Slow Train Travel: The Best Train Trips From London To Europe
With more flights taking to the skies than ever before, it’s so easy to hop from one country to the next. To fall asleep in one country and wake up in another. But before planes, there were trains, buses and boats – and for many, these forms of international travel are still the preferred choice. Not only do you avoid the often arduous process that is airport security, but you’re likely presented with a more comfortable journey, much better scenery (despite there being something so calming about being above the clouds), and importantly – you’re significantly reducing your carbon footprint.
In this article, we’ll talk through the benefits of slow train travel in Europe, and what it means for both you and the environment. Plus, we’ll share our recommendations for train holidays from London, and how you can make it to Spain, Switzerland, the Alps, and even Greece, without setting foot in an airport. So whether you’re looking for the best train trips from London to Europe, or simply want to explore what flight-free travel might look like, this is for you.
Your Carbon Footprint & International Travel
There’s no question that flying gets us from A to B faster than any other form of transport. But with speed comes cost – and not just a financial one. Aviation is one of the highest carbon-emitting industries in the world, responsible for about 2–3% of global CO2 emissions. For an individual, the carbon footprint of a single short-haul flight can outweigh the carbon footprint of a year’s worth of train commutes.
Choosing to travel overland – whether that’s by train, bus, or boat – can dramatically reduce your environmental impact. According to the European Environment Agency, travelling by rail emits up to 90% less CO2 than flying the same distance.
That said, whilst you could of course opt to travel by train for any and all international trips, the reality is that we’re not all afforded the time to be able to do so. And, as much as travel is one of the greatest joys in life, the actual act of travelling isn’t always quite so joyful. Demanding schedules, annual leave allowances, family responsibilities, and the high cost of some overland options can make flying the only feasible choice. So if and when you do have the option, train travel is a meaningful way to be a little friendlier to the planet.
Why Slow Travel Might Be Worth It
The beauty of travelling overland is that it becomes an adventure in itself, with the journey becoming part of the holiday. Rather than rushing through airports, cramming into tiny seats, and racing to your destination, train travel invites you to slow down. You can hop off in new towns and cities along the way, stay for a day or two, and experience places you might otherwise have flown over without a second thought. Not to mention you have the freedom to get up and walk up and down the train if you need a bit of movement, something that is very limited on an aeroplane.
However, slow travel does demand more time, more flexibility, and sometimes a slightly bigger budget. But if you can afford to factor it into your plans, it offers something air travel simply can’t: the chance to not just arrive at a destination, but travel through – and experience – many. Because how we get somewhere can contribute to our experience of it.
The Best Train Journeys in Europe
With the Eurostar conveniently connecting London to Paris, a world of European interrail possibilities are available to those living in the UK. Here we’ll share some of the best train trips in Europe, and a few trains from London to Europe that make the journey just as wonderful as the destination.
London to Madrid
If a scenic and surprisingly straightforward journey is more appealing than airport queues, then you might want to consider London to Madrid via train. It’s much easier than you might think.
Your adventure begins, as all of our go-to European train journeys do, with the Eurostar from London to Paris, which takes just over two hours. From Paris, you have a couple of options. One route takes you south to Avignon via the Ouigo TGV, a high-speed train that takes you through the French countryside in under three hours. Then from Avignon you can take a Renfe TGV service that travels directly to Madrid. Plus, if you want to add in some additional sightseeing en route, you can stop off at cities such as Girona, Barcelona or Zaragoza.
Alternatively, you can travel directly from Paris to Barcelona by TGV and hop on a connecting train to Madrid. Whichever route you choose, this journey will feel like a continental adventure in itself, not just a way of getting from A to B.
London to Geneva
Travelling from London to Geneva by train is a lot easier – and more scenic – than you might expect. After taking the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, you’ll need to change stations and make your way to Gare de Lyon. Even though the transfer between stations takes about 20 minutes by taxi or Metro, it’s a good idea to allow 45–50 minutes in total to factor in navigating each station and finding your platform. Top tip: you can buy a Paris Metro ticket onboard the Eurostar to save time once you arrive.
