There are various means of transportation when traveling between Paris and London. The fastest way is by Air followed by the high speed Eurostar train. There is another more price sensitive option that comes at the cost of 9 hours and a ferry ride. We will be reviewing the BlaBlaCar Bus from Paris Bus to London Victoria Coach Station in February 2023.
Bus Station Experience
Buses depart out of the Paris Gare de Bercy bus terminal. Compared to the Charles De Gaulle Airport or even the train stations the bus terminal is not a pleasant place to wait around. There is limited seating and panhandlers throughout the terminal. Departure boards are located near the entrance. The scheduled bus to London was not listed on the departure boards even though departure was in 5 minutes. There were numerous buses parked, the drivers did not speak English. If you do not speak French do allow extra time to find your bus. Eventually the bus to London was located. The driver spoke broken English but checked the ticket and passport.
Bags were loaded in the luggage compartment and boarding commenced. Seats are assigned at booking, the original seat was seat 3A. Seats are in a 2 on 2 configuration with stairs to a small lavatory located mid bus. As the row behind was empty we opted to move there to allow for some extra room for the near 9 hour journey. The seat had minimal legroom. In the seatback is a power outlet and tray table. The tray table can not hold anything larger than a tablet or laptop. There is no onboard WIFI so its best to bring some reading material or a preloaded movie. The booking indicated a stop halfway through the journey but did not specify much detail.
An Unexpected Stop
The bus stopped at the port of Calais to switch drivers then continue aboard a ferry. Shortly after switching drivers the bus driver asked all passengers to disembark for customs into the United kingdom. The P&O ferryboat ride is included in the price of the ticket. The bus parked in the lower section where passengers disembark and head up to the two cabin levels. The P&O Pride Of France ferryboat has duty free shops, two food areas, a pet area, an arcade and even a casino. If seasickness is an issue , this may not be the most ideal mode of transportation as the ship encountered heavy swells during this particular crossing.
Final Thoughts
The remainder of the journey to London Victoria coach station was uneventful. The bus pulled into the depot a few minutes behind schedule. If time and creature comforts are a concern the BlaBlaCar bus is not the best option. The bus itself was far from comfortable and lacked amenities other buses have such as WIFI. Extra time should be allotted to find the bus in Paris as many staff members do not speak English. The lack of transparency regarding the included ferry ride was a bit of a surprise and may be off putting for some. For the reasonable price you really do get what you pay for but nothing more.