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Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

“A Tale of Two Cities” – London and Paris by First Class Rail

Seven days in London and Paris with Eurostar first-class rail

Illustration of “A Tale of Two Cities” – London and Paris by First Class Rail

Planet Rail's seven-day independent holiday pairs London and Paris with seamless Eurostar train travel. You spend three nights in each city, staying in 4-star hotels with daily breakfast: the Clermont Charing Cross in London's Charing Cross district, and the Hôtel Le 123 Elysées near Paris's famous avenue. On Day 4, you depart London St Pancras aboard Eurostar in Standard Premier Class, traveling at up to 186 mph to Paris Gare du Nord with a light meal served onboard. The itinerary invites you to explore at your own pace, walking past Buckingham Palace and through St James' Park in London, visiting the National Gallery, Westminster Abbey, or Charles Dickens Museum; in Paris, discovering the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur, the Île St. Louis, and Montmartre's streets and cafés. This suits independent travellers and couples seeking city culture without group obligations. Planet Rail arranges two private taxi transfers in Paris; you manage your own sightseeing and London ground transport. A 5-star hotel upgrade is available for an additional GBP 600 per person.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is an independent, self-guided holiday with no group activities or escorted tours; Planet Rail provides the rail and hotel bookings but you arrange your own daytime sightseeing
  • The from-price of GBP 995 assumes two passengers sharing a twin or double room; single occupancy will incur a higher supplement not listed in the evidence
  • Paris transfers are by taxi; you must arrange your own transport from London St Pancras to the hotel on arrival day and return transfer before your Eurostar departure

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: London

    Arrival in London

    Your holiday begins as you arrive in London and make your way to your base in the capital for the next three nights, the welcoming The Clermont Charing Cross (4 star), a stylish and contemporary hotel ideally located for discovering London's most famous attractions. You have this afternoon to familiarise yourself with the area and plan your sightseeing.

  2. Day 2overnight: London

    London

    You have two full days to explore the many sights and attractions this capital city has to offer. Your hotel's central location means that many of the city's highlights are within easy reach either on foot or by public transport. Perhaps stroll past Buckingham Palace and through St James' Park to Trafalgar Square, home to the superb National Gallery, or take a trip on the London Eye, the world's highest observation wheel.

  3. Day 3overnight: London

    London

    Continue exploring London. Head to the Charles Dickens Museum in Holborn, the author's only London address still standing, take in the magnificent Westminster Abbey where Dickens is buried in Poets' Corner, or head to the West End for some of the world's most acclaimed theatre productions.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Paris

    London to Paris

    This morning make your way to St. Pancras International station and travel by Eurostar to Paris at speeds of up to 186mph, with a light meal and drinks served on board in your Standard Premier Class seat. On arrival in Paris your taxi transfer will transport you to your hotel for three nights, the stylish Hôtel Le 123 Elysées (4 star). Explore the Champs Elysées, the Rue de Rivoli, the Jardin des Tuileries or the Louvre.

  5. Day 5overnight: Paris

    Incomparable Paris

    Whether you are enticed by the romance of the Île St. Louis, the vibrancy of the Champs Elysées, the bohemian Quartier Latin, the Centre Pompidou or the Eiffel Tower, Paris will beguile you with its gallic charm. Experience the marvellous views from the Sacré-Coeur, the Père-Lachaise cemetery, and the Marais near the Bastille.

  6. Day 6overnight: Paris

    Incomparable Paris

    Continue exploring Paris. You might like to visit La Conciergerie, a Gothic palace used as a prison during the French Revolution, or head to Montmartre where the streets, houses and cafés still evoke the colourful experience that Dickens would have known from his visits.

  7. Day 7rail

    Paris to London - Homeward bound

    This morning your driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer you back to the Gare du Nord. Here you join the Eurostar service and head for home, with a light meal and drinks before your arrival into London St Pancras ahead of the final stage of your journey home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord at speeds up to 186 mph, with a light meal and drinks served in Standard Premier Class
  • Day 2Explore central London sights including Buckingham Palace, St James' Park, Trafalgar Square, and the National Gallery from your hotel in Charing Cross
  • Day 5Visit Paris landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur, the Marais, and walk the Champs Élysées and Jardin des Tuileries

Included

  • Eurostar Standard Premier Class return rail travel from London to Paris
  • 6 nights' accommodation in 4 or 5 star hotels with breakfast each day
  • 3 nights in London and 3 nights in Paris
  • 2 x private taxi transfers in Paris

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Eurostar Standard Premier Class return travel from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord is included, with a light meal and drinks served on board.
What hotels are included?
The base package includes the 4-star Clermont Charing Cross in London (3 nights) and the 4-star Hôtel Le 123 Elysées in Paris (3 nights), both with daily breakfast. A 5-star upgrade is available for an additional GBP 600 per person.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
This is an independent, self-guided tailor-made holiday. Planet Rail arranges your rail travel, hotels, and two private taxi transfers in Paris, but you plan your own sightseeing in both cities.
What is included in the price?
Eurostar Standard Premier Class return rail travel, 6 nights' accommodation with breakfast, and 2 private taxi transfers in Paris are included. Meals beyond breakfast, sightseeing activities, and London transfers are not included.
How much walking is involved?
Both hotels are centrally located, and the itinerary suggests most attractions are within easy reach on foot or by public transport. No strenuous hikes or climbs are mentioned.

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