Travel Europe - Eurostar Opens Up Europe From London

With the opening of the new EuroStar Rail Terminal at London’s St Pancras station (next door to Kings Cross), almost any capital in Europe is but a fast train journey from the centre of London. Whether you are a UK resident, or indeed from’ across the pond’ as the Brits lovingly refer the Americans, this indeed opens up all sorts of possibilities for the intrepid traveller or indeed the serious railway anorak!

But look at what has opened up for anyone living or vacationing in the UK. You can rocket to over 100 destinations across France, Belgium or the Netherlands.

Speed from London at just under 200 miles an hour to enjoy the excitement of Disneyland Paris, and then arrive back in London in time for tea and bed!

Now I know you could have done it by plane prior to the new rail network opening, but at nearly 200 miles per hour and no having to get to the station with a least two hours for security clearance means that day trips and back to any of these 100 destinations can be done faster than by air!

And even the cost is staggeringly low, when you think of the massive costs involved in building the fist be railway line in the UK for over 100 years.

For around £70 per person, you could set off from London in the morning, stay at a good hotel in Paris overnight, and return leisurely on your high speed ground chariot (no flying fears) the next day. That’s less than it could cost to stay the night in London!

Look at this, You could catch the 14.34 from London, be in the resort at Disneyland Paris at 16.3. Spend that evening, and all nest morning at Disneyland Paris, and catch the high speed train back at 14.35 the next day. Your kids and grandkids will be totally ‘gobsmacked!’

Several years ago, a small group of us spent the weekend in Paris, an absolutely wonderful experience. We took in many of the usual attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame, and the beautiful and so peaceful Sacre Coeur

When we landed at Paris airport, we were taken by local train to the Gare du Nord railway station, to start our adventure into Paris. Interestingly, we had to carefully weigh our luggage for the weekend, had to get to Gatwick two hours before the fight departed, and on the way back, had to get to Charles de Gaulle airport from the Gare du Nord railway station, also allowing two hours prior to departure.

Last week we revisited out experience, but this time by EuroStar. No travelling to Gatwick and trying to park the car as cheaply as possible, or getting there far too early. We simply got on a local train at St Neots, which trundled down to Kings Cross, got off there, walked across to S Pancreas, tried a few champagnes at the biggest Champaign bar in Europe, we then sauntered to our awaiting EuroStar train, and settled down to a high speed train ride right up to the Gare du Nord station in Paris.

Now that’s what I call progress…using good old nineteenth century railway concepts – beats flying into a cocked hat!