Travelling on Eurostar tomorrow - advice please.

[HPFA]

Managed to pick a great day to travel to Paris tomorrow - Tube strike and then a big day of demonstrations in Paris itself!

Our Eurostar is 11.30 so we really need to be at King's Cross by 10 at the latest - travelling from Oxford so arriving at Paddington station.

Anyway on the Tube strike I think our options are:

1.Walk from Paddington to Kings Cross - 2.6 miles - we have light wheelie suitcases and would try and allow enough time to stop for a break in the middle maybe. Ironically my partner is keen on this option and I'm worried because he's really not all that fit (I regularly walk two miles to work so I should be OK myself)

2.Take a bus from Paddington - I believe it's the 18 stopping at Euston Square? Assuming this will be very slow and crowded.

3.Take the Elizabeth line to Farringdon and then a Thameslink to Kings Cross - sounds a little complicated and don't know if our cross London rail tickets will work on Thameslink - which I've never used.

4.Take the Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Road and then walk to Kings Cross which apparently is about a mile - however checking on Twitter it seems some trains are not stopping at TCR even though they're supposed to.

Obviously I'm expecting the transport to be very crowded but not sure whether it will be "uncomfortable" or "unbearable"

Any advice very gratefully received!

I'd get a cab to ensure I got there in time, they are plentiful at Paddington but of course likely to be busy!

Doesn't the Eurostar leave from St Pancras, not KX? Appreciate it's very close, just something to bear in mind in case you're on autopilot while walking.

Personally I’d take the bus but allow enough time to walk as plan b.

The queues to get on to the Elizabeth Line at TCR were horrific this morning. They closed the station (this was for eastbound, as you will need). The train will have been packed well before central London.

I got a cab from Central to East today. Queued at Euston for about 20 mins and then shared a cab with 4 others (this was being organised by the Queue Monitors). Took 50 mins to get from Euston to Liverpool St (would normally be about 20 mins or so).

I’d go for a cab but assume it’ll take 2 hours station to station - if it’s quicker, bonus.

Just walk. 2 miles isn’t that far and you shouldn’t even need a break.

Thanks all.

Just got our Email from Eurostar asking us to be there by 10.16 (for 11.30 train) so they're not advising you to check in especially early.

Hi OP!

Things at Porte de Vincennes (2 doors down from Porte de Bagnolet) are really really kicking off.
They're burning bons at Porte de Bagnolet too buy its more organised chaos because it's the RATP depot. I don't know which hotel your staying in but be sure to take the right exit on the métro to abois have to cross the porte above ground.

Bon voyage.

If you don't want to get a cab I'd suggest the Elizabeth Line then walk from TCR- the not stopping is only before 08.00. If you get on the Elizabeth line and they announce they won't be stopping at TCR get off at Farringdon and walk- plan the walking route on your phone or an A-Z. I doubt if your tickets would cover the Thameslink. Worth packing a bit lighter and wearing comfortable shoes/boots. Good luck.

The Elizabeth line is running:
Paddington to Farringdon then one stop on Thameslink to St Pancras. All running fine (did this journey yesterday).

Elizabeth line to Farringdon, then Thameslink to Kings Cross.

I’d probably leave extra time and just walk it, the queues for the Elizabeth line were huge when I tried today. It’s probably only a 40 minute walk.

Or, attempt the Elizabeth and Thameslink option and be prepared to walk if needed.

Hi OP hope you don’t mind me asking how things have been today? My son is on a school trip in Paris with his whole year group, 400 13 year olds! Great timing! And today was the very day for the main sightseeing, Eiffel Tower and Montmartre mainly I think, tomorrow is Disneyland so I’m guessing that won’t really be affected but not sure. Sounds like they couldn’t have picked a worse day. They did have contingency plans I believe but such a shame to go for one day of seeing the big sights and for it to have been today!

The main thing is that they are safe though, and fingers crossed I haven’t heard anything so hopefully no news is good news.

Taxis are a waste of money in such circumstances as it will be gridlocked.

Every so often they weren't allowing buses to even stop at Euston to manage the crowds and traffic.

How did you get on OP?

.

Hi,
I'm in Paris and things are pretty much back to normal today, transport was actually fine yesterday too so your son should be okay!

Thanks for replying! That’s good to know.

I’d be more inclined to get a Marylebone train than Paddington one. It’s a shorter distance to Kings Cross and basically a straight line.

Update.

We did walk in the end -my partner was very keen on this option. Probably the bus would have been fine but by the time we reached a stop en route it didn't seem worth it. I guess it counted as my exercise for the day!

When we got to Paris we jumped on the metro and got to the hotel just fine. Watched all the demos on the news and it seemed very odd to be sat in our quiet hotel just watching it all.

We travelled South the next day and are now in Antibes. There's a rail strike on the 18th now but our train is booked for the 17th so should be unaffected - its a very early one.

DD is actually travelling back from Amsterdam today and is hoping that the Tube will be back to normal before they arrive.

Many thanks again for all the helpful replies- its always useful to have information to hand and be ready for different scenarios.

I’m with your husband, I would walk. It took my ndn 1.5hrs in a cab to get to King’s Cross on Tuesday (a 15min journey). It’s not that far, just allow yourself enough time. Enjoy Paris!

Me too! And at about the time you're going @HPFA . It was absolutely fine. Got on easily and there would have been space for luggage. Make sure you move down the station and if one train is rammed just wait a couple of minutes until the next one.