eurostar paris to london travel update

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Eurostar warns of delays as London trains resume after flooding

Eurostar warned customers travelling from London on Sunday of potential delays after flooding forced the cancellation of all Saturday trains. The first Eurostar train left London St Pancras International shortly after 8:00 am (0800 GMT).

Issued on: 31/12/2023 - 15:35

US tourist Mollie Burpo, 46, travelling to Paris with her family, said they had watched Saturday's travel chaos nervously but that the queue was "fast" and "well organised".

Engineers have brought water in two tunnels in Kent in southern England under control meaning that at least one tunnel was useable, Eurostar said.

But it cautioned that "there will be some speed restrictions in place in the morning which may lead to delays and stations are expected to be very busy".

The company operates services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

It announced late Saturday that all scheduled trains would run on Sunday after an estimated over 30,000 people were impacted by the last-minute cancellations.

We're able to confirm that we'll be running our planned timetable tomorrow. Our stations will be extremely busy due to today's disruption. If you're traveling tomorrow and would like to travel on an alternative date or request a refund, you can do so here https://t.co/WhdZ5Q4pi2 — Eurostar (@Eurostar) December 30, 2023

Travellers were left stranded on mainland Europe while those at St Pancras scrambled to find hotel rooms or make alternative travel arrangements.

Some tourists said their New Year holiday plans had been "ruined".

A spokesman for HS1, which runs the route between London and the Channel Tunnel, said flooding was being resolved and "the HS1 line will be operational in the morning".

"We understand how frustrating this has been for passengers and apologise for the inconvenience caused at such an important time of the year."

The company has not revealed what initially caused the flooding which began Friday night when water filled tunnels near Ebbsfleet International in Kent, blocking the high-speed rail line.

The spokesman said the cause of the flooding will be investigated, but added that there was no evidence to suggest it was caused by a burst pipe feeding the tunnel's fire safety system as had previously been suggested by a water company.

Footage shot in the tunnel had shown water gushing from a pipe and submerging the tracks.

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Eurostar delay: Passengers report delays of seven hours as services grind to a halt

The Eurostar service has faced significant delays in the last couple of weeks

• Updated 22:14, 5 JUN 2022

Passengers hoping to board the Eurostar from London to Paris have been experiencing delays once again today (June 5). There are unconfirmed reports that passengers are unable to travel due to a problem with the overhead power supply near the French capital.

In scenes similar to the travel chaos at the Eurostar last week, there are pictures of long queues, with some passengers reporting waits of up to seven hours before leaving the UK capital for Paris. One passenger complained on Twitter saying: "Stuck on the Eurostar to Paris and the sandwiches onboard might be worse than the 7-hour delay."

There have been strong thunderstorms throughout the French capital, which is thought to have possibly damaged the power supply, causing delays to travel between the two countries.

MyLondon has contacted Eurostar for comment.

For all the latest news and updates on the going Eurostar delays, read our blog below.

That's a wrap on our live coverage

Thanks for joining us today for our coverage of travel chaos on the Eurostar. Here is a recap of what happened:

• Passengers planning to use the Eurostar into and out of London reported delays of up to eight hours long today (June 5)
• There were queues on both sides of the border following disruption to power supplies in the French capital
• Eurostar strongly advised passengers not to travel
• One passenger had to wait on a train for five hours
• Back-up trains arrived to deal with the backlog this evening

Delays continue into this evening

Passengers travelling on the Eurostar today (June 5) have been faced with severe delays both into and out of London.

Some passengers have reported long queues and delays of up to eight hours. A spokesperson for Eurostar told MyLondon: "Due to a problem with the overhead power supply near Paris, Eurostar services to and from Paris are subject to delays and cancellations today."

Delays have continued into this evening, with trains due to depart over an hour ago reportedly not yet boarded.

#eurostar updates Paris Nord. 20.13: Train is almost ready and will board soon. 21.13: No boarding until a train is found and prepared If you are on the 21.13 ask for staff at checkin booths or departure gates, they may be able to change your ticket for the 20.13 — Eurostar Insights (unofficial) (@eurostar_help) June 5, 2022

Extra train arrives to help with delays

An extra train has arrived at Paris Nord after a day of delays. Some passengers have reported delays of up to eight hours, with some services cancelled.

A spokesperson for Eurostar told MyLondon that broken power supplies in Paris is to blame.

#eurostar updates An extra train has arrived at Paris nord, so delay for the 19.13 service will probably be only 2-3h The 20.13 and 21.13 still require extra trains from London to arrive, so not departing before 22:00. — Eurostar Insights (unofficial) (@eurostar_help) June 5, 2022

Trains from this morning have finally departed

A train leaving Paris Nord for London from around 11am this morning has finally departed, with one from just after midday also now boarding.

It comes after reports of delays of up to eight hours from some passengers, with journeys between London and Paris heavily disrupted due to damaged power supplies in Paris.

One service has been cancelled entirely.

#eurostar Updates from Paris Nord: 11.13: departed with 6h delay 12.13: boarding, est. delay 6h 13.13, 15.13, 16.13: cancelled 16.43, 17.13 : open for checkin, est. delay 2h 18.13: check-in opening in 30min following: pending — Eurostar Insights (unofficial) (@eurostar_help) June 5, 2022

Delays continue despite traffic moving slowly

A spokesperson for Eurostar told MyLondon that traffic has begun to move, albeit slowly. Despite this, passengers are still experiencing hours of delays.

One user wrote on Twitter: "My eurostar is at 6pm today and apparently delayed until 9.15 pm?" Another user took to social media to complain, saying: "Had a 5 hour delay at CDG this morning after Air France tried to send us to India (because why not!) then only to book Eurostar tickets and be heavily delayed at #GareDuNord too. In total we’ve been in Paris since 8am (8hrs!!) and not moved a bit. Due home about 12hrs late!!"

Trains starting to leave Paris to London

After delays of up to seven hours, Eurostar trains heading for London have reportedly started heading for London.

#eurostar Updates: The 9.13 and 10.13 trains have now left Paris Nord station with ~7h delay. 11.13 and 12.13 services are currently boarding in order. Once this is complete the late afternoon trains (16.43 and so on) will also open for boarding and depart with some delay (1-2h) — Eurostar Insights (unofficial) (@eurostar_help) June 5, 2022

Passengers waiting on train for five hours

Passengers at Gare du Nord heading for London have been stuck on their train for five hours, according to reports on social media. Other passengers have reported delays of up two seven hours and little communication from Eurostar.

A spokesperson for Eurostar told MyLondon that passengers have been advised not to travel, though traffic is slowly starting to move once again. The delays are due to power supply problems in Paris.

@Eurostar @EurostarUK 5 hour delay SO FAR on our 7 hours SO FAR in total stuck at #GareduNord Happysunday pic.twitter.com/O28g1jlOnz — Mrs Taylor (@MayKl83) June 5, 2022

Official statement from Eurostar

A spokesperson for Eurostar told MyLondon: "Due to a problem with the overhead power supply near Paris, Eurostar services to and from Paris are subject to delays and cancellations today.

"Traffic is slowly starting to resume at this point.

"We advise passengers not to travel today and to postpone their journey if it is not essential."

Eurostar strongly advises passengers not to travel

The Eurostar Twitter account has strongly advised passengers not to travel due to overhead power supply problems near Paris.

