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[Travel] Best way to Bayeux from London…



Goldstone1976

Goldstone1976

We Got Calde in!!
Helpful Moderator
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Apr 30, 2013
14,036
Herts
…I’m off to Bayeux, Caen etc in October with my partner and (then) 18-month old. I’ve never been. I know that myriads of you will have been, so I ask the hive mind:

What is the best way to travel: fly/drive?, ferry? (which route), Eurostar?, LeShuttle?, other (walk/swim)?

TIA for any advice.

Oh - while I’m at it - any places to visit (D-Day, tapestry, and Bayeux/Caen already planned)? Restaurants? etc…
 




B

Brian Fantana

Well-known member
Oct 8, 2006
7,484
In the field
My parents live in Normandy, so I've spent a fair bit of time there. In terms of Bayeux, my recommendation would be ferry from Poole/Portsmouth to Ouistreham.

For attractions, the Tapestry is well worth seeing. In terms of other things to do, I'd highly recommend the D-Day sights. If you head up towards Utah/Omaha beaches, you'll find some excellent museums. Also worth popping in to some of the cemeteries as well, both German and Allied - it helps the brain process the sheer magnitude of losses on both sides. If you head in-land slightly to St Mere-Eglise, you can see the famous church steeple where an American airbourne soldier was snagged for most of the day. Theres's also a very good Airbourne museum too. Finally, I'd recommend Pegasus Bridge too, the site of the British gliders landing to secure one of the most important bridges.

That's probably a bit garbled, so feel free to PM for anything else/more specific.
 




The Maharajah of Sydney

The Maharajah of Sydney

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
1,384
Sydney .
Spend some time in the lovely fishing port of Honfleur, a 90 minute drive east along the coast

IMG_6035.jpeg
 


Guinness Boy

Guinness Boy

Tofu eating wokerati
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Jul 23, 2003
36,415
Up and Coming Sunny Portslade
Portsmouth to Ouisterham on Brittany Ferries, 100%.

Do not - I repeat do NOT - take the fast ferry though. It's not known as the Vomit Comit for nothing. Take the normal (large, stable with nice bar) one.

Oh, and the Caen ring road is a BASTARD.
 




Beanstalk

Beanstalk

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2017
2,909
London
Mémorial de Caen is probably the best war museum in Europe and well worth a visit.

And a second vote for Honfleur, spent many a holiday there and it's just a lovely picturesque place to be. Great food and cider there as well.
 


M

Machiavelli

Well-known member
Oct 11, 2013
17,400
Fiveways
Since1982 said:
Interesting - we are planning a similar trip in September. Current plan is Newhaven Dieppe, drive to Caen and then do the D Day beaches and Bayeux, using the latter as a base before heading down to Mount Saint Michel and then back to Dieppe possibly via Rouen.
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I've also done this a fair few times and we usually do the Newhaven to Dieppe. We've gone from Portsmouth too, and do Newhaven because it's easier from Brighton and we're keen to do the little we can to keep the 'quaint' Newhaven-Dieppe crossing going. As G1976 is coming from London, it's just as easy to get to both.
 






S

Since1982

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2006
1,560
Burgess Hill
Machiavelli said:
I've also done this a fair few times and we usually do the Newhaven to Dieppe. We've gone from Portsmouth too, and do Newhaven because it's easier from Brighton and we're keen to do the little we can to keep the 'quaint' Newhaven-Dieppe crossing going. As G1976 is coming from London, it's just as easy to get to both.
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Thanks, helpful. From Burgess Hill as well it seems a no brainier particularly as in no rush to get to Bayeux.
 


happypig

happypig

Staring at the rude boys
May 23, 2009
8,107
Eastbourne
If military/cold war interest you , there is a former ballistic missile submarine, Le Redoutable, that you can go round. It's at Cite de la mer in Cherbourg
 






Y

Yes Chef

Well-known member
Apr 11, 2016
1,872
In the kitchen
The Portsmouth-Ouistreheim ferry is ideal for Caen, and if you're not driving there's a local bus which can drop you off in Caen, in the city centre or the Gare SNCF.

