Travelling to Center Parcs in France Best Options for Big Families

Center Parcs Villages in France

• Le Bois aux Daims Village
• Le Lac d’Ailette Village
• Les Bois-Francs Village
• Les Hauts de Bruyères Village
• Les Landes de Gascogne Village
• Les Trois Forêts Village
• Villages Nature Paris – next to Disneyland Paris

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So, you’ve picked a village in France that looks fabulous and the dates work. Now, how are you going to get there? You have four options:

• Eurotunnel with your car, then drive to the village
• Ferry with your car, then drive to the village
• Eurostar passenger train from London, then train/bus and taxi to the village
• Fly from UK to the nearest airport to the village, then train/bus and taxi to the village. You could hire a car at the airport, but it will probably sit in the village car park for most of your holiday, so might not be the best budget option.

Top Tip: Following Google Maps on your phone? Attach it securely, so you can see it while you’re driving with an in-car phone holder.

Travelling to Le Bois aux Daims Village

Eurotunnel from Folkestone

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Folkestone – Calais	35 minutes	352 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	6 hours

Ferry from UK Port

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Cork – Roscoff	from 14 hour night crossing	256 miles	4¾ hours
Dover – Calais	1½ hours	360 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	6 hours
Dover – Dunkirk	2 hours	371 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	6 hours
Folkestone to Calais	1½ hours	360 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	6 hours
Newhaven – Dieppe	4 hours	260 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	4½ hours
Plymouth – Roscoff	from 5½ hours	256 miles	4¾ hours
Poole – Cherbourg	4½ hours	265 miles	4¼ hours
Portsmouth – Caen	5¾ hours	197 miles	3¼ hours
Portsmouth – Cherbourg	from 4¾ hours	265 miles	4¼ hours
Portsmouth – Le Havre	from 6 hours	239 miles	4 hours
Portsmouth – St. Malo	from 10 hours	171 miles	3¼ hours
Rosslare – Cherbourg	from 16½ hour night crossing	265 miles	4¼ hours

Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station

• To Paris Gare du Nord – 2½ hours on Eurostar followed by train to Massy-Palaiseau (30 minutes), then train to Saumur (1½ hours) and taxi to the village (30 minutes)

Flying from UK Airport

• To Nantes Airport – flight time varies depending on departure airport. From the airport, take a bus to Gare Sud in Nantes (20 minutes), then train from Gare de Nantes to Gare de Saumur (1 hour) and taxi to the village (30 minutes)

Travelling to Le Lac d’Ailette Village

Eurotunnel from Folkestone

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Folkestone – Calais	35 minutes	150 miles	3 hours

Ferry from UK Port

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Cork – Roscoff	from 14 hour night crossing	446 miles	7¾ hours
Dover – Calais	1½ hours	148 miles	2½ hours
Dover – Dunkirk	2 hours	148 miles	2¾ hours
Folkestone to Calais	1½ hours	148 miles	2½ hours
Newhaven – Dieppe	4 hours	149 miles	3 hours
Plymouth – Roscoff	from 5½ hours	445 miles	7¾ hours
Poole – Cherbourg	4½ hours	311 miles	5½ hours
Portsmouth – Caen	5¾ hours	241 miles	4¼ hours
Portsmouth – Cherbourg	from 4¾ hours	311 miles	5½ hours
Portsmouth – Le Havre	from 6 hours	195 miles	3½ hours
Portsmouth – St. Malo	from 10 hours	339 miles	6 hours
Rosslare – Cherbourg	from 16½ hour night crossing	311 miles	5½ hours

Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station

• To Paris Gare du Nord – 2½ hours on Eurostar followed by train to Laon (1½ hours) and taxi to the village (20 minutes)

Flying from UK Airport

• To Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2 – flight time varies depending on departure airport. From the airport, take a train to Paris Nord Train Station (34 minutes), then train to Laon (1½ hours) and taxi to the village (20 minutes)

Travelling to Les Bois-Francs Village

Eurotunnel from Folkestone

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Folkestone – Calais	35 minutes	203 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	4 hours

