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Tower to Tower

Posted: 20 Jun 2014, 4:40pm
by somara
Hi I am contemplating riding tower to tower ( Blackpool to Paris ) in august and am looking for information on the trip such as how do we get from Paris to the tunnel? We are short on time available so can't ride back. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Tower to Tower

Posted: 21 Jun 2014, 11:43am
by nirakaro
You can take bikes by train from Paris to Boulogne. From there it's about a twenty-mile ride to the tunnel; maybe not ideal for you, but better than riding from Paris!

Re: Tower to Tower

Posted: 21 Jun 2014, 3:24pm
by somara
Thanks very much I'm sure we can manage that. Do you know if you have to book bikes on French trains?

Re: Tower to Tower

Posted: 21 Jun 2014, 4:07pm
by nirakaro
In my experience you just turn up and wheel it on.

Re: Tower to Tower

Posted: 21 Jun 2014, 4:09pm
by LollyKat
Eurostar from Gare du Nord ?

Re: Tower to Tower

Posted: 21 Jun 2014, 10:37pm
by Graham
somara wrote: . . . . . am looking for information on the trip such as how do we get from Paris to the tunnel? We are short on time available so can't ride back.

This doesn't sound quite right.

If you are short on time, why would you not go back to London by Eurostar ??

If not using a train to get to a channel crossing point, why focus on the tunnel ?? There are other opportunities to cross the channel, some, far easier/closer than Sangatte.

Puzzled.

Re: Tower to Tower

Posted: 23 Jun 2014, 4:22pm
by somara
Did I mention I was a foreign novice, I didn't realise I could do that. Do you know if we can take bikes ??

Re: Tower to Tower

Posted: 23 Jun 2014, 5:48pm
by Barrenfluffit
I did it two weeks ago!
Also the eurostar lands you in St Pancras so its a nice short ride to Euston for the onward journey. its e29 each way per bike and your other bags must be 2 and less than a certain dimension. The bike is sortof shipped separately on the same train.

There's a couple of different options for going London Paris depending on how you get across the water.
1, London, Newhaven, Dieppe, Paris. The difference here is that you basically go due south, get on a boat and go south again for 4 hours. So its fairly direct in terms of how the crow flies. Also a nice ride. Donald Hirsch's route is particularly good on its entry to paris and approach to the eiffel tower.
2, London, Folkstone/Cheriton, Calais-eurotunnel terminal (sangatte), Paris. http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller- ... ycles-one/
3, London, Dover, Calais, Paris. Again no idea but routes have been worked out.

The london routes generally exit central london via greenwich. if your heading for dover you could skirt north and head for a thames ferry crossing. If your going into central london then the canals and riverside trails may offer helpful routes.

Re: Tower to Tower

Posted: 24 Jun 2014, 7:47am
by jamesgilbert
Just google "eurostar bike" and you will find the following very helpful information: http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-in ... 6kerpR_srd

Re: Tower to Tower

Posted: 24 Jun 2014, 10:05am
by skicat
Another superb resource for rail travel anywhere in the world - Seat 61. If it's not on this site it's not worth knowing.

Re: Tower to Tower

Posted: 24 Jun 2014, 3:18pm
by somara
Thanks for all the info everyone.