UPDATE: Due to a problem with overhead power supply near Paris, #ES9032 , #ES9040 , #ES9031 and #9039 are also cancelled. If you are booked on these services, visit https://t.co/dj5JOX2UvF to exchange. We strongly urge NOT to travel today and to postpone to alternative date. Thanks — Eurostar (@Eurostar) June 5, 2022

Queues on both sides of the border

Passengers have been experiencing queues of up to seven hours heading both into and out of London. Ryan Hale said on Twitter: "Absolute farce at Paris GDN - 7hr delays and no attempt to keep passengers properly updated."

Passengers report recent delays on Eurostar in and out of London

Passengers currently waiting in long queues to get on the Eurostar in London heading to Paris have said that it is the second set of delays this week. One Twitter user said: "Travelling from Paris to London today via the @Eurostar @EurostarUK ! What a nightmare!! Delays on the Thursday coming over and now on the way back!! Sort it out!!"

Reports of families with small children queuing for six hours

One passenger has said that there are families with small children that have been waiting to get on the Eurostar for six hours.

@Discoblenny on Twitter said that she has had to breastfeed three times in the queue.

Thanks for the great support during this delay @Eurostar . Just kidding, Twitter has provided updates while there’s been complete silence at the station. Loads of families with small children waiting for six hours now. I’ve breastfed in this queue 3x. Total disaster. pic.twitter.com/WkWcbQfI5L — discoblenny (@discoblenny) June 5, 2022

Welcome to our live coverage

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the ongoing delays to the Eurostar, with passengers reporting delays of up to seven hours. Stay tuned for more updates.

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Eurostar cancels dozens of trains due to France general strike

London-paris services disrupted, article bookmarked.

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Eurostar has cancelled 21 trains on Thursday and Friday (19 and 20 January) due to the general strike in France.

France’s rail network and Paris’ Metro system will see many services suspended on Thursday, as part of the nationwide industrial action.

French unions called on their members to walk out on 19 January in protest about government plans to make people work longer before they can retire .

The French rail operator SNCF said that only one in three to one in five high-speed TGV lines will be running on Thursday, and only one in 10 local TER trains.

Eurostar services between London and Paris, Lille and Amsterdam will operate, but with 20 services struck from the schedule across Thursday and Friday.

Services are affected all day on Thursday, while the first trains of the day on Friday are seeing disruption due to knock-on effects from the strike.

Trains cancelled from London to Paris

Thursday: 06.31, 08.58, 12.31, 15.31, 16.31, 18.25, 19.31

Friday: 06.31

Trains cancelled from Paris to London

Thursday: 07.13, 08.43, 11.13, 17.13, 18.13, 19.13, 21.13

Friday: 07.13

Trains cancelled from Brussels to London

Thursday: 17.56

Trains cancelled from London to Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam

Thursday: 15.04, 18.01

Trains cancelled from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, Brussels, Lille and London

Thursday: 16.47, 18.47

A statement on the Eurostar website said: “There will be a general strike in France on 19 January, involving demonstrations and widespread disruption in multiple sectors. The strike will have an impact on the availability of some of our crew and the opening hours on the high-speed line we use in northern France.

“There will also be a knock-on effect on 20 January. This means we’ll be running a revised timetable on 19 and 20 January.”

It added that customers whose service is cancelled will be able to exchange their booking to travel at a different time and/or date in the same class, free of charge.

They may also cancel their booking and claim a Eurostar e-voucher, which will be valid for 12 months, or cancel from the vendor they bought their ticket from and claim a full refund.

Travel between the UK and France is doubly disrupted today as Dover-Calais ferry services are also suspended due to the general strike.

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Train Review: Eurostar Standard Premier Paris to London

Posted by Takeoff To Travel | Mar 3, 2024 | Commentary , Reviews and Reports | 0

After we visited the Loire Valley in France a friend and I were going to visit London. We booked the last train of the night leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 9:12 pm to London St. Pancras on Eurostar, as our train to Paris from the Loire Valley got back to a different station, Paris Austerlitz, around 7:32 pm. It was a tighter connection than I would have wanted, to leave a buffer for any delays, but it all worked out.

Our train was a 2-hour and 18-minute ride and the route from Paris to London is 305 miles. The Eurostar is said to travel through the Channel Tunnel at 100 mph and outside the tunnel it can reach speeds up to 186 miles per hour.

Eurostar Train

Pricing and Products

For our train which was the last of the night, if you were to book a one-way ticket a few months in advance it was going for $100 USD for Standard, $130 USD for Standard Premier, and $433 USD for Business Premier. If you book last minute, prices do generally increase quite a bit, and the day of pricing was $260 USD for Standard, $305 for Standard Premier, and $433 USD for Business Premier. So, it seems Business Premier doesn’t change in price.

Standard and Standard Premier both come with 2 pieces of luggage + 1 hand luggage. But, Standard Premier has more spacious seats (1-2 configuration, versus 2-2 in standard), as well as a light meal and drinks served to your seat.

Lastly, Business Premier has the same seating as Standard Premier, but 3 pieces of luggage + plus 1 hand luggage, Hot meals designed by Raymond Blanc, served with champagne at your seat, Dedicated fast-track ticket gates, and lounge access in London, Paris and Brussels and access to NS International lounges in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

If you were using a Eurail Pass like we were, seat reservations are required and there is an additional fee with Eurostar. With a first-class pass, you can reserve a Standard Premier seat for 40 EUR, or a Standard seat for 32 EUR. Since it was just 8 EUR more to do Standard Premier, we decided to do that. We were able to choose our seats online at booking, and we grabbed one with a table in between.

At the Paris Gare du Nord Station

The website says that ticket gates close 30 minutes before departure for Standard and Standard Premier Passengers, and 15 minutes for Premier Business Passengers.

Once we got to the station, we decided to grab some dinner at the Five Guys in the main part of the station. Unlike just hopping on a domestic train in France, you do need to go through border control and security when riding the Eurostar to London. So, we headed to the Eurostar ticket gates about 45 minutes before departure and scanned our tickets. Then, we cleared customs for France, and then the United Kingdom. After we went through an airport-style security check, but you could bring larger liquids, unlike the airport.

Eurostar Lines

Past security, there are a few shops and food options, but not a ton. I’d recommend grabbing food from the main station itself, before getting to the secure area. 

We started boarding when they opened the gates, which was 20 minutes or so before the scheduled departure. Our seats were in Car #2, and Standard Premier is set up in a 2-1 configuration. We had the individual seats facing each other with a table in between which was nice.

Our Standard Premier Seats

There are a variety of seat configurations, with single seats without a table in the middle which is probably best for solo travellers, to standard two-seaters for couples, and then two seaters facing one another with a table which could be good for families.

Standard Premier Seating

Two Seaters in Standard Premier without a table

Standard Premier Food Service

Shortly after we left Paris, the train attendants came down the aisle to offer a drink and meal.

During breakfast hours, the meal consists of a pastry, yogurt, and juice, with a cup of tea or coffee. For lunch and dinner, you’ll be served a choice between two light dishes plus a dessert, with a soft drink, wine or beer, plus tea or coffee.

Since our train had a dinner service, the menu included a choice between

• Responsibly sourced salmon, Burgundy lentil, leek and parsnip salad, lemon sauce.
• Leek, mushroom, and parmesan quiche, celeriac, carrot, and apple salad

And it came with a chocolate fondant for dessert.

I got the salmon and my travel companion got the quiche so we could sample both. We agreed the salmon was better. It wasn’t great, but definitely edible and not a bad snack for a train ride.

Salmon Dish

Quiche Dish

They then came by with tea, which was a nice touch to end the meal.

Wi-Fi and Power Outlets

The WiFi was quite spotty the whole train ride. It would come and go, but I suppose it was better than nothing. I wouldn’t expect to get any work done though, or be able to stream.

