# getting from London to Paris on xmas day via chunnel... possible? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-from-london-to-paris-on-xmas-day-via-chunnel-possible/656955 "2013-04-28T22:49:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-from-london-to-paris-on-xmas-day-via-chunnel-possible/656955/1 "2013-04-28T22:49:02Z")
We’ll be in London through christmas, and we’re wondering about getting to Paris via the chunnel on xmas. Sounds like eurostar does not run on xmas. Any other way to get across on xmas aside swimming? Failing that, is eurostar service available on boxing day? ---
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-from-london-to-paris-on-xmas-day-via-chunnel-possible/656955/2 "2013-04-29T07:37:14Z")
The passenger train doesn’t run, but the Eurotunnel car thing does. It’s hideously awfully expensive though, looking at it - and you need to go with a vehicle as far as I can tell. Can’t advise whether it’s any good, haven’t used it, but details at [http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/home/](http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/home/) Pretty much everything restarts on Boxing Day, but the timetable at [www.eurostar.com](http://www.eurostar.com) is showing no trains for 26th/27th December, either - so maybe they’re the exception! I think it’s more likely that they just don’t allow booking this far out via the website, perhaps. The ferries are off on Christmas Day too, although according to their publicity it’s the only day they don’t schedule. One thing to think about - if you’re going to Paris for the day, I’d research what’s likely to be open. If you’re going to see something specific, I’d check it doesn’t close Christmas Day - an awful lot of stuff does, in a lot of European countries. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-from-london-to-paris-on-xmas-day-via-chunnel-possible/656955/3 "2013-04-29T09:51:10Z")
Nitpick: nobody really calls it the Chunnel any more. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-from-london-to-paris-on-xmas-day-via-chunnel-possible/656955/4 "2013-04-29T10:41:42Z")
> [@Charley](#): > > The passenger train doesn’t run, but the Eurotunnel car thing does. It’s hideously awfully expensive though, looking at it - and you need to go with a vehicle as far as I can tell. Can’t advise whether it’s any good, haven’t used it, but details at [Eurotunnel LeShuttle™: Folkestone To Calais In 35 Minutes. Book Now!](http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/home/) Eh? It looks pretty cheap to me - £71 one way including car and all passengers: [LeShuttle](http://tickets.eurotunnel.com/booking/fare.asp) I’ve used it and thought it was great, but then I was going for lunch in Boulogne, not driving to Paris. But yes, you do need a car, it isn’t for foot passengers. And the OP would still have to get from London to Folkestone. Christmas Day is basically a write-off for the vast majority of public transport options. It’s the one day of the year when pretty much every business and transport option shuts down. Only hotels and a few restaurants serving Christmas lunch are open. Even the Tube is down. If I was you, I would book a lovely lunch in a good hotel or restaurant, brace yourself for the cost, enjoy walking around an empty London, then, if the Eurostar is still down, book a cheap flight to Paris. Actually, that’s a thought, airports don’t close and Christmas Day tickets are often cheap. You could fly London-Paris – which airport is best will depend on where you’re coming from. Is this a day-trip or a transfer to continue your holiday in France? It might dictate our replies. ---
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-from-london-to-paris-on-xmas-day-via-chunnel-possible/656955/5 "2013-04-29T17:58:59Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Eh? It looks pretty cheap to me - £71 one way including car and all passengers Actually, I hadn’t thought of it including all the passengers. I just saw something that said £199 and shuddered. I withdraw my hyperbole :). ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-from-london-to-paris-on-xmas-day-via-chunnel-possible/656955/6 "2013-04-30T00:11:07Z")
Thanks for the responses. FWIW, it’s not a day trip, we are planning to split time between London and Paris. Will look into flights for xmas day, although sounds like we would need a car to get to the airport in London from the airport in Paris if we do that. Most likely will move the Great Channel Crossing to Boxing Day, but will continue to research alternative connections in case it is announced that eurostar is out on 12.26 and12.27 as well.