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Traveling from London to Italy by train is our favourite way to get to Italy. We’ve done the journey in one direction or the other four times now and have never regretted our decision.
It can be difficult to resist the lure of incredibly low prices on budget airlines, but flying is always unpleasant: the long drive to inconveniently located airports; the hassle of security; removing liquids, laptops and shoes; endless queues and waits in crowded hallways to board the plane, and then the cramped flight itself.
Taking the train may be more expensive and time-consuming, but it’s a much more enjoyable way to travel.
It’s comfortable and spacious, you can enjoy the scenery along the way, and you end up in the centre of cities rather than at some distant airport.
While it is possible to travel from London to Italy by train in a single day, the journey is more enjoyable if you allow a few days and break up the journey along the way (we love a good excuse to visit Paris!).
Contents
- Routes by Train from London to Italy
- Perugia, Italy to London by Train: Our Experience
- How to Book a London to Italy Train Trip
- Eurostar Details
- How Much Does the Train from London to Italy Cost?
- Would We Travel by Train from Italy to London Again?
Routes by Train from London to Italy
The Quickest London to Italy Train Route
When taking the train from London to Italy this is the easiest, cheapest, and fastest route:
- Eurostar train from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord (2hrs 20 minutes)
- TGV train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Turin or Milan (5.5 hours or 7 hours)
Wherever you are heading in Italy you will need to change at Paris and either Turin or Milan. You can then connect to other trains across Italy.
It is possible to do this journey in one day if you take the 8.01am Eurostar from London and connect to the 12.44pm TGV, which arrives in Turin at 6.15pm or Milan at 7.49pm.
You’ll likely need to stay the night in Turin or Milan before connecting to other Italian cities.
There’s also a 3.12pm Frecciarossa train from Paris to Milan, but it doesn’t arrive until after 10pm, so I think the TGV is a better option. If you stay overnight in Paris, you could consider their morning train.
The Frecciarossa is a newer train (opened in 2021) that’s run by Trenitalia.
Below you’ll find our experiences on different routes from Italy to London plus costs and how to book tickets.
Transferring Stations in Paris
We always like to spend at least one day in Paris on our way down to Italy, but if you are leaving straight away on the TGV you’ll need to travel from the Gare du Nord station to Gare de Lyon.
This takes about 10 minutes on the RER D train (buy a metro ticket from the machine for €2.10), but I recommend allowing at least an hour to make your connection.
Sleeper Train From London to Italy
The direct Thello sleeper train from Paris to Venice was discontinued in 2020.
If you really want to take an overnight train from Paris to Italy, the only option now is taking the TGV from Paris to Stuttgart and picking up the Nightjet sleeper train direct from Stuttgart to Venice.
We’ve never done this route as we find it difficult to sleep on overnight trains and the daytime TGV is more comfortable. It also requires that extra change in Stuttgart now.
London to Turin Train
The train journey from London to Turin is a distance of 921km and about nine hours travel time (including a transfer in Paris).
Turin Porta Susa is the first major stop in Italy on the TGV from Paris, and it’s often the best place to make a connection to other destinations in Italy.
We’ve travelled from Paris to Turin twice and it’s an easy, affordable (from €29 if you book far in advance), and scenic (via the Alps) trip that takes about 5.5 hours.
First class tickets are often only €20 more than second class if you book in advance, so it’s worth paying for the extra space.
TGV trains from Paris to Turin depart three times a day at 6.44am, 12.44pm, and 2.44pm. You can check times and buy tickets at SNCF.
On one trip we spent a few days in Turin (an underrated city that’s well worth visiting) before renting a car to explore the beautiful Langhe wine region of Piemonte.
On another trip we had an hour in Turin (enough for lunch) before continuing on the Frecciarossa train to Bologna (just over two hours) where we spent a week.
London to Milan Train
The TGV from Paris continues to Milan after Turin and takes 7 hours.
It arrives at Milan Garibaldi station so make sure that you get an onward train from the same station to avoid the hassle of traveling across Milan (many trains leave from Milan Centrale). It might be easier to change in Turin.
See the Turin section above for TGV train details.
We’re not a huge fan of Milan but it’s a good base for visiting the Italian Lakes—we love the little village of Varenna on Lake Como.
