A few notes about traveling to Bordeaux and the city itself.

1} Euro Star to Lille {much easier to change trains at Lille than Paris where you have to change stations} then TGV to Bordeaux. While buying the tickets, you can get very reasonably priced returns from St Pancras to Gloucester including Cross London Tube tickets - these are only available as Eurostar add-ons.

2} If you fly to Bordeaux from perhaps Gatwick with BA, there is a tram line station at the airport and travel costs are 0ne Euro forty cents for an hour's travel - more than enough to get you into the city centre.

3} Try to stay in the old town it is much nicer than some of the more industrialised areas. Novotel and Ibis among many others are situated there.

4} For a drink there is the Frog & Rostbif in Rue Ausone - microbrewery on the premesis and good pub grub style food.

5} If you fancy a change from Rugby Bordeaux Boxers are a top notch Ice Hockey team.

6} The UBB stadium is a fair way out from the old town, a good hour's walk or bus ride, no trams go very close.