I've been on the TGV the length of France, and it is excellent. If I could, I'd definitely choose to travel that way again.

Have you discovered the seat61 website yet? Has all the info you need - although it may be down at the moment

Yes I've done it. When I did it you had to change somewhere in Spain - it really is easy now. It does feel like a pretty long journey (I've done a lot of travelling by train in mainland Europe) but I just love arriving straight into the centre of a city.

I'd find a long train journey more stressful.
You can't just dump your luggage in the hold, you need to make sure it isn't nicked when you're in the loo. Also train loos are comparable to plane loos but you'll need it more often.
It will take at least a day each way. so 2 days of your holiday will be only travelling (flying you can have a morning/afternoon at your destination).
Plus the hassle of changes.
The Eurostar means you still have to go through passport control and security and get to the eurostar early. Its not much different from a plane. It won't save you hassle.

I like long train journeys - but on sleeper trains in my own room with a bed, and I do that as the holiday itself. I've done the whole West Coast of the USA and Texas to LA, not normal trains as a way to get to destination.

If you have a look on YouTube you can find a number of videos of the Paris-Barcelona trip. The Man at Seat 61 has a video of his own, but it's 8 years' old now.

It does look as if the Seat61 website is unavailable at the moment as the security certificate has expired. I think he is currently away so in the meantime, it's worth noting that if you don't want to have to heave luggage between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon (I think) in Paris, you can change trains at Lille for a direct train down to Lyon, where it should be only a platform change to get to Barcelona. This is all better explained on the site but worth considering.

There's an 11am train from Lille arriving Lyon at 2pm. Leaving Lyon at 2.35 arriving Barcelona 7.30pm At the moment I don't think the first Eurostar stopping at Lille gets there early enough though. If the seat 61 website is down you can look at //www.bahn.de in English and play around with the possibilities.

Seat 61 is back and it turns out there is an option via Paris, at least up til 30 Sept 2022

Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 10:22, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 13:57.

Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare de Lyon, just 2 stops on RER line D.

Travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:12 arriving Figures Vilafant 20:56, Girona 21:13 & Barcelona Sants 21:54.

I was probably focusing on Lille as (a) we would be coming from the north of England, so probably wouldn't attempt it in a day (although definitely doable on these trains) and (b) my DH is in a wheelchair, so a change of station in Paris is more problematic.

I've gone as far south as Bordeaux by train and it was a lovely experience as a way to travel. If you do so, hope you love it.

Use the TrenHotel for the Paris - Barcelona leg of the journey and book a cabin. A really good service with a great restaurant car, en suite (very small) shower / toilet. You arrive in Barcelona early Morning we had a great trip.

at the moment there is no eating on trains from paris and only drinks permitted for the vulnerable (masks have to be on at all times) - could be a long journey unless they ease restrictions!!

I got the TGV from Barcelona to Paris last week and loved it, I can thoroughly recommend it.

We did it in the daytime and sitting and watching the view 6.5 hours went past in no time, whereas on a plane I'd be gagging to get off.

You are certainly allowed to take your mask off to eat and drink in that direction. We booked first class as it was only 30 Euro extra and there was trolley service as well as the option to go to the buffet car buy food and eat it there for a change of scenery.

Eurostar was also a good experience, but I wouldn't say notably better than flying - especially if you have to get from the Midlands to St Pancras beforehand.

Overall though it was a great trip and I would definitely do it again. It made the travel into part of the experience rather than something to be endured to get to the other end.

We have done this - the journey is beautiful and we booked upstairs seats on the train - incredible views! We travelled in early autumn and the tgv was comfortable and pretty quiet iirc (though a few years ago now). The parts along the Mediterranean coast in France, and through the Pyrenees, were stunning. One way we broke the journey in Gerona which is also a charming city (and a lot smaller and more manageable than Barcelona tbh).

Very glad to hear that restrictions on eating have been relaxed as it is a fantastic way to travel and especially upstairs with the amazing views. We find it far less stressful than flying, the kids enjoy it and it is lovely not to have all the restrictions on packing water bottles, toiletries and the weight limits etc. An overnight stop enroute can be a lovely part of the trip too.

My husband did it with my son when he had a medical condition that prevented him flying. My husband lived it , my son said it was a bit too long

They had breakfast in London, lunch in Paris , dinner in Barcelona ;)

We did it a few years ago, well Barcelona to Paris ....it seemed to take ages and was actually quite boring, the French countryside is very uninspiring and dull. It was fairly straightforward and the trains where very comfortable but omg it took so long