Eurostar: Catching the High-Speed, London-to-Barcelona Train

Taking the Train From London to Barcelona

Ever wanted to travel long distance to Barcelona by rail? Me too.

For years, I've had this trip on the back burner—until recently. Now, I can bring you closer to the dream with fresh advice and some essential tips. If you're thinking of starting from London or any other part of the UK, then you're covered. Just read on for the latest information.

I went from my local station out in the sticks of Yorkshire (UK) right down to beautiful Catalonia in three easy stages. With high-speed trains and slick operators, the journey is possible in one day—if you set off early enough.

• Local station to London: about 2–3 hours
• London to Paris: about 2–3 hours
• Paris to Barcelona: 7–8 hours

A Quick, Relaxing Ride

Not only is rail travel clean and green, but it allows you to really relax. I love nothing more than to sit next to a carriage window and watch the world fly past, novel in one hand, cup of tea in the other.

On the Eurostar, once you've snaked out of London's suburbs and zoomed through the greenery of Kent, you're under the sea in minutes. In the time it takes to down a coffee and re-run the Mission Impossible scene (with Tom Cruise on top of the train), you break free from the dark, blink your eyes and hit the brightness of northern France.

This is where the train picks up speed! Within the hour, you're close to Paris. Time to put the novel away and think about a hotel room and taxi! Or, if you're on a budget, time to get hitching a lift and think about those holes in your tent!

If you have a fear of flying and don't fancy a long-haul driving schedule, then take Eurostar. You may have to pay a bit more, but the stress-free atmosphere will more than make up for it.

You can find out about tickets and prices here:

• Eurostar
• Raileurope

Advice on How to Book Tickets

I did all my booking online and it worked out just fine. The earlier you book, the cheaper it can be and the more choices you get. You can receive your tickets through the post or at the rail station's automatic machines and ticket desk.

The company I dealt with were Rail Europe and they were very efficient and friendly. Tickets arrived through the post the day after I booked.

London St Pancras Station to Gare du Nord

We caught the Eurostar train from London St Pancras, which is just a short walk across the road from London King's Cross, of platform 9 and three-quarters to - Hogwarts- fame. Be careful as you cross because many taxis and other cars are shooting around.

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If you have a few hours to spend in the capital and don't want to splash out too much money, I recommend a bus ride down to the River Thames.

There's often some form of free entertainment down there—especially on the South Bank—but the river walk alone is worth doing. You get a wonderful view of some very iconic buildings.

Eurostar services are frequent and fast but tend to be very popular! So expect the terminal to be busy at peak time—almost as busy as an airport. You'll have to go through security checks, meaning your bags and belongings may be searched if the x-ray machines spot anything unusual.

The process is pretty quick and you'll soon be snugly seated in your reserved carriage seat, listening to the instructions in two languages, getting ready for a journey that'll take you through the Garden of England (Kent) and under the North Sea!

• Tip: Make sure you're in the right seat, in the correct carriage. Double-check your ticket and all should be well.

The Taxi in London, Paris and Barcelona

If you are in a small group and have lots of baggage, then a taxi from station to station or accommodation is a must. They are convenient, clean, relatively cheap and always available. Just follow the signs when you leave the train and wait in the queue.

Barcelona is slightly less expensive than Paris, and London offers the best value of the three. London taxi drivers don't expect the fare to be rounded up if they help you out with the baggage!

• Tip: Watch out for people begging in Paris and Barcelona. It's a sad fact of life that, for some, times are grim, and begging is the only way out. It's up to you whether or not you give them anything, but rumour has it, some of the beggars are in cartels and are forced to give their money to gang leaders at the end of the day. Only you can judge.

Travel On or Stay Overnight in Paris

You can choose to travel onward when you reach Paris Nord (otherwise known as Gare du Nord). All you have to do is get to the Gare de Lyon for your connection. A taxi is easiest, or if you want to experience underground travel go for the metro. You can go to their website, Paris Metro.

Ask for, 'Un billet pour Gare de Lyon s'il vous plait.' (A ticket for the Gare de Lyon station please.)

If you have time, you can also get the bus which takes a little longer, but you get to see some of the city's magnificent sights.

We decided to stay overnight in Paris and booked a triple bed room at a 3-star hotel close to the Gare de Lyon. There are dozens of hotels in this area, as you'd expect. All 3-star hotels are comfortable, but 2-star hotels can be close to the edge. Be careful what you go for.

After a good night's snooze, we walked the short distance to a breakfast cafe and enjoyed petit dejeuner before catching the train as Parisians went to work. Tres bien monsieur.

Paris

The French waiter was classically dressed in a dark shirt, black trousers and white apron. We were sitting outside at one of his tables near the Gare du Lyons waiting for our connection to Barcelona.

'Petit dejeuner s'il vous plait.' (Breakfast, please.)

He sang a snippet from a Beatles song as he approached, 'All You Need is Love'. He was very chirpy. I think he could detect our Englishness—so we sang the song back to him.

'There's nothing you can sing that can't be sung, there's nothing you can do that can't be done...Love is all you need...!'

Love is all you need, plus a French breakfast, fresh bread, coffee, croissants, juice and something to spread.

