The entente is about to become even more cordiale. May 1 will see Eurostar – the rail company which has brought the British and French capitals to within two and a quarter hours of each other – extend its reach with the launch of a new direct service to Marseille.

This is fabulous news for two reasons. Not only is Marseille a worthy subject of such attention, an often unappreciated city which swirls with North African flavours – but also, for the first time, the UK will be tied to the shores of the Mediterranean by a single train. No switch of station in Paris . Simply climb into the carriage, and go.

With the journey taking around six and a half hours – or about eight from your front door to the platform at Marseille’s Gare Saint-Charles, assuming you live in the south-east – this is real competition for the airlines. And it prompts the re-examination of an old debate: France is the UK’s closest continental neighbour, and a country of rich diversity which has long proved fertile turf for British tourists. If you want a French holiday this year, whether on the beaches of Normandy , the slopes of the Alps or in the splendid restaurants of Lyon, how should you travel to your chosen destination? By rail? By air? Or by water?

This article lays out your options – including the re-energised Eurostar network, which, as of May 1, includes direct trains to Lyon as well as Marseille, Paris, Avignon and Lille.

The results make interesting reading, showing that, depending on the destination, all three modes of transport have their uses – but also that the addition of direct trains to the south of France could make a real difference to the way we visit the country. It is perhaps ironic that, in the year we mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo the two nations should be closer than ever in terms of accessibility. Napoleon and Wellington might not approve – but the rest of us can happily dream of spending summer with the neighbours.

• Ferries to France: cheap fares and route details

Paris



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar

BA, Heathrow-CDG

P&O Ferries, Dover-Calais

Return fare

£72

£81

£22.50

Total journey time

3h45m

5h45m

6h30m

Hassle factor

1/5

2/5

3/5



What’s the attraction? One of Europe’s most fashionable capitals, a hive of food and culture where the Louvre and the recently reopened Musée Picasso hold art treasures galore, restaurants in the Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarters cater to palates of all tastes and budgets, and the stores along the Rue de Rivoli will siphon your attention and your money. Visit on July 26 and you can watch le grand dénouement of the Tour de France.



Paris is one of Europe’s most fashionable capitals (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: While there are several daily air connections between Paris and the UK – British Airways and easyJet fly to the main Charles de Gaulle hub; Ryanair uses Beauvais, some 50 miles north of the centre – the Eurostar link from St Pancras to Gare du Nord is what trains were invented for, dropping you into the heart of the Gallic world in barely two hours. If you live near London, it is implausible to choose any other option.

Verdict: TRAIN

WATCH: Paris' best lesser-known places to visit

Marseille



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar

Ryanair, Stansted

Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth-Le Havre, fast cat

Return fare

£99

£50

£103.50

Total journey time

8h

6h30m

14h45m

Hassle factor

1/5

2/5

5/5



What’s the attraction? Provence’s ugly duckling of a main city has been showing swan-like tendencies, not least since taking a turn as European Capital of Culture in 2013. You can eat splendid seafood (including the regional speciality bouillabaisse) in the restaurants along the Vieux Port, analyse the history of Europe at the excellent MUCEM museum, and walk along spectacular coastal pathways in the near-at-hand Parc National des Calanques.



Marseille was European Capital of Culture in 2013 (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: Quite the journey by ferry and car, Marseille is an easy hop by air, served by a range of London connections, plus an easyJet flight from Manchester and a seasonal Ryanair option from Edinburgh. But the launch of the direct Eurostar route is a revolution, linking the UK to the shore of the Mediterranean by a single train for the first time. At less than seven hours on board, this is more “adventure” than “arduous”.

Verdict: TRAIN

Nice



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar and TGV

EasyJet, Gatwick - change in Paris

Portsmouth-Le Havre, fast cat

Return fare

£151.50

£54

£103.50

Total journey time

11h

6h

15h45m

Hassle factor

3/5

2/5

5/5



What’s the attraction? The jewel of the Côte d’Azur will always project a certain gleam, even if the beaches below the celebrated Promenade des Anglais tend to be strewn with pebbles rather than supple sands. No matter – there is art galore here, with two titans of 20th‑century French creativity being serenaded in the city via the Musée Matisse and the Musée Marc Chagall respectively.



Architecture in Nice (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: Unlike Marseille, Nice is not on the Eurostar map, meaning a change in Paris and a trip of 11 hours if you go by rail. This may be too long when BA flies from London City, Gatwick and Heathrow, easyJet operates from Bristol, Liverpool, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted (with seasonal links from Belfast, Edinburgh and Newcastle) and Jet2 (0800 408 1350; jet2.com) offers summer flights from Leeds-Bradford and Manchester.

Verdict: PLANE

Bordeaux



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar and TGV - change in Paris

EasyJet, Gatwick

Portsmouth-Le Havre, fast cat

Return fare

£141.50

£47

£103.50

Total journey time

8h30m

5h30m

12h

Hassle factor

4/5

2/5

3/5



What’s the attraction? The centreground of the French wine industry (at least if you ask a local for their opinion) is a gateway to the flowing vineyards of the Gironde region, and a reasonable start point for a holiday on the lower portion of France’s Atlantic coast. But the city has much to detain visitors, with cafés laid out along its docks, and bright shards of culture adorning the walls of the Musée d’Art Contemporain.