They had a power outlet located next to my seat, but no USB charging.

I used the lavatory once and it was located at the end of our car. It was relatively clean as far as trains go, and quite spacious, so no complaints here. There was an automatic faucet as well.

The Verdict

Overall, the Eurostar from Paris Gare du Nord to London St. Pancras was a solid ride. I liked the Standard Premier seating with a 2-1 configuration and enjoyed how they served a small meal.

Have you taken the Eurostar before from Paris to London? How was your experience? Comment below!

Have any questions? Comment below or email me at  [email protected] . I’ve also started working with a travel agency,  Fora Travel , and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. You can also view all my other posts  here ! Thanks for stopping by!

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Hi everyone! The travel bug hit me at the age of eight on my first flight and ever since then I’ve loved planning vacations for my friends and family. My goal is to try out new hotel chains and sample the many airline cabins out there. Having been both a city boy and living in the suburbs, I love traveling to all destinations both big and small.

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Table of Contents

Destinations

Club eurostar, eurostar travel classes, lounge access, eurostar recapped.

Eurostar offers high-speed train travel between the U.K., Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany. Its trains can reach 186 mph, which means a train from London to Paris takes only 2 hours and 16 minutes. Eurostar merged with Thalys — another European high-speed train company — in 2023.

Taking a Eurostar train between these five countries can be more seamless than flying because you get a solid baggage allowance and don’t need to deal with airports, liquid restrictions in your carry-on and long security lines.

Here’s what you need to know about Eurostar’s destinations, cabin classes, lounges, loyalty program, amenities and pricing.

Eurostar offers direct train service to London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Netherlands. For all other destinations, you must connect to a different train, potentially with another carrier.

The fastest train journeys are the following:

Paris to Brussels - 1 hour, 22 minutes.

London to Lille, France - 1 hour, 22 minutes.

London to Brussels - 1 hour, 53 minutes.

Brussels to Amsterdam - 1 hour, 53 minutes.

London to Paris - 2 hours, 16 minutes.

London to Rotterdam - 3 hours, 13 minutes.

Paris to Amsterdam - 3 hours, 20 minutes.

Paris to Cologne - 3 hours, 20 minutes.

London to Amsterdam - 3 hours, 52 minutes.

Depending on where you’re headed, taking the train may take less total time than flying. For example, the train from London to Paris takes 2 hours and 16 minutes, while a flight takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. Though the train takes almost an hour longer, other factors involved with flying, including early airport arrival, travel time to/from the airport, security and boarding, make the train the faster option.

The Eurostar operates out of St. Pancras International Station, located in central London and easily accessible by several tube (underground) lines and buses. By contrast, London’s main airports, Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport, are located outside the city and can take an hour or more to get to depending on where you’re traveling from and your mode of transport.

Furthermore, Eurostar’s rules are arguably more traveler-friendly than those of airlines. On even the cheapest tickets, Eurostar allows adults to bring two pieces of luggage and one carry-on with no weight limit. Children can bring one piece of luggage and one carry-on.

You also don’t have to worry about paying for a seat or dealing with liquid restrictions. You can make fee-free changes to your ticket as many times as you like until seven days before departure. Ticket changes within seven days of departure incur a $40 fee unless you’re in Business Premier.

Club Eurostar is Eurostoar’s loyalty program and you can sign up for a free account to start earning points. You earn 1 point per $1 spent on Eurostar tickets. Train + hotel packages also earn points, albeit at a lower rate (1 point per $2).

Eurostar has four membership levels, and with each increasing level you earn more points on travel and get access to additional perks.

All levels can pool points with friends and family, use points to pay a portion of their tickets and upgrade their seats from Standard to Standard Premier/Comfort. If you’re going for elite status with Eurostar, the biggest advantages are companion vouchers, lounge access and priority benefits when traveling.

Rewards can be used for as low as 100 points on various experiences from free tickets to upgrades.

Standard cabin on the train from Amsterdam to Brussels. (Photo by Elina Geller)

Eurostar offers different travel classes, and these travel classes vary by destination. All trains offer Wi-Fi, but in my experience, the Wi-Fi has been awful, with upload and download speeds of less than 1 Mbps.

Trains to/from London

A Eurostar train to/from London offers three travel classes: Standard, Standard Premier and Business Premier. All seats offer U.K. and EU plug sockets. You can also choose your seat when traveling on this route.

Standard: This travel class offers the lowest priced tickets and food and drinks are available for purchase.

Standard Premier: You get free magazines and a more spacious seat, along with a light meal and drinks.

Business Premier: You get the same seat as in Standard Premier, plus additional perks including three pieces of luggage, a carry-on, hot meals created by Raymond Blanc OBE served with champagne, free newspapers and magazines and a dedicated fast-track ticket gate. You also get access to Eurostar lounges and NS International lounges.

Trains between Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany

Premium seats on the train from Brussels to Amsterdam. (Photo by Elina Geller)

When traveling between Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany, there are three travel classes: Standard, Comfort and Premium. All seats include EU plug sockets.

You also have access to Eurostar’s taxi booking service, which allows you to arrange transport to/from the train station. Unfortunately you cannot choose your seat when traveling between these destinations.

Standard : This travel class has the cheapest tickets. Food and drinks are not included but can be purchased onboard.

Comfort : You get a more spacious seat, but still need to pay for food and drinks. Comfort seats have access to premium Wi-Fi, but I found that Wi-Fi to be just as slow as in Standard class.

Premium : You have the same seat as in Comfort class and some additional perks including a gourmet cold meal served at your seat, access to Eurostar lounges and NS International lounges. 

The Eurostar amenities you receive depend on which class you travel in. You receive a complimentary meal in Premium, Standard Premier or Business Premier. Those in Business Premier (only available on London routes) receive three-course meals created in collaboration with Michelin-star chef Raymond Blanc OBE. Passengers in Premium get a meal designed by Belgian chef Frank Fol.

Passengers in other travel classes don’t receive a complimentary meal but can purchase drinks or snacks from the Eurostar Cafe.

Eurostar lounge in Brussels. (Photo by Elina Geller)

Travelers in Premium can visit the Eurostar lounge in Paris and Brussels, and NS International lounges in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Those traveling in Business Premier can use the lounge in London, Paris and Brussels.

Club Eurostar elites traveling on any fare class can access certain lounges depending on their elite status:

Avantage, Carte Blanche and Etoile members : Eurostar lounge in Brussels and Paris.

Carte Blanche and Etoile members : Eurostar lounge in London, Paris and Brussels; DB lounges in Cologne, Düsseldorf and Essen; NS International lounges in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Schiphol airport; Railteam lounges in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria.

Check each lounge’s information page for opening hours. Generally, you can expect to find various seating spaces, complimentary newspapers and magazines, free Wi-Fi as well as food and drinks to enjoy.

Eurostar allows you to book tickets up to 120 days in advance, and the sooner you book the better. You’ll generally find the cheapest tickets on Tuesday and Wednesday. Since you can change your ticket fee-free as many times as you want until seven days before departure, you might as well book as soon as possible.

There are also special or discounted fares for the following groups:

Children under age 4

Kids ages 4-11

Passengers under 26 or over 60

Travelers in a group

Wheelchair passengers and companions

The availability of discounts depends on your destination, so you’ll want to check Eurostar’s page for guidance.

If you have a credit card that earns travel rewards, you’ll want to use it for this purchase since trains are part of the travel category. Here’s a sampling of cards that earn extra rewards for travel and don’t charge foreign transaction fees.

on Chase's website

• 2 points per $1 spent on travel, including train travel.