We also did the reverse trip from Milan to Paris (and on to London)—see our detailed report in the Perugia section below.
If you’d like to take an even more scenic route to Italy you could travel via Switzerland.
This involves taking the TGV from Paris to Geneva or Zurich (3.5–4.5 hours) and connecting to the Eurocity train to Milan (3.5–4.5 hours). This is a good option if you’d like to stop in Switzerland on the way.
London to Rome Train
To travel from London to Rome by train you’ll have to first take the Eurostar to Paris and then the TGV to Turin (5.5 hours) where you can pick up a train to Rome (4.5 hours).
You could do this in one day by getting to Turin as described above (leaving at 8am) and then connecting to the 7.10pm Frecciarossa train from Turin to Rome, which arrives at 11.49pm.
London to Venice Train
To travel from London to Venice by train you’ll have to first take the Eurostar to Paris.
You then take the TGV from Paris to Turin (5.5 hours) and connect to a Trenitalia Frecciarossa train to Venice (3 hours).
You could do this in one day by getting to Turin as described above (leaving at 8am from London) and then connecting to the 6.50pm Frecciarossa train from Turin to Venice, which arrives at 10pm.
See above for details on travelling to Turin and for the sleeper train option to Venice (via Stuttgart as the direct service was discontinued).
When we travelled from London to Venice by train we took a long way round via Slovenia—see below.
London to Venice by Train via Slovenia
We once spent two weeks traveling from London to Venice by train. We travelled with an Interrail pass which allowed us to hop on and off trains all over the continent.
Our long detour took us from London – Paris – Munich, Germany – Ljubljana, Slovenia. Slovenia is a gorgeous country that’s well worth the detour and it’s easy to get around by train.
To continue to Italy we took the train from magical Lake Bled in Slovenia to Venice.
To do this take the train from Bled Jezero to Nova Gorica (1.5 hours), walk 100 metres over the border to Italy and take a short bus ride to Gorizia Station where you can pick up a train to Venice (2 hours 15 minutes). Reservations aren’t needed for this route as it’s all on regional trains.
You can check train times for the Slovenia section at slo-zeleznice.si.
From Venice we continued our train trip down to Puglia and on to Sicily.
Perugia, Italy to London by Train: Our Experience
A few years ago we travelled from Perugia, Italy to London, which is a distance of 1750 km and around 14 hours of travel time. We took four days to do the journey and broke it up with stops in Milan and Paris.
To make the long trip more comfortable, we travelled first class (except on the Eurostar), which wasn’t much more expensive than standard class.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of our experience. Note that train times may have changed since our trip.
Day 1: Perugia to Florence
2 hrs 4 mins (09:53-11:57)
The first train of our trip was a regional train from Perugia to Florence.
It was the most basic train we took but first class was empty and quiet and we had four seats to ourselves. Simon managed to work despite the lack of tables.
Italy was in the midst of a relentless heatwave so we were glad of the cool air conditioning.
The journey took us through the Umbrian and Tuscan countryside past olive groves, vineyards, fields of bright yellow sunflowers, and the terracotta roofs of hill towns.
Florence is one of our favourite cities in Italy so it was a shame we only had an hour there.
Despite the heat we walked the ten minutes from the station for a glimpse of the glorious (if incredibly crowded) Duomo and a slice of pizza.
Day 1: Florence to Milan
1 hour 40 mins (13:00-14:40)
The fastest and fanciest trains in Italy are the Freccias and we took the Frecciarossa from Florence to Milan.
Seats in business class were comfortable and wide with tables, power sockets, lots of luggage space overhead, and a free drink and snack.
The scenery wasn’t the most exciting of the trip—lots of tunnels until Bologna and then flat countryside. The trip was over in no time, though.
Milan was steaming hot so we were glad our apartment was near the Eataly food emporium—an air-conditioned haven for Italian food lovers where we browsed the supermarket aisles and enjoyed a gelato and coffee.
We were visiting during the Milan Expo so we spent the evening wandering the huge site. Some of the architecture was impressive, especially the beehive themed UK pavilion.
Day 2: Milan to Paris
7 hours 26 mins (8:45-16:11)
The next day, we took the TGV from Milan to Paris.
You can get some great deals on first class on the TGV—it only cost us £4 more than second class.
