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(Last Updated On: 10/09/2021)

One of the most common and easiest ways to travel between London and Paris is via the Eurostar, the high-speed train connecting the two capitals. While there are a plethora of options for travelers looking to make the hop, the Eurostar remains one of the best options for speed, cost, and ease. The train takes advantage of the underwater channel tunnel, or “chunnel,” built between England and France in order to get you speedily to your destination.

Below, you can find all the details you’ll need to help you manage your London to Paris Eurostar journey.

 

Why Travel Europe By Train?

Before we begin, let’s figure out exactly why Europe is best experienced via train travel- after all, this continent has been inhabited for thousands of years, which means its infrastructure is often highly developed. Other modes of transportation are easily available, but there’s something to be said for the grand allure of train travel. This is especially true for first-time travelers, who can take advantage of train schedules to  hop on board just before it departs. This is in deep contrast to Europe’s airports, where your minimum arrival time before departure is at least two hours, and you spend additional time and money commuting to the airport location.

Speaking of travel time, Europe is well-known for its high-speed railways, which far outstrip its winding motorways and inconveniently located airports. Trains throughout the continent are quick and often direct, which means less time commuting and more time exploring.

Train stations also have the advantage of being conveniently located to major tourist destinations and attractions, so it’s easy to step off your train and head directly to your destination. 

Finally, train tickets are more inclusive, allowing you to bring luggage and choose your seats without paying hefty additional fees.

All this is to say that, while Europe has many options for travelers, nothing beats the good old train journey.

London to Brussels Eurostar Trains

London to Paris Eurostar Trains

Lyon to London Eurostar Trains

London to Amsterdam Eurostar Trains

 

Booking Your Ticket On A Eurostar Train

London To Paris In 2hrs 16mins By The Eurostar Train

One of the best features of taking the train versus a plane is that the Eurostar runs from city center to city center. Unlike distant airports such as London Heathrow and Paris Charles De Gaulle, your train departs from London St-Pancras International and arrives in Gare Du Nord, where you can easily walk to all of the city’s best sights.

As mentioned, all Eurostar tickets include at least two pieces of luggage and a handbag. If you’re bringing a lot of luggage, you can also opt for a higher class ticket that allows you to bring more bags. In contrast, budget airlines may charge less for their initial bookings, but bag fees and seat choice charges quickly add up.

Ticket prices for this journey tend to fluctuate a lot, so we recommend buying tickets as soon as you’re able. Generally speaking, these tickets go on sale three months in advance, though depending on the season you can also find them up to six months in advance. We recommend using our website to find and book your train tickets, which automatically searches all available inventory to get you the price possible, guaranteed.

London to Antwerp Eurostar Trains

Lille to London Eurostar Trains

London to Strasbourg Eurostar Trains

London to Rotterdam Eurostar Trains

 

Pricing And Types Of Tickets

The Eurostar train operates three-class cabins, depending on your budget. For those simply looking to get from one place to another, second-class tickets are your best option. Those on business travel may instead prefer the Standard Premier or Business Premier ticket, both of which allow you to sit in first-class coaches and provide a meal during your journey, so let’s learn a little about London to Paris train tickets:

Fare Type Amenities Restrictions
Second class
  • 2 pieces of luggage and one handbag included
  • Seat choice available after booking
  • Food available for purchase
Non-refundable. Before train departure, you can exchange your ticket. A change fee of 40 Euro and fare difference applies. If the new ticket is less expensive than the original ticket, the price difference will not be refunded.
Standard Premier
  • 2 pieces of luggage and one handbag included
  • Upgraded seats feature more legroom and a premium experience
  • A light meal and drinks will be served at your seat
Non-refundable. Before train departure, you can exchange your ticket. A change fee of 50 Euro and fare difference applies. If the new ticket is less expensive than the original ticket, the price difference will not be refunded.
Business Premier
  • 3 pieces of luggage and one handbag included
  • Upgraded seats feature more legroom and a premium experience
  • Chef-designed meals and champagne will be served at your seat
  • Access to an exclusive lounge before departure
  • Taxi booking services are available
  • Free cancellations and unlimited exchanges up to 60 days after departure on all routes between the UK, France, and Belgium.
  • Free cancellations and unlimited exchanges up until departure on the direct route between the UK and the Netherlands, plus free exchanges on the indirect route (Thalys/Eurostar via Brussels) up until departure.