Ferry from UK Port

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Cork – Roscoff	from 14 hour night crossing	295 miles	4¾ hours
Dover – Calais	1½ hours	207 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	3½ hours
Dover – Dunkirk	2 hours	221 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	3¾ hours
Folkestone to Calais	1½ hours	207 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	3½ hours
Newhaven – Dieppe	4 hours	114 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	2¼ hours
Plymouth – Roscoff	from 5½ hours	295 miles	4¾ hours
Poole – Cherbourg	4½ hours	172 miles	3 hours
Portsmouth – Caen	5¾ hours	100 miles	2 hours
Portsmouth – Cherbourg	from 4¾ hours	172 miles	3 hours
Portsmouth – Le Havre	from 6 hours	110 miles	2 hours
Portsmouth – St. Malo	from 10 hours	155 miles	3½ hours
Rosslare – Cherbourg	from 16½ hour night crossing	172 miles	3 hours

Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station

• To Paris Gare du Nord – 2½ hours on Eurostar followed by train to Montparnasse Bienvenue (17 minutes), walk to Paris Montparnasse Hall 1-2 (5 minutes), then train to Verneuil-sur-Avre (1 hour 4 minutes) and taxi to the village (15 minutes)

Flying from UK Airport

• I wouldn’t recommend flying to this village as all onward routes include several trains and walking transfers.

Travelling to Les Hauts de Bruyères Village

Eurotunnel from Folkestone

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Folkestone – Calais	35 minutes	286 miles – if choosing Google Maps route that avoids Paris ULEZ zone	6½ hours

Ferry from UK Ports

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Cork – Roscoff	from 14 hour night crossing	332 miles	6 hours
Dover – Calais	1½ hours	294 miles – if choosing Google Maps route that avoids Paris ULEZ zone	6¼ hours
Dover – Dunkirk	2 hours	291 miles – if choosing Google Maps route that avoids Paris ULEZ zone	6¼ hours
Folkestone to Calais	1½ hours	294 miles – if choosing Google Maps route that avoids Paris ULEZ zone	6¼ hours
Newhaven – Dieppe	4 hours	217 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	3¾ hours
Plymouth – Roscoff	from 5½ hours	332 miles	6 hours
Poole – Cherbourg	4½ hours	298 miles	5 hours
Portsmouth – Caen	5¾ hours	230 miles	4 hours
Portsmouth – Cherbourg	from 4¾ hours	298 miles	5 hours
Portsmouth – Le Havre	from 6 hours	202 miles	3¾ hours
Portsmouth – St. Malo	from 10 hours	260 miles	4½ hours
Rosslare – Cherbourg	from 16½ hour night crossing	298 miles	5 hours

Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station

• I wouldn’t recommend taking the Eurostar to this village as all onward routes include several trains or buses.

Flying from UK Airports

• To Paris-Orly Airport – flight time varies depending on departure airport. From the airport, take a Flixbus to Orléans (2 hours), then taxi to the village (45 minutes)

Travelling to Les Landes de Gascogne Village

Eurotunnel from Folkestone

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Folkestone – Calais	35 minutes	599 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	9½ hours

Ferry from UK Port

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Cork – Roscoff	from 14 hour night crossing	475 miles	7½ hours
Dover – Calais	1½ hours	606 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	9½ hours
Dover – Dunkirk	2 hours	618 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	9½ hours
Folkestone to Calais	1½ hours	606 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	9½ hours
Newhaven – Dieppe	4 hours	507 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone	7¾ hours
Plymouth – Roscoff	from 5½ hours	295 miles	4¾ hours
Poole – Cherbourg	4½ hours	495 miles	7¾ hours
Portsmouth – Caen	5¾ hours	100 miles	2 hours
Portsmouth – Cherbourg	from 4¾ hours	495 miles	7¾ hours
Portsmouth – Le Havre	from 6 hours	444 miles	6¾ hours
Portsmouth – St. Malo	from 10 hours	388 miles	6¼ hours
Rosslare – Cherbourg	from 16½ hour night crossing	495 miles	7¾ hours

Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station

• I wouldn’t recommend taking the Eurostar to this village as all onward routes include several trains or buses.

Flying from UK Airports

• I wouldn’t recommend flying to this village as all onward routes include several trains and walking transfers.