Our carriage was full and disappointingly we had the seats next to each other going backwards with only a half window view, rather than the duo seats at the window with a table in-between (if you book direct with TGV you can choose your seats).
But the seats were wide and comfortable, with power sockets and large pull-down tables. The seats also recline slightly without affecting the legroom of the person behind you.
There are no free drinks in first class and the shop/cafe is very expensive, so we recommend stocking up with more than you think you’ll need before getting on the train.
As we stepped onto the train in Milan we left Italy and entered France before we even reached the border—the staff spoke French and the cafe served French classics.
The joy of travelling by train in Europe is the seamless border crossings—the train didn’t stop at the border and we never had to show our passports. It was just as easy as travelling within a country.
Over seven hours on a train may seem a lot but the journey passed quickly and comfortably. I read books and watched a film, and Simon was incredibly productive the whole day—he finds it easy to focus on trains and made some major progress on his latest project.
We could get up and walk around when we wanted, and we enjoyed the views along the way—the lush rice fields of northern Italy and the mountains of the French Alps.
We could have continued on the same day to London but we decided to spend two nights in Paris staying with our friends.
Day 3: A Day in Paris
Two nights in Paris wasn’t enough but we did our best to enjoy it.
I did a long run to the Louvre, we drank wine and ate cheese in the park, enjoyed croissants and thick hot chocolate at the fancy Angelina tea room, and walked endlessly through the beautiful streets.
Read our recommended itinerary for one day in Paris.
Day 4: Paris to London
2 hours 17 mins (12:43-14:00)
We love the Eurostar! It’s amazing that in just over two hours you can get from Paris to London. There’s no reason ever to fly this route: the train is quicker, more comfortable, and takes you direct from city centre to city centre.
Travelling from France to the UK isn’t quite as seamless as from Italy to France.
You have to check-in for the Eurostar at least 30 minutes before departure and you need to pass through a passport check and luggage security scanners.
It was quicker and easier than airport security, though, and you don’t have to worry about the size of your liquids.
When we arrived an hour in advance, the Eurostar waiting area at Gare du Nord was very crowded as trains leave every 30 minutes in the busy summer holidays, so there were two trains worth of people waiting to board. Once the first train left we were able to get a seat.
Although we didn’t travel first class on the Eurostar it was a comfortable journey with lots of luggage storage above seats and large pull-down tables.
There are UK and European power points at every seat on the Eurostar and USB sockets in Standard Premier and Business Premier.
We arrived in London to torrential rain and were tempted to get straight back on the Eurostar to Paris!
How to Book a London to Italy Train Trip
Booking Individual Tickets
To get the best rates on the train trip from London to Italy you need to book at least 2-3 months in advance and travel at off-peak times.
Eurostar tickets from London to Paris cost from £41 one way and can be booked up to 330 days in advance. You can book on the Eurostar website.
TGV tickets from Paris to Turin or Milan cost from €29 in second class or €39 in first class and can be booked six months in advance. You can book on the SNCF website.
For onward tickets in Italy use Trenitalia. Again if you book in advance you’ll get the best deals. For example Turin to Rome on the Frecciarossa train costs from €45.
You can usually book up to four months in advance on the Trenitalia website. Make sure to use Italian place names (i.e Torino not Turin).
Booking the Entire Journey with Rail Europe
If you don’t want to book each ticket individually you can use Rail Europe (previously called Loco2).
Rail Europe makes booking trains across Europe easy as you can buy tickets on the French, Italian, and British railways all in one place. It costs the same as booking direct plus a small transaction fee.
We booked with Rail Europe for our Umbria to London train trip and it was simple. You enter where you are travelling from and to and your dates and the site will suggest the best route.
You can also customise the search by adding a “via station” and stopover duration—very useful if you’d like to spend a night or two somewhere or have time for lunch along the way.
You can choose your seating preferences, but they aren’t guaranteed and we found we didn’t get the seats we wanted (the couple seats on the Freccia or TGV). If you want to select your exact seats, you’ll need to book direct with each train network.
On Rail Europe you pay for your tickets in British pounds, Euros, USD, AUD or CAD. They accept international credit cards so anyone can use the site.
