Advice please? Buy train tickets now or when I arrive?

I forgot to mention that I am planning to travel from Paris to London and then later from Paris to Aix and from Aix, back to Paris. Thank you!

You can easily buy the tickets when you arrive. But, you will pay full prices. If you buy 90 days in advance, you can get some very nice discounts. But, you must be certain of your travel date and time. For your Paris to London trip on the Eurostar train, you can get some great fares on the www.eurostar.com website. Note that you have to be checked in 30 minutes early for the Eurostar.

Thank you Richard & Larry. Ok. I have visited both websites. Eurostar is cheaper. Since I have quite a good selection of seats, which carriage would be a better choice (distance etc) and also what would you consider as good seats (facing each other, direction, space)? Would it be advisable to get seats nearer to the luggage area or are we allowed to bring our luggage to our seating area? Thank you!

Clare, your ticket from London to Paris should have been purchased a few months ago for best price, so purchase your ticket now as its going to get even more expensive now!! Last minute tickets are very costly. I have used the Eurostar website 4 times and never messed up, just read information and follow instructions, be sure to double check the dates and times before you hit the "buy " button. I always just select pick up at station and put in France or UK as my country. Make sure you bring the credit card you use to purchase the tickets with you, they will need to see it when you go to collect tickets at the station. Arrive at least 45 minutes before.. not the 30 , as it takes time to exchange the email confirmation for a ticket. I usually arrive an hour early so I can pick up a snack in the station and not be rushed if lines for security are long.

Since the Eurostar does not make any stops your luggage is pretty safe.. you can only take a small bag that fits in the over head area to your seat..If no one is in seat beside you , then you can bring your bag on the floor there.

Just great. Posted something and lost it! Thanks Pat for the info. Was wondering how the whole ticket system works! So, I need to print out the email confirmation to get the ticket. I have travelled on the Swiss rail & Parisian trains, both of which we used Passes and so, not much of a bother! I will also be travelling from London-Aix EP (not Paris to Aix EP-my mistake) and read somewhere that Eurostar was having train services there. Is it still running? Am also thinking of flying from London-Marseille (EasyJet & RyanAir) and then bus to Aix but I read quite a fair bit of bad reviews re their service, hidden/extra cost & luggage problems/restrictions etc.

Eurostar were running a trial service from London to Lyon and Aix in June, but this has now ended. They operate direct services from London to Avignon in July and August.

I have already purchased my paris-london tickets. In the process of checking out tickets for london-aix en provence. I read somewhere that the TGV train station is abit far from the town center. Is that the arrival station for trains coming in from London. Are there buses from the Aix train station to Aix town center? and is yes, how often do they run. Thank you

Another option would be taking the train from London-Marseille and from Marseille, then take the bus to Aix town center? Thank you all for your expert advice!

Buses from Aix TGV to the city centre run every 15 minutes. There is a pretty frequent bus route from Marseille railway station to central Aix as well, but it's a waste of time and distance if you can get a train to Aix TGV.

Thank you everyone! I've already purchased my tickets. Merci!