Eurostar
is the train that puts its foot down, racing through
the green fields of Kent and Flanders at 300 km per hour. It's as though
the English Channel (remember that?) doesn't even exist.
At that speed, London to Paris takes just 2 hours 15 minutes, to
Brussels 1 hour 50 minutes, while the city of Lille is only 1 hour 20
minutes away. Never mind a weekend break – that’s close enough for
lunch. On the subject of which... we have some suggestions!
Paris
Step out of Gare du Nord and feel the
magic. Whether for romance à deux, for culture or for wild fun, Paris is
perfect.
Grands magasins Printemps and Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann
make shopping easy and fun, with the world’s largest beauty departments,
stylish eateries and extras like massages and free catwalk shows.
For a full-blown celebration, it’s still hard to beat a glamorous night
out at a classic feathers-and-sequins grand cabaret like the Lido on the
Champs Elysées (dinner and show from 140€).
And don’t miss this season’s major art
exhibition, Picasso et les Maitres, at the Galeries Nationales du Grand
Palais until 2 February 2009, displaying work by Picasso alongside other
artists who influenced him.
Sit down to eat:
Le Grand Véfour (€€€) One of the great names, a romantic 18th-century restaurant in
the gardens of the Palais Royal, noted for exquisite period décor and
haute cuisine.
Deux Magots (€) A Left Bank
'literary' landmark for 100 years, and still a popular
café-restaurant serving snacks and meals at surprisingly moderate
prices.
Les Ambassadeurs (€€€) Inside the
palatial Hotel Crillon overlooking place de la Concorde, the height of
opulent luxury and haute-cuisine.
Le Cinq (€€€) Inside the luxurious
Hotel Georges V off the Champs-Elysées, this exceptionally elegant
restaurant has a brilliant new chef - Eric Briffard.
Brasserie Flo (€) Hidden away
in a picturesque alley, this immaculately preserved 19th-century
brasserie serves good hearty classic dishes at modest prices.
Up to 17 departures daily. Fares from £59 return. Short breaks from £84.
Ultra-modern Euralille station is ten minutes walk from the city
centre’s three impressive squares, which make a huge traffic-free space
surrounded by gloriously elaborate Baroque buildings.
The cobbled lanes of Old Lille are lined with 17th century houses, chic
boutiques and affordable "estaminets" (Flemish brasseries): try
waterzooi fish stew and flamiche, a tasty tart made with powerful
Maroilles cheese.
Lille has great shopping, with a vast
lack-for-nothing mall, the Centre Euralille, close to the Eurostar
station and just 5 minutes from Place de Gaulle. The largest Galeries
Lafayette outside Paris is on Rue de Bethune. The city has good street markets,
too. From 21 November to 24 December, a
glittering traditional Christmas Market fills Place Rihour with gifts
and treats.
Sit down to eat:
Le Sebastopol (€€€) A top
name for classic French dining, with Art Deco dining room and acclaimed
seasonal menus that are worth every penny. Patisserie
Méert (€€) A
famously elegant city-centre restaurant and salon de thé specialising in light savoury dishes and
superb waffles, crepes and cakes.
L'Ecume de Mers (€) For delicious
fish and seafood with affordable daily menus, a favourite with locals.
'T Rijsel 25
rue de Gand (€) A traditional, atmospheric estaminet with a huge choice
of local beers and several classic Flemish dishes. "Rijsel" is the
Flemish name of Lille.
L'Huitrière (€€€) Next to Grand
Place, the most 'gastronomic' of Lille’s top-end restaurants has a
beautiful Art Deco tiled interior, and delicious shellfish.
Up to 10 departures daily. Fares from £59 return. Short breaks from £93.
Brussels
From Gare du Midi, walk to the old Ilot Sacré district with its
boutiques and bars, or the wonderful main square, Grand’ Place, a
masterpiece of Flemish opulence. Around its edges café tables stand
under the gaze of glorious guild halls with fluttering medieval flags.
The city is famous for first-class beer (hundreds of varieties),
top-quality chocolates, strong coffee, and copious fine food. But think
art and design, too. From Bruegel to Magritte to present-day comic
strips, from beautifully preserved Art Nouveau interiors to brilliant
new designers, Brussels excels.
In December, the city is in high spirits. Shop windows are beautifully
decorated, and Place Marché aux Poissons becomes a huge outdoor ice
rink, with a big wheel, old fashioned carrousel and brasseries with
heated terraces.
Sit down to eat:
L’Ecailler du Palais Royal (€€€) Sample imaginative, elegant
seafood dishes at this stylish gastronomic restaurant in the smart Sablon area of town.
De Ultieme Hallucinatie (€€) Crazy name, crazy décor, but there’s good food at this popular brasserie in a stunning Art Nouveau mansion, furnished with train seats.
Le Lion St Géry (€) Convivial city-centre
dining with a touch of originality, specialising in beef and
lamb, with exceptional value fixed-price menus – especially at lunch
time.
Le Sea Grill (€€€) Part of the
Royal Hotel, this is a top name in the city for fine French dining, with
the emphasis firmly on seafood.
Chez Léon (€) It looks touristy, but this long-established brasserie gets
the seal of approval from locals, too, especially for classic mussels
and fries.
Up to 10 departures daily. Fares from £59 return. Short breaks from £94.
Eurostar, a
development from French Railways' Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV), is
a city-to-city rail service using the Channel Tunnel.
Although Eurostar services started in 1994, the
train remains one of the more exciting travel and transport
developments of recent times.
Eurostar is a private company run jointly by three
partners, the Belgian and French national railways and a British
company called Eurostar (UK) Ltd. However, French Railways (SNCF)
own a 35 per cent share of the British company.
From 14 November 2007, Eurostar's London terminus moves from
Waterloo International, on the south bank of the Thames, to St Pancras
International, which is on the north side of the city centre.
At the same time, a new high-speed rail line comes
into service. Journey times are scheduled to be cut by 20 minutes.
- Check in times:
30 minutes in Standard Class.
10 minutes in
Business Class.
- Time zone:
GMT/BST + 1 hour in all three cities.
- Money:
Euro.
Get the feel
A journey on
Eurostar is immeasurably more enjoyable than any alternative
means of transport to Paris or Brussels, which is why the train
now takes most of the traffic from London to these cities. Seats are comfortable.
There is more leg-room than on a plane. You can walk around
freely. There is food available on board, including
airline-style packed meals. Announcements on board are in three
languages, English, French and Flemish. The sense of speed is
thrilling, with countryside views streaking past the windows.
More
Eurostar
Eurostar also run
services direct from London to Disneyland Paris and to Avignon,
in southern France.
Free online
AVIGNON
CITY GUIDE
Some Eurostar trains stop en route at Fréthun Calais, close to
the Cité Europe shopping complex 3km S of Calais, and at the new
Ebbsfleet International station, just off junction 2 of the M25
near Dartford crossing and Bluewater shopping centre in north
Kent. Journey times from Ebbsfleet will be 10 minutes shorter
than from St Pancras. Ashford International station, the former
Eurostar stop in Kent, will no longer be used.
CUS GUIDES
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