They charge a transaction fee of £6.45 (€7.45, $8.45) on non-UK train journeys over the value of £15, $15 or €15.
Each network has different ticket collection methods so read the instructions Rail Europe gives you.
For Perugia to Florence we had to collect our tickets in the station using a reference number, Florence to Milan was ticketless (as are all the Freccia trains in Italy) and we just showed the reference on our phone, and for the TGV we had to print the eticket (mobile tickets are now available).
We were impressed by the service and think Rail Europe is the easiest way to book your train tickets between Italy and the UK.
Booking each leg of the trip directly is more work, but the main advantage is being able to choose your seats.
Travelling with an Interrail or Eurail Pass
If you want to travel between the UK and Italy as part of a longer train journey across Europe, then consider purchasing an Interrail (for UK/EU citizens) or Eurail (for everyone else) rail pass.
We’ve travelled with a one month Global pass three times now and love the freedom it gives us to hop on and off trains all over the continent.
Some trains (including the Eurostar and fast trains in Italy) do require seat reservations for a small fee. See my Interrail planning guide for everything you need to know.
Eurostar Details
The Eurostar is definitely the best way to travel between London and Paris. There are 16 daily trains to choose from, the fastest journey time is just 2 hours 20 minutes, and fares start from £44 each way.
For more comfort, space, and included meals you can pay extra to travel Standard Premier or Business Premier, but we’ve always found Standard class comfortable enough.
When travelling on the Eurostar you can sometimes take advantage of their Eurostar 2 for 1 deal which gives you 2 for 1 entry to popular Paris museums such as the Musée d’Orsay and Les Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais. All you have to do is show your Eurostar ticket. Check on the website to see if the offer is currently available.
You can buy tickets from Eurostar.com or as part of a longer journey on Rail Europe.
How Much Does the Train from London to Italy Cost?
The further in advance you book, and the more flexible you are with the day and time you travel, the lower the train fare will be.
Here is what we paid per person for a one way journey on our previous trips:
London – Paris – Turin – Bologna
We travelled during the week in April and booked three months in advance:
- Eurostar London to Paris £44
- TGV Paris to Turin £34.50 (First class)
- Frecciarossa Turin to Bologna £22
Total cost: £100.50
Perugia – Milan – Paris – London
This Italy to London train journey was in July and we booked six weeks in advance on Loco2 (now Rail Europe):
- Perugia to Paris via Florence and Milan £92 (First class)
- Eurostar Paris to London £41
Total cost: £133
The train may seem more expensive than a flight on a budget airline, but once you include transport to and from airports, booking admin fees, and baggage charges if you don’t travel hand luggage only, the difference isn’t so great.
We think the higher cost is worth it for a more enjoyable and civilised journey.
Would We Travel by Train from Italy to London Again?
Absolutely!
We always find the train journey much more pleasant and less tiring than being treated like cattle on a cramped low-cost airline.
On the train we have space to move around, comfortable seats with plenty of legroom, and we can enjoy the scenery or work along the way.
We don’t have to worry about baggage allowances, the size of our liquids, or two hour check-in times.
We get to add in some bonus cities along the way and the journey is much more environmentally friendly.
If we have a few extra days to spare we’ll definitely travel by train again.
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We hate flying.
So are you able to give un complicated directions to southern Italy.
Like many we just want the easiest route . Not a holiday
By train.
Does the St Pancras train stop at any stations before it reaches the tunnel?
Please could you help.
Thank you
I answered that question at the very beginning of the Route by Train from London to Italy. You should check the Eurostar website for stops on that route.
Hi thinking of going from London to Rome by train do they provide anywhere to store a invalid scooter?
Thanks Helen
I’m afraid I don’t know. I would try contacting the train companies (start with Eurostar).
My friend and I are in our 70’s. Is there a service to help you connect with the correct train and from train station to hotel? Also, any problems with the corona virus traveling on the trains?
I haven’t heard of a service like that I’m afraid. I would arrive at the station in plenty of time before your train departs to allow time to find your platform (you can always ask the staff). Taking a taxi from train station to the hotel would be easiest.
I don’t know when you are planning to travel but coronavirus is still a huge problem. It’s not currently possible to do this trip as Europe has closed its borders to non EU residents (which includes Brits now). Even by the summer there will still very likely be a risk travelling by train even if borders reopen.
