Day trip from Paris to London: Tips and tricks

If you are taking a long vacation to Paris, France you might want to consider a day trip from Paris to London. I mean, what an opportunity to see more of Europe! It’s like two trips in one. Here’s how to do it.

Among our list of things to see in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, the Moulin Rouge, Notre Dame Cathedral and Disneyland Paris, we decided to add London. We were staying in Paris for seven days and I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit London while we were in France. Boy, am I glad we added it to our Paris itinerary. It was so amazing and I couldn’t believe we did it in one day. Here how you can do it too.

Tip #1: Book your Eurostar tickets early

The Eurostar is a high-speed train that travels from Paris to London. It follows a tunnel that goes underneath the English Channel in the channel tunnel! The earlier you book your ticket, the cheaper it will be. You can book as early as six months in advance and your ticket will run about $66. However, if you book your ticket one day in advance, you’ll be shelling out $200-$300 per ticket.

Also, try to book the earliest ticket possible and the latest return ticket as well, so you can maximize your time in London. Make sure you arrive to the train station an hour before your departure time. It takes longer than you would think to go through customs at Gare du Nord station. Don’t forget your passport!

Tip #2: Stick to the main tourist sites

Since you only have a few hours to spend during your London day trip, don’t try to attempt a complicated itinerary. You won’t be able to see everything in London, but you’ll at least be able to see the main attractions. We saw all of the sites listed below in one afternoon. You can go on a long walk and see all of these attractions together.

• London Eye Ferris Wheel
• Palace of Westminster
• Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben
• National Covid Memorial Wall
• St. James Park
• Buckingham Palace

Tip #3: Don’t stress over transporation

London has one of the easiest public transportation systems. You don’t even need to buy a ticket. Just tap on with your credit card and tap off with your credit card. They also have Uber Boats that you can hop on and ride the River Thames to your destination. Enter your destination on Google maps and it will tell you where to go. If you’re still worried, you can always just take a regular Uber, but that’s not as fun as riding on the second floor of a double decker bus.

Tip #4: Eat somewhere fun for lunch

Don’t forget to enjoy the local cuisine of London while you are there. Of course, you’ll see a Pret a Manger (think Starbucks) on almost every corner. But, they also have some delicious restaurants. We caught an Uber Boat to Shakespeare’s Globe and walked along the River Thames to Bill’s next to the London Bridge. It was delicious and in a really fun and cute neighborhood.

Tip #5: Don’t miss the Harry Potter store

All Eurostar trains arriving to and from Paris in London are boarded at King’s Cross Station. That happens to be the same location as the Harry Potter store and the famous Platform 9 3/4. There’s always a long line to take a picture at the platform, but even if you don’t want to wait, you can still browse the Harry Potter store. They have a sweet wand room where you can pick out your favorite one.

Tip #6: Stop by the Tower of London

If you want to experience a castle, crown jewels, a fortress and a prison all in one, the Tower of London is your place. Although it was kind of pricey at about $45 per person, it was actually a really cool place to visit to appreciate England’s deep history. We spent a couple of hours there and just saw the highlights but you could definitely spend all day there if you wanted.

Other ideas of things you can do during your first visit to London include Kensington Palace, Thames River Cruise, Westminster Abbey, Borough Market, Albert Museum, Covent Garden, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park and even visit a traditional English pub.

Overall, I felt like our day trip from Paris to London was definitely worth it. Including the high-speed Eurostar train, we spent about $250 on this day excursion. Although it was an exhausting day and we didn’t get back to Paris until about 11 p.m., I loved being able to visit London for the first time. It is way different than Paris and that’s what was so fun about it. So, if you’re up for an adventure, this day trip is definitely for you.

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