Eurostar or the Plane? Choosing the Best Way to Travel Between London and Paris

Traveling by air has revolutionized the way we explore our planet, offering the ability to hop from one continent to another in just a few hours. From enjoying strawberries in the middle of winter to receiving same-day packages from the other side of the world, the advent of the airplane has undeniably transformed our lives.

While airlines have been the go-to choice for most business travelers and holidaymakers seeking quick, efficient, and affordable journeys, there are alternative means of transportation that are often overlooked but hold their own unique appeal.

Once upon a time, trains were the lifeblood of countries and economies. In the UK, however, the train system has often left much to be desired, mainly due to underinvestment from successive governments. But everything changed with the opening of the Channel Tunnel in the late 90s, breathing new life into the Eurostar train system that connects the UK to mainline Europe. Despite facing initial challenges, the Eurostar has steadily gained momentum and now poses a significant competition to low-cost airlines flying from the UK to Europe, particularly from London airports.

When considering the popular route from London Heathrow to Paris Charles De Gaul (CDG) airport, a flight typically takes under 1 hour. At first glance, this seems remarkably quick and convenient for a business meeting in Paris. However, let's take a closer look. London Heathrow isn't actually in the center of the city, and the same goes for Paris CDG. The distance from London Heathrow to the heart of the city is around 15 miles, nearly the same as from Paris CDG to the center of Paris. Suddenly, that one-hour flight doesn't seem as appealing as it first did.

Our journey began at London Waterloo International, where we arrived just after 14:00. The train scheduled to depart at 15:11 would take us through Calais and Paris Gare de Nord. To reach Waterloo station, we took the tube, which involved a 25-minute ride with one change at Leicester Square, costing just £2 per person.

We were fortunate enough to book our Eurostar tickets well in advance and scored a fantastic deal. The round-trip fare was only £59 per person, bringing our total expenditure so far to £120. Comparatively, we looked into flying with British Airways from Heathrow, and their cheapest fare was £69 per person. While the price difference wasn't significant, factoring in the travel to and from Heathrow and CDG would likely add up to the same amount. Not a favorable choice after all.

After completing the necessary security and passport checks, we comfortably settled into our seats at 14:55. Right on schedule, at exactly 15:11, the train effortlessly glided out of the station, granting us a beautiful view of the iconic London Eye to our right. So far, so good.

The journey out of London took us through the suburbs of Brixton before venturing into the countryside. While the railway on the English side seemed a bit dated, after roughly 35 minutes, we transitioned onto the brand new, recently commissioned UK high-speed line, propelling us through the picturesque Kent countryside at speeds of up to 300km/h (186 mph).

Before we knew it, we bid farewell to England as the announcement informed us of the approximate twenty-minute transit through the Channel Tunnel. In no time at all, we emerged from the tunnel into the glorious blue skies of France.

After a brief stop in Calais, we had about an hour and twenty minutes left until we arrived at our final destination. Zipping through the beautiful French countryside and skillfully navigating the Paris suburbs, we arrived two minutes ahead of schedule. It truly was a remarkable journey with Eurostar, and now, we found ourselves at the very heart of Paris. Those who opted for the plane would now be scrambling for taxis or boarding the RER train system to reach the city center. That's an additional 30 to 40 minutes plus added expenses.

In total, our journey from the center of London to the center of Paris took a mere 2 hours and 40 minutes (approximately). This duration is expected to be further reduced to around 2 hours and 15 minutes once the remainder of the UK high-speed rail link is completed in 2007. As a result, Eurostar will no longer operate from London Waterloo but will relocate to London St. Pancras.

While airlines have long reigned supreme as the kings of transportation, our experience with Eurostar has led us to declare that the old king is dead, long live the new king. The days of airline dominance between London, Paris, and throughout Europe are gradually waning, making way for the exceptional convenience and efficiency of high-speed train travel.