Two week Europe Trip

Gardens in the depths of a European winter are definitely not the draw card at somewhere like Versailles. The Palace itself though is open and worth a visit if that appeals. Your plan is a sound one with limited time.
Rome > Florence > Paris > London

sr, I think you'll have a better trip if you don't try to cram so much in. In the winter it gets dark pretty early and attractions are on winter hours.

From Italy to Paris you would fly. From Rome to Florence you would take the train. The train is the way to get between London and Paris. Travel will take from half a day to most of a day, ll things considered. So please focus on fewer priorities, whatever those are for you.

I agree with Adam, I think you're trying to do too much in the time available. Don't know your priorities and interests, but I'd skip London this time just because it's the farthest north in winter, and give those days to Rome and Paris. Or, if London is a priority, drop one of the other cities. Flying between Italy and Paris will take the best part of a day, considering time to, in, and from airports. The Rome-Florence and Paris-London trains will each fill half a day. There go, effectively, two of your 13 available days -- if you really have 13 days actually in Europe, not counting the overnight flight over and the return flight home.

You may already know to fly "open jaw," using the "multi city" option on a search engine or airline website -- home to Rome, back from London, or vice versa. Those open-jaw flights are priced comparably to a round trip but save you the time and cost of backtracking in Europe.

I think your timing is fine - I don't know what Dick considers half a day but Rome to Florence is 1 1/2 hrs on the train - add time to get from hotel to train and train to hotel you're at 3 hrs max - that is one of the joys of train travel - you go city center to city center. Paris to London on the Eurostar is 2 1/2 hours so 4 hrs for transit time is about what it'll take.

I think you have a good amount of time in each place for a first visit. You won't see everything but you can hit the highlights and get a feel for each place.

Just because sights may close early in winter does not mean your day has to end. The evenings can be filled with dinner, shows, pubs, etc.

The Louvre is still open evenings on Wed & Sat in December and the Eiffel Tower is open nights.

I agree with Dick and Adam - you are trying to fit too much in, so drop one place. London is the obvious as it's out of the way.

Gardens in December in Europe are not worth visiting. Some houses will be closed for the winter, but check websites for opening hours, which maybe restricted due to short daylight hours.

For routes, check out rome2rio.com and for trains, use seat61.com.

Day
01. Arrive Rome (3N)
02. Colosseum, Forum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain
03. St. Peter's, Vatican, Piazza Navona, Pantheon
04. Train to Florence (2N). Afternoon to Pisa
05. David, Duomo, Uffizi
06. Fly to Paris (5N)
07. Notre Dame, Louvre
08. Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay
09. Sacre Couer, Montmartre, Pompidou
10. Versailles
11. Eurostar to London (3N). British Museum
12. Westminster Abbey, National Gallery
13. Tower of London, St Paul's
14. Depart London

Yes, cold is right. Also, you have too many places with not enough time in each.

Versailles would probably OK in the Winter, but forget the gardens. You don't want to be outside that long, even if you are bundled up with a heavy overcoat, hat, scarf, etc.

Italy would probably be the warmest places you mentioned. I would spend more time there and skip London or Paris. While in Italy, you can take the train from Rome to Florence, but probably it is best to look for a discounted flight with the other city that you will fly from.

One of the best reasons to visit these cities in the off season is the lack of crowds. You will not have to work your way through the masses at the top sights. In Versailles you will actually be able to appreciate the rooms as they will not be jam packed.

The colder weather is easily handled - layers are key. I prefer a 3/4 length coat, hat, gloves, and scarf are a must.

Since I will be traveling during the off season, will I not need to get skip the line tickets or is it still recommended for some attractions, such as the Colloseum?