As we’ve mentioned before, pricing varies according to your travel dates, so you’ll want to book once availability opens.  If you book far enough in advance, you’ll be looking to pay about 55 dollars one-way, or 90 dollars round-trip. Waiting until the last minute can drive prices sky-high, with costs nearly doubling the later you buy your ticket. This is true for both round-trip and one-way tickets.

It’s worth noting that Eurostar is not available to all those who hold a rail pass, so if you want to make this journey enticing and affordable, buy your train ticket in advance. You can find trains tickets online at various websites, though train ticket prices may be inflated compared to Save A Train.

Calais to London Eurostar trains

Bruges to London Eurostar Trains

The Hague to London Eurostar Trains

Berlin to London Eurostar Trains

 

Check-In At London St-Pancras Station

Depending on your fare class, you’ll want to arrive at your departure station at least 40-60 minutes before the train leaves from London to Paris. If you’ve booked a first-class Business Premier ticket from London to Paris, you’ll have access to the exclusive lounge. Otherwise, there are many shops and restaurants available for you to peruse. Some of our favorite restaurants include:

  • AMT Coffee – A coffee shop with two locations within the stations. It offers handmade drinks and fully compostable cups, which make the environment smile.
  • The Barrel Vault – A traditional English pub that offers craft beers, real ale, gins, coffee, and spirits. It also serves breakfast and classic pub fare.
  • Chop’d – A health-focused restaurant, Chop’d offer a variety of soups, salads, stews, and wraps for all types of travelers.

In the event that you’re only making a day trip, the station also features left-luggage locations for you to store your luggage. These storage options are cheap and often offer extended service hours.

Cologne to London Eurostar Trains

Ghent to London Eurostar Trains

Middelburg to London Eurostar Trains

Leiden to London Eurostar Trains

 

London UK

 

Onboard The Eurostar Train

Once on board, the total travel time from London to Paris is approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes. Combined with your pre-departure arrival, your total journey time will be around 3 hours.

The train itself features standard seating as well as tables that allow you to work and eat with ease. These tend to book up early, though, so make sure to pick in advance if that’s what you’d like. Regardless of where you sit, you’re guaranteed to have good legroom and plugs to charge your devices.

As previously mentioned, there’s free WiFi on board, so you can keep up with all your email and social media needs. Depending on your ticket, you can also head to the dining coach, where you can find food, drinks, and snacks. If you’re seated in a first-class cabin, the food will be brought directly to your seat.

Dusseldorf to London Eurostar Trains

Essen to London Eurostar Trains

Munster to London Eurostar Trains

Leuven to London Eurostar Trains

 

Arrival At Paris Gare Du Nord Train Station

Trains from St. Pancras station arrive in the middle of Paris, at the Gare du Nord station. This gorgeous station is a work of art in itself, with its facade built in the mid 1800’s and maintained beautifully. Take a moment to enjoy the building before heading out to visit the city.

Because you will have already completed check-in before leaving the UK you won’t need to complete an arrival process. This is also currently true for passport control, though with the UK leaving the EU it is likely that these processes will undergo significant changes.

Once you arrive, you’ll be in the heart of the city, with dozens of options for food, shops, and drinks. If you choose to leave the stations, you’ll find the nearby Brasserie Terminus Nord, a famous  Art Nouveau style restaurant directly across the road from the train station. Otherwise, you need simply to wander in any direction to find some of the best food and drinks in Europe.

Within the train station itself, you will find Metro and RER trains, as well as trains traveling throughout France. Local rails and the Metro trains can take you all throughout the French capital, to the many museums,  galleries, and tourists attractions within.

