Shop till you drop in Paris this Christmas on a day trip with Eurostar

When it comes to Christmas shopping, I’ve got the answer. It doesn’t involve the annual Amazon angst when on Christmas Eve your order still hasn’t arrived.
And forget having to battle with the crowds in your local shopping centre and fighting over the last Lego Ninjago blaster bike.

You really don’t have to suffer Christmas shopping stress.
I’ve had my eyes opened to a far more pleasurable option. And seriously, it’s a no-brainer. How does a festive frolic around the super-chic shops in Paris sound? You think I’ve lost my baubles? Well hear me out...
Eurostar has come up with super-cheap tickets from London to the French capital at just £29 one way.



And because it’s fast (quickest train is just 2hrs 15mins) and city centre to city centre direct, you can go, shop and come home in a day (though of course it’s only practical if you live within reasonable travelling distance from St Pancras). There’s no extra baggage cost as you’re allowed two cases, plus hand luggage. C’est magnifique, non?

Given the choice, I’ll take a nice comfy seat on board one of their new trains with free wi-fi – and a yummy hot breakfast courtesy of uber chef Raymond Blanc if you push the boat out and bump yourself up to business class – over developing a serious case of road rage in a multi-storey car park any day.
If you’re only doing a day trip like me, you don’t want to waste time trudging up and down the streets to find the perfect gift, and the good news is you don’t have to.
Hop in a taxi once you pull in to the Gare du Nord and head to the city’s top department store, Galeries Lafayette . It’s got it all going on. The 104-year-old store is famous for its show-stopping centrepiece – a 25-metre Christmas tree which towers over the glittering perfume counters and reaches high up into the beautiful Art Nouveau domed roof, 43 metres high.



Every year there’s a theme, and this year they’re celebrating an Arctic Christmas with a family of endangered polar bears dominating the store.
You can even buy your own cuddly version – great for the little ’uns at €25 – and all the money goes to the store’s foundation helping to protect the planet. Call it shopping with a conscience.
You’ll find everything you’d expect/want. There’s a huge Apple tech bar, high-end fashion ‘labs’ and pop-up shops with concessions – even Topshop and Zara. Ooh la la! – as well as upcoming new French designers.
Pick up something for your teenage daughter and she will be ahead of the pack and might even join you for Christmas dinner. The bag lab will have you pawing at the leather accessories adorned with studs, straps, jewels and giant fur pom-poms – just don’t look at the price tags.

But the place that’ll really get you salivating is the food hall. Check out the chocolate eclair bar L’eclaire de Genie (Chocolate Grand Cru, Caramel Beurre Sale are divine), the herbs and spices, and the famous white truffle counter La Maison de la Truffe. Oh, and the handmade chocolates at Alain Ducasse.



Try a tasting session in the wine cellar but go easy - you don’t want to miss your train home. And someone’s got to be sober enough to carry all those shopping bags...
GET THERE: Eurostar operates up to 21 daily services from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord with one-way fares starting from £29 (based on a return journey).