Paris, London, Bath Itinerary Help
Mar 5th, 2010, 10:58 AM
#21
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One warning, allow plenty of time to check in for the Eurostar. You have to go through airport-type security and both French and English passport control in Paris. The lines are long. I nearly missed my train when I arrived one hour before. (There's also airport-type security at Sainte Chapelle, because it's located inside the Ministry of Justice. Skip it if the day is not sunny.)
If you want to go up in the Eiffel Tower, you can now book timed tickets on their website (www.toureiffel.fr). Otherwise, not worth it; lines are way too long. See it from a distance.
You might want to check into buying a Museum Pass in advance online for Paris. They're not usually worth the money, because you have to see a lot of stuff in three days. But the advantage is you can go to the head of the line with a museum pass; could save you lots of time.
I'd skip the Jewish Art and History Museum (lots of little objects) in favor of the Shoah Memorial, also in the Marais. Free (closed Saturdays) and extremely well done. Lots of photography and video. It is not a typical Holocaust museum.
Best of luck and have fun!
If you want to go up in the Eiffel Tower, you can now book timed tickets on their website (www.toureiffel.fr). Otherwise, not worth it; lines are way too long. See it from a distance.
You might want to check into buying a Museum Pass in advance online for Paris. They're not usually worth the money, because you have to see a lot of stuff in three days. But the advantage is you can go to the head of the line with a museum pass; could save you lots of time.
I'd skip the Jewish Art and History Museum (lots of little objects) in favor of the Shoah Memorial, also in the Marais. Free (closed Saturdays) and extremely well done. Lots of photography and video. It is not a typical Holocaust museum.
Best of luck and have fun!
Mar 5th, 2010, 11:18 AM
#22
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"I'd skip the Jewish Art and History Museum (lots of little objects) in favor of the Shoah Memorial, also in the Marais. Free (closed Saturdays) and extremely well done. Lots of photography and video. It is not a typical Holocaust museum."
I was just about to post exactly the saME THING!!!
I'd skip the Jewish Art and History Museum (lots of little objects) in favor of the Shoah Memorial, also in the Marais. Free (closed Saturdays) and extremely well done. Lots of photography and video. It is not a typical Holocaust museum.
I was just about to post exactly the saME THING!!!
I'd skip the Jewish Art and History Museum (lots of little objects) in favor of the Shoah Memorial, also in the Marais. Free (closed Saturdays) and extremely well done. Lots of photography and video. It is not a typical Holocaust museum.
Mar 5th, 2010, 11:44 AM
#23
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Keribear,
As a general rule, we don't usually go to more than two museums in one day. Otherwise, it's just overload and you wind up not appreciating or remembering anything. We alternate seeing sites with museums as well. You can group Notre Dame and Ste. Chapelle in one morning or afternoon. Don't leave your entry to museums too late in the day. Even though someplace closes at 6:00, you probably can't enter after 5:30. And don't be wedded to a schedule that you'll not be able to keep. Too stressful.
Take a look at a map of Paris and London, group the things you want to see, and set off in a different direction every day. Almost none of us see everything on our list--have an A list and a B list and if you see half, you'll be doing well. There is so much to see in Paris and London that it's impossible to do it all in a few days.
You ask what to do after 6:00 pm in Paris. You can take your Seine boat cruise, tour the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower in the evening, for starters. Or just walk along the river, cross one of the bridges when the Tower sparkles and walk some more.
The last day is impossible--don't go to Sacre Coeur and then travel all the way across the city to the Luxembourg Gardens then rush off to catch the train.
Walk around, wander, sit at a cafe, watch people in a park--those are the moments you'll remember when you get home. Trust me.
Have a wonderful trip.
As a general rule, we don't usually go to more than two museums in one day. Otherwise, it's just overload and you wind up not appreciating or remembering anything. We alternate seeing sites with museums as well. You can group Notre Dame and Ste. Chapelle in one morning or afternoon. Don't leave your entry to museums too late in the day. Even though someplace closes at 6:00, you probably can't enter after 5:30. And don't be wedded to a schedule that you'll not be able to keep. Too stressful.