If you’re arriving early and heading directly out to tour before you check-in to your hotel, it may also be a good idea to take advantage of the left-luggage options available within the train station. These storage facilities are relatively inexpensive and can be an excellent option for those looking to maximize their days.

As a holder of the Eurostar direct train ticket, you’re able to gain 2 for 1 access to many of those museums and galleries, which can save you hundreds of dollars.

Frankfurt to London Eurostar Trains

Munich to London Eurostar Trains

Moutiers to London Eurostar Trains

Marseilles to London Eurostar Trains

 

 

Train Times For London To Paris With Eurostar

The Eurostar runs often, with up to 19 departures per day depending on holidays and weekends. The first train of the day departs at 05:40 and takes a total of 2 hours and 37 minutes. This is often one of the cheapest tickets available, so if you’re not averse to rising early you can save some money and head out at the break of dawn. Another benefit of this early departure is that your arrival time in Paris is 09:17, which means you have a full day ahead of you for any activities you’d like to choose.

Route times are otherwise hourly or more, which gives you plenty of options from which to choose. The last train of the night departs at 18:31 and arrives at 21:47, leaving you plenty of time to get to your hotel or even head out for a late-night meal and a peek at the glittering lights of the Eiffel Tower. These nighttime trains may feature sleeper cars, which are a good way to grab a few minutes of sleep before continuing on your journey. Additionally, some trains may travel between popular destinations throughout the night.

Den Helder to London Eurostar Trains

Maastricht to London Eurostar Trains

Dijon to London Eurostar Trains

Bonn to London Eurostar Trains

 

eiffel tower

 

Other Routes With The Eurostar Train That Are Not London To Paris

While this article is focusing mainly on travel between St. Pancras International Station and Gare Du Nord, the Eurostar also operates a number of direct routes from London:

  • Brussels – Trains run every 90 minutes to 2 hours. It takes just over 2 hours to reach Brussels Midi/Zuid station.
  • Calais/Frethun- Trains run hourly or more from London and total train travel is just over an hour.
  • Lille- Trains leave almost hourly to Lille, located in northern France. There’s an easy connection to the French TGV network for you to transfer. Journey time is approximately 1.5 hours.
  • Disneyland Paris – Trains run several times a week throughout the year and daily during school holidays. The train station is right outside the Disneyland entrance. The journey takes under 3 hours total.
  • Lyon, Avignon, and Marseilles- Throughout the year a train operates from 1 to 5 days per week, though it is seasonally affected so be sure it’s running when you need it. It stops at Lyon Part-Dieu station (4.75 hours), Avignon TGV station (6 hours), and Marseilles St Charles station (6.5 hours).
  • Aime-La-Plagne – Operating
  • Amsterdam and Rotterdam – A new service that began in 2018, you simply take one of the daily trains to Amsterdam, which includes a stop in Rotterdam. Totally journey time is about 4 hours.

There are other seasonal routes available for activities like winter skiing, so be sure to check back often to see if service is running.

It’s also possible to reach other destinations within Europe by utilizing a single stopover and continuing onward from the stations located in Lille, Brussels, and Paris. Getting train tickets is easy and requires only a single itinerary.

Similarly, if you’re traveling to London from elsewhere in the UK, you can also choose to begin your Eurostar journey at Ebbsfleet International Stations or Ashford International Station instead of St. Pancras. This is especially helpful to those with vehicles, as Ashford offers a parking garage and direct access to the train station.

 

Book Tickets With Save A Train For Your London To Paris Train

Search our site to book tickets to all of Europe’s best destinations, including Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and the UK (including the London to Paris train with Eurostar). Our search engine is designed to save money on all tickets and includes no booking fees. We make it easy for you to buy by accepting multiple ways to pay, including credit card, Giropay, iDeal, and many more.

 

So, whatever your reason for travel, whether you’re traveling alone or with others, take a few minutes to search for train tickets on Save a Train, which offers the lowest prices, guaranteed.

 

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