Local highlights
Skiing and hiking in the Alps and Pyrenees; the museums, nightlife, vibrant art scene and sheer romance of Paris; the WWII battle sights of Normandy; the wild, fretted coastline of Brittany; the spectacular gorges of the Ardeche and Dordogne; the beaches and super cool seaside towns of the Cote d’Azur; the abundance of rental villas; the gastronomie of Provence; the vineyards, chateaux and rolling hillsides of the Loire Valley; the rugged landscape and turquoise shallows of Corsica; fantastic local produce in simple but exquisite restaurants; Sunday markets; dining al fresco; café au lait and pain au chocolat for breakfast, eaten in a simple bar as the country awakes.
Getting out and about
With the most extensive rail network in Western Europe, France is a great country to explore by train. The nationally owned SNCF (Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer) runs fast, efficient services between the main towns. Buses cover the rural areas, but services can be rather sporadic, with departures often at awkward times. If you really want to get off the beaten track, by far the best option is your own car.
Travel arrangements
Flight time from London is approximately one hour to Paris and 90 minutes to the main southern airports in Lyon and Bordeaux. France’s extensive network of airports is served by a variety of airlines from the UK, including Brtitish Airways, Air France, KLM. Alternatively, Eurostar runs an extensive daily timetable of departures between London’s St Pancras International and Paris and Lille.