• 3 points per $1 spent on travel, including train travel.

• 2 miles per $1 on every purchase.

• 3 points per $1 on transit, including train travel.

Terms apply.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

You can pay in U.S. dollars when buying Eurostar tickets online. However, if you plan to buy anything on board the train, and you’ll be in Europe anyways, you’ll want to use a card that waives foreign transaction fees .

» Learn more: Best travel credit cards

Is it cheaper to fly or take Eurostar?

The answer to this question depends on how far in advance you purchase your ticket, your day of travel, whether you need to pay for luggage, and the difference in costs between traveling to the airport and to a Eurostar train station.

Here’s a sampling of Eurostar fares in September 2024 from London to Paris.

Here’s a selection of flights from London to Paris on the same day.

Although the cheapest flight is $13 less than the train, bag fees are not included in that price. And since Eurostar stations are generally more centrally located, your overall cost may be cheaper on the train after factoring in a rideshare or taxi to the airport.

Eurostar offers a convenient way to travel between the U.K., Belgium, Netherlands, France and Germany. If you’re deciding whether to fly or take a Eurostar, factor in the cost, travel time (including the time spent getting to and from the airport, as well as the time spent at the airport) and how many bags you're bringing as part of your decision.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

The Man in Seat 61

A guide to Eurostar trains

London to paris & brussels.

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Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, what is eurostar .

Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train linking London with Paris, Lille & Brussels via the Channel Tunnel at up to 300km/h (186 mph).  It's been running since 1994.  Eurostar is 55% owned by SNCF French Railways, 5% by SNCB Belgian Railways & 40% originally by the UK government, but now sold to overseas investors.  Don't confuse Eurostar with Eurotunnel (Getlink) who own the Channel Tunnel and whose car-carrying trains shuttle vehicles across the Channel.  This page explains all you need to know about travel by Eurostar between London and Paris, Lille or Brussels.

UPDATE:  Eurostars will not call at Ebbsfleet or Ashford in 2024.

Planning your trip

Check-in, on board, the journey

Other eurostar routes, other eurostar information, eurostar routes, london to paris.

Eurostar runs from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord every hour or so, 7 days a week all year except Christmas Day.

London to Paris is 491.8 km or 305 miles.  Fastest journey time 2h15 non-stop.

Check train times at www.eurostar.com .

London to Lille & Brussels

Eurostar runs from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi every couple of hours.  Most Brussels-bound Eurostars call at Lille in northern France, the interchange for French TGV high-speed trains to destinations all over France, see the London to France page . 

London to Brussels is 373 km or 232 miles, typical journey time 2h01, fastest journey 1h48.  London to Lille is 266.5 km or 165 miles.

London to Rotterdam & Amsterdam

In April 2018 Eurostar started a new service from London St Pancras via Brussels to Rotterdam & Amsterdam Centraal .  See timetable, fares & information on the London to Amsterdam by Eurostar page .

Direct Eurostars to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, French Alps & Disneyland

Eurostar used to run a direct train from London to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille 1-4 times a week May-September, see the Eurostar to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille page .  However, this has not run since 2019.

There's a Eurostar ski train from London to Bourg St Maurice in the French Alps once a week in winter, although from winter 2023/24 this will involve a change in Lille onto a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) , see the Eurostar Ski Train page .

Eurostar also used to run a direct train from London to Marne la Vallée, the station right outside the entrance to Disneyland Paris, several times a week, daily in school holidays, but this was cancelled in June 2023, for more information see here .

Faster & more reliable than flying

90%-95% of Eurostar trains arrive on time or within 15 minutes, whilst competing short-haul flights typically manage only 65-70% measured by the same standard.  From central London to central Paris, Eurostar is faster than flying, as well as more comfortable and convenient.  Not surprisingly, Eurostar has now captured over 70% of the London-Paris market from the airlines.

Eurostar fares

How to find the cheapest fares.

Fares from London to Paris or Brussels start at £52 one-way or £78 return.

Standard Premier (1st class) fares start at £115 one-way, £199 return.

Fares work like air fares.  Prices increase as departure date approaches and the cheaper seats sell out, so book early.  For example, standard class starts at £52 booked several months ahead but rises up to around £200 if you buy on the day.  Popular dates, days & trains will have higher fares (or fewer cheap tickets available) than less popular dates, days or trains.

Booking usually opens 6 months ahead.

Eurostar booking can in fact open up to 11 months ahead, but if you look many months ahead the data is often incomplete, departures may be missing or on certain dates no trains show up.  The missing trains usually appear in due course.

If you're going beyond Paris or Brussels, I recommend waiting until onward bookings open (typically 3 or 4 months ahead) & confirm onward trains before committing to a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.  Unless you're prepared to take a calculated risk.

Tip:   The 2 or 3 daily Eurostars from London to Brussels which go on to Amsterdam only open for sale to Brussels passengers 60 days ahead.  The solution if you want one of these trains?  Book to Amsterdam, get off in Brussels!

How to find the cheapest Eurostar tickets

You can check fares & train times at www.eurostar.com .  For the cheapest fares, book well in advance - usually a maximum of 6 months ahead - and avoid busy Friday or Sunday afternoon trains when there are fewer cheap seats.  In fact, Eurostar have now said explicitly that the cheapest £78 return fares will only be found between midday Monday & midnight Thursday, and between midday and midnight on Saturday.  The cheapest return tickets require a Saturday night away.  One-ways start at £52 any day of the week.

Tip: The Eurostar website has a cheap fare-finder page which shows which dates offer the cheapest fares, a useful feature, but well hidden!  www.eurostar.com/uk-en/find-lowest-fares .

Refunds & changes to travel plans

Standard & Standard Premier tickets are non-refundable, but can be changed to another time or date without any change fee, just paying any difference in fare, until a full 7 days before departure.

Within 7 days of departure, you must pay a £30 fee in Standard class or £40 fee in Standard Premier plus the difference in fare.

In the fares chart below, fares shown with a from in front vary like air fares, rising as departure date approaches, with limited availability at each price level.  The fares shown without a 'from' do not increase like this, and are what you'll pay as long as there are seats left - except for railpass holder fares which are limited by a quota.

If you have to travel at short notice

Like airline tickets, Eurostar can be expensive if not booked well in advance. 

If heading to Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and so on, it may be cheaper to use the Stena Line Rail & Sail from London to Hoek van Holland plus onward train tickets as this is often very affordable even booked just 24 hours before departure.

One-way & open jaw fares

Eurostar's return fares are cheaper than two one-ways, so always book a round trip as return rather than two one-ways.

This is different from most European train fares, where a return is simply twice the one-way fare so you can book one way at a time without penalty.

There are no open jaw return fares for Eurostar, for example out London to Paris, back Brussels to London.  You need to buy one-way tickets for this, which costs more than a return to just one destination.  So avoid making open jaw journeys on Eurostar if you can.

Children & babies

Unlike airlines, children under 4 go free on Eurostar, no ticket is required, just bring them along with their passports.  A special child fare applies to children from 4 to 11 inclusive.  Children 12 & over travel at the youth fare.

All children under 12 must travel accompanied by an adult, and unaccompanied children from 12 to 16 require a consent form signed by their parent or guardian.  See www.eurostar.com for details.

Interrail & Eurail passes on Eurostar

You use Interrail & Eurail passes on Eurostar on payment of a passholder fare, for prices & how to book see here .

How to buy tickets

If you're only using Eurostar, not onward trains further into Europe, buy tickets at either www.eurostar.com or www.sncf-connect.com , with no booking fee.

Eurostar bookings normally open up to 6 months before departure, sometimes more.

