We travelled with two bikes:
1 x Brompton 3-speed, S-type handlebars (Low)
1 x Brompton 6-speed, S-type handlebars (Low)
Paris is relatively flat, and as we would be slow-rolling around the city, we didn’t worry about not having loads of gears.
London to Paris with Brompton x Jools
From London to Paris, Jools and her partner take their Brompton bikes on the Eurostar to explore some of the best foodie spots in the city. Follow along to see how you can plan your very own Parisian escape.
My partner Ian and I had never travelled with our Bromptons further than to the Midlands for the first leg of my book tour. It was perfect to get on a train at Euston Station with our bikes, unfold them at Birmingham New Street, and cycle straight to the venue for my talk.
But that trip got me thinking—what would going further afield with our bikes look like? Already impressed by how easy it was to travel with Bromptons on public transport, we decided to make them part of a mini-break further afield.
After some research and planning last summer, we did exactly that. Me and Ian took our most ambitious trip yet with our Bromptons and headed to Paris!
We didn’t cycle to Paris from our home in East London, but that doesn’t take away from the brilliance of the trip. It was terrific to board the Eurostar with two Bromptons and no fuss… who doesn’t love a Brompton-friendly train service?!
If you’re thinking of heading to Paris with your Brompton on the Eurostar (or taking it on any train journey), then I’m here to tell you that it’s doable, and it’s such an incredible way to see a new city by bike!
But how do you do it? Let me start with our setup for the trip:
Although we didn’t take loads of luggage, it was big enough for our trip:
2 x Large Metro Waterproof Bags (attached to the front of our Bromptons)
2 x Borough Waterproof Backpacks (on our backs)
2 x Bike Covers with integrated pouch (fitted to the back of our seats)
We travelled with two bikes:
1 x Brompton 3-speed, S-type handlebars (Low)
1 x Brompton 6-speed, S-type handlebars (Low)
Paris is relatively flat, and as we would be slow-rolling around the city, we didn’t worry about not having loads of gears.
Although we didn’t take loads of luggage, it was big enough for our trip:
2 x Large Metro Waterproof Bags (attached to the front of our Bromptons)
2 x Borough Waterproof Backpacks (on our backs)
2 x Bike Covers with integrated pouch (fitted to the back of our seats)
Taking the Eurostar
Here are a few friendly and honest tips when it comes to checking in at St Pancras International:
1. You need to bag up your Brompton before check-in. Travelling on the Eurostar with a Brompton is fine, so long as it’s in a protective bag that covers the whole thing - which is where those handy Bike Covers come in.
2. It can be a lengthy walk to the check-in desk (including traversing around the queue dividers). The good thing about our luggage set-up was that we could pop our Boroughs on our backs, carry our Bromptons in one hand, and carry the Metro bags in the other.
3. Bromptons need to go through the scanners at security (another reason why you’ll need the bike covers), so be ready to lift it and place your bike onto the conveyor belt along with the rest of your luggage.
We travelled in Standard Premier Class on the Eurostar because it allows you to carry two pieces of luggage and one piece of hand luggage. We stowed our Bromptons and Metro bags in the luggage rack and could keep our backpacks at our seats.
Not only does Standard Premier have more spacious coaches, but you also get well-fed en route with a light meal and a dessert, a soft drink, wine or beer, plus tea or coffee brought to your seats.
After a relaxing journey of just 2 hours and 16 minutes, we arrived at Paris Gare du Nord, unfolded our Bromptons, loaded our luggage, and set off for our hotel.
This was the most effortless station-to-hotel transfer we’ve ever taken on a mini-break. Our abode of choice was The Hoxton, Paris (a bit of a home away from home), and it only took us seven picturesque and traffic-free minutes to cycle there from Gare du Nord! Like the one in Shoreditch, The Hoxton, Paris is a Brompton-friendly (and incredibly beautiful) space, so there were no problems keeping our bikes in our hotel room during our stay.
Another tip if you stay at The Hoxton, Paris: fold up your Brompton when bringing it in and out of the hotel—it’s much more convenient than wheeling it through the courtyard/outdoor eating area and reception.
Cycling and Infrastructure
Cycling feels like the best mode of transport in Paris, and because of the number of people on bikes we saw, we’re not alone in thinking this - bikes are everywhere! The cycling infrastructure in Paris is excellent. Almost every street has a two-way cycle lane, segregated from the main traffic. With this, plus the clear sign-posting and decent navigation device on your handlebars (we both use Beeline for route planning), you are guaranteed a positive cycling experience in Paris.
Sightseeing in Paris
The main items on our agenda were exploring the sights and eating and drinking our way around the city.
France is famous for its food, and as one of the culinary centres of Europe, Paris offers some seriously good eating. Ian and I pride ourselves on seeking out amazing restaurants and coffee shops, so we had to seek out those hotspots in Paris, too—and it was so much fun finding them by bike…
Electric Bike App
