Our top four trips for sunshine in winter, and how to get there by train

Has the winter cold got you daydreaming about some sun? Feeling conflicted because you know that we need to stop flying if we're going to keep climate chaos at bay?

Well don’t worry - you don’t need to fly at all. Here are four gorgeous sunny destinations you can travel to from the UK by train:

1.Nice & the South of France

The south of France is a classic summer location for Brits, but the winter months still see plenty of sunshine, and it's easy to get there by train. Simply hop on a train at London St Pancras international down to Paris Gare du Nord, transfer to Paris Gare de Lyon and lay back and relax, taking in the beautiful French scenery to arrive in Nice Ville that same day.

Example journey from London:

  • 09:24: Depart from London St Pancras (via Eurostar, 2h23)

  • 12:47: Arrive at Paris Gare du Nord

  • Transfer to Paris Gare de Lyon (via RER D, 8m)

  • 13:54: Depart Paris Gare de Lyon (via TGV inOui, 6h4m)

  • 19:58: Arrive at Nice Ville

Once you’re in Nice, you can catch local trains all along the French Riviera for day trips to Menton, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Ezé.

2. Italy

Fancy having breakfast in England, lunch in France and Dinner in Italy? Take the Eurostar to Lille before changing at Lyon Part Dieu, taking in the beautiful french scenery. Then sit back and relax as you head into Italy, arriving in Milan in time for dinner (ok, it'd be a late dinner - but this is still dinner time in Southern Europe).

Example journey from London:

  • 11:04: Depart from London St Pancras International (via Eurostar to Amsterdam, 1h 22m)

  • 13:26: Arrive at Lille Europe and transfer trains

  • 14:02: Depart Lille Europe (Via TGV to Marseille, 2hr 58m)

  • 17:00: Arrive at Lyon Part Dieu and transfer trains

  • 17:20: Depart Lyon Part Dieu (Via FR to Milano Centrale, 4hr 47m)

  • 22:07: Arrive in Milano Centrale


3. Barcelona

Another summer favourite for Brits, Barcelona is also on our top list for winter getaways. Not only is it easy to get to by train, but the temperatures are mild (average 14-15°C), and the days are dry and sunny.

Take the Eurostar to Gare du Nord and take in the sights of Paris (perhaps stopping for a croissant or a glass of wine) on your way to Gare du Lyon and take the train to Barcelona.

Example journey from London:

  • 10:22: Depart from London St Pancras International (via Eurostar, 2h, 25m)

  • 13:47: Arrive at Gare Du Nord and transfer to Gare De Lyon (via RER, 8m)

  • 14:54: Depart from Gare De Lyon (via TGV, 6h 31m)

  • 21:25: Arrive in Barcelona-Sants

One of the great things about slow travel is it helps us appreciate (and is a good excuse to see) so many more places than just our destination. As they say, it’s about the journey not the destination. So why not make the most of the beautiful scenery that slow journies afford and go all the way to Morocco.

4. Morocco

Once you’re in Barcelona you’ve already taken in 3 major European cities but for even more of an adventure, you could then take a high-speed train to Algeciras, where you can get a transfer bus to Tarifa and the ferry to Tangier. From here you can go on to Casablanca, Fez, and Marrakech. That’s right you can now get to another continent by train in just two days. Aren’t trains great!

Wish you had more time to get to your holiday destination overland? Speak to your employer about Climate Perks, the employee benefits scheme where staff get paid ‘journey days’ on top of annual leave for flight free holiday travel.

Climate Perks, aviationLucia Skelton