You print your own tickets or can load them into the Eurostar app on your phone, or can collect them from the machines at the station.

After paying, you can return to the www.eurostar.com home page, click on Manage Booking at the top of the page and use your booking reference and surname to find your booking and if desired, change your allocated seats.  Tips on choosing a specific seat on Eurostar .

If you have an Interrail or Eurail pass, you can buy a Eurostar passholder ticket online as shown here .

Buying tickets beyond Paris or Brussels

If you are going beyond Paris or Brussels, for example from London to the South of France, Spain or Italy, it's best to book Eurostar and your onward train tickets together in one place at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com .  The relevant page of this website will explain how best to buy tickets for your specific route & destination.

Eurostar bookings usually open 6 months before departure, but reservations for most other European trains only open 3 or 4 months ahead.  I strongly recommend waiting until onward bookings open so you can confirm onward train times before committing to a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.  Timings for onward trains can sometimes change on specific dates because of engineering work.

After buying Eurostar tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com you can select seats on Eurostar using the Manage Booking link at www.eurostar.com , just as if you had booked direct with Eurostar.  Tips on choosing a specific seat on Eurostar .

See the Train travel to Europe page for more about how to buy European train tickets.  How to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi .  Advice on changing trains in Brussels .

If your journey starts outside London

Eurostar with an interrail or eurail pass.

To book a Eurostar passholder fare with an Interrail or Eurail pass, see here .

To buy tickets by phone

Call  03432 186 186 in the UK or +44 1233 617575 from overseas.

Eurostar's UK telesales office is open 08:00-19:00 on Mondays-Fridays and 09:00-17:00 weekends & holidays. 

Tickets can be sent to you by email to print or show on your phone.

There's a £10 phone booking fee, although no fee is charged to those buying Business Premier tickets.

Back to top

Video guide

The video shows a Eurostar e320.  Some journeys are operated by refurbished e300 trains.

Eurostar's 3 classes explained

Standard class.

Also known as 2nd class, standard class is comfortable, carpeted and air-conditioned, some seats unidirectional, a few around tables for four, ideal for families or friends.  All seats have an individual reading light and fixed or drop-down table, there is free WiFi and all seats have power sockets.  You'll have access to the two cafe-bar cars, or you can bring their own food & drink on board.  Standard class seats on the e320 and refurbished e300 trains can be reclined slightly, for posture rather than sleeping.

Standard Premier: 1st class for leisure

Standard Premier (to be renamed Eurostar Plus from November 2024) offers first class seating with fares aimed at upmarket leisure travellers & budget-conscious business travellers.  The same check-in times apply as for Standard class and there's no access to the business lounge, tickets are all non-refundable and only changeable for a fee.  A complimentary cold light meal and a round of alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks are served at your seat.  There is free WiFi and power sockets & USB ports at all 1st class seats.  All seats adjust from upright to a slight recline and all seats have an individual reading light and fixed or drop-down table.  The word 'Standard' is used its brand name to attract business travellers whose companies don't officially allow first class travel, but this is indeed first class.  Standard Premier replaced Leisure Select in 2010.

Is Standard Premier worth the extra?   Standard class is perfectly adequate and it's only 2h20 to Paris or 2h to Brussels.  There's no need to pay more if you don't want to.  But Standard Premier gives you wider seats with more leg & elbow room, the chance to choose solo seats or face-to-face tables for two, it's usually quieter with fewer families & kids, and of course there's a light meal included with wine, beer, tea, coffee & soft drinks.  So yes, it's a nice experience especially if your journey is for a special occasion!  Check the price difference for your dates, as I've seen Standard Premier cost only £10 more than Standard, given Eurostar's dynamic pricing.

Business Premier: 1st class for business

Business Premier (to be renamed Eurostar Premier from November 2024) uses exactly the same 1st class seating as Standard Premier, but in designated coaches and with fully-flexible & fully-refundable tickets, access to Eurostar's Business Lounges in London, Ebbsfleet, Paris & Brussels and a shorter minimum check-in.  The fare includes a complimentary hot airline-style meal, champagne (a particularly nice Monopol brut), wine, beer & soft drinks served at your seat.  There is free WiFi and power sockets & USB ports at all 1st class seats.  All seats adjust from upright to a slight recline, and all seats have an individual reading light and fixed or drop-down table.  The only downside?  It's priced assuming your company is paying!

Standard Premier and Business Premier passengers are accommodated in separate first class carriages but the seating is identical, with a spacious seating arranged 2+1 (2 seats, aisle, 1 seat) across the width of the train.  Eurostar vary the allocation of first class cars on each train between these two classes according to demand.  1st class seats have extra legroom compared to the higher-density seating in Standard class which has a 2+2 (2 seats, aisle, 2 seats) configuration.  See the Tips for choosing your seat section below for a Eurostar seating plan.

Choosing your seat

The manage booking feature.

All Eurostar tickets include a specific reserved seat, and initially you'll be allocated seats.

When you buy tickets at www.eurostar.com , you can change your allocated seats by clicking Change seats after payment and selecting specific seats from a numbered seating plan.

If you've booked a Eurostar via raileurope.com , thetrainline.com or sncf-connect.com , or bought passholder tickets at interrail.eu , eurail.com or b-europe.com , you can view & change seats like this:

Go to www.eurostar.com and click the Manage Booking link at the top.

Enter your 6-character Eurostar booking reference & last name and it'll retrieve your booking.

Look for the Change seats link, you can then select specific seats from a Eurostar seat map, see tips on picking the best seats .

Note that when a train gets fairly full, for example close to departure date, the change seat option may not appear.

You'll be sent an email confirming the change.

Tip:   Eurostar's 6-character alphanumeric booking reference is shown on your Eurostar ticket, for example KJ4T7Z.  It may not be the same as your retailer's booking reference.  On a ticket bought from B-Europe.com, it's shown as Reservation code .

Tip:   You can also view & change seats using the Eurostar app.  Download and open the app.  Click Your bookings and load your booking into the app by entering your last name and 6-character Eurostar booking reference.  You can now view or change seats and manage your booking in the app.  This works however you bought your Eurostar ticket, it even works with Interrail or Eurail passholder bookings.

Eurostar seat numbering plans

Here are accurate seating plans showing which seats face forwards, which line up with a window, which are airline-style face-to-back and which are arranged in bays around a table.  You might then understand why this website is called The Man in Seat Sixty-One.

How to tell if your Eurostar will be an e320 or an e300

Most Eurostar departures are operated by e320 trains.  All 8 e300 s were put into storage as passenger numbers fell during the pandemic, but the several e300 s have now returned to service.  Here's how to check:

Go to www.thetrainline.com , run an enquiry & find your train in the search results.  Click on a first class fare and make a dummy booking, taking it to the point where it shows your car & seat number, just before you have to pay.  If your first class seat is in cars 1, 2, 3 or 14, 15, 16 it is an e320 .   If it is in cars 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 it is an e300 .  Remember that the type can still be switched on the day for operational reasons!  www.thetrainline.com used to show on the search results page which type it was, but seems to have now stopped doing this.

If you already have a ticket you can go to www.eurostar.com , click Manage Booking then use the Change your seats feature to see a seat plan for your train, assuming the Manage Booking feature works with your booking reference.  If your train has 16 cars with 1st class at each end, it's due to be an e320 .  If 18 cars with all 1st class cars in the middle, it's an e300 .

Tips for picking the best seats

If you're travelling as a group of 3 or 4 people , choose seats around a table as opposed to airline-style pairs all facing the same way, as this is much more sociable.

