Paris excursion

Cheryl, I think that proposed trip sounds very do-able without a guide or a planner. You will get lots of very specific advice here. To make sure you get more targeted advice, you might want to include your price range (in general) so we know what you are budgeting. I would combine the Louvre and Père Lachaise into one day - it will be a long day, but if you only have 2, that's how I would split it. Then Versailles on the next day - a comfy day trip with time to have dinner back in town. Others? Whaddya think?

You should be able to easily book and take the Eurostar from London's St Pancras Station to Paris Gare du Nord. Here's all the information you need to know to plan it. http://www.seat61.com/London-to-Paris-by-train.htm If you aren't comfortable using the Metro in Paris, take taxis to the Louvre and Père Lachaise. Google 'getting to Versailles from Paris' to find detailed instructions for the short journey. Or, you could find a guided tour for a day trip to Versailles if that's your preference. I always try to combine any big museum visit with an outdoor activity in the same day, so the Louvre combined with a walk in the cemetery would be perfect, provided the weather is pleasant. And Versailles is both big museum-like interiors combined with beautiful outdoor gardens, so also an indoor/outdoor day. It's critical to book entrance tickets to Versailles in advance, as the queues are monstrous. Here's a nice page by Rick Steves about Versailles. http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/france/versailles.htm If I were doing what you want to do, I would stay 3 nights in Paris so you arrive from London the first afternoon, then have a full next day for early arrival at the Louvre then Père Lachaise, another full day for Versailles, and return to London the following day, if that's your plan. I think it would be exhausting to try to do the 2 hr 15 min Eurostar trip (with minimum 30-min advance check-in to go through airport-style security) on the same day as your desired activities.

I agree with Kira's and Rose's excellent replies. If you can handle London on your own, you can handle Paris on your own. And, it's going to be difficult to find a guided tour that goes to Pere Lachaise Cemetery (Versailles and the Louvre are going to be on many tour itineraries). Get Rick Steves Paris, as he has all the logistical details (transit, admissions, etc) you would need. I agree that you will need at least one overnight, as trying to do everything in one day, plus the round trip train from London, will leave you very frazzled. But one overnight should work well (book an early train into Paris and a late train the next day back to London). For Versailles, you can buy advance tickets online, which will save lots of time. For the Louvre, others recommend using the Carousel entrance instead of the pyramid entrance, for shorter lines. Since these are the only two paid admission you have, a museum pass won't be worth it.

Thank you all for giving me such great advice! This is an amazing resource, I'm glad I found it and you! You are so very helpful!

RS guidebook has a good map with detailed information on the various graves at PL Cemetery. There is an info kiosk/booth that sells maps but the book will be fine. A very good tip is to exit the metro at Gambetta so your walk will be down hill-otherwise it is steep and uphill mostly-and the info booth is on the lower side so you would have the steep walk.

Bus No.69 will take you to the cemetery. Try to get a bus map. It will be very helpful.