Vineyards near Bordeaux (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: Although Bordeaux has a TGV line to Paris, the need to go south-east then south-west from London makes the train less appealing. Plentiful air links include in summer Flybe (0371 700 2000; flybe.com) services from Birmingham and Southampton, plus seasonal easyJet flights from Belfast, Bristol, Glasgow and Liverpool. The 400-mile drive south from Normandy’s ferry ports is feasible for those with stamina.

Verdict: PLANE

Perpignan



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar and TGV - change in Paris

Ryanair, Stansted

Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth-Santander

Return fare

£140

£66

£164.50

Total journey time

10h 15m

6h

33h

Hassle factor

3/5

2/5

3/5



What’s the attraction? The compact capital of the Pyrénées-Orientales department is still something of a niche destination for British Francophiles, but is worth investigating during summer for the long and lovely Mediterranean beaches that spread out some seven miles to the east, at the likes of Canet-en-Roussillon and Saint-Cyprien.



Perpignan remains a niche destination (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: Perpignan can be relatively tricky to reach, although the TGV line to Paris means train journeys from London take just over 10 hours. Ryanair offers a flight from Stansted and a summer service from Birmingham, while Flybe runs a seasonal link from Southampton. You can also fly to Barcelona, 120 miles and a two-hour drive to the south. And if you like a scenic route, the Brittany Ferries boat to Santander and a 400-mile, seven-hour road trip through northern Spain and Languedoc may seem like fun.

Verdict: PLANE

Grenoble



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar and TGV, change in Paris

BA, Gatwick

P&O Ferries, Dover-Calais

Return fare

£154.50

£114

£22.50

Total journey time

8h45m

6h

11h

Hassle factor

3/5

2/5

4/5



What’s the attraction? Arguably the most convenient French arrival point for the Alps (an alternative to Geneva, over the Swiss border), Grenoble is, unsurprisingly, more accessible in winter, when planeloads of skiers land at Isère airport. Most dash to the pistes, but the Musée de Grenoble, with its pieces by Picasso, Matisse and Kandinsky, is worth a cultural detour, as are the views from the city’s swarthy guardian Bastille hill.



Grenoble is a gateway to the Alps (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: Taking the train avoids high airline baggage charges for ski gear, but loses marks in that you will still need to transport said equipment between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon in Paris. And there are winter air services galore from the UK. Between them, British Airways, easyJet, Flybe, Ryanair and Monarch (0333 003 0100; monarch.co.uk) do ski-season flights to Grenoble from 11 British airports.

Verdict: PLANE

Strasbourg



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar and TGV, change in Lille

EasyJet, Gatwick

P&O Ferries, Dover-Calais

Return fare

£98

£45.50

£22.50

Total journey time

7h30m

5h30m

9h

Hassle factor

1/5

2/5

3/5





What’s the attraction? The capital of Alsace is France at (practically) its most easterly, so much so that the Rhine, on its eastern outskirts, marks the border with Germany. The adjacent city is, however, fabulously Gallic. The Grande Ile, its historic core, is a Unesco heritage site, and the Cathedrale de Notre Dame is a medieval masterpiece as impressive as its Parisian namesake, while the opera house can also rival its capital counterparts.



Strasbourg's historic core is a Unesco heritage site (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: It cannot boast a direct Eurostar link from London, but Strasbourg is still an advert for the joys of the French rail network, since you can be there in less than eight hours without having to switch stations in Paris. A quick platform hop in Lille will carry you onwards. The air connections – an easyJet service from Gatwick and a Ryanair flight from Stansted – are rather more limited.

Verdict: TRAIN

Biarritz



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar, change in Paris

Ryanair, Stansted

Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth-Santander

Return fare

£151.50

£66

£164.50

Total journey time

10h45m

6h

29h

Hassle factor

3/5

2/5

2/5



What’s the attraction? Pinned gloriously to the shore of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, Biarritz has gained a reputation as one of Europe’s most reliable destinations for surfing. Côte de Basques is a splendid location for long ocean waves, and there are also surf-friendly stretches up the coast in Anglet – and down it in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The proximity of Spain also means a distinct Basque influence in the many restaurants.



Seaside Biarritz (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: The train is certainly possible, thanks to a TGV line from Paris. So is the plane, with Ryanair flying from Stansted, and Flybe and easyJet adding summer services from Birmingham and Bournemouth, and Gatwick, respectively. But there is also a romance to the prospect of one of Europe’s lengthiest ferry trips. Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to the Spanish port of Santander, a voyage of 24 hours which can be followed by a three-hour, 150-mile drive to Biarritz that will suit those carrying surf gear.