Take a look at a map of Paris and London, group the things you want to see, and set off in a different direction every day. Almost none of us see everything on our list--have an A list and a B list and if you see half, you'll be doing well. There is so much to see in Paris and London that it's impossible to do it all in a few days.
You ask what to do after 6:00 pm in Paris. You can take your Seine boat cruise, tour the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower in the evening, for starters. Or just walk along the river, cross one of the bridges when the Tower sparkles and walk some more.
The last day is impossible--don't go to Sacre Coeur and then travel all the way across the city to the Luxembourg Gardens then rush off to catch the train.
Walk around, wander, sit at a cafe, watch people in a park--those are the moments you'll remember when you get home. Trust me.
Have a wonderful trip.
Mar 5th, 2010, 12:16 PM
#24
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By the way, just noticed upon closer examination that you only left 33 minutes to get from St Pancras to Paddington Station and catch your train to Bath. If you make that, you will be very lucky. First you have to get from the Eurostar arrival area at St Pancras to the St Pancras Tube station, which is a good walk. You'll have to wait on a train and then get to Paddington Tube station, then find Paddington rail station, then find the correct train. Many opportunities to get lost or confused, especially if you're stressed about missing your train.
I'd plan on an earlier train from Paris or a later train to Bath.
I'd plan on an earlier train from Paris or a later train to Bath.
Mar 5th, 2010, 12:22 PM
#25
Lots of great advice above
One slight disagreement though:
>><I><blue>Check out Leicester Square for discounted tickets
I don't know how likely it is that you'll find much at this late hour. I'd look for tickets as the first order of business once you check in, or better yet, plan to do this on another day.</I></blue><<
That really isn't a problem. One can get decent seats at TKTS any time from opening til closing. I've often decided at the very last minute -- like after 6PM -- That I wanted to give TKTS a try and have always found something. The queues are not normally very long except right when they open in the morning.
One slight disagreement though:
>><I><blue>Check out Leicester Square for discounted tickets
I don't know how likely it is that you'll find much at this late hour. I'd look for tickets as the first order of business once you check in, or better yet, plan to do this on another day.</I></blue><<
That really isn't a problem. One can get decent seats at TKTS any time from opening til closing. I've often decided at the very last minute -- like after 6PM -- That I wanted to give TKTS a try and have always found something. The queues are not normally very long except right when they open in the morning.
Mar 5th, 2010, 12:28 PM
#26
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Oh, and don't do the bâteaux-mouches in the middle of the day on the day of your arrival. It's much better to do it at night, when the Tour Eiffel lights up, and the river is sparkling with reflections from the lights all over. And I wouldn't do it the night of your arrival; you might fall asleep on board.
Mar 5th, 2010, 12:40 PM
#27
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About the Train out of Paris and into London and then to Bath.... I booked it online with Great Western - it was their suggested trip...do you think it could work?
Eurostar has us going:
2:13 depart Paris Nord
3:29p arrive London St. Pancras
First Great Western goes:
4:33 leave St. Pancras
5:03 arrive at London Paddington
5:05 leave London Paddington
6:38 arrive Bath Spa.
Doesn't this mean that a train will be taking us from St. Pancras to Paddington and then on to Bath so we don't have to worry about walking to the other station?
We will have to walk from St. Pancras (eurostar) to St. Pancras station to catch the First Great Western...but then do we have to change from Paddington to Paddington Rail??? How could that be done if we arrive in Paddington at 5:03 and leave Paddington at 5:05p? Surely, that connection wouldn't have been offered if we had to walk more, right?
Eurostar has us going:
2:13 depart Paris Nord
3:29p arrive London St. Pancras
First Great Western goes:
4:33 leave St. Pancras
5:03 arrive at London Paddington
5:05 leave London Paddington
6:38 arrive Bath Spa.
