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Christmas in France/UK Questions

I am planning our 30th anniversary trip for next year and have a couple of questions and would appreciate anyones help. My wife and I, 3 older teenage kids and 2 friends will be traveling to Germany, France and the UK over Christmas time. We plan to visit Germany first, visit Munich, some Christmas markets, take an overnight train to Paris, visit the sites, then Chunnel train to London where we have relatives about 60km out of town.

Since it is impossible to verify some reservations this far in advance, I have a couple of questions....
1. Is anything open in Paris on Christmas Day, or would we be better off using christmas Day to travel from Paris to the UK?
2. Does the Channel train run on Christmas Day? And what about intercity trains on Christmas? We are thinking of taking the chunnel from Paris to London, then going north to our relatives from Kings Cross station on December 25th. I know the tube is shut down on the 25th but that won't be a problem...we are just switching trains...We then commute into London on December 26th to sightsee.

  1. I understand December 26th is boxing day. Is anything open in London that day, or might I be better off spending Christmas Day in Paris, then traveling on December 26th to the UK. Then we could sight-see London on December 27th.

If there are any other holiday restrictions anyone knows about, or if you have any suggestions at all, I would love to hear about them.

Thanks

Mike

Posted by
506 posts

Mike -

Typically nothing will be open in Paris or London on the 25th (minimal restaurants). The Eurostar train does not run on Christmas day either. Boxing Day in London this year was hit or miss. Although the Eurostar was running ( I returned from London that day) it is hit or miss with stores etc. on that day as well.

Posted by
12040 posts

But Paris is back to full speed on the 26th... along with all the hordes of tourists.

Posted by
506 posts

Full speed is relative - museums and rail service typically yes. But you will see restaurants and shops that may be closed through the New Year holidays.