Eurostar, the high-speed train service that links the UK and mainland Europe, today (19 December 2007) announced that tickets for its direct summer service to Avignon will go on sale in a week’s time, from Thursday 27 December. Return fares start from just £99.

The 2008 weekly high-speed departure to southern France begins on Saturday 12 July and runs every Saturday through to Saturday 6 September.

The journey from Eurostar’s fabulous new London home at St Pancras International or from Ashford International in Kent takes less than six hours (less than 5 hours 30 minutes from Ashford) and delivers you to Avignon Centre station – opposite the city walls which surround the heart of the historic city.

Visitors to Avignon have a wide range of events to enjoy during the summer holiday season. A highlight is the popular Festival d’Avignon – the oldest and largest in France – which attracts thousands of visitors each year to see its many live performances. The city also boasts the stunning 14th century Palais des Papes (Pope’s Palace), the famous Pont d’Avignon (Avignon Bridge) and many medieval streets.

Avignon is also the perfect destination for those who would like to explore the wider Provence region. From country lanes to lavender fields, from countryside to seaside on the Mediterranean, and from vineyards to rivers, the area offers plenty of relaxing and gastronomic opportunities.

Taking Eurostar to Provence is a more relaxing, enjoyable way of travelling, with the added benefit that all Eurostar journeys are now carbon neutral at no extra cost to travellers. A Eurostar journey is much greener than going by air, generating around one-tenth of the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

Using typical passenger load factors, independent research has estimated that a Eurostar journey from St Pancras International to Avignon will generate 10.4 kg/CO2 per passenger compared with approximately 108kg/CO2 for a typical flight from London to southern France.

Avignon, and over 70 other French towns and cities, are also accessible all year round by combining a Eurostar journey to Paris or Lille and an onward journey by a French TGV service.

Book the Avignon Service Direct Now >>>

Check-in:
The recommended check-in time for the direct Avignon service is 60 minutes prior to departure.

Timetable (all times are local):

Outbound Inbound
St Pancras International 07h19
Ashford International 07h55
Avignon Centre 14h08 Avignon Centre 16h24
Ashford International 20h33
St Pancras International 21h09

Avignon Train Stations:
Avignon Centre Station is the city station and is distinct from Avignon TGV, which is on the TGV Med high-speed line. A shuttle bus operates between the two stations, which runs about every 20 minutes and takes approximately 10 minutes.