Travelling from London to Normandy

Here's a start on your options, with what I roughly know about each.....#1 Fly London-Rennes via Paris, car to cemetery (two hours drive) and reverse. Have no idea of flight connections........#2 Train to Portsmouth, ferry to Caen (five hours, plus), taxi (?) to cemetery, and reverse. There is no place to rent a car at the Caen ferryport, there's a bus from the ferrport to the city, no bus from ferryport to cemetery.......#3 Train to Dover, ferry to Calais (about one hour), car to cemetery (about four hours) and reverse......I think the last would be the fastest, not only for the logistics, but because the ferry runs more frequently to Calais than to Caen. It's also probably the only one that can be done in one stretch of daylight, except for:.......If you rented a light plane into the Caen airport, you'd be looking at paying for less than three hours of flight time, some wait time, and a taxi.

Does it need to be a specific cemetery in Normandy fo a specific family member, or do you just want to pay respects in general? I know someone who did a day trip to a cemetery in Belgium that sounds easier than what Ed has detailed. There are several, but here's the link to the one they went to. It will also link you within the site to other cemeteries. http://www.in-honored-glory.info/

Faster than Ed suggested is hiring a car, or car with driver, in the UK and driving through to Normandy via the Eurotunnel. This is the same tunnel used by Eurostar. You drive your car into the train carriage and stay in the car until you drive off on the other side. Advantages to the OP are check in is only 30 minutes, transit is only 35 minutes, no time hiring a car in France. Downsides are cost (unknown by me), right hand drive in France. ..... or as Ed says private plane or helicopter. The OP said nothing about cost.

Bonnie, there's no easy way to "minimize" the travel time between London and Normandy, unless you can afford to travel like the rich & famous and hire a Helicopter. If I had to make that particular trip, I'd make an overnight trip to Bayeux. I'd start with an early EuroStar from London St. Pancras to Gare St. Lazare (about 3H:10M). Then local train to Bayeux (about 2H:20M). Rent a car in Bayeux (good idea to pre-arrange as I found that the staff at one rental agency didn't speak much/any English). Depending on what time you start from London, there may be time to visit the American Cemetery, but if not there will be adequate time the following morning. An alternative for the arrival day would be to visit the famous Tapestry and then have a fine hot meal in one of the local restaurants. Next morning tour the Cemetery, turn in the rental car prior to 24-hours elapsing from the time it was rented (that way it's only a one-day rental) and then head for the train station. Reverse the journey back to London. It's a lot of effort just to see the Cemetery, but if you're set on doing that, this is one solution (I'm sure there are others). Good luck and happy travels!

I agree with Ken on taking the first Eurostar over then a train to Caen, instead of Bayeux. There are 4 rental car agencies right across the street from the Caen train station and they are open more hours than the agencies in Bayeux and on Saturdays too. Be sure and reserve your car beforehand. It's an easy 15-20 mile drive to Bayeux where you can spend the night. The famous tapestry is a block from the Churchill hotel in Bayeux. The American cemetery behind Omaha Beach is about 20 miles from Bayeux, an easy drive and you could possibly do it the first day. Return your car to Caen and hop a train, every hour I think, back to Paris.