Trains to Languedoc Roussillon, south France

France's train network is excellent - the trains are on-time and clean and the TGV is the fastest in Europe. TGV trains also make their way through Languedoc Roussillon, south France, which makes getting to Languedoc from London or Paris surprisingly easy by train.

To book a ticket from London to Avignon, Montpellier, Perpignan or Toulouse, visit the website.

To check routes and prices on the French national railway - visit the website.

If you don't want to drive through France - but want the use of your car once you're in Languedoc Roussillon - why not try the French Motor Rail service - you and your car are taken by train, overnight, to Languedoc.

10 Reasons to take the Train to Languedoc rather than a plane

Everyone’s banging on about Eurostar and the fact that from November 14, 2007, the London terminal shifts from Waterloo to Saint Pancras, effectively shaving twenty minutes off the UK- to-Languedoc train journey time.

But as Alex Charles (of Crème de Languedoc) points out, “twenty minutes doesn’t make that much difference when you’re travelling long-distance from London to the south of France’s Languedoc region; what really matters is the comfort and convenience of train travel, as opposed to the stress and strain of the plane.”

Here, then, are ten very good reasons to say “au revoir” to the jet set and join the train set.

Train travel is a more eco-friendly way of getting to Languedoc (travellers with a conscience can help save the planet!).

The train is ideal for business people travelling to or from Languedoc and the south of France: you get much more work done on a smooth, seven hour, city-centre to city-centre train trip than by ploughing out to an airport, checking in, waiting to board, flying, waiting to disembark, reclaiming your luggage… and then making your way from the airport to your final destination.

Train travel to Languedoc is quick: the fastest London-Montpellier journey time from November 14 will be just under seven hours. You can return to the UK by hopping on the train in Montpellier at midday and be back in the heart of London by 6pm (the high speed TGV train leaves Montpellier at 11.56, arriving at Lille where you change platforms and board the Eurostar, arriving at Saint Pancras at 17.58 local time).

Travelling to Languedoc by train is very convenient: when you get on the train in London, you're already in the city centre: ditto when you get off at Montpellier.

Train travel to Languedoc is less hassle, baggage-wise: there are little or no restrictions regarding security, baggage weight, number of pieces of baggage, size of baggage, transporting liquids and so on - what a relief!

6OK, train prices are not as cheap as planes, but if you book far enough in advance, they're not exorbitant: prices for a London-Montpellier return journey booking two months in advance can be as low as £158.50

The BEST way to travel by train from London to Montpellier (Languedoc) is via Lille; you step off one train, cross the platform and board another – as simple as un, deux, trois!

Frequent travellers on Eurostar can benefit from special offers and reduced prices: try getting that with a low-cost, no-frills airline.

Take the train to Languedoc and kiss goodbye to flights at ungodly hours (Ryanair’s Stansted flight to Montpellier departs at the ridiculous hour of 06.05 – which means that if you’re checking in a good hour before hand, you’ll be getting up in the middle of the night to schlep out to the wilds of Essex. No thanks.)

The clincher: you can’t fly British Airways from London Gatwick to Montpellier in the winter, even if you wanted to: they suspend their service from October round to April.