london to Normandy (Bayeaux)

Look at the bus https://www.flixbus.com/ and at the flights from London to Paris https://www.easyjet.com/en
and then the train to Bayeux and compare the costs if you took the Eurostar.

There's an overnight ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Le Harve for £53 this week return for two passengers which is quite a bargain. Have a look on directferries.com. Obviously you would need to get to Portsmouth first but if you take the train off peak then prices can be reasonable. With prices like this it'd be cheaper than flying and you'll be closer to your destination.

Thanks, looks like the ferry is the way to go. There is one to Cain from Dover, which is closer to Bayeaux where we will stay. Also planned to pick up a car for two days in Normandy-we could rent it there and go to Bayeaux. Return to Cain and train the Mainz for access to Rhine.
1.) If we do Cain, how far is it from the dock into town (looks like it is inland some. Also. how far to Bayeaux?
2.) I do not know if I am reading the time to float the channel correctly on the ferry (what do you see). I mean, I am seeing less than 2 hours? Am I reading this correctly? If so, seems like a no brainer to me!

I'm assuming you mean Caen? As far as I'm aware there is no ferry between Dover and Caen, you would need to take the ferry to Calais and drive from there, a considerable distance. Portsmouth to Caen return for 2 people can be had this week for £48 or Portsmouth to Cherbourg for the same price on the express ferry.

My bad! You are right, it is Dover to Calaise which is short, but out of the way. I see why you mentioned an overnighter-it is 8 hrs to go from Portsmouth to Le Havre (if i am reading it right). For some reason the site is not returning fares for this. May be back to Easy Jet. Thanks.

You don't have to opt for the overnighter, you can take the Normandie Express, Portsmouth to Cherbourg in three hours.

This may be helpful. One option it shows is a train from London (Liverpool St. Station) to Southend, then a flight to Caen.

There may be a flight from Southend which Dick has found.... but .... check carefully. Who is flying it? Fly-Be or somebody else? How many times a week (not times a day)? The ride on the train from London Liverpool Street to Southend is not the most salubrious. Will you have luggage? Do you mind spinning the prop to get the thing moving?

I've flown from Southend once. Just the once.

Britanny Ferries sail from Portsmouth to Caen. http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry-routes/ferries-france/portsmouth-caen

There is transport from the port into the city. By the way, it may be easier to rent a car in Caen and it has a wider selection of hotels etc. than Bayeux.
But this route certainly will not save you time ex-London, and rough seas are always possible in the channel. As to money, the Eurostar and budget airlines price their tickets the same way, offering great reductions if bought far in advance.
For the Normandy invasion, I firmly believe that paying the stiff price for a guided tour is well worth the money, showing (and teaching) far more than I could ever have done and seen on my onw.