Futuroscope France

[hannah40]

We would like to go here next summer. We would like to stay in a caravan site in Poitiers. Does any one know of any sites in the area. Also does Eurostar go anywhere close to pointers?

[bhg481]

We stayed at Camping de St Benoit just to the south of Poitiers many years ago. 46 deg 33 min 49 sec N, 0 deg 20 min 7 sec E. Futuroscope is just to the north of Poitiers.
I think you're confusing Eurostar with TGV - Eurostar runs from England to Paris and Brussells; TGV is the French high-speed rail network. Poitiers has a TGV station. The campsite mentioned is next to the TVG line, so you can watch the trains go by from a nearby bridge.

[mushroom25]

eurostar have this year started direct services from st pancras to the south of france - currently only available to lyon, avignon and marseille, but it's been more successful than expected and more destinations may be added.

currently london to poitiers in under 7 hours by eurostar/tgv with a single easy change at lille - see here for details.
http://www.seat61.com/France.htm#London to Bordeaux by train

[bhg481]

I stand corrected, mushroom.

[Buenchico]

You can book through tickets to Poitiers on the Eurostar website:
http://www.eurostar.com
Booking isn't yet available for next summer but looking at the prices for dates closer to hand shows that just £43 each way (ex St Pancras) is the standard fare available for early booking. (If you're travelling from somewhere other than London, you can get a through fare on the Eurostar website from all major British stations - it usually works out far cheaper than booking the UK component of your travel separately).

The Eurostar website shows times faster than those indicated by Mushroom25, with outbound journeys taking about 5½ hours and return journeys of around 6 hours. However their recommended route requires you to transfer between Gare du Nord and Gard Montparnasse in Paris. (Take Metro Line 4 to Montparnasse–Bienvenüe and then transfer to Montparnasse proper by using the moving walkway).

There are 132 campsites in Poitou-Charentes listed here, with reviews and links to their websites:
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/results.asp?p=1&county=Poitou-Charentes
(Note that my link goes to the first of 5 pages. Most of the campsites in and around Poitiers seem to be on page 2. You can zoom and drag the map and then hover your mouse over a map pin to see which site it marks).

[jomifl]

Are you taking your own tent or renting a tent/caravan?

[Mosaic]

This is a very useful website:
http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/

You probably know that many campsites rent chalets and mobile homes.

We stayed in a budget hotel near Poitiers, but that was some years ago - I notice there's an Ibis practically on site

The queuing system was bonkers back then....utterly hopeless feelings of despair at huge lines apparently not moving. The virtual rides were very enjoyable, apart from the 3D movie that gave me a sickly migraine!

The theme park is well to the north of Poitiers itself - and it has its own station:
http://en.futuroscope.com/practical-information/getting-to-futuroscope

You could also enjoy some of the merovingian and carolingian architectural treasures in Poitiers....be a shame to miss them as you'll be so near....

[mushroom25]

//(Take Metro Line 4 to Montparnasse–Bienvenüe and then transfer to Montparnasse proper by using the moving walkway). //

i worked with a company in poitiers some years ago, and made this journey many times, at a time when the "trottoir roulant rapide" was operating at montparnasse station - a moving walkway that nipped along at 9km/h. sadly decommissioned a few years ago because many riders couldn't cope with the rapid deceleration and dismount......

[hannah40]

Thank you for your helpful advice. We will be looking for a caravan in a family site.