Southampton to the Chunnel

[lhsail]

Anyone with experience getting from Southampton to the Chunnel terminal?  We are spending four nights in Paris following our upcoming crossing. Would prefer to do it all in one day, but don’t want connections so tight we’re rushing. Thank you. 

[exlondoner]

By car or by train?

[lhsail]

Just now, exlondoner said:

By car or by train?

Looking to gather information on all options. 

[exlondoner]

Car is a ghastly drive. The least unpleasant way would be M3, M25, M20. As to train, I think Cunard offer a coach transfer to St. Pancras, which will be expensive but convenient.

[exlondoner]

By the way, the Eurostar is very nice, once you’ve caught it.

[lhsail]

14 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Car is a ghastly drive. The least unpleasant way would be M3, M25, M20. As to train, I think Cunard offer a coach transfer to St. Pancras, which will be expensive but convenient.

M3, M25, M20?  Buses?  After disembarking the QM2 about five years ago we took the bus into London. Worked out very well. 
 

We’ve watched some videos of the Eurostar and it looks like a great trip. 

[exlondoner]

Yes, there will be a National Express Coach to London Victoria Coach Statiom, which isn’t very convenient for Eurostar, hence the benefits of the Cunard transfer. I doubt there is any direct connection to the Eurotunnel terminal.

[John Bull]

By car  presumably means you'll be renting, and taking a rented car out of the UK.

Some agencies don't permit taking a car abroad, others permit it but it's expensive eg add £158 with Enterprise.

Add to that you - not the agency - are responsible for complying with French laws that include headlamp beam conversion (drive-on-the- left to drive-on-the-right ), two hi-viz tabards or jackets, first aid kit, UK stickers, etc.

And you'll be driving a RHD car on LHD roads - difficult enough for a Brit., more difficult for someone used to LHD cars.

Then there's driving and parking in Paris.😮

And the return journey - or a massive one-way fee for dropping the car at CDG airport

Need I go on ?????? 😏

So  much better to take a train from Southampton Central to London Waterloo, taxi across central London to London St Pancras, Eurostar to central Paris in as little as 2hrs 16 mins.. Yes the whole journey can comfortably be done in a single day.

Buy advance train tickets for Southampton to Waterloo - advance tickets available from about 12 weeks out, Stipulation that you can only travel at the train time that you book but a big saving eg walk-up fare for the 9 am train is £52 pp, cheap advance fare £16 pp. https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/

Eorostar ticket prices are cheapest several months out and get more expensive as the travel date gets closer - the difference can be huge, typically 30% of the cost of a late booking

https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/train/uk/paris-to-london

 

JB 🙂

 

 

[lhsail]

4 minutes ago, John Bull said:

By car  presumably means you'll be renting, and taking a rented car out of the UK.

Some agencies don't permit taking a car abroad, others permit it but it's expensive eg add £158 with Enterprise.

Add to that you - not the agency - are responsible for complying with French laws that include headlamp beam conversion (drive-on-the- left to drive-on-the-right ), two hi-viz tabards or jackets, first aid kit, UK stickers, etc.

And you'll be driving a RHD car on LHD roads - difficult enough for a Brit., more difficult for someone used to LHD cars.

Then there's driving and parking in Paris.😮

And the return journey - or a massive one-way fee for dropping the car at CDG airport

Need I go on ?????? 😏

So  much better to take a train from Southampton Central to London Waterloo, taxi across central London to London St Pancras, Eurostar to central Paris in as little as 2hrs 16 mins.. Yes the whole journey can comfortably be done in a single day.

Buy advance train tickets for Southampton to Waterloo - advance tickets available from about 12 weeks out, Stipulation that you can only travel at the train time that you book but a big saving eg walk-up fare for the 9 am train is £52 pp, cheap advance fare £16 pp. https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/

Eorostar ticket prices are cheapest several months out and get more expensive as the travel date gets closer - the difference can be huge, typically 30% of the cost of a late booking

https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/train/uk/paris-to-london

 

JB 🙂

 

 

We would not try to rent a car.  Was thinking more of a limo like service, but I assume that would be expensive. I like your idea of the train, then taxi. One resource provided the idea of the train to Waterloo, then another train, then a bit of a walk. With our luggage I don’t see that working. We’re traveling late April/early May so sounds like we should be making some decisions. 

[Cotswold Eagle]

I think there is some confusion here by your use of the outdated and unofficial term “Chunnel terminal”. 
 

Most of us would assume that means Eurotunnel Le Shuttle at Folkestone, which is the vehicle service (by train) through the Channel Tunnel. 
 

It seems you are actually thinking of Eurostar, the passenger service, which departs from central London, St Pancras, as outlined above. 

[Dutch_Travelgirl]

I also think that your use of the outdated term Chunnel is what’s causing the confusion here. This term seems to be very popular in the US, but it isn’t used here. 

First of all, only trains go in the tunnel. There are two different types of trains. 
1) Trains called Eurostar; these trains leave from London St. Pancras station. These are highspeed trains with seats, just like a regular train. You walk on, take your seat and off you go.
2) Trains for vehicles, called Eurotunnel Trains. These trains leave from the train terminal in Folkestone. You drive your vehicle on the train and remain seated in your vehicle for the entire duration of the journey through the tunnel. There are no seats on the train for passengers without a vehicle. 
 

So if you don’t have a car, your only option to go thru the tunnel is to take the Eurostar train that departs from London St Pancras station and arrives at Gare du Nord in Paris. 

