If you board the Eurostar train from London St Pancras or Ashford International (Kent) to Paris, you will arrive at Paris’ Gare du Nord (North Station) – unless of course, you are heading on the direct train to Disneyland Paris!

One of the six main stations on Paris’ SNCF network, Gare du Nord is the busiest station in France and Europe.

As well as being the London Eurostar terminal in Paris (platforms 3 to 6), the Paris Metro (Line 4 and 5, next stop, Gare de l’Est) and RER trains (platforms 41 to 44 – lines B, D and E), Gare du Nord is also used by mainline trains, TGV trains to the north and the Picard TER depart from platforms 9 to 29 with trains to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands departing either platforms 7 or 8. Gare de l’Est however is only a few streets away and can easily be walked to although buses also connect the neighbouring stations.

In the basement of Paris’ busiest station, line B goes to Charles de Gaulle airport (Roissy) and D to Gare de Lyon. B and D both travel to Stade de France in Saint Denis. If hiring a car from Gare du Nord, the car rental desks are on Level 1 and can be accessed from rue de Compiegne and rue Amboise Pare. Car hire may be prebooked from any number of car hire locations throughout France, including numerous rail way stations too.

Movie fans will have spotted Gare du Nord featured in the films Mr Bean’s Holiday, The Bourne Ultimatum and Ocean’s Twelve.

Travelling at speeds of up to 200 mph, the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) is definitely a fast way to travel through France.   These passenger trains are modern and comfy, and seats should be prebooked. The popularity of the TGV has lead to the development of the double decker train or TGV Duplex which can seat over 500 passengers. Not all the TGV’s depart from Gare du Nord, so make sure you check exactly which Paris train station you are due to depart from or arrive into. Rail tickets may be booked with RailEurope or SNCF online.