Getting to Northern Tuscany

By Air

The closest international airport is Pisa with direct scheduled services from the UK via London's Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton airports. There are also services from Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Coventry. Glasgow and other regional airports as well as services from many other European cities. As an alternative it is sometime possible to find flights into the, smaller and more distant, airport at Florence.

Alternative airports within a couple of hours drive include Bologna (not Forli Bologna which isn't really near anywhere) and Genoa.

Intercontinental flights into Italy usually arrive in Rome or Milan. There are frequent connecting flights from both airports to Pisa.

By Car

There an infinite number of routes from the UK to Tuscany, each with their own merits and problems. We drive out several times a year and this is the way we go:

Cross the English Channel/ La Manche/La Manica Dover-Calais, either by ferry or Eurotunnel and then travel via Belgium and Luxembourg, re-entering France to the west of Strasbourg. This route avoids high French motorway tolls until the last 30 miles. Stay overnight near or in Strasbourg (a nice city) and the following day enter Germany and then into Switzerland at Basle. You can stay in France and enter Basle via the A35 but as it seems likely that connection between that road and the motorways to the south of Basle are never going to be finished this frequently involves a trip through Basle city centre. To use Swiss motorways you will need a Swiss carnet (40sf) which is valid for a calendar year. You can buy these at the Swiss border (they take euro and credit cards) or in advance via the AA/RAC in the UK.

Pass through Switzerland, take the Gottard tunnel (or the pass if it's open) through the Alps and enter Italy near Como. Proceed south, pass Milan using the Tangentiale Ovest, then take the A1 toward Bologna, the A16 towards La Spezia, the A12 towards Livorno and then the A11 to Lucca.

The more direct route through France and the Mont Blanc tunnel can cut several hours off the time needed but greatly increase the cost with road and tunnel tolls.

Toll queues can become very long in holiday periods. In both France and Italy you can use any common credit card in the credit card lane and this will save a lot of time.

By Train

Probably for the enthusiast only. Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris, sleeper or couchette overnight from Paris Lyon to Pisa. 15 hours +

By Coach

There are coach services from London Victoria coach station to Florence. Probably suitable only if you don't like flying or travel by train. Low-cost airlines are frequently less expensive than this.

Walking, Cycling, Horseback etc

Google Via Francigena for details!

Links:

European Railway timetables- Train timetables, fare plans and route maps for trains anywhere in Europe, including Italy, the UK and all points between. We use this all the time and can't recommend this site highly enough (Multiple languages)

Lazzi - The local bus company. For timetables and other information (Italian/English)

The Bridge Hotel - Our recommended hotel in Bagni di Lucca. You can view details, read user reviews and book online.

Venere - Excellent hotel booking service (English)