Hi
Taking the train from London to Paris to check off the Chunnel on my bucket list. Would like to visit Normandy as well. Can I get a tour from Calais which is a stop on the train. Obviously I would spend a night in Normandy.
Thanks
Posted by
Chicago
7911 posts
Nope. That is the long way.
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1700 posts
You are much better off arriving in Paris and traveling to Normandy from there. The train station Paris-St. Lazare has several 2-hour Non-Transfer trains to Bayeux where you can get a tour of Normandy.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4922 posts
Are you referring to the Normandy coast in general, or the D Day Beaches? I don't think I'd use Calais as a starting point for either. You might want to do a bit of research of Calais and it's migrant problems.
Personally, I'd rather train into Paris, then train to one of the cities/towns of interest on the coast. From there either rent a car or join a tour. Considering you're starting from London and losing an hour with the time change, there's no way to do this all in one day.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Diane, Calais is not a stop on the train from London (or to be exact, only 2-3 trains per day stop there, and they stop at Calais Fréthun, which is a small station outside the town). The one place between the Channel Tunnel and Paris you can get frequent trains from London to is Lille
See timetable here: https://content-static.eurostar.com/documents/446099_Timetables%20Core%20destination_Issue%2082_UK%20EN.pdf
but Lille is a long drive to Normandy, it would take all day. if you want to go to Normandy, it is best to start from Paris. Lots of tours from there, or take another train from Paris to somewhere in Normandy (Bayeux, Caen) and pick up a tour or hire car there.
P.S. It's not the "Chunnel", its the Channel Tunnel.