Doesn't this mean that a train will be taking us from St. Pancras to Paddington and then on to Bath so we don't have to worry about walking to the other station?
We will have to walk from St. Pancras (eurostar) to St. Pancras station to catch the First Great Western...but then do we have to change from Paddington to Paddington Rail??? How could that be done if we arrive in Paddington at 5:03 and leave Paddington at 5:05p? Surely, that connection wouldn't have been offered if we had to walk more, right?
Mar 5th, 2010, 12:57 PM
#28
"<i>First Great Western goes:
4:33 leave St. Pancras
5:03 arrive at London Paddington
5:05 leave London Paddington
6:38 arrive Bath Spa.
Doesn't this mean that a train will be taking us from St. Pancras to Paddington and then on to Bath so we don't have to worry about walking to the other station?</i>
What that means is your fare includes the fare for the tube (subway) from St Pancras to Paddington. It isn't walkable. You'd have to go down into the Underground station, travel 6 stops on the tube, then exit the tube station at Paddington and go upstairs to the train station.
4:33 leave St. Pancras
5:03 arrive at London Paddington
5:05 leave London Paddington
6:38 arrive Bath Spa.
Doesn't this mean that a train will be taking us from St. Pancras to Paddington and then on to Bath so we don't have to worry about walking to the other station?</i>
What that means is your fare includes the fare for the tube (subway) from St Pancras to Paddington. It isn't walkable. You'd have to go down into the Underground station, travel 6 stops on the tube, then exit the tube station at Paddington and go upstairs to the train station.
Mar 5th, 2010, 01:43 PM
#29
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If it takes less than an hour to get out of St Pancras after taking the Eurostar, you might be fine. I haven't used the train since it moved to St Pancras so I don't know the arrivals process - hopefully others will chime in. If you're off the train and free to go in 30 minutes, you're probably okay. But doing the whole journey between those National Rail trains in 30 minutes is not realistic, I don't think, if you're not familiar with the stations (and maybe not even if you are).
janisj - thanks for clarifying the TKTS issue. I've never tried it so late so I wasn't sure. Good to know in the future.
janisj - thanks for clarifying the TKTS issue. I've never tried it so late so I wasn't sure. Good to know in the future.
Mar 5th, 2010, 02:15 PM
#30
hi keribear,
you are still woefully over planned, IMHO - when do you ahve time to go to the loo?
for example, on your first afternoon, you are doing the following:
1pm Check in
2pm Self-guided Westminster Walk (abby, churchill museum, cabinet war room, houses of parliament, big ben)
3:30p National Dining Room w/ afternoon tea
5:00-6:00p National Gallery
Trafalgar Square
that would be a whole day for most people! moving at this pace, you will miss so much. by all means plan your days, but don't be surprised if you can't fit it all in. In London it typically takes twice as long to get anywhere than you've planned for, and you'll only fit in half the things you've planned. but that's OK - better to see a few things properly, than lots barely at all.
and I agree that 30 minutes to get off the train at st. Pancras, find the tube, get to the platform, get the train, travel 6 stops, get off, and find the train at Paddington, is cutting it VERY tight. it is about a 10 minute walk with luggage from the tube platform to Platform 1 or 2 [where the GW trains usually go from] along a very long passageway, [with some stairs if I remember rightly] then across the whole of the station concourse.
