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Hi...
IMHO Day 6 is impossible.
The Tower is a not-to-be-missed site (from which you get a great view of Tower Bridge) - it takes a half-day. St Paul is not so far from the tower and can be done in an hour, but, unless you are going on a Friday, the British Museum will be closed by the time you get to it -- closes at 17:00 except of Fridays when it is open till 20:30.
(In fact, many sights in both cities open at 10:00 and close around 17:00-18:00.)
I also suggest you eliminate Sacré Coeur -- In general, try not to go too far from the river. Paris has a fantastic transport system, but (since you want a day at Disneyland (??) and a trip to Versailles on a travel day), you really only have 2 days in Paris. Try to cut down on transport time.
IMHO, Champs Elysées is a waste of your precious and limited time. Just stores, most of which can be found in any modern city these days.
If this is your first visit to Paris, a 1-hour boat cruise will let you see some sights (such as the Eiffel Tower) without having to spend the large amount of time it would take to visit them. Vedettes de Pont Neuf is the one I recommend - buy ticket online in advance to save money.
SS
IMHO Day 6 is impossible.
The Tower is a not-to-be-missed site (from which you get a great view of Tower Bridge) - it takes a half-day. St Paul is not so far from the tower and can be done in an hour, but, unless you are going on a Friday, the British Museum will be closed by the time you get to it -- closes at 17:00 except of Fridays when it is open till 20:30.
(In fact, many sights in both cities open at 10:00 and close around 17:00-18:00.)
I also suggest you eliminate Sacré Coeur -- In general, try not to go too far from the river. Paris has a fantastic transport system, but (since you want a day at Disneyland (??) and a trip to Versailles on a travel day), you really only have 2 days in Paris. Try to cut down on transport time.
IMHO, Champs Elysées is a waste of your precious and limited time. Just stores, most of which can be found in any modern city these days.
If this is your first visit to Paris, a 1-hour boat cruise will let you see some sights (such as the Eiffel Tower) without having to spend the large amount of time it would take to visit them. Vedettes de Pont Neuf is the one I recommend - buy ticket online in advance to save money.
SS
Aug 11th, 2012, 03:43 PM
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Depends when you are going. Came back from Paris 2 days ago!
I would forget Disneyland Paris (unless its a lifelong dream - doesn't compare to the other ones IMO)
You might also need to reconsider your Day 1 plans if you actually want to enter and/or climb up those attractions. Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame took 3 hours each, mostly standing in queues trying to deter q-jumpers! Line for Ste Chappelle looked equally as long (didn't actually wait for that)
I think you may have too much filling in your days in London too. However, if its just a couple of things you want to see in London museums then it could work - museums are free entry so you don't need to feel obliged to stay a long time.
I would forget Disneyland Paris (unless its a lifelong dream - doesn't compare to the other ones IMO)
You might also need to reconsider your Day 1 plans if you actually want to enter and/or climb up those attractions. Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame took 3 hours each, mostly standing in queues trying to deter q-jumpers! Line for Ste Chappelle looked equally as long (didn't actually wait for that)
I think you may have too much filling in your days in London too. However, if its just a couple of things you want to see in London museums then it could work - museums are free entry so you don't need to feel obliged to stay a long time.
Aug 14th, 2012, 04:32 AM
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Hi All, Thank you very much for all the information.Sorry for delayed response.
denisea,
As per jamikins suggestion above i am thinking its good to visit London first hence
there is a swap in plan. I need to replan that.Yes, I want to go up on the ET. I am have to
travel back to franfurt on the last day. Hence if i move disney land to the last day i may not
have enough time. Do you think Day trip to Versailles is better option ?
Janisj,
I am planning to travel from 29th Sep to 7tH Oct. I want to visit london first. so I
hope i can get a chance to visit Buckingham Palace. Yes, i agree too much of Museum's on a day
is not good. I felt the same after i desgined the plan and thought of changing it. I will take
your point.
