London to Paris is an incredibly popular route, being served daily by rail, bus, and plane. However, each mode of transport is different, with different pros and cons to each. We'll take a look at what's good and what's not to build a clear picture of what is the best option for each individual. Without further ado, let's begin.

Via bus

There are plenty of bus connections between London and Paris. The two main providers include Flixbus and Ouibus. Now, taking the bus offers an option that no other mode does - overnight travel. The bus from London to Paris takes around eight or nine hours, stopping at the port of Dover or Calais for immigration checks before using the English channel tunnel to enter mainland Europe.

As such, it is possible to leave one city late in the evening and arrive at the other in the morning. While this sounds like a great idea, remember that the bus needs to cross the channel halfway through. This is where everybody needs to get up off the bus and clear immigration. Considering the ports arrive at just under the midpoint of the journey, this does mean you can't get undisrupted sleep and have to stand in line to clear immigration formalities.

Check out London to Paris bus tickets here.

Flixbus
Photo: Flixbus

However, the main benefit of taking the bus is undoubtedly the cost. The cheapest tickets can be found for £19 ($23) and even booking a week before travel can yield compelling fares of £32 ($39) each way. Even a last-minute fare, booked the day before, is around £65 ($79) during non-peak periods. This is cheaper than flying or taking the train by far but does add substantial time to your journey considering the 8-9 hour travel time.

Via plane

This wouldn't be Simple Flying if we didn't touch upon the aviation route to get from London to Paris, or vice versa. Indeed, If you live near an airport, it's the quickest way to get to Paris, without a doubt. However, both London (Heathrow and Gatwick) and Paris (Charles de Gaulle and Orly) have their major airports situated away from central, so there is some travel time required (usually 1-1.5 hours).

However, flying is an expensive route, especially during busy periods. Ticket prices vary substantially, too, by airline and timings. A look at the calendar shows that mid-week tickets will cost around £48 ($58) one-way at the cheapest end and climb up to £257 ($310). Thanks to several low-cost carriers, such as easyJet, Vueling, and others, tickets are priced competitively and can be found for as little as £25 ($30).

Check out flights from London to Paris here.

An Air France Airbus A320
Photo: kbp.spotter/Shutterstock.

Airports also carry several hidden costs, such as the cost of the train to and from the airport or parking. Notably, the cheapest fares tend to depart from further away airports, potentially adding the same amount in train tickets as the fare itself. Factor that in when booking.

However, in one area flying is king: time. The block time for the flight (gate to gate) is around 1 hour and 15 minutes, however, the actual flight time is usually less than 45 minutes. This beats out both the train and bus comfortably, but do remember the time needed to move from the city center to the airport as well.

Via train

The train is the third and final option. Train services between London and Paris are run exclusively by Eurostar, meaning the company is only really competing against flights. The train has the benefit of departing central London (St. Pancras Station) and arriving in central Paris (Gare du Nord Station). It is also the method with the least faff, as you clear passport control at your origin and just walk off the train at your destination.

The journey takes just over 2 hours and 30 minutes, over an hour longer than flying. But the ability to arrive and depart from the city center is great, as is the lack of queues during immigration.

Check out trains from London to Paris here.

Eurostar Train
Photo: Anna Krasnopeeva / Shutterstock

However, all of this comes with the tradeoff of price. Considering Eurostar's monopoly, fares aren't cheap. On the same day as the £48 ($58) flights, Eurostar will run you £126 ($152) for the cheapest service. Booking close-in only makes things more pricey, with fares in excess of £200 very common. However, there are bargains to be found occasionally, with roundtrips going £86 from Paris to London. But on average, the Eurostar is the most expensive choice without an advance, non-peak booking.

The verdict

It really depends on what you're looking for in order to determine which mode of transport would be best between London and Paris. If you're looking for a cheap last-minute choice or don't mind the overnight journey to save money, the bus is a great choice.

However, if you're happy to book well in advance, and want the least amount of hassle, then the Eurostar is the best option. It is also usually the quickest if you live more than an hour from an airport, and arriving in the city center is a great way to explore or work and save time on shorter trips.

However, if it's the feeling of exhilaration as you accelerate down the runway, or utilizing frequent flyer status that's for you, then the best bet would be to fly. Living close to an airport makes flying the best choice too, especially if you can get a cheap fare.

Which ways have you traveled between London and Paris? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!