Verdict: FERRY

Normandy (Le Havre)



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar and local rail to Rouen, change in Paris

Ryanair, Stansted-Deauville

Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth-Le Havre, fast cat

Return fare

£111

£50

£103.50

Total journey time

6h45m

4h30m

5h45m

Hassle factor

5/5

3/5

2/5



What’s the attraction? France’s fabled region of cider, conquerors and Camembert is an eternal favourite with British holidaymakers, for several good reasons: beaches ideal for days of unabashed relaxation and fascinating Second World War history alike; medieval gems from the Bayeux Tapestry to Rouen’s grand gothic cathedral – and a happy proximity, which means that planes, trains and boats are all possible means of access.



The Normandy coast (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: The train is the least alluring option, thanks to the lack of a TGV line between Paris and Rouen. You can fly to Normandy (Ryanair from Stansted to Deauville; Flybe from Southend to Caen). However, with boats docking regularly at Caen, Dieppe and Le Havre, the ferry remains the easiest option, especially for families planning a spot of escapism – not least the Brittany Ferries catamaran between Le Havre and Portsmouth.

Verdict: FERRY

Clermont-Ferrand



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar and local rail, change in Paris

Ryanair, Stansted

P&O Ferries, Dover-Calais

Return fare

£132

£85

£22.50

Total journey time

8h

5h30m

10h45m

Hassle factor

3/5

3/5

4/5



What’s the attraction? The capital of the Auvergne could scarcely be called one of France’s most famous cities, but there is something of the A-list to the scenery that surrounds it, as the Massif Central spreads its swarthy arms. Revelling in dramatic terrain on the city’s doorstep are Puy de Dome and the Parc Naturel Regional des Volcans d’Auvergne.



Clermont-Ferrand, the capital of the Auverge (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: As of July 4, you will be able to fly direct with Ryanair from Stansted. A drive south from Calais or Le Havre is also doable, especially if you want to absorb the majesty of the geography. But, despite the lack of a TGV line, a train trip from London, changing in Paris, takes just eight hours.

Verdict: TRAIN

Lyon



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar

BA, Heathrow

Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth-Le Havre, fast cat

Return fare

£89

£84

£103.50

Total journey time

6h15m

5h30m

12h

Hassle factor

1/5

2/5

3/5



What’s the attraction? France’s second city sells itself as the gastronomic capital of the country. It looks decidedly beautiful while it does it too, with two rivers, the Rhône and the Saône, running through its heart, and the remnants of its Roman incarnation Lugdunum, including a still-used amphitheatre, standing proud on Fourviere hill.



Lyon, France's second city (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: Lyon can claim many connections to the UK, including BA from Heathrow, easyJet from Edinburgh, Gatwick and Luton and Flybe from Birmingham. But it is difficult to look beyond the fact that it also boasts a direct Eurostar link, meaning that, if you live anywhere near London, you can be alighting at the city’s Gare de la Part-Dieu terminus barely six hours after closing your front door.

Verdict: TRAIN

Lille



Train

Plane

Ferry

Route

Eurostar

BA, Heathrow-Brussels

P&O Ferries, Dover-Calais

Return fare

£72

£97

£22.50

Total journey time

3h

6h45m

4h45m

Hassle factor

1/5

5/5

2/5



What’s the attraction? So close to British soil that it is often overlooked, Lille is gradually lifting its head as more than a fork in Europe’s railway tracks. An industrial workhorse with an attractive coat, it does urban elegance in the wide Place Rihour (which hosts an enjoyable Christmas market) as well as a wealth of art at the Palais des Beaux-Arts (15th century onwards) and the LAM museum (modern work in sharp, clever forms).



Elegant Lille (Photo: AP/Fotolia)

How to get there: You cannot fly to Lille from the UK (the distance is too short), though you could catch a plane to Brussels (BA from Heathrow) and retrace your steps by two hours. But that would be faintly ridiculous when the Eurostar from St Pancras takes just under an hour and a half, about the same time that the P&O Ferries service takes to chug between Dover and Calais. Lille is a 70-mile drive south-east of the latter.

Verdict: TRAIN

How we reached the verdicts

Train times assume a one-hour journey to St Pancras International in London and a 30-minute check-in window for Eurostar services. Journeys with connections include time to change stations in Paris.

Flights assume a one-hour journey to the airport, a two-hour check-in window, and 30 minutes to reclaim bags at the destination – plus 30-minute transfer time for airports up to 15 miles from the centre and one-hour transfer for airports more than 15 miles outside.

Ferry times assume a one-hour journey to the port and a one-hour check-in window, plus the time to drive to the destination once in France. Prices are per person for a family of four, travelling in a standard-sized car, and do not include petrol costs or toll fees.

All quoted prices are the cheapest available – and relate to either the last week of June or the first week of July, ahead of the school-holiday rush (with the exception of Grenoble, where prices are for December and the early ski season). All prices are per person (including ferry costs, which are based on the idea of a family of four travelling in a standard-sized car) and are sourced from a wide range of operators: Eurostar (eurostar.com) and Voyages SNCF (uk.voyages-sncf.com) for trains; British Airways (ba.com), easyJet (easyJet.com) and Ryanair (ryanair.com) for planes; P&O Ferries (poferries.com) and Brittany Ferries (brittany-ferries.co.uk) for sailings.