I haven't been to Bayeux for ages, so can't recommend anything specific, but agree that the tapestry is well worth a visit.

Caen is home to probably my favourite restaurant in the whole of France - it's called La Casiniere. It's near the castle, and the owner/manager(?) is a very charismatic English bloke. Food, wine and ambience were all top notch, and value for money too - the set menu was around €35 a head.
 


B

Bombardier

Well-known member
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Jul 22, 2004
836
Hove actually
If you are looking for a thoroughly lovely hotel close to St Mere-Eglise and Utah beach look no further. Set on quiet countryside and loads of charm.

Le Grand Hard​

 


Thunder Bolt

Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
Aug 18, 2009
67,231
Beside the seaside, beside the sea
Having just returned from France, be aware le Pont du Normandie is being repaired at the moment, with single lane traffic as one side is completely closed.
 




E

essbee1

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2014
4,538
I would go ferry from Poole/or equivalent.

I did it by train to Paris first and then to Caen by train from there. Took bloody ages
and trains to Caen are infrequent and bloody slow and packed.
 


S

Since1982

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2006
1,560
Burgess Hill
At the risk of turning this into Tripadvisor - given the Normandy expertise on this site would be good to see if there are any comments on our proposed itinerary. Thanks
Day 1 - Newhaven to Dieppe on the morning sailing - stay over in Dieppe
Day 2 - Drive to Honfleur - stay over one night
Day 3 - Drive to Caen and D Day museum then Castle and Abbey using park and ride. Then drive to Bayeux and stay in city for next four nights.
Days 4 to 6 - D Day Beaches and Bayeux
Day 7 - Drive to Rouen and stay 2 nights
Day 8 - Rouen
Day 9 - Back to Dieppe for midday ferry
Ta!
 


G

Greavsey

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2007
1,160
Since1982 said:
At the risk of turning this into Tripadvisor - given the Normandy expertise on this site would be good to see if there are any comments on our proposed itinerary. Thanks
Day 1 - Newhaven to Dieppe on the morning sailing - stay over in Dieppe
Day 2 - Drive to Honfleur - stay over one night
Day 3 - Drive to Caen and D Day museum then Castle and Abbey using park and ride. Then drive to Bayeux and stay in city for next four nights.
Days 4 to 6 - D Day Beaches and Bayeux
Day 7 - Drive to Rouen and stay 2 nights
Day 8 - Rouen
Day 9 - Back to Dieppe for midday ferry
Ta!
Click to expand...

I would drive straight to Honfleur from Dieppe on day one. Only an hour or so drive and far nicer town than Dieppe.
 


M

Machiavelli

Well-known member
Oct 11, 2013
17,400
Fiveways
Greavsey said:
I would drive straight to Honfleur from Dieppe on day one. Only an hour or so drive and far nicer town than Dieppe.
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Yes, I think this is a good call. FWIW, next month we're getting the Newhaven ferry that leaves c05:30 and driving for six or so hours thereafter.
 




DavidinSouthampton

DavidinSouthampton

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jan 3, 2012
17,104
Since1982 said:
At the risk of turning this into Tripadvisor - given the Normandy expertise on this site would be good to see if there are any comments on our proposed itinerary. Thanks
Day 1 - Newhaven to Dieppe on the morning sailing - stay over in Dieppe
Day 2 - Drive to Honfleur - stay over one night
Day 3 - Drive to Caen and D Day museum then Castle and Abbey using park and ride. Then drive to Bayeux and stay in city for next four nights.
Days 4 to 6 - D Day Beaches and Bayeux
Day 7 - Drive to Rouen and stay 2 nights
Day 8 - Rouen
Day 9 - Back to Dieppe for midday ferry
Ta!
Click to expand...
Looks good. I’ve been to Rouen a lot through my work before I retired. A lovely city And a good addition to your main agenda.
 




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