Page 370 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

368  SUR VIV AL GUIDE
GETTING TO LONDON

L ondon is one of Europe’s central hubs for Eurostar – between France, Belgium and the
international air and rail travel. By air, UK, as well as a fast, weatherproof Channel
travellers face a bewildering choice of carriers crossing for drivers. Eurostar trains depart
from Europe, North America, Australasia, the from St Pancras International Station. Many
Far East and every other part of the globe. European cruises sail from or finish at ports
Stiff competition on some routes, especially not far from London, such as Southampton,
from major European countries and North Dover or Tilbury, and there are efficient
America, means that low-fare deals can often passenger and car ferry services from Europe,
be found, so it’s always worth shopping using large ferries and faster jetfoils and
around. Since 1994, the Channel Tunnel has catamarans, across the North Sea and the
provided an efficient high-speed train link – English Channel.

cheap, depending on when you
book and when you want to
travel. Going to a station the
same day you want to travel
and buying a ticket over the
counter is always the most
expensive way to travel.
Whenever possible, book trains
in advance and check alter­
native fares, bearing in mind
that the best fares may only be
available online. The National
Rail website has a useful
Station concourse at St Pancras International cheapest fare finder feature,
which then links you
to the relevant company site to
Arriving by Rail
and the time of day you travel make the booking. Also helpful
Eurostar runs frequent daily (early morning trains are often is Trainline, an inde pendent
trains to London from Paris, the cheapest), so check current booking agency which often
Brussels and Lille, where the rates on the website when book­ has discounted tickets. Tickets
Paris and Brussels lines meet. ing. Information and bookings booked online can be collected
Nonstop trains from Paris for connecting trains from other at the station and a handy app
(Gare du Nord) take 2 hours 25 parts of Europe can be found stores journeys and booking
minutes; from Brussels, 2 hours. on the Rail Europe website. references. Fares on suburban
Some trains also stop at Calais London has eight mainline rail services around London are
before entering the Channel rail stations at which trains less complex, so there is no
Tunnel on the French side, and from different parts of Britain need to book ahead. Rail lines
at Ashford and Ebbsfleet on the terminate: Paddington serves within London accept payment
English. If you travel by train the West Country, Wales and the by Oyster card (see p374) and
from any other part of Europe South Midlands; Liverpool Street contactless credit/debit cards.
and want to connect with serves East Anglia and Essex;
Eurostar, it’s best to do so at King’s Cross, St Pancras and
Lille, as you change trains in the Euston cover northern Britain;
same station – quicker and far and Charing Cross, Victoria and
easier than doing so in Paris. Waterloo cover southern
Check­in on Eurostar is only 30 England, and also the main
minutes before departure, so it’s Channel ferry ports.
gen erally far quicker than flying. The current UK railway system
Eurostar trains arrive in Lon don is complicated and can be
at St Pancras Internat ional, on confusing. Lines are run by
the northern edge of central several different companies,
London, next to King’s Cross but they are coordinated
Underground station. The station by National Rail, which
is on six Underground lines, so is operates a joint information
well connected with every part service. Fare structures are
of the city. Eurostar fares vary a especially complex: tickets can An information point at a London
good deal according to flexibility be very expensive or surprisingly railway station

368-369_EW_London.indd 368 21/03/17 2:22 pm