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Preliminary Planning- Bath and London Before Heading to France

Posted by (SD California) on

Hello! I'm starting my travel plans to UK and France in September 2025, with my mom. I am hoping for some thoughts and advise on whether our itinerary is realistic, or needs adjustments. We have roughly two weeks, 16-18 days. This will be my second trip to Europe with my mom, my fist time in the UK. She just turned 80, but she's in amazing shape, healthy, active and energetic. I am hoping this is not too much for us. Also apologies for discussing France in the England forum, I am not sure if this post should be in here or another place. This is my very first forum post on RSE. Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any thoughts.
UK:
Fly into Heathrow from Denver, take a train to Richmond, drop off luggage at hotel, visit Kew Gardens for the afternoon. Stay in Richmond 1 night
Train to Bath, stay in Bath two nights
Train to London, stay in London 3 nights
France:
Train to Paris, stay in Paris 4 nights, include: full day at Musee D Orsay, Versailles day trip, Montmartre, Catacombs, river boat
Train to Rennes, rent a one-way car, drive to MSM, stay on MSM one night
Drive to Bayeux, visit tapestry museum stay 2 nights in Bayeux
Day 2 visit a WWII museum in Caen,
Day 3 visit 2 beaches in the early AM, drive on to Honfleur stop for lunch and then on to Etretat
Stay in Etretat one night
Drive to Rouen explore the city, stay one night
Drive to Giverney, visit Monet's estate, drive to Paris, return car, stay in Paris one night
Train to CDG airport, return home

Open to any suggestions, thanks for reading!

Posted by
350 posts

just so you know, the Bayeux Tapestry will close to the public on September 1, 2025.

Posted by
311 posts

This sounds like a really nice trip, and has a lot but I think is doable (I've done a very similar trip to Normandy). My only advice here is I would post the France portion on the France board, as you will get more people there who are France experts who will see it and be able to provide feedback!

Posted by
34837 posts

On your Day 1 and Day 2.

Do you know that there is not a train from Heathrow to Richmond? (where in Richmond??) You could use the London Underground but it would take a change of tube line... Piccadilly Line in towards London 10 stops to Turnham Green and change to the District Line Richmond Branch for the final 3 stops to Richmond.

From parts of Richmond the easiest way to get to Royal Botanic Gardens Kew may well be the number 65 red double decker bus. It stops at all 3 main gates of Kew, including the main one - Victoria Gate.

Have you considered rearranging the itinerary a little? Getting to Bath on your arrival day is quite easy. If you do Bath first then to the busier London for all the London you can easily take a day trip to the magnificent Kew Garden. Train from Waterloo to Richmond and bus, or District Line Richmond Branch from central London to Kew Gardens station (not step free) and walk to the Gardens through the village, or to Richmond and the number 65 mentioned above.

You need to get Eurostar tickets from St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord shortly after they are put up for sale - the price only goes up and never down. Don't get the tickets until you are absolutely certain on the date and times. Be aware that you can't just rock up and get on. All border formalities both leaving the UK and entering France as well as security are all done before you get to the waiting room. You must take the suggested check in times (currently 75 minutes on a normal day). If you are late they don't hold the train. At the Paris end you just walk off the train.

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