From Gare de Lyon, take a TGV Lyria train, which is a high-speed train specifically for travel between France and Switzerland. It travels at speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour (186 miles per hour), and offers free WiFi, comfortable seats, and has a cafe bar onboard.
The first part of the journey south speeds through the Burgundy countryside, before the train begins to slow as you approach the border with Switzerland. As you get closer to Geneva, you can expect beautiful views of small local villages, endless rolling hills, and lakes and mountains.
You can expect the journey to take around 6–7 hours including the transfer time in Paris, making it one of the most scenic and relaxing ways to travel between London and Switzerland without having to step foot in an airport or plane.
London to Corfu
Greece is likely not a country you’d expect to see on this list. However, despite sounding complicated, travelling from London to the Ionian island of Corfu, without flying, is possible – and not overly taxing. It’s a real adventure in itself. You’ll make your way to Paris on the Eurostar, before taking a high-speed Frecciarossa train from Paris to Milan, which takes around seven hours. From Milan, it’s another train down the Adriatic coast to Bari, which is a journey filled with views of the coast and seaside towns. The overnight train from Milan to Bari is very popular, taking just over 9 hours, and offers sleeper and couchette options, so you’re not missing out on any daytime activities.
Once in Bari, you’ll board a ferry direct to Corfu, which takes between 8 and 10 hours depending on the boat. Some of the boats have cabins if you want to book a space to have a nap or sleep, and it’s worth noting that as boat travel in Greece is incredibly popular, the boats usually have food, drink and shopping options onboard. The holiday and adventure definitely does not begin once you arrive at your destination when in Greece; the boat is part of the holiday.
As this journey would take the best part of two days, it might be worth planning your timings accordingly so you can spend a half day or night in Milan and Bari, to tick off two Italian cities before relaxing into your Greek vacation. It might be considerably longer than the flight alternative, but you’ll have an abundance of multi-city coastlines, mountains and memories.
London to Chamonix
Chamonix isn’t just one of the best mountain retreats – it’s also one of the best train trips from London to Europe if you love slow travel and unforgettable window views. And whilst getting from London to Chamonix by train is of course not as fast as the by-air alternative, it’s easily one of the most rewarding. Not least because the train drops you right in the heart of Chamonix. No rushing through airports or sitting in a taxi transfer here – instead you can soak up the landscape as it changes from cities to mountains, and arrive in the alps ready to take on whatever adventure awaits you (if hiking and yoga in the Alps is your kind of adventure, read this).
Once you’ve completed your Eurostar journey from London to Paris Gare du Nord, you’ll need to transfer to Paris Gare de Lyon. If you have the time, it’s worth booking a slightly later onward train from Paris so you can stop off for a Parisian lunch or snack before continuing your journey.
From Gare de Lyon, a TGV train takes you south to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, where the scenery becomes less city, more Alps. Once in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, there’s one more quick changeover to a local TER train for the final leg into Chamonix. Let us warn you now – this part of the trip is quite magical. It’s a slow climb into the mountains past beautiful little villages, acres of forests, and picture-perfect moments.
By the time you step off the TER train and arrive in Chamonix, you’ll already feel like you’ve had an adventure – with a whole new adventure waiting in Chamonix in the days ahead.
Is Slow Travel Always the Best Option?
Travelling overland by train, bus, and any other modes that are required, won’t always be the cheapest, fastest, or most convenient option. European train journeys can sometimes cost more than a budget flight, so when coupled with any overnight stays en-route, they do require more planning and flexibility. But if you do have the time, or are able to build it into the adventure, the experience is almost always more fulfilling.
Not only are you able to reduce your carbon footprint, but you can make memories throughout the journey – something that would be hard to say when sitting in a crowded departure lounge. When the journey is part of the adventure, slow travel is hard to beat.
See you in Chamonix?
If slow travel and adventures in the mountains sound like your kind of escape, why not join us in Chamonix this September? We’re hosting a hiking and yoga retreat with world-class trails, incredible views and the best of alpine hospitality. Read more about it here.