If you're a couple in first class , choose a pair of seats facing across an intimate table-for-two.  Seat 61 was one of a pair like this on the original Eurostar trains, and in 1st class cars 2, 3, 14 & 15 in the new e320 trains .

If you want seats facing forward , this can be seen on these accurate seating plans (look closely at the train diagram, it shows which way the train goes when heading to Paris/Brussels, and when heading to London.  Car 1 is always at the London end of the train, car 16/18 at the Paris/Brussels/Amsterdam end.

If you prefer a window seat which lines up with the window (rather than one next to a blank bit of wall between the windows), look carefully at the plan.  The white or pale blue sections in the coach walls on the plan are the windows.

In standard class, a seat in the car next to the bar car makes it easier to fetch food and drink, which might be a consideration.  On the other hand, you get more people walking through to get to the bar.

If you've a tight onward connection when your Eurostar arrives in Paris or London , book a seat at the front of the train - car 16 or 18 going towards to Paris, or cars 1 or 2 going towards London.  You'll then get off the platform ahead of everyone else with less of a walk, saving vital minutes.  If going to Brussels, see information about the short cut to other platforms here .

Quiet coach :  Eurostar trialled a 'quiet coach' in Business Premier and Standard Premier (but not Standard class) in 2012, but the trial ended, and there is now no designated quiet coach.

Tip for the tall:  Extend your seat

On Eurostar's e320 trains in all classes (but not e300 ), the edge of your seat can be extended 2 inches just by pulling it out.  If you're tall, this is a great feature!

Useful telephone numbers

Checking-in for eurostar.

Unlike other British and European trains, Eurostar operates a check-in system.  You must check in for Eurostar at least 30 minutes before departure .

(15-20 minutes for Business Premier passengers).

With increased formalities due to Brexit , Eurostar advise passengers to check in earlier, ideally around 90 minutes .  However, the gates still close 30 minutes before departure (15-20 minutes for Business Premier) so if you can't make 90 minutes because of your other train connections it should still be fine.  But earlier is better!

Check-in opens 1½ to 2 hours before each train departure, it varies depending how busy they expect to be that day.

Check-in at London St Pancras:  See station guide

The check-in gates are in the wide passageway off the lower (street) level shopping arcade, one level down from the Eurostar trains themselves.  For more info about St Pancras station & its facilities, where to have a meal and so on, see the St Pancras station guide .

To check in, place your ticket barcode (on your phone or a printout) against the scanner screen on the automatic gates.  Or you can use a staffed check-in kiosk.  If you want to change your allocated seat (for example, to make sure you're facing forward), ask at a staffed kiosk.

Immediately after the check-in gates there's a security check with X-ray for your bags & metal detector for you, but it's quicker & easier than an airport.  No need to remove belt or shoes, no nonsense with liquids (though they don't like you carrying a cup of coffee through!), just put your bags & coat through the X-ray machine, remove metal items such as keys & coins and walk through the metal detector. 

After the security scan there's a UK passport check, where staff will scan your passport.  Then there's a French passport check.

Then you're inside the departure lounge and free to use the shops, bar, cafe or other facilities until your train is ready for boarding, usually 15-20 minutes before departure.  At St Pancras there's a Pret a Manger, bar, newsagents & travel goods shop, toilets and a Eurostar information desk.  The Eurostar information desk can provide you with Eurostar information, a free map of Paris, and Paris visitor metro passes.

If you have a Business Premier ticket (or Eurostar Carte Blanche card or American Express Platinum Charge Card) you can use the Eurostar Business Lounge with comfortable armchairs, WiFi and complimentary tea, coffee, wine, beer, spirits, juice and snacks.  There are Business Lounges at London St Pancras, Ebbsfleet, Paris Nord & Brussels Midi although not at Ashford, Calais or Lille.  The entrance to the Business Lounge at St Pancras is on the right-hand side of the departure lounge, immediately after the passport check.

The six Eurostar platforms at St Pancras (platforms 5-10) are directly above the departure lounge, and a boarding announcement will be made about 15-20 minutes before departure.  There are two gently-sloping moving walkways up to each platform, plus a lift.  If your reservation is in cars 1-5, you use one walkway, if your reservation is in cars 6-18 you use the other.  Just follow the signs!

There are no formalities on arrival in Paris, Lille or Brussels (other than a very occasional spot check), it's all done before you board.  So on arrival you just walk off the train, simple as that.

Check-in at Paris Gare du Nord:  See station guide

There are no formalities on arrival in London (unless UK customs people pull you over), it's all done before you board.  So on arrival you just walk off the train, simple as that.

Above, we're looking across the station concourse with the platforms on the right.  That's the escalator opposite platform 17 up to the balcony leading to the first-floor Eurostar check-in.

Departure lounge at Paris Nord.   Much improved since the early days, there are toilets, shops and cafes.

Business Premier lounge , upstairs from the main lounge, featuring this great cocktail bar.  You can use this lounge with a Business Premier ticket, with a Eurostar Carte Blanche card, or American Express Platinum Charge Card.  The lounge offers complimentary wine, spirits, beer, tea, coffee & soft drinks.

Check-in at Brussels Midi :  See station guide

On board eurostar.

There are two types of train in service with Eurostar, both with similar interiors:

e320 trains are all-new trains built in 2015 by Siemens.  Eurostar have 17 e320 trains.

e300 trains are classic trains from 1994, rebuilt with a new interior like the e320.  Eurostar have 8 e300 trains, they were taken out of service and put into storage during the coronavirus pandemic, but at least two have now returned to service.

How to tell which type of Eurostar is due to operate which departure .

Eurostar e320 trains

Eurostar introduced the first of their new e320 trains onto the London-Paris route in 2015 and 17 e320 trains are now in service.  Built by Siemens, the new trains feature free WiFi in all classes and power sockets at all seats.  The designation refers to the train's top speed, 320 km/h, although it can't currently exceed 300km/h on the London-Paris route.  And yes, seat 61 is still the best seat in the house - if you pick seat 61 in the right first class car, that is.  Cars 2, 3, 14 or 15, since you ask.

Click here for e320 seating plan .   How to tell if your Eurostar is due to be an e320 .

Eurostar's refurbished e300 trains

Luggage & facilities on board, food & drink on eurostar.

All Eurostar trains are completely non-smoking.

Business Premier includes an excellent complimentary hot airline-style 3-course meal with champagne & wine, with menus designed by master chef Raymond Blanc.

Standard Premier includes a simple cold tray meal with complimentary red or white wine, beer or soft drinks, tea & coffee.

All passengers have access to two bar cars, located in cars 6 & 13 in the refurbished e300 trains and in cars 8 & 9 on the new e320 trains . The cafe-bars serve tea, coffee, hot chocolate, beer, wine, spirits, sandwiches, wraps and a few hot dishes such as Chicken Tikka Massala.  The bar accepts credit cards as well as cash.  You can eat and drink in the bar area (standing space only, there are no seats) or take food & drink back to your seat.

Alternatively, feel free to take your own food and drink, even your own bottle of wine (the overnight Ski Train is an exception where no alcohol is allowed).

The bar car also sells Paris metro tickets , individually and in carnets of 10.  They charge only slightly more than you'd pay at the metro station in Paris, so if you have to cross Paris to catch an onward train this is the best way to buy your metro ticket.

Power outlets for laptops & mobiles

On the new e320 trains and refurbished e300 trains there are power sockets & USB ports at all seats in all classes, under the armrest.  They are alternately of the UK-type 3-pin and European-type 2-pin, so your seat could have either type, but the seat next to you will have the other type.

