Travel warning issued for British tourists as France plunged into chaos amid looming widespread strikes

Before going abroad, Britons are advised to check the latest travel advice for their chosen destination

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Lewis Henderson

By Lewis Henderson


Published: 09/09/2025

- 18:39

The Eurostar is expected to run normally

A travel warning has been issued for France amid looming widespread strikes against the French President Emmanuel Macron.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) alerted Britons to the strikes, with two planned across the course of September.


The FCDO said: "Calls for strikes and demonstrations across France on Wednesday, September 10, and Thursday, September 18, could make disruption more likely.

"Monitor local news and check with your travel provider regarding potential delays."

Eurostar services are expected to run normally, but domestic rail services within France are expected to be seriously disrupted.

The strikes come as part of the "Block Everything" movement, which has grown in popularity since May.

An estimated 100,000 people are planning on protesting on September 10, with 80,000 police personnel set to be deployed.

Protesters plan to target airports, train stations and highways with blockades and acts of sabotage.

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Posters have been seen across Paris about the strike\u200b

Posters have been seen across Paris about the strike

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REUTERS

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned that the day of unrest could turn into an "insurrectional climate" and spiral out of control.

The Interior Minister said France "will not tolerate any blockage, any violence".

While he "understands the anger... the anger cannot be vented in the streets".

The Paris Police Prefecture, Laurent Nunez, echoed the warning from Mr Retailleau.

Mr Nunez said: "It's a movement that doesn't really have any organisers, it's a general call with a multitude of actions, and we see that the call has been taken up by the ultra-left and far-left movements who are calling for rather harsh actions."

Trade unions are set to strike on September 18, in a month of chaos for the French President Emmanuel Macron.

Several railway unions have supported the strikes, with multiple flights expected to be cancelled due to excessive delays.

The former French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's financial plan is at the centre of the anger that sparked the protests.

\u200bShops in Paris prepare for the protests

Shops in Paris prepare for the protests

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REUTERS

He pledged to cut €44billion (£38.1billion) from the national budget to reduce France's deficit.

He also pledged to abolish two national holidays, freeze pensions and cut €5billion (£4.3billion) in health spending.

His Government lasted just nine months, making him the third Prime Minister to step down in the past year.

The French National Assembly voted 364 to 194 to remove Mr Bayrou from office and bring down Mr Macron's minority Government.

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