How to get from France to England. The cheapest ways to get from Paris to London. How to buy a cheap flight to France from London

Image caption Young French people coming to London see less bureaucracy and access to a global client base

London is home to more French people than Bordeaux, Nantes or Strasbourg and is described as the sixth most populous city in France. But what attracts young French professionals to London?

On a rainy Friday evening in London's Hackney, a group of young women walk into a pub. Poking fun at the British weather, they shake off the water from their umbrellas, take off their raincoats and head to the counter.

Like many Londoners, they came to the pub at the end of the working week to relax and have a few drinks.

But as you get closer to them, you hear that they speak French. They are not tourists, exchange students, or housewives on vacation. They all work and live in east London and consider it their home.

The French community in London has a long history. But it is no longer concentrated on a few streets around the embassy, ​​located in South Kensington. There are many French bookstores, pastry shops and street cafes frequented by impeccably dressed ladies who are sending their children to the chic French Lycée Charles de Gaulle.

Today the French live in every corner of London, and their numbers are growing. In French parliamentary elections next week, they - along with expats in Scandinavia - will vote for candidates to represent their interests in the National Assembly.

The French consulate estimates that between 300 and 400 thousand French citizens live in the British capital. Many of them are in the creative laboratory of London, the East End.

“I came to London from Paris straight out of art school just to see the city,” says Malika Favre. “That was seven years ago, and I have no intention of going back.”

Malika is a rather sought-after illustrator. Her work includes the bold and playful artwork for a new edition of the Kama Sutra, an album cover for a French rock band, and work for a California swimwear company.

Living in London and speaking English gives her access to a wider client base - Maliki believes that London is a gateway to globalization and frees her from the burden of French bureaucracy.

"When you start a new business in Paris, you always think about what could go wrong. But here the system, I think, is much simpler. You don't have as many rules and laws and not as much paperwork," she tells me.

This flexibility reduces the level of risk for both the employer and employees.

"I changed careers a year ago, but I would never have done that if I lived in France. I would have thought: 'I'm so lucky to have a job - I should hold on to it,'" says Schepans.

Bordeaux-based journalist Nadège Alesin says life in London is not for the faint of heart. She runs a website for the French community in London, bealondoner.com.

"If you are interested in safety and good vacation, you remain in France. If you're hungry for adventure and want to learn new skills, you come here," she says.

That doesn't mean she doesn't miss France.

"Living in France is easy. There is delicious food and good wine. I lived close to the sea and ski resorts. And sometimes on a gray rainy London day I think: "What the hell am I doing here?" - Alesin shares.

All the young women I met complained about being too high prices for real estate in London. Rent prices for apartments in London are twice as high as in Paris.

“On Brick Lane we had bedbugs and rats,” says Malika. “For the same money that I paid for one room, friends in Paris rented entire apartments.”

Of course, many live in London in much worst conditions, but by choosing the East End, Malika and her friends are following in the footsteps of their compatriots who have settled here for several centuries.

Largest cities in France

• Paris - 2.3 million population
• Marseille - 859 thousand
• Lyon - 488 thousand
• Toulouse - 447 thousand
• Nice - 344 thousand

French Embassy in London: "About 120 thousand French are registered in consulates general in London and Edinburgh, but we estimate the real number of French living in the United Kingdom to be between 300 and 400 thousand. The vast majority live in London.

The French first began coming to the East End in large numbers in the 17th century. These were Huguenots who had endured years of persecution in France because of their Protestant faith. King Charles II offered them refuge in London.

They called their escape Le Refuge, enriching English language the word refugee is a refugee.

Many settled east of the City of London, where food and housing were relatively cheap. Around the nearby Spitalfields Market there are many streets with French names, such as Fournier Street, Fleur-de-Lys Street and Nantes Passage.

The Huguenots were good craftsmen, but there were fears that they might put Londoners out of work. A protectionist priest, a certain Dr. Welton, called them "the offal of the earth."

Today, competition for jobs is fierce, especially among young people, and cross-Channel migrants are not always welcomed with open arms.

The French Consulate recently commissioned a study entitled "The Forgotten People of St Pancras". It is dedicated to young Frenchmen who arrive at this London station on the Eurostar in search of better life, but sometimes find themselves in a desperate situation.

The Center Charles Péguy, a French charity in the East End, helps new arrivals find work and housing.

Cedric Preta, one of the consultants, says he expects the number of migrants to rise sharply this summer.

In terms of skills and level of competence, in France it doesn't matter if you don't meet the standard. That's why I left Hamid Senni, business consultant

"Many French people imagine that because of the Olympics there will be a lot of new jobs in London, which is not true. But people keep coming," says Preta.

He adds: "Some people are simply fleeing France because of family problems, educational problems, or, for example, because they live in Department 93, because there are problems with work in this part of Paris."

Department 93 is the accepted name for the northern Parisian suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis. Many French citizens of African descent live there, as well as a large number of immigrants.

In the minds of the average Frenchman, Seine-Saint-Denis is associated with riots, gloomy high-rise buildings, youth unemployment and racism.

Hamid Senni, a London-based business consultant, was one of eight children born to Moroccan immigrants in the south of France. The school teacher suggested that he change his name to Lionel.

“You will be discriminated against because of your name,” says Hamid, “because of the color of your skin, you may not be hired for a job even because of the address on your resume.”

"In terms of skills and level of competence, in France it doesn't matter if you don't meet the standard. That's why I left," he added.

Hamid advises many French companies, lectures at Sciences Po, one of the most prestigious universities in the country.

But he admits it used to be much easier to get someone to pick up the phone if they were calling from London rather than Paris.

