London to Paris - How do we get there?

My sister and I want to do an overnight trip to Paris at the end of March. We're staying in Notting Hill. What's the best way to get there? Train, plane or automobile?

I've looked at Eurostar, but curious if anyone has any tips, recommendations, etc.

We took the Eurostar at the end of December and it couldn't have been better. I highly, highly recommend it!

The trip was just over 2 hours and was so much easier than flying, in my opinion. The security was faster and the lines were shorter. The price was pretty reasonable, too. We were told that the tickets would be cheaper if booked in the US, which we did, (but I don't know if that's really accurate or not).

Good luck! Paris is a great city!

The price was pretty reasonable, too. We were told that the tickets would be cheaper if booked in the US, which we did, (but I don't know if that's really accurate or not).

Thanks for the info.

Did you book through eurostar.com?

eurostar is awesome!  I don't have much more to add that what sevans said, except to say that we booked less than a month from the trip and the tickets were semi-expensive (for early April last year). So if you're going Eurostar, book now!

take the Eurostar, book through their website.  Price depends alot upon how far in advance you book and the time and day of travel.  The Eurostar goes straight into central Paris, if you fly you will have the hassle of getting to and from airports and the traffic in both London and Paris can be horrific.  Security is sooooo much easier on the train as well.

Thanks everyone for your input. Due to the lack of availability of inexpensive seats, we have decided to not go to Paris. We are arriving in London Easter weekend and I can only assume it booked quickly due to this being holiday time.

We will travel around England instead. I know there is plenty to see.

Have you tried some of the low budget airlines ie. Ryan Air, Easy Jet, BMI Baby? I know lots of times you can get cheapy flights from London Airports.

Have you tried some of the low budget airlines ie. Ryan Air, Easy Jet, BMI Baby? I know lots of times you can get cheapy flights from London Airports.

Definitely! When I go to Paris, I fly from Cardiff and it's dirt cheap! (Less than it would be to take the train to London and then catch the Eurostar.)

But for anyone living in London, travelling from St Pancras to the Gare du Nord by Eurostar is going to be a lot quicker than hauling yourself out to Stanstead or Gatwick, checking in for two hours, being pratically strip searched by security, and then squeezed into a sardine can.  I don't live close enough to London to make Eurostar a viable option, but if I did, it would definitely be worth paying the extra.

But London City airport offer cheap flights to the continent also so no need to schlep to Gatwick or Stanstead.

To be honest. When I took the Eurostar from when it left from Waterloo station it was so crowded I felt claustrophobic most the journey. Personally, I would fly! 

Last time I went to Paris, it was

Train from Charing Cross to Dover
Ferry to Calais
Local train to Paris

and it was fun!!!


Vicky

I went to Paris with Easyjet (from Glasgow, but London would be similar priced I think) and it was £16.99 each way with tax included.

Eurostar is my preferred choice but really only affordable for quick trips if you book in advance.

Another option is Eurolines. The main terminal is at the Victoria Coach Station.

National Express is great for booking coach journeys around the UK and you can link to Eurolines from there.
http://www.nationalexpress.com/index.html

The only major drag of this travel is immigration controls on both sides of the channel when returning to the UK.

I'd be interested to try Vicky's route!

I am flying to Paris for the first time this August on easyJet when my sister's come to visit. I was not cost efficient to take the Eurostar or time efficient to take a land route for a one way journey.