Where to go after Baden Baden?

From Baden-Baden, go to Karlsruhe and use a Rheinland-Pfalz-Ticket to go to Mainz and down the river to Bacharach and St. Goar, then down to Koblenz and Koeln. With enough time, you could go up the Mosel to Cochem or Trier. From Koeln, go to Brussels and take the Eurostar to London. I can see advance purchase ticket available online from the Bahn website for as low as 49€ Koeln to London.

Another vote for lee's itinerary.

Lee's idea is great, but I also think Strasbourg is wonderful, well worth an overnight stay. You could also add the Alsacian wine route, with Colmar, to that. The TGV to Paris from Strasbourg is only a two hour ride. Or you could go to Strasbourg, then head up to Nancy in Lorraine. It's a beautiful, un-touristy city. Paris is also close by TGV from Nancy.

I took buses between Hindenburgplatz/Lange Strasse and the Bahnhof. Here is the bus network map for Baden-Baden.

Thanks everyone. I got some passionate replies about Strasbourg so I'm going to do Strasbourg, Reims and Paris before heading to London. Now it all seemed perfect except I can only get a hotel for one night in Strasbourg on November 18 and for Reims I can only get a hotel for the nights of November 21 and 22. So I need to figure out what to do for the nights of November 19 and 20th? I'm considering Brussels or Colmar but they seem like quite a detour. So I'm wondering if anyone has some recommendations for other places either in France or Germany that I could access by train between Strasbourg and Reims that would be worth a few nights? Thanks, Carol

Forget staying in Strasbourg. Instead, spend three nights in Colmar - it's only about 30-40 miles from Strasbourg. You can spend one day in Colmar, one day touring the Route du Vin, and the other day in Strasbourg. Then leave from Colmar to Rheims.

And again the anti-Strasbourg sentiment rears it's ugly head. Why? I wish people would explain their distaste of Strasbourg. I've visited the city 6 times in total, including staying for two nights. I love it. I realize tastes are subjective and perhaps my interest in history and gothic church architecture make it particularly appealing to me but I don't understand the idea of "forget Strasbourg" even without my particular interests. Everyone I've taken there agrees that the cathedral there is far more magnificent than Notre Dame de Paris. For centuries it was the tallest building in the world and is just a stunning artistic achievement, for that reason alone Strasbroug is worth AT LEAST a day. Marsielle is the kind of city where I understand when people say "skip it" - it's kind of gritty and not for everyone. But Strasbourg's entire city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the only city center in the world to get that designation! Why do people say it's not worth it? I'm just lost to this way of thinking. The entire old city is stunning, the food is great, the beer and wine are fantastic, the locals are friendly, and it's got great museums. Seriously, what gives? Anyway, Carol, I'm confused why you can't get a hotel for longer in Strasbourg. What resource are you using to book hotels? Booking.com is great for Europe. The hotels near the train station in Strasbourg are cheap and convenient and a short walk from the old town. Colmar isn't really far away though - just an hour via train - so that might also be a good destination for you. Sincerely, The Patron Saint of Overlooked French Cities
(and in that vein, also consider Nancy!)

Carol, The two times I've visited Strasbourg over a few days I stayed at small hotels near the train station. Numerous hotels in that area are in the 2 and 3 star price range. Have you tried any of these places? If you're going to visit Strasbourg more than just as a day trip, better to stay in the city. Obviously, the cathedral is the main attraction, das Straßburger Münster. If you decide to go Paris, it's a straight shot on the TGV Strasbourg-Paris Est. Between Strasbourg and Reims, at least one night in Chateau-Thierry is worth it.

Count me in on someone who doesn't understand the dissing of Strasbourg. It's a really attractive city. I enjoyed Colmar when I visited, but since then, I've seen about two dozen towns in Germany and eastern France that are comparable... wasn't blown away by the much-hyped Unterlinden museum either.