We are going to Paris, Normandy and London in late March, 2010. We are renting an apt in Paris and plan to stay there 7 days. Our travel agency is suggesting a day trip to Normandy( about 14 hrs) from Paris. Wondering if one long day is enough to cover the basics or should we stay over another night before going to London. My dad was in the 101st Airborne that landed in the Normandy Invasion so I'm very interested in going there and seeing as much as I can.
If we did stay over another night, any suggestions on where to stay. We plan on taking the train onto London, stay there 2 days or so then fly home(Boston) from there.
Thanks for your help,
Bill

We traveled in the other direction, taking the train from London to Portsmouth, and then the ferry to Cherbourg, where we spent the night. We rented a car in Cherbourg and took a day to drive through the Normandy beaches, with a long stop at one of the museums and the memorial, and then drove to Paris. I believe that the museum and memorial were at Omaha Beach, but I'm not certain.

I am blanking out on the name of the town where the paratrooper got caught on the steeple. That town was a complete zoo...we drove in and drove right back out. Elsewhere was very manageable. It was a lovely, fascinating, and very moving day.

If you can rent a car in Paris, take the day to drive through Normandy and then drop the car off in Cherbourg, you can then take the ferry over to Portsmouth and the train up to London.

The town is St Mere Eglise

If you have familial ties to the D-Day landings, I'd certainly do the area justice with more than a single 14-hour tour. Take the train to Caen and rent a car for a day or two. Stay in Bayeux - Caen was bombed to smithereens during the war and is pretty much lacking in charm, whereas Bayeux is delightful. Take the time to visit the Memorial museum in Caen, which is fabulous and can take you 3-4 hours in itself, the tapestry and cathedral in Bayeux, the D-Day beaches, the American cemetery, the museum at Arromanches, Pointe du Hoc, and Ste-Mere-Eglise.

StCirq, I agree that more than one day would have been great in the area.

My husband and I spent a month in France. Stayed several days near Normandy. We were very disappointed with the D-Day museums (we found them corny). The best was Omaha Beach, Cemetery and Bunkers. The best D-Day museum we discovered by accident is in Bayeux. Tapestry very very interesting and stop by one of the little city center bakeries for a marvelous apple tart.

Absolutely stay in Bayeux! Beautiful little town with a spectacular cathedral and several little B&Bs within walking distance of the old city center. See TripAdvisor website.

Have fun!

Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. Considering doing the Normandy Battle Tours from Paris for 2 one day tours and then taking the train from Paris to London. Still working on the timing of all this.
thank you,
Bill