• Tip: Breakfast outside on the pavement in the warm sunshine is something you should experience in Paris. But be careful—check the prices before you start eating or you could end up paying much more than you bargained for.

Places of Interest

• The Louvre - One of the world's biggest art galleries. Worth the queue and entrance fee.
• Pere Lachaise Cemetery - Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Proust and Balzac are all happily united here.
• Shakespeare and Company Bookstore - Atmospheric shop crammed to the ceilings with books of all kinds. Browse for hours.
• Champs Elysee - The boulevard to be seen on in Paris. Go shopping or just walk up and down bemused. Best if you like crowds.

And don't forget Notre Dame Cathedral, Montmartre, Sacre Coeurs, Le Seine!

If you want something special to eat or to buy try these Top Restaurants and Top Markets.

Overnight Sleeper Back to Paris

You can take the Treinhotel—a classy overnight sleeper train—from Barcelona's Estacia de Franca, which runs each day.

Just make sure you make it to the right station—not Barcelona Sants—and prepare for a relaxed return journey through the night.

Onward From France to Spain and Barcelona

The French railway company SNCF operate trains to the Spanish border town of Figueres Vilafant, where the Spanish rail company RENFE takes over. The change takes 15 minutes. All you do is hop over to the RENFE train and secure your numbered seat.

Our journey was smooth and without incident. French railways are renowned for their speed, comfort and what might be called "efficient beauty". In a nutshell, they are world beaters when it comes to laying track and putting an engine on top. Legend has it that tolerance of a mere 1mm alignment is allowed for the TGV routes. I call that attention to detail.

Few wander the countryside, and time seems to stand still at peak speeds. Gone are the days of bystanders waving cosily at the tank engine as it chugs under the old stone bridge.

Nowadays, they can only wave at pastel-coloured blurs caught up in a smooth whooshing sound.

It was dark by the time we set off from Figueres. We heard much more Spanish from the new arrivals on board, and now, announcements came in three languages—Spanish, Catalan and English.

Excitement grew as we flashed our way through Catalunya at 200 km/h, according to the electronic information board. It was the fastest we'd ever travelled on a train. Or was that back in France on the TGV, with speed limits of 302km/h?

Barcelona

Barcelona has a completely contrasting feel as a city compared to London and Paris. You sense you're in a slightly exotic place—warmer temperatures, burning light, that Catalan language...and parrots and palm trees!

Green parrots were busy flying in and out of great dry palms on the Avenue de Roma as we stepped out of our hotel the next morning after breakfast—desayuno, por favor. It was quite a welcome.

Although our final destination was Santa Engracia, a tiny village in the Pyrenean mountains, we spent some time in Barcelona—strolling down La Rambla, the famous old quarter of the city, visiting several tapas bars, for food only!

La Rambla is one of the most popular places to go in Barcelona—for tourists and locals—and in peak times will be absolutely heaving with people! Buskers, school groups, old men out relaxing on the benches, demonstrators! As we were leaving, a group of protestors set up their pitch, blowing on trumpets and setting off firecrackers!! It was mayhem. But it seemed all part of the show that is La Rambla. Life carried on as normal.

Barcelona is a great food city. The fresh food markets are magnificent, fresh fish being brought in daily and all kinds of fruit and vegetables and unusual spices on offer.

It's a chef's paradise!

You can learn about Catalan food and dishes here:

• Catalan Food

Places to Visit in Barcelona

• La Rambla - A beautiful old avenue that takes you through older parts of the city. Walk, sit, and enjoy the music, the protests, the shopping, and the tapas bars.
• La Sagrada Familia - Inspired by rock formations, the architecture of this most famous cathedral will delight and puzzle you. An incredible building, a vision of Gaudi.
• Els Quatre Gats Cafe - Where the artists and thinkers go for coffee. Politics, culture, and controversy are served up here.
• Santa Maria del Mar - A church that made it into the novel 'The Cathedral by the Sea'. Concerts in this church are said to have magical acoustics.
• Parc Guell - A series of walking trails and exhibits in a park where art meets nature in a surreal and playful manner.
• Passeig Maritime - Walk along the coast, take in the sea air and have a drink as the sun sets.

Some Common Phrases in English, Spanish and Catalan

Catalonia and Independence

'Catalunya is not Spain' the taxi driver said to us as we questioned him about independence. The statement seemed to be final. He is not alone. In this large province it's estimated that over 50% of native Catalans want to break with Spain (Madrid) and go it alone.

You see the Catalan flag everywhere, often accompanied by Independencia! and other symbols of freedom. It's not a new pursuit. Catalonia has always been at loggerheads with the state capital Madrid, reluctantly giving up its taxes to the bureaucrats, who are seen as money-wasters. And as this latest recession bites deeper, the more the radicals want out.

The Catalan language is currently the language of instruction in all schools - Spanish is taught as a foreign language would be taught, with tests and exams - and is seen as a good model, although some think it controversial.

There's no doubting the strength of feeling over Catalonia v Spain. Some are serious about independence but many doubt it will become a reality whilst the Eurozone exists in its present form.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2013 Andrew Spacey