Edited March 8, 2023 by Dutch_Travelgirl

[gumshoe958]

The cheapest fares on Eurostar for late April/early May will be long gone I’m afraid. The UK has two holiday weekends in a row (29 April-1 May and 6-8 May) so the trains will be extremely busy around then.

 

Consider upgrading to the Standard Premier class (the equivalent of Premium Economy). You get a bigger seat, more space and a light meal. The extra cost is often minimal.

 

Note you’ll need to go through airport-style security and passport control at St Pancras station so you need to allow enough time for that. If it’s busy, queues can be long.

 

Edited March 8, 2023 by gumshoe958

[Island2Dweller]

Eurostar prices are higher than they used to be because they now sell fewer seats.  At peak times there are long queues for boarding (you do Schengen immigration at the St Pancras terminal before you get on the train).  Eurostar are now only selling two thirds capacity on some trains because of the delays in getting passengers through the revised (Brexit) immigration process.  With less seats to sell they have less need for heavy discounts.  Your travel date is relatively near and if you want to do this, firm up your plan and buy tickets now - ticket prices will only get more expensive.

If you're starting in Southampton, the least hassle route is the train from Southampton to Waterloo, then grab a taxi for the hop across to St Pancras. 

Finally, to add emphasis, "Chunnel" is a word only used in North America and it just causes confusion here.  Use Eurostar (passenger trains) or Eurotunnel (Car shuttle trains)

[wowzz]

Do you have to take Eurostar ?

Lots of flight options from LGW and LHR.

[lhsail]

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

Do you have to take Eurostar ?

Lots of flight options from LGW and LHR.

We don’t have to take Eurostar, and my apologies for inaccurate terminology. We thought it might be a unique experience for us. But, we’re open. 

[Seaside99]

While a few years ago (2019) we, with another couple embarked in SH and our previously booked mini van was waiting (around 100£ for the fours of us and lots of room for luggage) direct to St. Pancras . The journey was no problem at all. They were off to Spain so they took the Eurostar to Paris, lots of trains. We were headed to Amsterdam and didn’t want to arrive late so we overnighted in the Renaissance Hotel at St Pancras, very convenient, and left the next day. Overall lots of options from SH to Paris. We have used the Eurostar both ways and at different price points and it has always been a good experience. Safe Travels!

[lhsail]

19 hours ago, John Bull said:

By car  presumably means you'll be renting, and taking a rented car out of the UK.

Some agencies don't permit taking a car abroad, others permit it but it's expensive eg add £158 with Enterprise.

Add to that you - not the agency - are responsible for complying with French laws that include headlamp beam conversion (drive-on-the- left to drive-on-the-right ), two hi-viz tabards or jackets, first aid kit, UK stickers, etc.

And you'll be driving a RHD car on LHD roads - difficult enough for a Brit., more difficult for someone used to LHD cars.

Then there's driving and parking in Paris.😮

And the return journey - or a massive one-way fee for dropping the car at CDG airport

Need I go on ?????? 😏

So  much better to take a train from Southampton Central to London Waterloo, taxi across central London to London St Pancras, Eurostar to central Paris in as little as 2hrs 16 mins.. Yes the whole journey can comfortably be done in a single day.

Buy advance train tickets for Southampton to Waterloo - advance tickets available from about 12 weeks out, Stipulation that you can only travel at the train time that you book but a big saving eg walk-up fare for the 9 am train is £52 pp, cheap advance fare £16 pp. https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/

Eorostar ticket prices are cheapest several months out and get more expensive as the travel date gets closer - the difference can be huge, typically 30% of the cost of a late booking

https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/train/uk/paris-to-london

 

JB 🙂

 

 

We would not try to rent a car.  Was thinking more of a limo like service, but I assume that would be expensive. I like your idea of the train, then taxi. One resource provided the idea of the train to Waterloo, then another train, then a bit of a walk. With our luggage I don’t see that working. We’re traveling late April/early May so sounds like we should be making some decisions. 

[lhsail]

Thanks to all for your input. We have booked the bus to Victoria Station and will take a taxi to St. Pancres. We have booked a late afternoon Eurostar departure to give ourselves plenty of time. We have no reason to be in Paris particularly early that day as our AmaWaterways package doesn’t begin until the next day. 

[Bob++]

Good decision. Now you have to work to keep the luggage down as you will have to schlep it on and off yourself.

 

A word of warning about taxis at Gare du Nord: there are a lot of "pirates" in Paris and it's easy, after a long journey, to be taken in. When you arrive on Eurostar, you should follow the TAXI signs to the official licenced taxi rank on the right (west) side of the station as you enter the concourse. Try to get an idea of the expected fare and reject any taxi that wants much more.

Edited March 9, 2023 by Bob++

[sddsddean]

On 3/8/2023 at 6:47 PM, lhsail said:

Thanks to all for your input. We have booked the bus to Victoria Station and will take a taxi to St. Pancres. We have booked a late afternoon Eurostar departure to give ourselves plenty of time. We have no reason to be in Paris particularly early that day as our AmaWaterways package doesn’t begin until the next day. 

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs, but don't forget France is a hour ahead of the UK when booking stuff. Its amazing how many people (including Brits!) forget!!

 

Simon

[lhsail]

5 hours ago, sddsddean said:

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs, but don't forget France is a hour ahead of the UK when booking stuff. Its amazing how many people (including Brits!) forget!!

 

Simon

We are completely aware of the time change.