RebeccaHWA

Palenque could you esplain what you did.

or to Bayeux in Normandy to hop the mini-buses to the most famous D-Day Invasion sites along the coast or to Provins, which i just did for the first time a few weeks ago.We are off to Europe in June/July and would like to have a taste of this experience. Tahnk you

ssander

More on a chunnel day...

The last time we were there, the British Library was open till 8:00 pm on Tuesdays. The last train back to Paris is 8:05. You could switch the Library to the end of the list on my earlier post, since it is virtually next door to St Pancras station. (You'll obviously have to be at the station well before 8:05, but doing the Library last makes sense.)

You don't get back to Gare du Nord till 11:23 pm, but if you wanted a full day, this would definitely be one. I believe my complete list is doable (allowing time for meals) under those circumstances.

The first train out of Paris is 6:43 am and arrives in London at 7:58. Allowing for orienting yourself when you arrive and early arrival at the station for your return, this gives you about 10 hours of sightseeing time.

You might even have time to stop in at St Paul's on your way back from the Tower - get on the #15 bus (direction Paddington) in front of the Tower Hill station. (It'll probably be closed by that time of day, but it's still a great sight to see from the outside.)

SS

LikeLivingThere

Like many others in this thread, we still haven't gotten out of the city because there's so much to do within it. But I have my eye on Epernay (and perhaps Reims) for a day of champagne tasting.

Depending on your comfort level, do or don't join a tour. It can be time-consuming to make your own arrangements, but it also leaves you free to follow your own schedule. You can book trains and tickets from home, although often not more than 60 days in advance.

Poconolady

Yes, the London day trip is completely do-able. It does require a very early departure and an evening return, but you can rest during that time on the train. We did the chunnel day trip to London from Brussels. For a first trip to London I would suggest a hop on/hop off double decker bus trip. Even with one day you would be able to catch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, ride around town on the bus and see Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalger Square, Hyde Park, Picadilly Circus,etc. Perhaps stop off at Harrods or Covent Garden for a quick lunch and a little shopping. I personally would avoid any museums with a one day time frame. It is better to be able to say that you "saw" a lot of London, rather than to thoughly envelope yourself in one location, unless museums are really your thing. If time allows, a stop at the Tower of London and a viewing of the Crown Jewels is also enlightening. I am all for sqeezing as much into a vacation as possible-after all, you can sleep on that long flight back home! I completely understand trying to see a different city and culture besides Paris, and London is so close, and such a different atmosphere.

Palenque

But I have my eye on Epernay (and perhaps Reims) for a day of champagne tasting.>

Reims is the better visit for folks wanting to see something besides Champagne caves and tastings - the great Cathedral - the WW2 War Room where Allies plotted the final assault on Germany - maps still there - chairs with name plates still there, etc - and a sweet vibrant regional town

Epernay would be the best for Champagne connoisseurs as this is a much smaller city but with just as many Champagne Houses and i understand even more prestigious ones than Reims -even the same company's caves and houses here produce a better bubbly - anyway Eperney is i believe the real center of the Champagne industry. the tours are also easier to reach from the train station than in Reims

flygirl

I bought this book last year. I haven't used it yet, but plan to do so when I've got more than three nights in Paris.

http://www.annabelsimms.com/