I would research the time of the next train!
you are still woefully over planned, IMHO - when do you ahve time to go to the loo?
for example, on your first afternoon, you are doing the following:
1pm Check in
2pm Self-guided Westminster Walk (abby, churchill museum, cabinet war room, houses of parliament, big ben)
3:30p National Dining Room w/ afternoon tea
5:00-6:00p National Gallery
Trafalgar Square
that would be a whole day for most people! moving at this pace, you will miss so much. by all means plan your days, but don't be surprised if you can't fit it all in. In London it typically takes twice as long to get anywhere than you've planned for, and you'll only fit in half the things you've planned. but that's OK - better to see a few things properly, than lots barely at all.
and I agree that 30 minutes to get off the train at st. Pancras, find the tube, get to the platform, get the train, travel 6 stops, get off, and find the train at Paddington, is cutting it VERY tight. it is about a 10 minute walk with luggage from the tube platform to Platform 1 or 2 [where the GW trains usually go from] along a very long passageway, [with some stairs if I remember rightly] then across the whole of the station concourse.
I would research the time of the next train!
Mar 5th, 2010, 02:41 PM
#31
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I am exhausted reading your itinerary. I would research some more on what you must see, eliminate half of your stops and just enjoy the cities.
Take time to wander the streets, people watch and sip coffee and wine.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Take time to wander the streets, people watch and sip coffee and wine.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Mar 5th, 2010, 03:15 PM
#32
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I'm confused about the train times. If you arrive in St. Pancras at 3:30 isn't that plenty of time to get to Paddington by 5:00? Why wait to transfer to Paddington at 4:30. Or am I reading this all wrong?
Mar 5th, 2010, 07:19 PM
#33
keribear02---after much thought, here we go----
Fri.--too much Louvre
Sat.---if you do go to Versailles, you'll never make the rest of your choices. I'd say Notre Dame (whether you go inside or not) and Ile St. Louis.
Sun.---the posters are right, you don't have much time. Either Sacre Coeur or Luxembourg Gardens before the train. I'd choose Luxembourg Gardens. Sacre Coeur is nice, but the surrounding area is rather seedy.
Fri.--too much Louvre
Sat.---if you do go to Versailles, you'll never make the rest of your choices. I'd say Notre Dame (whether you go inside or not) and Ile St. Louis.
Sun.---the posters are right, you don't have much time. Either Sacre Coeur or Luxembourg Gardens before the train. I'd choose Luxembourg Gardens. Sacre Coeur is nice, but the surrounding area is rather seedy.
Mar 6th, 2010, 04:12 AM
#34
keribear - ref the timings of the proposed eurostar/GW train from paris to Bath, why don't you go back and ask them?
they must know if the train starts from st. pancras or Paddington, and why they think you're going to sit around at St. Pancras for an hour!
they must know if the train starts from st. pancras or Paddington, and why they think you're going to sit around at St. Pancras for an hour!
Mar 6th, 2010, 09:28 AM
#37
"<i> there is a change and it shows travel to Paddington via tube - 30 minutes</i>"
please see my post above: >><blue>What that means is your fare includes the fare for the tube (subway) from St Pancras to Paddington. It isn't walkable. You'd have to go down into the Underground station, travel 6 stops on the tube, then exit the tube station at Paddington and go upstairs to the train station.</blue><<
30 mins is definitely possible -- however if this is your first time in London/using the tube I'd allow much more. Regulars can dash from one platform to another and know which lines/which direction almost w/o thinking. But getting your bearings, ensuring you are going the right direction and the long-ish walks w/ luggage all slow you down.
please see my post above: >><blue>What that means is your fare includes the fare for the tube (subway) from St Pancras to Paddington. It isn't walkable. You'd have to go down into the Underground station, travel 6 stops on the tube, then exit the tube station at Paddington and go upstairs to the train station.</blue><<
30 mins is definitely possible -- however if this is your first time in London/using the tube I'd allow much more. Regulars can dash from one platform to another and know which lines/which direction almost w/o thinking. But getting your bearings, ensuring you are going the right direction and the long-ish walks w/ luggage all slow you down.
Mar 6th, 2010, 09:42 AM
#39
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BTW if you want to get from Paris to Bath your best option is to fly with Easyjet then use a car service from there (or coach to Bristol, then train to Bath) rather than faffing around with trains, Tube & train in Central London which is stressful at the best of times let alone when trying to make a connection