Hi! We are planning a family trip to London this June with our 2 little girls (6 years old and 4 years old). We have a round trip (plane ticket) to London for 14 days and want to do a trip to Italy in the middle of our trip. We already did a trip to Paris via train from London. Where would you suggest for us to visit in Italy with that time frame and would you still recommend the train right over flight? Since we would need to travel back to London. Thank you!
It depends how much of that time you want to spend in Italy.
I think the journey is best done over two days, although it is possible to get to northern Italy (Turin or Milan) in one day. The total journey is 10 – 12 hours with at least one change in Paris, so it would be quite tiring, especially with two small children.
Where you go depends on your interests – there are so many options but I would stick to Rome or further north because of travel time. Turin is the nearest major city and there’s some lovely countryside nearby. Milan is a bit further. To get to somewhere like Venice, Florence or Rome you’d have to spend a night or two in Turin before continuing on.
If you only have a few days available, I would probably fly.
Recommendations appreciated for a trip/route from UK to Puglia with my 3 daughters?
It really depends how long you have and where interests you. London – Paris – Turin – Bologna – Rome – Puglia (perhaps start in Bari) is a great route. We did this once (but with Rome after Puglia – the train from Bologna to Puglia is quite long in one go though). There are so many options once you get to Turin or Milan.
Hi
Your post really helpful we are planning to have a european tour nxt year we will start from London my worry is the hotel or accommodation. Would it be ok to have a walk in booking just in case that our journey will delay or what ever happened.. Please advise Thank you so much
I recommend booking hotels in advance to make things easier. It’s unlikely your journey would be delayed that much. If you prefer flexibility, you could just turn up but in the summer it might be difficult to find places.
hi,
loved your blog found it very informative. Im from South Africa and wanting to travel to Europe. Now after i have read your blog I feel that i should do my own travel plans instead of the travel agency. You have made this journey sound so simple to plan thank you
I’m glad it helped! It is pretty simple to travel around Europe so I’m sure you can manage without a travel agent. Good luck and enjoy!
I am traveling from the US to London to visit family then on to Florence Italy by train. Planning a 2 day stay over in Paris. Are we late in purchasing train tickets for late June and what kind of luggage may we take on these trains with us?
It’s not too late, but prices might be higher now. I would book asap. You can take any kind of luggage – plenty of people take large suitcases but these can be more difficult to store as you’ll have to find space in the luggage racks at the end of the carriages. We take maximum carry on sized bags and these fit in the overhead storage on most European trains (including Eurostar). Enjoy the journey!
Hi, great to read your insights! we are travelling in August and arrive in Rome after a cruise – we have 3 nights there and then plan on train to London.. where would you recommend stopping for a night or two? We have had Milan, Paris and Reims suggested to us… unfortunately we cant avoid the weekend . thank you!
Paris would be my top choice. If you’d like to stop in Italy, I prefer Turin over Milan. I would look at train times too because you’ll likely have to choose between a really early departure from Rome to catch the morning train from Milan/Turin to Paris or get the late afternoon one and arrive after 10pm in Paris. A night in both Turin and Paris would avoid the issue (but choose a hotel near the train station to make the journey less of a hassle).
So glad to have read your article. We are planning to go to Pompeii from London with my six year old boy in August. We’ve decided not to take the flight but go on train. Any suggestions on how we should book tickets? We may stop somewhere in Italy on the way, perhaps Rome if it’s on the way. Many thanks, Rui
Sounds like a great trip! Rome would be the obvious place to stop. You can use Loco2 to book train tickets (reviewed in this post). Otherwise you would have to book individually with Eurostar, SNCF (for the TGV from Paris to Italy), and Trenitalia (for the Italy portion). Enjoy!
Hi. I am going to see a friend in England whom I have not seen in 28 years! After that I want to see Italy. This blog is great. I am nervous but excited! Where or how do I begin ?
How exciting! It depends how much time you have, but if you want to travel by train I’d recommend a stop in Paris and then the most popular spots in Italy are Venice, Florence and Rome (you could visit them in that order). I’d recommend a side trip to the Tuscan countryside from Florence as well.
