Paris to London Flixbus Review: Overnight Coach Experience

How I Ended Up Taking Flixbus From Paris to London

Train may be the quickest way to Paris from London, but if you’re booking late, and time isn’t a factor, the coach can be far cheaper.

After a spontaneous concert at Bercy Arena, right by Bercy-Seine coach station, I tried out the Paris to London Flixbus to get home – here is my honest review.

Flixbus Ticket Prices Go Up and Down

Fares fluctuate between £20-£100. I booked a Friday night journey, one day ahead for £59 – much less than Eurostar.

The Flixbus app synced with my website booking and was reliable making my Paris to London Flixbus journey easy to organise.

Bercy-Seine Coach Station – Less Scary Than Expected

Low Flixbus prices appealed, Paris’s coach hub at Bercy-Seine did not. I had concerns, as a lone female traveller, that the park approach would be dangerous after dark.

In fact, the station was busy, clearly signposted and well lit – although the many wonky paving stones are hazardous.

Outside, youths were enjoying an outdoor gym space and blasting French grime on loud speakers. It was a bit La Haine but they seemed harmless.

My hotel was Ibis Styles Paris Bercy, which was cosy, inexpensive and handy for the arena and coach. After check-out, they stored my luggage until I needed to catch my Flixbus at 10pm.

Killing Time Before Boarding Flixbus – Options Nearby

After yesterday’s cramped Eurostar and concert seating, I was aching and tired, wondering if I was too old for this Flixbus malarkey.

Having walked around Paris and Canal Saint Martin all day, at 8pm I returned to Bercy feeling exhausted and apprehensive.

Restaurants around Bercy Arena cater to concert-goers eating quickly. I wanted somewhere comfortable to linger and used the Novotel restaurant – but once food arrived, I grew anxious about the journey and struggled to eat.

What if I had an attack of travel sickness? A Parisian friend had said “Bon Courage” rather than “Bon Voyage”. Psyched up to be trapped in a tiny space, I dreaded getting IBS cramps or worst nightmare of all, puking into my Longchamp Pliage.

Checking On To Flixbus

At 9.30pm I nipped into Franprix, to buy Haribo crocodiles – hoping these would stave off La Nausée. The outdoor gym youths had gone but there were many people so I felt safe.

Inside the coach station, the waiting area was chaotic with a pile-up of travellers going far and wide. Other destinations included Lisbon and Barcelona.

Happily, my Flixbus was already boarding. There’s a fee for hold luggage but my tote bag was free to keep onboard. I was assigned a seat on arrival. The two polite, professional drivers scanned my QR code Flixbus ticket and checked passports.

The Experience Onboard Flixbus – Comfort and Fellow Passengers

I was pleasantly surprised how smart and clean the coach was. Remarkably it was roomier than standard Eurostar: I counted maybe 45 seats, more spaced out than a coach’s typical 60. I could stretch my legs fully and relaxed into the journey.

Passengers were a range of ages and backgrounds, I didn’t feel like a dinosaur surrounded by sweaty backpackers. There were signs saying not to eat, smoke or vape. I hoped Haribo would be okay.

Flixbus Experience Part 1: Leaving Paris

After a glimpse of the Seine twinkling in the dark, the Flixbus flew around the Périphérique and onwards three hours towards Calais.

Conversations quietened, it was dark, the roads were empty and the engine hum was oddly soothing.

The toilet was directly behind my seat but I didn’t smell or hear it in action. Despite wearing layers, the air-conditioning aimed cold air at my ankles – but this was preferable to being stuffy.

Flixbus Experience Part 2: The Port

Approaching Calais around 1am, blue strip lights came back on: the tannoy asked us to get off and take our luggage through border control in the adjacent building.

My neighbour tutted in frustration,“Pfft! Putain! Eurostar c’est mieux.” I noticed she deliberately left a large bag behind, on her seat. Oh great I thought, this might hold us up.

Four staff in hi-vis made us stand waiting in the empty security area for 15 minutes before beginning x-ray checks – as if corralling everyone into the building first.

I sailed through swiftly, the UK Border Staff asked more questions than usual; where had I been, how long for, why? I used the porta-cabin loo next to the coach and was glad I did – we didn’t move for nearly two hours.

Leaning on the window and dozing, I heard whispers two passengers had been held back by border staff. “Bof! Putaaaain!” hissed my neighbour intermittently. Eventually the missing passengers returned and we boarded the ferry at around 3.45am – on time.

Flixbus Experience Part 3: The Ferry

My fellow sheep immediately flung themselves onto banquette seats in the bar nearest the entrance, staking their territory to lie down. I roamed further, the new-ish ferry was almost empty.

The huge duty-free shop, restaurant, cafe and bar were all open. Finally hungry, I settled with a sandwich on a soft seat. The ferry didn’t rattle and vibrate – as some can – and it was a very smooth crossing, although I wished it were darker.

I must have nodded off sitting upright; soon we were in Dover at 4am local time.

Flixbus Experience Part 4: Will This Ever End?

I reached my Flixbus seat before Madame Putaaain. I was worried she’d poach the window side that I was leaning on. People seemed in awake-mode, playing mobile videos with tinny sound – urgh.

But it quietened down and I slept through much of Kent. We arrived in London 30 minutes early.

Arrival at London Victoria Coach Station

Whereas Bercy lies in a concrete bunker, London’s terminus, on the side of Victoria cosplaying Belgravia, has little boutiques and cafes outside. A neon-lit spin class studio called Psycle replaced Paris’s grotty outdoor gym.

It’s still 10 mins walk to Victoria Underground station, which made me realise Bercy-Seine was nearer to the Metro. Staggering onto the tube, I was home and in bed by 7am, shattered.

A few days later, Flixbus emailed me a 25% discount if I booked another journey within two weeks. I wasn’t quite that keen but it’s worth bearing in mind if you travel by coach regularly.

Share this post if you know people who would be interested in travelling to Paris on a budget!

Flixbus Tips and Lessons Learned

Taking around nine hours, Flixbus between Paris and London may not be my first choice; although I’d do it again if time wasn’t a factor. Had it been daytime, or I’d had company, the coach journey would be fine, perhaps even fun.

There are around six Flixbus Paris-London departures daily, three of which are overnight, so you have some flexibility when to travel. I’d factor in what time the Dover-Calais section happens and allow opportunity to sleep on arrival.

I was glad I hadn’t done the overnight stretch from London, arriving in Paris at 6am without a hotel check-in until mid afternoon, although you could crash out in a cinema.

Things I learned for next time on Flixbus:

• Don’t book too far in advance – the fares might drop.
• Arrive early for a window seat.
• Don’t rely on eating onboard – it’s not allowed – although sweets seem ok
• Avoid a heavy meal before leaving.
• Wear ear plugs and eye masks to “turn off”.
• Wrap up, cover your legs and ankles – perhaps take a small blanket.
• Accept there’s a lengthy wait at the port.
• Use the loos at the port/on the ferry.

Have you ever survived a coach journey like this? Have I inspired you to use Flixbus? Tell me all about it in the comments below!