Since the direct route goes over Scandinavia and Siberia, and at least four airlines fly it, you'll have to go out of your way. For a week, it's probably worth it.

Do you plan to go across Europe and Asia or (quite a bit longer, almost certainly more expensive) North America? If it's Europe/Asia, North American beaches won't help.

I'd probably take a non-stop to from London to Nice, spend the time in southern France, then connect from there to a non-stop from Paris. (Choose from JAL, ANA, AF.) There are enough NCE-CDG flights to keep your CDG stop as short as you want.