All Aboard! Exploring England and Northern France with Rail Europe

Rail Pass vs Point-to-Point Tickets – Which Is Better?

When it comes to travelling around Europe by train, there really is no one-size-fits-all option!

A rail pass can be a fantastic choice if you are planning to visit multiple countries, want flexibility with your travel dates or prefer to keep your itinerary open. However, it is important to remember that some high-speed trains require additional seat reservations, even when you have a rail pass, and this often comes at an additional cost on top of your rail pass.

Point-to-point tickets, on the other hand, can be a much more economical option if you already know where you want to go and when. By booking individual train journeys in advance, you can often take advantage of some fantastic fares, especially on high-speed services. Where seat reservations are compulsory, they are generally included in the ticket price. The downside is that these cheaper fares often come with less flexibility, meaning you are locked into a particular train and changes or cancellations may not be permitted or could come at an additional cost.

First Stop – Bristol, England

Just an easy 1 hour and 40 minute train journey from London, Bristol is a vibrant city full of history, culture and plenty of character. There is so much to see and do, from wandering along the lively harbourside with its restaurants and cafés to discovering the city’s fascinating maritime and aviation history.

Two attractions worth visiting are Aerospace Bristol and Brunel’s SS Great Britain.

At Aerospace Bristol, you can discover over 100 years of aviation history, but the real highlight is stepping aboard the iconic Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the last Concorde ever built and the last to fly in 2003. This incredible supersonic aircraft could carry passengers across the Atlantic in under three and a half hours! You can walk through the cabin, peek into the cockpit and imagine what it would have been like to travel at twice the speed of sound.

Brunel’s SS Great Britain is another fascinating piece of Bristol’s history. Launched in 1843, the ship was designed by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and was the largest ship in the world at the time. It was revolutionary for its iron hull and screw propeller and later carried thousands of passengers to Australia during the gold rush era. Today, the beautifully restored ship sits in the very dock where it was built, and you can step aboard to experience what life was like for passengers travelling across the world in the 1800s.

Bristol is also famous for its incredible street art, including works by the world-famous artist Banksy. You will find colourful murals and creative artwork tucked away throughout the streets, making simply wandering around an experience in itself!

Bath, England

Bath is one of England’s most beautiful and historic cities, famous for its stunning Georgian architecture, cobblestone streets and fascinating history. Bath Spa train station is conveniently located right in the city centre, making it incredibly easy to explore on foot. Within just a few minutes of stepping off the train, you’re surrounded by beautiful historic buildings, shops, cafés and restaurants, with many of the main attractions within easy walking distance.

One of Bath’s most famous attractions is the Roman Baths, built around natural hot springs nearly 2,000 years ago. You can wander through the remarkably preserved ancient bathing complex and discover how the Romans once relaxed and socialised here.

For something a little different, Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein is a fascinating and slightly spooky attraction dedicated to the author who wrote Frankenstein. Spread over several floors, the museum brings her life and famous creation to life through interactive exhibits, atmospheric rooms and even an enormous recreation of Frankenstein’s monster!

Bath is also closely connected to Jane Austen, who lived in the city in the early 1800s. At the Jane Austen Centre, you can learn about her life, the inspiration behind her novels and what life was like during the Regency era.

With its beautiful architecture, fascinating attractions and charming streets, Bath is a wonderful city to explore on foot and a lovely addition to any English rail adventure!

All Aboard the Eurostar

One of the highlights of travelling around Europe by rail is the Eurostar, connecting London with mainland Europe through the famous Channel Tunnel.

Travelling at speeds of up to 300 km/h, it’s such an easy and comfortable way to travel between countries. One of the biggest advantages is travelling from city centre to city centre, avoiding the hassle of airports and long transfers. You also get to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey, with comfortable seating, luggage included and a café on board.

The Eurostar travels through the Channel Tunnel beneath the English Channel, an incredible engineering achievement connecting England and France. The tunnel section takes around 20 minutes, and before you know it, you’ve arrived in France!

Lille, France

Our first stop in France was Lille, a beautiful city in the Hauts-de-France region, full of Flemish charm, colourful architecture, cobblestone streets and fantastic food and beer!

Lille is also a fantastic rail hub, with two major train stations conveniently located just a short walk from each other. Lille Europe is served by international high-speed trains, including Eurostar, connecting the city with London and Brussels, while Lille Flandres offers French domestic rail services to destinations including Paris and other towns throughout the region. Both stations are within easy walking distance of the city centre, making Lille a great base for exploring northern France by train.

Once part of Flanders before becoming French in the 17th century, Lille still has a strong Flemish influence, particularly in the beautiful buildings around the Grand Place. The old town is lovely to explore, with charming streets, cafés, restaurants and boutique shops.

There are so many ways to discover Lille, and a Lille Beer City Tour is just one of them! Northern France has a strong beer-brewing tradition, influenced by its Flemish neighbours, making this a fun way to sample some local beers while learning about the city’s history and culture along the way.