Free WiFi, TV shows & movies

The new e320 trains and refurbished e300 trains have effective free WiFi in all classes.  You'll find a selection of TV & movies to stream for free at onboard.eurostar.com as well as journey information.

There is good mobile phone voice & data reception throughout almost all the Eurostar journey including inside the Channel Tunnel, where it's provided by French telecoms companies in the northbound (towards London) running tunnel and by British telecoms companies in the southbound ( from London) running tunnel.

There is free WiFi at St Pancras International station for everyone.  WiFi access at Paris & Brussels is also available, but must be paid for.

Luggage on Eurostar

Unlike travelling by air, you don't check in your bags when travelling by train.  You keep them with you, placing small or medium size bags (up to backpack-size) on the luggage racks above your head and larger items on the big suitcase racks at the end of the coach just inside the entrance doors. 

Labelling your bags :  You must label your bags with your name (first name and surname), you'll find free paper labels at the terminal if you've forgotten.  For information about luggage limits on Eurostar & other European trains, see the luggage on European trains page .

Luggage limits on Eurostar :  In principle at least, Eurostar limits luggage to 2 large items per passenger, maximum 85cm in any one dimension, plus a small item of hand luggage.  There's no weight limit, so you can pretty much pack what you like, and (again unlike anally-retentive airports and airlines) nobody actually measures your bags or even worries if you have an extra carrier bag or two, as long as they all fit through the X-ray machines and don't cause any problems.

Items over 85cm :  In theory there's a maximum size limit of 85cm in any one dimension.  Which is odd, as there's no such limit on any other British or French train, and there's no real logic to it as far as I can see, as long as items fit through the X-ray scanners at check-in.  If you call Eurostar, staff may repeat the official 85cm limit and say you should use Eurostar's baggage service, but this is useless for anyone continuing beyond Paris, Brussels or London as items are only be available for collection with 24 hours of your Eurostar's arrival.  But in reality nobody measures your bags at check-in, and in practice people take guitars, 1 metre long tubes with rolled-up plans or posters inside, and other items that are a little over 85cm onto Eurostar, as they do on any train.  I can't 101% guarantee you'll never meet a jobsworth at check-in of course, but in 15 years of running this site I yet to hear of anyone having any problem.  In practice Eurostar is generally relaxed as long as you don't take the P.

Skis & snowboards :  One pair of skis or a snowboard (of any length) is allowed on Eurostar.

Guitars & other musical instruments:   Eurostar's policy on taking musical instruments is at www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-information/travel-preparation/baggage/baggage-allowances .  Basically, if it's under 85cm long, no problem, but over that and you pay a child rate for a seat next to you.  Though in practice nobody measures things so you will probably get away with taking a 90cm guitar as regular luggage and simply putting on a rack above your seat.  I can understand the official policy with a cello or double bass, but it does seem a nonsense that you have to pay for a guitar when it's perfectly normal to take a guitar free of charge on any other UK or European train.  See the paragraph above about items over 85cm in practice as well as theory.

Alcohol:   You're free to bring & consume your own wine or beer on Eurostar as long as you don't become a nuisance to other passengers.  To this end they typically limit alcohol brought for your own consumption to 1 bottle of wine or 4 cans of beer or 1 small bottle of spirits.  You can transport more than this if it remains unopened in your bags in transit, not for consumption.  No alcohol at all is allowed on the overnight ski train.

Prohibited items that can catch you out :  As well as the obvious prohibited items such as firearms or explosives, Eurostar prohibits any knife with a blade over 3", which has been known to catch out people returning to London with a nice set of Sabatier kitchen knives they bought in Paris.  Eurostar offer a checked baggage service for extra large items, which costs extra, see the baggage information page at www.eurostar.com .  No alcohol is allowed on the overnight Eurostar Ski Train to the French Alps, and only limited alcohol (no spirits) is allowed on the daytime Ski Train, but it's usually fine (within reason) on normal Eurostars.

Ice axes:  Until 2013 ice axes were not officially allowed on Eurostar.  Eurostar then changed their policy in 2013 and ice axes were officially allowed, if suitably tucked away in your luggage.  Since 2018 we're back to them not allowed again.

Left luggage lockers at stations

London St Pancras has a left luggage office run by the Excess Baggage Company, see opening hours & prices .  However, you'll find it cheaper to pre-book bag storage at Radicalstorage.com , they have an arrangement for luggage storage with nearby hotels.

Paris Gare du Nord has left luggage lockers ( consigne in French) downstairs under the main concourse just off the end of the Eurostar platforms and to the right.  Opening hours & prices .

Brussels Midi has luggage lockers near platforms 3-6.  Opening hours & prices

Taking a bicycle

Bicycles can be taken on Eurostar trains, see the Taking your bike by train page for details .

Taking dogs & pets

Unfortunately, you cannot take dogs or other pets on Eurostar trains, except for guide dogs. 

For alternative ways to take your dog or pet to Europe by train, see the taking your dog by train page .

Travellers with disabilities

What's the journey like.

This section describes a journey from London to Paris, but the journey from London to Brussels is identical until just after Lille, where the train leaves the Paris route and enters Belgium for the last half hour or so.

The train leaves St Pancras

The train manager makes his announcement that your Eurostar train to Paris is about to leave, the door alarm sounds and the doors then hiss shut.  As you settle into your seat, the brakes hiss off and the Eurostar very gently eases itself out of the magnificent arched trainshed of St Pancras International Station .  At this stage, the train is heading north, but almost immediately it makes a sharp right-hand turn past the huge steel gasometers that have been a familiar sight behind Kings Cross/St Pancras for years and which are now, believe it or not, listed structures.  Within a minute or two the Eurostar enters a covered bridge across the tracks leading out of the adjacent Kings Cross station, which becomes a long tunnel under east London taking the Eurostar east and south.

East London & Dartford Crossing

About 5 minutes after leaving St Pancras, you'll see a glimpse of daylight and the platforms of Stratford International station, only served by the domestic high-speed trains.  Around 8 minutes after leaving St Pancras, the Eurostar train emerges from the tunnel and starts crossing the wastelands of east London, past warehouses and run-down housing estates.  Just 10-12 minutes from St Pancras you'll see the impressive Queen Elizabeth II suspension bridge on the right, which carries the M25 London orbital motorway across the River Thames at the Dartford Crossing.  The Eurostar now plunges back into a short tunnel for its own crossing underneath the Thames, emerging the other side in the county of Kent.

Over the Medway Viaduct

The Eurostar train is now running at its full service speed of 186mph (300 km/h), with traffic on the adjacent London-Dover M2 motorway almost standing still in comparison.  Just 15-20 minutes after leaving London, the train crosses the most dramatic structure on the new high-speed line, the viaduct high over the River Medway.  To the right of the train as it crosses the viaduct, you'll see small boats moored on the muddy riverbanks far below you.  To the left of the train, over the top of the adjacent M2 motorway bridge, you can see Rochester Cathedral and Rochester Castle in the distance.

Across rural Kent

Into the channel tunnel, welcome to northern france.

The tunnel is dark, so nothing to see, and no, you can't see the fishes.  But the Eurostar soon bursts into the daylight again at up to 100 mph, and you're now in France.  You'll see the French terminal for the car-carrying trains away to your left.  If you look to the horizon on the left, you can just see the distinctive clock tower of Calais town hall.  A handful of Eurostar trains call at Calais-Fréthun, a few miles from Calais town centre, but others just start accelerating onto the French high speed line.  Unlike conventional railways, the high speed line follows the contours of the land more like a motorway, and you will feel the Eurostar rising onto the hills and settling into the dips.  The area of Northern France crossed by Eurostar is largely flat farmland, dotted with villages built around ancient stone churches.  The variety of church spires you can see is remarkable!  The Eurostar may call at Lille or simply pass through on the centre tracks.  The line to Brussels curves off to the left soon after Lille.  Paris is now less than an hour away.

