eurostar from London-1 day in paris

Can we pick up a day sightseeing trip at rail station? 2 adults who do not speak any french. Local tour companies? Book ahead?

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You can make your way to one of the offices of the major Paris tour operators (I don%26#39;t think they make pick-ups at Gare du Nord) that offer escorted full and half-day tours

PARIS VISION-- http://www.parisvision.com/fr/index.cfm

CITYRAMA (owned by Grey Line, which operates as GOLDEN TOURS / Frame Rickards in London, so you may be able to pre-purchase tickets there)

http://www.graylineparis.com/

You may be better off with one of the %26#39;..hop-on / hop-off..%26#39; double decker tour buses that make %26#39;circuits%26#39; of Paris (like thebroown %26amp; tan BIG BUS and red %26amp; white, The ORIGINAL TOUR buses in London). These buses make regular inter-connected and transferable %26#39;circuits%26#39; of the city and sights, with %26#39;..taped..%26#39; commentary (occasionally difficult to hear in traffic) as you go.

But bear in mind that Paris is a farly compact city and with a good Paris streetmap (STREETWISE MAPS--work equally well for London) and a bit of pre-orientation, you can easily make your way around via a combination of Metro, bus and from an emminence no higher than the heels of a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Paris is a city that simply demands to be walked around. You can purchase a one-day MOBILIS pass for Zone 1-2 for 5,40 €uro at a Metro ticket window on the lower level of Gare du Nord. Thhis pass will be good for ALL public transportation (RER, Metro, buses, funicular up to Sacre Coeur) within Paris for that calendar-day.

L%26#39; OPEN TOURS--

http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm

STREETWISE MAPS-- (readily available at US mega-bookstores)

http://www.streetwisemaps.com/index.html

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I second KDKSAIL%26#39;s suggestion of doing some pre-planning and then using the public transportation and one%26#39;s feet to sightsee.

I did the one-day-in-Paris thing last year, and had a great time. The Gare du Nord is, of course, well connected to the subway system, which is very easy to navigate. I%26#39;m not a fan of tours, but I can see where it might be useful to gain one%26#39;s bearings.

Have fun.