Travelling to Les Trois Forêts Village

Eurotunnel from Folkestone

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Folkestone – Calais	35 minutes	347 miles	6 hours

Ferry from UK Port

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Cork – Roscoff	from 14 hour night crossing	612 miles	9½ hours
Dover – Calais	1½ hours	344 miles	5½ hours
Dover – Dunkirk	2 hours	345 miles	5¾ hours
Folkestone to Calais	1½ hours	344 miles	5½ hours
Newhaven – Dieppe	4 hours	547 miles	6 hours
Plymouth – Roscoff	from 5½ hours	612 miles	9½ hours
Poole – Cherbourg	4½ hours	472 miles – if choosing Google Maps route that avoids Paris ULEZ zone	9½ hours
Portsmouth – Caen	5¾ hours	398 miles – if choosing Google Maps route that avoids Paris ULEZ zone	8½ hours
Portsmouth – Cherbourg	from 4¾ hours	472 miles – if choosing Google Maps route that avoids Paris ULEZ zone	9½ hours
Portsmouth – Le Havre	from 6 hours	391 miles	6½ hours
Portsmouth – St. Malo	from 10 hours	524 miles	8¼ hours
Rosslare – Cherbourg	from 16½ hour night crossing	472 miles – if choosing Google Maps route that avoids Paris ULEZ zone	9½ hours

Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station

• To Paris Gare du Nord – 2½ hours on Eurostar then walk to Paris Est Train Station (8 minutes) followed by train to Sarrebourg (2¼ hours) and taxi to the village (20 minutes)

Flying from UK Airports

• To Strasbourg Airport – flight time varies depending on departure airport. From the airport, take a train to Strasbourg (12 minutes), then train to Sarrebourg (45 minutes) and taxi to the village (20 minutes)

Travelling to Villages Nature Paris

Eurotunnel from Folkestone

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Folkestone – Calais	35 minutes	188 miles	3½ hours

Ferry from UK Port

Route	Crossing Time	Onward Distance to Village	Onward Journey Time to Village
Cork – Roscoff	from 14 hour night crossing	373 miles	5¾ hours
Dover – Calais	1½ hours	188 miles	3½ hours
Dover – Dunkirk	2 hours	187 miles	3½ hours
Folkestone to Calais	1½ hours	188 miles	3½ hours
Newhaven – Dieppe	4 hours	170 miles	3 hours
Plymouth – Roscoff	from 5½ hours	373 miles	5¾ hours
Poole – Cherbourg	4½ hours	275 miles	4¾ hours
Portsmouth – Caen	5¾ hours	178 miles – if choosing Google Maps route that avoids Paris ULEZ zone	4 hours
Portsmouth – Cherbourg	from 4¾ hours	275 miles	4¾ hours
Portsmouth – Le Havre	from 6 hours	239 miles	3 hours
Portsmouth – St. Malo	from 10 hours	284 miles	4½ hours
Rosslare – Cherbourg	from 16½ hour night crossing	275 miles	4¾ hours

Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station

• To Paris Gare du Nord – 2½ hours on Eurostar then take Metro (underground) train on Magenta Line to Tournan (50 minutes). Walk to Gare de Tournan Train Station (3 minutes) then train to Villages Nature (25 minutes). There are many other options involving Metro trains and buses, but this seems to be the simplest route with the least transfers.

Flying from UK Airports

• To Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2 – flight time varies depending on departure airport. From the airport, take a train to Gare de Meaux (1 hour), then train to Villages Nature (21 minutes)
• To Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2 – alternatively, take the Magical Shuttle bus from the airport straight to Villages Nature Paris. I suggest only using the Magical Shuttle if you are planning on visiting Disneyland Paris. Otherwise, you will have some very disappointed children.

Don’t want to travel far? Le Lac d’Ailette Village is the closest Center Parcs village to Calais.

Useful Resources When Driving in France

All distances have been taken from Google Maps. Journey times will vary depending on the time/day you travel and any unforeseen events such as accidents or roadworks. Whether you opt for planes, trains or ferries, remember to allow 1-2 hours for check-in and boarding each way.

Many countries are bringing in more and more ULEZ zones, which can make journeys difficult if your big old family car is non-compliant. Even cars that are compliant have to be registered to be allowed in these zones. This all gets pretty complicated, so it’s best to just avoid the relevant areas. Google Maps will often take you straight through a ULEZ zone without offering an alternative route, so make adjustments to your route before you set off if necessary. Visit drive2.city for up-to-date information on ULEZ zones in the UK and the rest of Europe.

For information about using trains within France, I highly recommend visiting seat61. There’s not much this guy doesn’t know about train travel in Europe.