Iv'e got the perfect one for you Steve, INTERRAIL PASS, iv'e just travelled around France using the Interrrail, First Class, My Trip on a 4 day [i don't have to use the four day pass everyday, i can spread it over a month] Pass which cost me £296 for first class train Travel.......... arrived at St Pancrass, then caught the Euro Star to Paris first class, switched Stations in Paris and then caught the train To Bordeaux first class, i arrived in Bordeaux and stopped in an Air B&B for 40 euros.
My train Travels then took me along the Garonne, i wanted to see the Aquaducts along the Garonne and the water slope at Montech [only one in the world], this then took me to Toulouse where the Canal Garonne becomes the du Midi Canal which takes you to Sete on the Eastern side of France into the Med. The idea of the two Canals across France was to link the two Sea's, the Atlantic and the Med and take trade accross France by Boat instead of having to go around Spain. It is called The Two Seas Canal.
I then travelled back to Bordeaux from Toulouse and then went to La Rochelle, mainly to visit IL De Re on the West Coast of France, i stopped in Booking.com Appartments. I then Travelled Back to Paris and stopped over, then caught the Eurostar back to St Pancras and then back home to Derbyshire.............all first class travel for £296.
Interrail, you can buy different Train Passes, 4 days, 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, 15 days, 22 days, 1 month, 2 month and 3 month, so if you buy the 3 month train pass, you can travel everyday on the train in 33 different European Countries all day if you want for 3 months.
You can buy either first class or second class travel, i bought the 4 day pass as a taster but i managed to travel first class on the eurostar and i worked out that some days i would only be doing short Journey's on the train so i paid seperate and didn't need use a pass, there are a few restrictions, you are only allowed one Outward journey and one inward Journey from your own Country [so basically you cannot use all your travel days in GB] and some countries you have to book your train seat extra [France being one, only on the TGV i think?]
It does seem a little daunting Steve, but trust me it's so easy to use. Of to Norfolk Sunday.