A charm offensive was organised yesterday at the Mandarin Oriental’s Bar Boulud in London to launch the first direct Eurostar train between London and Lyon due to start on the 1st May 2015.

Alain Galliano, Vice President of Lyon Metropole and Lionel Flasseur, the Director of ONLYLYON in partnership with Eurostar welcomed guests, friends of Lyon, with regional delicacies and wines in one of the 18 restaurants opened by Lyon’s very own Daniel Boulud, one of New York’s most respected French chefs.

The event was a unique opportunity to promote Lyon to Londoners so they become “Addicted to Lyon”!

The ONLYLYON programme is designed to promote Lyon abroad and has a network of over 19,000 ambassadors and 2,600 active abroad.

There are many reasons to visit Lyon. In 2014 it was ranked the first city in Europe for a “city break” by the Telegraph and the 3rd favourite destination for international travellers by TripAdvisor.

In her blog, Anouk Jouve explains her own 25 reasons to visit Lyon.

The new direct Eurostar train will link St Pancras station in London to Lyon centre town in just 4.5 hours without any of the airport hassles.

Visit http://www.onlylyon.org for more information.