Search

Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Lyon by First Class rail

London to Lyon by Eurostar and TGV First Class, five days

Illustration of Lyon by First Class rail

Planet Rail's five-day Lyon by First Class Rail holiday combines modern high-speed rail comfort with a four-night stay in France's gastronomic capital. The journey begins with a morning departure from London St Pancras on Eurostar Standard Premier to Lille, followed by a TGV First Class train to Lyon Part-Dieu. You stay at the four-star Grand Hotel des Terreaux with four days to explore the city at your own pace. The itinerary guides you through the Old Town and Croix-Rousse quarter, both UNESCO-designated sites with narrow cobbled streets and traboules, the silk-weaver alleyways; the Gothic cathedral and astrological clock; the funicular ride to Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière; and the Parc de la Tête d'Or and resistance museums. Lyon's reputation for world-class cuisine, from Michelin-starred fine dining to traditional bouchon taverns, makes this package suited to independent travellers seeking both cultural exploration and gastronomic discovery without a guide.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of £895 per person is based on low season and two people travelling together; single traveller rates and high-season pricing are not disclosed in the pack.
  • The pack lists optional alternative hotels dependent on preference and budget, but provides no details of these options; confirm hotel choices when booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Lyon

    London to Lyon

    Your holiday starts with a stroll through the magnificently restored London St. Pancras International station before you board the Eurostar service to Lille, enjoying a light meal and drinks at your seat. You journey under the English Channel before emerging at Calais for your onward high-speed journey through France. From Lille, you board your high-speed TGV to whisk you to Lyon. On arrival at Lyon Part-Dieu station make your own way to your hotel for the next 4 nights, the elegant, highly-rated Grand Hotel des Terreaux (4 star), ideally located between the river Rhône and the river Saône.

  2. Day 2overnight: Lyon

    Exploring the gastronomic capital of France

    Whilst in Lyon make sure you visit the Old Town and the Croix-Rousse quarter, now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to uncover its narrow cobbled streets and trademark traboules, alleyways used by silk workers and, later on, the Resistance during World War II.

  3. Day 3overnight: Lyon

    Exploring the gastronomic capital of France

    Take the time to further explore Lyon, perhaps visit the huge 16th-century Gothic cathedral and astrological clock on Place St. Jean or take the funicular to the landmark Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière, topped by twin turrets.

  4. Day 4overnight: Lyon

    Exploring the gastronomic capital of France

    Lyon also boasts beautiful green spaces such as the Parc de la Tête d'Or, as well as a number of interesting museums, including the Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation, a fascinating and poignant reminder of Lyon's role during the Second World War.

  5. Day 5rail

    Lyon to London - Homeward bound

    This morning after a leisurely breakfast it is time to leave France's second largest city as you make your way back to Lyon Part-Dieu station for the high-speed journey back to Lille. On arrival in Lille, you board your Eurostar service, reclining in your comfortable and spacious Standard Premier Class seat back to London St. Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Day 1: Depart London St Pancras by Eurostar to Lille, then board the high-speed TGV First Class to Lyon Part-Dieu, arriving in France's gastronomic capital.
  • Day 2Day 2: Walk the narrow cobbled streets and traboules of the Old Town and Croix-Rousse quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with ties to Lyon's silk-weaving and World War II Resistance history.
  • Day 3Day 3: Visit the 16th-century Gothic cathedral and astrological clock at Place St. Jean, or take the funicular to the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.
  • Day 4Day 4: Explore the Parc de la Tête d'Or and museums including the Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation, marking Lyon's wartime role.

Included

  • First Class Rail travel throughout your journey
  • 4 nights bed and breakfast in a double room at the Grand Hotel des Terreaux (4 star) in Lyon

Questions travellers ask

What trains are included?
Eurostar Standard Premier from London St Pancras to Lille, and TGV First Class from Lille to Lyon Part-Dieu, with return journeys included.
Is the holiday guided or independent?
This is an independent, self-guided tailor-made holiday. You arrange your own activities in Lyon; Planet Rail handles rail and accommodation.
Where do you stay?
The Grand Hotel des Terreaux, a four-star hotel in Lyon, for four nights bed and breakfast in a double room. Optional alternative hotels are available.
How much time do you spend in Lyon?
Four full days (Days 2-4 and the morning of Day 5) to explore the city independently.
What is included in the price?
First Class rail travel throughout and four nights bed and breakfast at the Grand Hotel des Terreaux. Meals beyond breakfast and sightseeing activities are not included.

Similar journeys