If you have longer to explore there are so many amazing places in Italy. You can see the posts we’ve written here: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/category/countries/europe/italy/
You could look on the Loco2 website to play around with train times and see what’s feasible for you.
Have an amazing time!
Erin
Hi, loved your blog. If I wanted to do a train trip through Italy starting in Paris, Florence, Venice, Rome, then back to Paris. In which order should i do this trip by train. Thank you very much.
I would probably do Paris-Venice-Florence-Rome (via Turin)-Paris.Enjoy!
Glad to have found this article on internet.
I’m starting to plan a trip for my daughter and I from London to Rome in November. What is the best station to use in Rome? Also, any idea on price for this time of the year? It’s early to get ticket prices on Loco2.
Thanks a lot.
Roma Termini is the main station in Rome and is where the fast trains will likely stop. Prices vary so dramatically I can’t say for sure, but you should pay less than we did as November is low season. For the lowest prices book three months in advance and avoid weekends.
Hi! I was so happy to find this. You explained everything so clearly. It will be my first time traveling to Europe. Im wanting to hop a train from London to Italy but will want to do an overnight, straight thru where we can sleep in a cabin type room. Any suggestions?? Keep up the good work!!
Hi Rose,
You could take an afternoon Eurostar train to Paris then the overnight train from Paris direct to Milan, Verona or Venice and arrive in the morning. They have sleeper cabins for 1-3 people or cheaper couchette cabins with bunks for 4-6 people.
Have an amazing trip! Erin
This article is so helpful! You write in such a clear way and I am very thankful. You have given me so much help so that I can plan my trip!
I have a question too. The trains you mentioned between Rome and Paris: do they offer a roomette like Amtrak in America does? Some trips in America are better in the roomette we have found-more space, quieter, calmer atmosphere…
Thank you again and keep up the great articles,
Frances in the Upper South
Hi Frances,
I’m glad you found the post useful! The TGV train that we usually get doesn’t offer private cabins, but the overnight Thello train between Paris and Venice (it stops at Milan where you could change for Rome) does—their Premium Cabin is for 1-2 people.
Have a great trip! Erin
Hello,
I am a single mom from Chicago, my daughter and I will like to explore Europe on the train, it will be our best trip ever, I have a little limitation due to a knee injury, my question is if there any areas that I should be concern due to my limitation.
Hi Maria
I am sure you’ll be fine. I imagine the trickiest thing will be getting on and off trains. I recommend packing light so you don’t have so much luggage to lug around, but at least you’ll have your daughter to assist you.
Some railway companies offer assistance for disabled travellers so you might want to look into that if your mobility is very limited. More info here: https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-special-needs.htm
Have an amazing trip!
Erin
This sounds like a great way to explore Paris AND Italy! Would love to try this out!
We love having an excuse for Paris! We definitely recommend it!
Are you allowed to exit the train at any station – for example if you find a town that is on the route that you want to explore – and take another train later?
Thank you for your website. I have never been to Europe, but always thought I would love to be able to travel Europe by train.
Steve
Atlanta, GA USA
Usually the cheapest tickets are booked in advance for specific trains. If you want that kind of flexibility though I highly recommend a Eurail pass – it’s a great way to travel.
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your trip with us. I want to see many regions of Italy and was not sure the best way to plan it out. Thank you.
Train is a fantastic way to explore Italy – have a wonderful trip!
May God bless Italy (Amen…………..
How wish I can go to london and get more Educated I will seriously focus and feel happy but I’m only praying to God for my dreams to come through,
He/She who’s gonna be my mentor I’m promising that you will never be disappointed cause you make me to be somebody when I’m no body,
I’m an orphan I was born on
October 8 1998, I lost my father on the 1of Jenuary 2015 and lost my mother on the 13 of Jenuary 2016 I’m so sorry please don’t be offended for saying this cause I knew I’m not the only one such thing has happened to just that it pains me a lot to remember the death of my parents may there gentle soul rest in peace, My name is Okafor jimmy I live in Italy, please our people I really need your help +393512470150 my number -Thanks and God bless you.
I’m so much happy for it’s real.
You did it just the right way – I love to slow down while travelling by train… :-)
I’d always catch a train over the plane. Even the cheap seats on the train tend to be more comfortable. The not having to go through a bunch of queues, security, getting to the airport insanely early all seems worth it. Also, there is something much more romantic and adventurous about travelling by train that you don’t get when you hop on a budget flight.
