Is Eurostar from St Pancras better than flying from a regional airport if you live outside London? We look at the alternatives.
Bear in mind there is an average 45-minute transfer time from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city, whereas Eurostar terminates at Gare du Nord, in the centre of Paris.
From Plymouth
Route: Either the four-hour train journey from Plymouth to Paddington Station, London, the underground from Paddington to St Pancras and onward travel by Eurostar, or a three-and-a-half-hour drive to Portsmouth to catch a ferry to Le Havre, followed by an onward two-hour drive to Paris, where the last thing you really need is a car. The train wins this time.
Sample product: Train fares from Plymouth from £17.50 per person one-way. Eurostar fares from £59 per person return.
From Cardiff
Route: Either a two-hour train journey to Paddington Station in London, the underground from Paddington to St Pancras and onward travel by Eurostar, or a Flybe flight from Cardiff to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The flight wins this time.
Sample product: Flybe fares from £17.49 per person one-way.
From Birmingham
Route: Either a 90-minute train journey to Euston Station in London, with onward travel by Eurostar, or a one-hour, 40-minute Air France or Alitalia flight. The flight wins this time.
Sample product: Air France fares from £47 per person one-way.
From Manchester
Route: Either a two-and-a-half-hour train journey to Euston and onward travel by Eurostar, or a Flybe, Air France or Jet2.com flight from Manchester. The flight wins this time.
Sample product: Jet2.com fares from £19.99 per person one-way.
From Newcastle
Route: Either the train journey to Kings Cross (up to three and a half hours), and onward travel by Eurostar, or an easyJet or Air France flight from Newcastle. The flight wins this time.
Sample product: Easyjet fares from £19.99 per person one-way.
From Glasgow
Route: Either the train to Euston or Kings Cross (up to six hours) and onward travel by Eurostar, or an easyJet flight from Glasgow. The flight wins this time.
Sample product: EasyJet fares from £15.99 per person one-way.