I met Hamid five years ago when he had just written a book called From Cite to City. In it, Hamid recounted his journey from a suburban tenement in Valence (Cité) to London's financial district, the City.

Hamid suspects that the success of the far right in the first round of the last presidential election, with its highest percentage of votes in history, may drive even more young Frenchmen to cross the Channel.

"France is really trying to create jobs, but it's going badly because some people are saying white people should get the jobs first," he says.

The parents of Cleo Soazandri, another young French citizen with African roots, met in France, where Cleo was born. Her mother is from Madagascar and her father is from Guinea. The family moved from Paris to London when Cleo was a teenager.

Cleo recalls that she was deeply impressed by black television presenters, of whom there were practically no such people in France at that time.

“It was like my eyes were opened when I came here - I think the American dream is here in the UK too.”

the site recommends planning your flight and booking London France air tickets in advance.
The best option search for tickets one and a half to two months before the trip, this will not only allow you to choose the most convenient flight, but it’s also good to save money.

How to buy a cheap flight to France from London

The price of a plane ticket today greatly depends on the following factors:

The website's air ticket search engine processes many offers from online agencies and airlines. Allows you to quickly compare prices and book the best option flight from London to France.

TicketsPlus will help you find the best option among hundreds of offers and purchase the cheapest air tickets. According to statistics, our service helps save 82% of passengers.

How are air ticket prices determined?

The air ticket search system analyzes information about all available 37 airlines, routes and tariffs of air carriers. The availability of business and economy class tickets is checked in real time.

Data on special offers of all airline alliances, discounts, promotions and sales for regular and charter flights is taken into account.

According to our statistics, the average cost of an air ticket to London France is 4782 RUR.

Dependence of the ticket price on the day of the week and time of day

Usually the most expensive tickets for the plane they sell 2 weeks before departure. Also, the price may vary depending on the day of the week and time of day at which the flight takes place. Tickets for Friday and Sunday evenings are more expensive than early morning midweek tickets. If you fly on weekends, plane tickets from London to France can cost up to 6619 RUR.

Paris-London is a very busy destination and extremely expensive. The French and the British built a tunnel under the English Channel, but it has not yet justified itself, which means that travel prices remain high.

We will describe to you all the ways to get from Paris to London, and then choose for yourself.

By train

There is another method. You can get from Paris to a simple TGV (French high-speed train) and then change to the Eurostar Brussels-London. Sometimes it takes a little longer, but it's cheaper.

By plane

By bus

This is perhaps the most economical option. There are several companies that provide Paris-London transportation. These are Eurolines and iDBUS. Paris-London bus tickets cost approximately 19 to 60 euros. But you are on the road for about 6 hours, or even all night.

Carpooling

Carpooling or covoitourage in French. This site helps drivers and passengers traveling on the same route find each other. For example, you are going to London and can find a person with a car who (for an average of 30 euros) will agree to give you a ride. Such an event also has its risks. For example, the car breaks down, or the driver changes his mind about driving. But the author himself has used this site more than once. This often saves money and you make new friends.

To use the site you need to know either French or English, because you personally have to negotiate with the driver

By car

Of course, you can get to London. Get to Calais, and then take a ferry or the Channel Tunnel. But it's worth remembering a few simple things. One ferry ride with a car costs about 30 euros round trip, in the tunnel about 60 euros, but if you buy it in advance via the Internet, it can be cheaper. And don’t forget that in England we drive on the left, and you still have to get used to it!

Visa!

And remember that the UK is not a Schengen area. This means you need a separate visa. If it’s not there, then it’s better not to try to get to London. There are customs and passport controls on both trains and roads.

Have a nice trip to London!

The cost of a flight always depends on the time of travel. The chart will allow you to compare prices for air tickets from London to France, track the dynamics of changes in their cost and find the best offer.

Statistics will help determine the season of low prices. For example, in July prices reach an average of 13,167 rubles, and in October the cost of tickets drops to an average of 6,122 rubles. Plan your trip now!

We analyze this information and create charts to make it easier for you to plan your trips.

What is more profitable – to buy air tickets in advance, avoiding the general rush, or to take advantage of a “hot” offer closer to the departure date? The chart will help you determine best time to purchase air tickets.

See how the price of air tickets from London to France has changed depending on the time of purchase. Since the start of sales, their value has changed by an average of 66%. The minimum price for a flight from London to France is 42 days before departure, approximately 6,024 rubles. The maximum price for a flight from London to France is 36 days before departure, approximately 16,096 rubles. In most cases early booking helps you save money, take advantage of it!

Airfare from London to France does not represent a fixed and constant amount. It depends on many factors, including the day of departure. The dynamics of changes are visible on the graph.

According to statistics, the most affordable option for flights from London to France is on Tuesdays, their average cost is 7,044 rubles. The most expensive flights are on Fridays, their average cost is 10,928 rubles. It is worth considering that flights on holidays are usually more expensive. We hope this information will help you plan your travels more effectively.

The cost of air tickets depends not only on the date, but also on the time of departure. An airline can operate several flights on one day, and they will differ in price category.

The graph shows the cost of departure depending on the time of day. For example, the average cost of a ticket from London to France in the morning is 9,413 rubles, and in the evening 9,073 rubles. Evaluate all conditions and choose the best offer.

The graph shows comparative prices for air tickets from London to France on the most popular airlines. Based on this information, you can plan your trip and buy air tickets from London to France from the carrier that suits you.

Statistics will help you choose a flight based on your financial capabilities, as well as your wishes in terms of comfort and flight conditions. Most low prices Norwegian Air Shuttle offers flights from London to France, with Eurostar offering the highest prices.