StCirg,
I have listed all the famous places and checked on google maps and approximately planned
it. I have over planned to cover lot of places with the knowledge that somethings are
impossible. I am not aware which place is better than the other. I thought i would revamp the
plan based on all your suggestions and take out some of them. I want to cover good places but
not in a hurry.
ssander,
Thanks for the information about the closing time for British Museum. Many sites closing
at 18:00 is the biggest disadvantage for people on short trip.I love the boat cruise idea.
starofthesea,
I was in USA for one and half years and could make it to the Disney. Thats the only
reason i thought i would cover it here. Not sure how i would like it though. I will surely
revamp the whole plan from all inputs i got.
I will post my new plan soon. Thanks to everyone once again.
denisea,
As per jamikins suggestion above i am thinking its good to visit London first hence
there is a swap in plan. I need to replan that.Yes, I want to go up on the ET. I am have to
travel back to franfurt on the last day. Hence if i move disney land to the last day i may not
have enough time. Do you think Day trip to Versailles is better option ?
Janisj,
I am planning to travel from 29th Sep to 7tH Oct. I want to visit london first. so I
hope i can get a chance to visit Buckingham Palace. Yes, i agree too much of Museum's on a day
is not good. I felt the same after i desgined the plan and thought of changing it. I will take
your point.
StCirg,
I have listed all the famous places and checked on google maps and approximately planned
it. I have over planned to cover lot of places with the knowledge that somethings are
impossible. I am not aware which place is better than the other. I thought i would revamp the
plan based on all your suggestions and take out some of them. I want to cover good places but
not in a hurry.
ssander,
Thanks for the information about the closing time for British Museum. Many sites closing
at 18:00 is the biggest disadvantage for people on short trip.I love the boat cruise idea.
starofthesea,
I was in USA for one and half years and could make it to the Disney. Thats the only
reason i thought i would cover it here. Not sure how i would like it though. I will surely
revamp the whole plan from all inputs i got.
I will post my new plan soon. Thanks to everyone once again.
Aug 14th, 2012, 06:25 AM
#12
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One other thought: your original plan has you seeing a sight on the day you leave town. Will you drag your bags along for this? Leave your bags at the hotel until later? Check your bags at the train station? If you choose to leave your bags, it will take time and probably a detour to leave them and/or retrieve them. So add that into your computations.
Aug 23rd, 2012, 08:53 PM
#13
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My final itinerary - Fly to London
Saturday Sep 29: London - Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge
Sunday Sep 30: London - Bukingham Palace, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square ,Piccadilly Circus
Monday Oct 01: London - Kensington Palace, British Museum
Tuesday Oct 02: London - Windsor Castle
Wednesday Oct 03: Paris - Notre Dame, La Sainte-Chapelle, Concorde (Travel from London to Paris and Hotel stay near Notre Dame)
Thursday Oct 04: Paris - Opéra Garnier, Arc De Triomphe,Eiffel Tower, Vedettes de Pont Neuf (if possible)
Friday Oct 05: Paris - The Louvre Museum, Museé d'Orsay (Since its friday we have all day to see the Museums. Planned to take break between the two to make it intrestring
Saturday Oct 06: Paris - Day trip to Disney Land
Sunday Oct 07: Paris - Day trip to Versailles and fly back home that night.
London : Planning for the Hop-on Hop-off bus tours for Sep 30th and Oct 1st.
Paris : Planning to take the Paris visite pass card for local transport (1-5 zones)
I am planning to book tickets in advance to avoid being in lines. My only worry is how much time it takes at each place and will i be able to reach the next spot on time.
Saturday Sep 29: London - Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge
Sunday Sep 30: London - Bukingham Palace, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square ,Piccadilly Circus
Monday Oct 01: London - Kensington Palace, British Museum
Tuesday Oct 02: London - Windsor Castle
Wednesday Oct 03: Paris - Notre Dame, La Sainte-Chapelle, Concorde (Travel from London to Paris and Hotel stay near Notre Dame)
Thursday Oct 04: Paris - Opéra Garnier, Arc De Triomphe,Eiffel Tower, Vedettes de Pont Neuf (if possible)
Friday Oct 05: Paris - The Louvre Museum, Museé d'Orsay (Since its friday we have all day to see the Museums. Planned to take break between the two to make it intrestring
Saturday Oct 06: Paris - Day trip to Disney Land
Sunday Oct 07: Paris - Day trip to Versailles and fly back home that night.