It helps that I’m a total overplanner too and can grab the super cheap fares by booking early :)
It helps so much if you can book in advance – there are some great deals to be had.
Love this post!!! you show us a different way to travel around europe and it doestn matter if is alot of time , sometimes i really hate airports
I totally agree with the budget airlines being located in stupid places – Unless you live in London, Stansted is just a real pain to get to. Glad you enjoyed the train journey, and overall, I don’t think it is massively more expensive, especially considering that you can stop off at interesting cities along the way. The trains as you have shown them also look a lot easier to work on than using a laptop on a plane!
What a great way to travel. We have somehow been convinced that travelling by plane is more comfortable and faster. But is it really? Hours to get to an airport the 3 hours in advance required; lines; all the bothers of packing and unpacking all the time to go through customs; a plane where there hardly is any room to move around and then doing it all over again once landed. I live in Sardinia and have to take a plane whenever I have to travel, but I do prefer trains.
Excellent Story. The train was awesome.
Great trip and great cities to visit. I love going on vacation with the train. It’s something magical about the whole experience. Also, nice pictures!
I absolutely love train travel. Whenever I get the chance I travel this way. It’s also can be more efficient as you don’t have to check in early, commute to the airport and once you arrive by train usually you are right in the middle of the city. So much more relaxed.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Europe is a beautiful continent among all.
This is a very timely post as I’m planning on heading back to the UK from Thailand overland! Great post & I’m now super excited for the Italian leg of our trip :)
Wow, that sounds an amazing trip! Enjoy!
I’ve also met a lot of people who prefers slow traveling with trains; not only that it’s comfortable, hassle-free, you’d also get to witness the most beautiful scenery along the way.. I guess that’s what we all love about traveling through trains. You have beautiful shots, btw. :)
I love this post–you break it down with so many useful tidbits. It’s been many years since I’ve taken multi-day, long-distance train ride in Europe. I’ve started taking the train more here in California for short trips and am loving the convenience and comfort.
Looks great! We’ve been talking about taking a train journey rather than a flight to London but always assumed it would be too expensive and time consuming. I think we’ll look into it more now. :-)
Anyone can do it! Start with a weekend tour in England – there’s great riding there, and the National Cycling Network is an easy place to start. Don’t camp – do the credit card touring style – and keep mileage low.
Careful though, as you might get addicted. Let me know if you ever need advice on gear or bikes, I’m happy to help.
Nice write up – sounds like a good trip!
Trains are fun, but don’t forget bicycling! That slows down the experience even more. We’re loving our cycle tour of Europe right now. I will say that the train system here is SO much better than the one in the U.S.
We are always so impressed by long distance cyclists! We’re not that hardcore ourselves :)
And it’s better for the environment! :)
Yes, definitely!
I’ve done Sicily/Calabria/Puglia to Somerset (and back again) a few times, and I far prefer it to flying as an experience. When I have the time to do it, I tend to do minibreaks of 1 or 2 days in Rome (which is where all the trains to and from the south originate/finish) and Paris, just to break the journey up a little bit. It’s a journey I haven’t done for a couple of years, but this is the second story I’ve seen about train travel in as many days, so I’m getting the urge to do it again! Loco2 is new to me, and looks great – I shall have to check it out …
Yes, the journey to Sicily is particularly interesting as you get the whole train on the ferry experience!
how do you go about planning this. I am trying to plan our trip and do not know where to start. Want to go from Rome to London
Please email me [email protected]
The Man in Seat 61 is the best resource https://www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#London to Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples
I hope you don’t mind me replying to your email only I noticed you wrote your trip as ‘Somerset……to’. I am returning from many years in Australia next week to live in south Devon and have had almost a life-long wish to take my mother to Rome for a few days in October. Unfortunately, she’s now 91 and although remarkably well for her age standing in airport queues and the whole airport experience would not be good for her. I was thrilled to discover the train travel option. Absolutely wonderful. I’d like to have 2 stopovers on the way. Would you have any suggestions please? Also, with Rome. I am hoping there will be some fast track options for entry to major tourist attractions? Thank you for any advice.