Your train arrives in Paris!

Changing in paris or brussels, changing trains & stations in paris:  see the paris metro page, changing trains in brussels:  see the brussels midi station guide, the train & ferry alternatives, london to paris: see the train & ferry page.

You can still travel from London to Paris by train and ferry if you want.  Taking the traditional route via Dover & Calais it now takes 9 hours and is no longer particularly convenient as you have to make your own way by taxi or on foot between Dover Priory station and the Eastern Docks in Dover, and between Calais ferry terminal and Calais Ville station in Calais.  The original train/ferry interchange stations at Dover Western Docks and Calais Maritime closed in the 1990s when Eurostar started.  London to Paris by train & ferry also costs more than a cheap Eurostar ticket booked in advance.  However, train & ferry can be cheaper if you need to travel at short notice when all the cheap Eurostar fares are sold out, and of course you get to see the White Cliffs of Dover on the way.  You can substitute train+ferry+train for Eurostar London-Paris in any of the journeys routed via Paris shown on this website, but you'll need to buy separate train and ferry tickets.  Times, fares & info for travelling from London to Paris by train & ferry are shown here .

London to Paris 'sleeper' option via Portsmouth - Caen:   There's an overnight train-ferry-train option where you can leave London Waterloo around 18:00, sleep in a comfortable cabin with en suite shower & toilet 22:45-06:45 on Brittany Ferries' overnight sailing from Portsmouth to Caen, then take a train from Caen to Paris St Lazare arriving around 11:05.  This is good option if you need an alternative to Eurostar.  Times, fares & info for travelling from London to Paris by overnight train & ferry are shown here .

London to Amsterdam, central & eastern Europe, Scandinavia via Harwich-Hoek van Holland

If you're heading for northern or eastern Europe and there are major problems affecting Eurostar services, or you need to travel at short notice when Eurostar can be expensive, you can buy a cheap inclusive Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket from London to Amsterdam or anywhere in the Netherlands using Stena Line's overnight Harwich-Hoek luxury superferry, including a comfortable private cabin with toilet & shower, free WiFi and satellite TV.  Indeed, this can be a good alternative even with Eurostar running normally, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail London to Amsterdam page for details .  You can then use int.bahn.de to book a separate onward ticket from Amsterdam to Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Prague, Copenhagen, Zurich or Warsaw.

North of England & Scotland to mainland Europe by ferry

DFDS Seaways ( www.dfds.com ) sail from Newcastle to IJmuiden (the port of Amsterdam) overnight, and P&O Ferries ( www.poferries.com ) sail from Hull to Rotterdam.  It's then easy to take trains from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Antwerp or Brussels, to Berlin or Cologne, or direct sleeper trains from Amsterdam to Prague, Switzerland, Southern Germany, Denmark or Poland.

European Rail Timetable & maps

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map .  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

Hotels in London or Paris

A paris hotel for a romantic break.

There's the famous & flashy Paris Ritz in the Place Vendôme (over €500 a night) or the similarly-priced Le Meurice , but if you want a really special hotel for a luxury break or romantic weekend and can afford around €300 a night, I'd recommend the small, sumptuous, intimate L'Hotel .

It's on the bohemian left bank, walking distance from the Seine, the Ile de la Cité & Notre Dame.  Oscar Wilde spent the last days of his life here in room 16, famously quipping, "My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.".  Fortunately the wallpaper is now all in very good taste.  The hotel has been used by many famous people since then, from Sinatra to Mick Jagger.  Rooms are on the cosy side, but they are beautifully decorated and have character that bigger and flashier hotels lack.  Book a stay at l'Hotel .  Book a private transfer from station to hotel .

Hotels near the Gare du Nord & other Paris stations

Hotels near the Gare du Nord with good reviews:   Libertel Gare du Nord Suede (5 min walk from Gare du Nord, 2-star), 25 Hours Terminus Nord (formerly the Mercure Terminus Nord, now refurbished in a decidedly funky style, 3-star, directly across the road from the station);  Art Hotel (3-star);  Avalon Hotel (2-star);  Hotel Cambrai (5 min walk from Gare du Nord, 1-star).

Hotels near the Gare de l'Est with good reviews:   Libertel Gare de l'Est Français (opposite the station, 3-star);  Libertel Gare du Nord Suede (350m from the Gare de

Hotels near the Gare de Lyon with good reviews:   Hotel Terminus Lyon (right in front of the station, 3-star);  Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon (on the station itself, 4-star);   Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star);  Mistral Hotel (800m from Gare de Lyon, 1-star);  Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star);

Hotels near the Gare de l'Est with good reviews:   Libertel Gare de l'Est Français (opposite the station, 3-star);  Libertel Gare du Nord Suede (350m from the Gare de l'Est, 2-star);  OKKO Hotels Paris Gare de l'Est (2-star).

Hotels near the Gare Montparnasse with good reviews:   Mercure Paris Gare Montparnasse (150m from the Gare Montparnasse, 4-star);  Best Western Sevres Montparnasse (15 minute walk to Gare Montparnasse, 3-star);  La Maison Montparnasse (10 min walk from station, 2-star);  Hotel du Maine (5 min walk from station, 2-star).

Affordable hotels near London St Pancras

These affordable hotels have good or great reviews: Alhambra Hotel , Meridiana Hotel , MacDonald Hotel , Angus Hotel or Crestfield Hotel .

The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel.  Click to book

In March 2011 the luxurious, expensive and beautifully-restored 5-star St Pancras Renaissance Hotel opened for business.  Designed by the renowned architect Sir George Gilbert-Scott, it first opened in 1873 as The Midland Grand Hotel, a railway hotel built into the Victorian architectural masterpiece that is St Pancras station.  The hotel closed its doors in 1935, considered too large and outdated to continue as a hotel, and after a period of being used as railway offices, this beautiful landmark building was left derelict and slowly decaying.  However, its fortunes have now been totally reversed.  High-speed Eurostar trains to Paris leave from St Pancras station's magnificently-restored 1868 trainshed designed by William Barlow, and the once derelict Midland Grand Hotel has been reborn as a glorious 5-star hotel, St Pancras Renaissance Hotel .  No expense has been spared in recreating and restoring this Grade 1 listed building to its former glory. 

Rooms described using the term 'Barlow' are in the newly-built Barlow House wing at the side, these start at around £250 a night.  Rooms described using the word 'Chambers' are in the original St Pancras Midland Hotel building, where rooms start at around £486 a night, rising to suites costing several thousand. 

You can of course, just have a drink in the bar or meal in the restaurant, accessible from the south west corner of the upper level concourse, the same level as the Eurostar trains.  The bar-restaurant is housed in what was once St Pancras station's booking office, the Grade 1 listed wood-panelled booking windows are still there behind the bar, and it still says 'Booking office' in the stones above the entrance doors.  The hotel lobby has been built in what was once the station's taxi rank.

The Great Northern Hotel.    Click to book

Another classic railway hotel has been re-born, re-opened after refurbishment to top class standards in April 2013.  It's cheaper than the Renaissance St Pancras, and just across the road from the entrance to St Pancras International's Eurostar check-in area, so ideal for an early morning train.  On each floor you'll find a pantry with complimentary coffee, tea, cake and even jelly-babies.  Check the reviews and book the hotel .

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