Paris Eurostar - fast travel for a short city break

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The Paris Eurostar. Way back in 1802 w hen French engineer Albert Mathieu came up with the idea of building a tunnel underneath the channel the scientific world could barely suppress their giggles. Yet two centuries (and $15 billion) later, the Channel Tunnel represents one of the world's great engineering feats and one of the most convenient ways of traveling from London to Paris. At 50km it's the longest tunnel in the world (with a 39km stretch underwater), so it's only appropriate that it's serviced by the world's longest passenger train - Eurostar.

Since opening in 1994 Eurostar has become part of the collective European consciousness, and thanks to a fantastic PR machine has earned a reputation for slick efficiency, with a touch of romantic class.

If you're traveling from central London to central Paris the entire journey will take marginally less than four hours, which; if you compare with flight times (plus the hassle and time spent getting to and from the airports) works out to be more or less the same.

Eurostar's convenience is one of its strongest selling points: London's terminal is in Waterloo station while its' Parisian counterpart is the Gare du Nord, both of which are well connected. Advance tickets can be bought over the phone, online or you can just turn up at the station with your credit card. Trains run round the clock with departures every 15 minutes during peak times.

Comfort is another of Eurostar's strong points, and you can choose between three classes of travel: Standard (you should be able to get a day return for less than €100), First (more spacious and you get a three course meal washed down with champagne) and Premium (First class gilded with a dedicated check in desk and chauffeur pick up on arrival).

Eurostar can also be caught form Ashford in Kent, which is a popular option for people making the first leg of their journey by car (as Ashford has thousands of parking spaces). If you intend to take your vehicle to France, you'll need to make your way to Folkstone and book a place on Eurotunnel .

If you're looking for a bargain it pays to be flexible with your traveling times (early morning, late night and mid-week seats tend to be cheaper) and you'll get a better deal by booking two-three months in advance. OAP and young persons' fares are also available on some trains.

Paris weekend and city break information > Flights to Paris > Eurostar to paris > Cheap Flights to Paris > Paris Must Sees > Romantic Paris Breaks > Paris Disneyland information > Cheap Paris Hotels > Affordable Paris Accommodation > Luxury Paris Hotels

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