Just outside Lille, in Roubaix, is La Piscine Museum, a unique art museum housed in a former 1930s Art Deco swimming pool. The original pool remains the centrepiece, surrounded by beautiful sculptures and artwork. The museum has retained many of its original features, including the beautiful stained-glass windows that reflect across the water.

Also within easy reach of Lille is the Museum of the Battle of Fromelles. The battle in July 1916 saw over 5,500 Australian casualties in just 24 hours. The museum shares the stories of these soldiers and the efforts to identify those who were missing for nearly a century.

Arras, France

Arras is a charming French town with a fascinating history, beautiful grand squares and a strong connection to Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought here during the First World War.

Arras is also very easy to reach by train, with regular services connecting it to Lille in around 40 minutes and direct high-speed TGV services from Paris taking approximately 50 minutes. The train station is conveniently located just a short walk from the historic town centre, making it a wonderful destination to explore without needing a car.

We enjoyed a guided walking tour through the town centre, exploring the two main historic squares, surrounded by colourful buildings and cafés. Both squares were heavily damaged during WWI and later carefully rebuilt in their original architectural style. One of the highlights is the impressive UNESCO-listed Belfry, a beautiful 75-metre-high bell tower dating back to the 16th century. Once used to keep watch over the town and announce important events, today you can head to the top for wonderful panoramic views over Arras.

We also visited the nearby village of Bullecourt, where Australian soldiers fought two major battles during WWI in 1917. Today, the village is home to the Jean and Denise Letaille Museum and the Australian Memorial, commemorating the thousands of Australians who fought here.

Another fascinating experience was exploring the Wellington Tunnels, a network of underground quarries connected by New Zealand tunnellers during WWI. These tunnels sheltered thousands of Allied soldiers before the Battle of Arras in April 1917, and today you can take a guided underground tour to discover their incredible history.

Amiens, France

Amiens is a lovely city in northern France, known for its beautiful canals, historic architecture and famous Gothic cathedral. We enjoyed a guided walking tour through the city centre, including a visit to the magnificent UNESCO-listed Amiens Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in France. Built in the 13th century, it is famous for its incredible architecture, intricate stone carvings and soaring ceilings reaching over 42 metres high. The cathedral also has a special Australian connection, with a memorial plaque commemorating the Australian soldiers who helped liberate Amiens during WWI.

We also stopped at the beautiful Amiens Botanical Garden, which has a special Australian connection through the Bridge of Friendship Between Australia and France, honouring Australian Army Engineers who served during WWI. Elsewhere in Amiens is the Australian Peace Garden, featuring Australian-inspired plants and landscaping in memory of the Australian soldiers who fought in the region.

For lunch, we visited Les Halles, the city’s covered food market, where you can discover fresh local produce, cheeses and regional specialities.

We also stopped at Jean Trogneux, a family-run confectionery dating back to 1872 and now in its sixth generation. Famous for its delicious almond macarons,

The Somme, France

The Somme region in northern France is one of the most significant areas of First World War history, particularly for Australians, with thousands of our soldiers having fought and lost their lives here.

The train station, Gare d’Amiens, is conveniently located right in the city centre, just a 10-minute walk from the famous cathedral, making it easy to explore the city on foot.

We enjoyed a guided tour of several important WWI remembrance sites, including Thiepval, home to the impressive memorial commemorating over 72,000 British and South African soldiers with no known grave, and Pozières, where Australian troops fought some of their fiercest battles in 1916.

Another fascinating stop was the Lochnagar Crater, an enormous crater created by a British underground mine explosion on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. At around 100 metres wide, it is an incredible reminder of the scale of the fighting.

We also visited the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, which honours more than 10,700 Australian soldiers who died in France during WWI and have no known grave. Nearby is the Sir John Monash Centre, an interactive museum that tells the story of Australia’s involvement on the Western Front through the experiences of the soldiers who served there.

Final Stop – Disneyland Paris, France

What better way to finish our European rail adventure than with a little Disney magic! One of the best things about visiting Disneyland Paris by train is how easy it is to get there. The train arrives at Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy Station, located right at the entrance to Disney Village and just a few minutes’ walk from both Disney parks. No long transfers needed, and it’s only around 40 minutes by train from central Paris!

Disneyland Paris is home to two incredible theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World. Disneyland Park is where you’ll find the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle, classic Disney attractions, spectacular parades and plenty of Disney magic. Disney Adventure World brings your favourite Disney, Pixar and Marvel stories to life with exciting rides, themed areas and fantastic entertainment.

We stayed at Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, a beautiful 4-star hotel inspired by New York City and Marvel superheroes. The hotel features an incredible collection of Marvel artwork, stylish rooms and opportunities to meet your favourite superheroes. It’s also just a short walk from both parks, making it so easy to come and go throughout the day.

After a week of exploring historic cities, charming French towns and WWI battlefields, Disneyland Paris was such a fun way to finish our European rail adventure!

Written by Kellie Waterfield after her adventure by train with Rail Europe.

Kellie Waterfield