London : Planning for the Hop-on Hop-off bus tours for Sep 30th and Oct 1st.
Paris : Planning to take the Paris visite pass card for local transport (1-5 zones)
I am planning to book tickets in advance to avoid being in lines. My only worry is how much time it takes at each place and will i be able to reach the next spot on time.
Aug 24th, 2012, 03:48 AM
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Planning for the Hop-on Hop-off bus tours for Sep 30th and Oct 1st.
Why? Most of your current Sunday plans are within a few hundred yards of each other. Your Monday plans require one Tube ride between the two
Why? Most of your current Sunday plans are within a few hundred yards of each other. Your Monday plans require one Tube ride between the two
Aug 24th, 2012, 04:11 AM
#16
On October 4, you will be at the Eiffel Tower. Instead of going to the Pont Neuf for the boat tour, you can take the one that starts right at the Eiffel Tower.
http://www.vedettesdeparis.fr/1/en/2...ng-cruise.html
http://www.vedettesdeparis.fr/1/en/2...ng-cruise.html
Aug 24th, 2012, 07:20 AM
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>
That's ridiculous. The HOHO tours are expensive and move at the rate of London's congested traffic. You want to tour and learn where things are, take one of the buses that goes to major tourist areas like # 9, 15, or 136.
It's also daft enough to want to visit Paris Disney but to do so on a Saturday is worse - you couldn't pick a worse day for crowds.
That's ridiculous. The HOHO tours are expensive and move at the rate of London's congested traffic. You want to tour and learn where things are, take one of the buses that goes to major tourist areas like # 9, 15, or 136.
It's also daft enough to want to visit Paris Disney but to do so on a Saturday is worse - you couldn't pick a worse day for crowds.
Aug 24th, 2012, 07:25 AM
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You have 4 days in Paris and you want to spend two outside--Disneyland and Versailles. Neither is worth it
As others have said, you are jumping from side to side. The DK Eyewitness Guide to Paris would be a very good investment because it will show you sites in areas to maximize the time in a specific place in the city.
You do know there is time spent getting into and out of hotels and to airports, I guess.
As others have said, you are jumping from side to side. The DK Eyewitness Guide to Paris would be a very good investment because it will show you sites in areas to maximize the time in a specific place in the city.
You do know there is time spent getting into and out of hotels and to airports, I guess.
Aug 24th, 2012, 07:39 AM
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> In all likelihood, this isn't a cost-effective option, especially if you stay in Paris instead of traipsing off to Disneyland and Versailles, which is not a good plan given your very short time in Paris.
You seriously need to get a map of Paris so you group things efficiently.
You seriously need to get a map of Paris so you group things efficiently.
Aug 25th, 2012, 02:00 AM
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Hi...
BigRuss makes a lot of sense. I would add bus 11 (similar route to 15) which covers (in order):
Westminster Abbey & Parliament
Whitehall
Trafalgar Square (w National Gallery)
Inns of Court - Temple area
St. Paul's
With a day-pass (much cheaper than HOHO), you can hop on and hop off at will...even start with #11 and switch to #15 along the way to continue on to the Tower.
And if you buy your day-pass at a train station, you will be able to use the Day's Out 2-for-1 coupons. See:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...pon-thread.cfm
SS
BigRuss makes a lot of sense. I would add bus 11 (similar route to 15) which covers (in order):
Westminster Abbey & Parliament
Whitehall
Trafalgar Square (w National Gallery)
Inns of Court - Temple area
St. Paul's
With a day-pass (much cheaper than HOHO), you can hop on and hop off at will...even start with #11 and switch to #15 along the way to continue on to the Tower.
And if you buy your day-pass at a train station, you will be able to use the Day's Out 2-for-1 coupons. See:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...pon-thread.cfm
SS
