by The train service connecting Britain to France offers one of the easiest ways to reach mainland Europe from the UK.
But what are the benefits of Eurostar travel?
Here we answer the key questions for holidaymakers crossing the English Channel by train this summer, from planning your journey and buying tickets to on-board facilities and departure times.
Planning
Where does the Eurostar go?
Five major cities can be reached by direct train from London – two in France (Paris and Lille), two in the Netherlands (Amsterdam and Rotterdam) and one in Belgium (Brussels).
Eurostar (eurostar.com) also allows travelers to book trains to a range of onward destinations. The “Belgian One Station” ticket does as its name suggests – allowing you to connect to any stop on the Belgian rail network (excluding Brussels Airport, which incurs an additional fee, but including Antwerp, Bruges and Liège) when you arrive. Brussels.
Similarly, although you can no longer book a non-stop service from London to Disneyland Paris at Marne-la-Vallée (this option was withdrawn from the timetable in June 2023), the Eurostar website allows you to change to buy (generally in Lille) a ticket to the land of Mickey Mouse. Other onward destinations in France are Lyon, Avignon and Strasbourg. Single-change trains to the German cities of Cologne, Aachen and Düsseldorf are also available.
In addition, the Eurostar Sun service goes down to the south of France (Valence, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille) during the summer (June to August; dates vary each year) – with the caveat that trains depart from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels, but not from the UK.
However, the Eurostar Snow train does from London (services between December and February; again, dates change annually), connected – via Lille – for the ski resorts of the French Alps.
To be exact, the stations are at Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers-Salins-Brides-les-Bains, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
How far in advance can you book?
Tickets are available six to eight months before departure.
How much do Eurostar tickets cost?
The price is the same for the five central destinations. One-way tickets start at £39, whether you’re traveling to Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam or Amsterdam. They can, however, be more expensive.
Eurostar offers three price categories – Standard, Standard Premier and Business Premier (to be rebranded as, respectively, Eurostar Standard, Eurostar Plus and Eurostar Premier from 4 November this year). One-way fares cost from £275 each in the top bracket (for Paris, Lille and Brussels; Premier fares to the Netherlands start at £290).
How can I get free tickets?
As with airfares, advance booking is recommended. Prices are higher if you buy at short notice.
When are the quietest and busiest travel times?
As with air travel, departures at social times tend to be more popular than at the beginning or end of the day. This is also reflected in Eurostar prices.
Tickets for the early or late trains (the first train from London to Paris leaves at 6.01am; the last of the day at 8.01pm) are usually cheaper than those leaving at midday, or in the afternoon.
Can pets travel on the Eurostar?
Pets are not allowed on Eurostar trains to and from London, or on Eurostar Snow and Eurostar Sun services. Guide dogs and support animals can travel (free of charge) on all routes. Eurostar asks passengers to contact them at least 24 hours in advance, to arrange access.
However, pets are allowed on Eurostar trains originating and terminating within mainland Europe (this does not include the Lille-Brussels sections of services to and from London). Smaller pets (those that fit into a 45x30x25cm carrier at most) can travel for free; Large dogs require their own ticket (€30 [£26] every way; these can be purchased from the staff on board).
On the trip
Where and when does the Eurostar leave?
London St Pancras International – in central London – is the only departure point for Eurostar trains in the UK. Trains do not currently stop at the two Kent stations that were once part of the timetable. The halted services at Ashford and Ebbsfleet International were suspended indefinitely in 2020 (although a 2025 resumption is vaguely suggested).
The number of departures varies from day to day, but generally travelers can expect up to 15 direct trains a day to Paris, 10 to Brussels, eight to Lille, and four to the two Dutch cities.
How early should you arrive at the station?
Brexit, and the need for personal passport checks, has added to the departure process for passengers – but you don’t need to turn up at St Pancras as early as you would at an airport. Eurostar recommends that you arrive 90 minutes before your scheduled departure.
Do Eurostar trains have Wi-Fi?
Yes. Free, as part of your fee.
What is the baggage allowance on Eurostar trains?
On all Eurostar trains, there is no weight limit on luggage – but you must be able to carry your bags safely and store them in dedicated areas. Official advice suggests that a bag cannot be more than 85cm long at its widest point. If you are traveling with bulky items, such as skis, you can reserve a dedicated space for them.
The amount of luggage you can take on board varies. On services traveling to and from London:
-
In Standard and Standard Premier, the allowance is two pieces of baggage and one piece of hand luggage.
-
In Business Premier, the allowance is three pieces of baggage plus one piece of hand luggage
-
And in each class of travel, children can take one piece of luggage and one piece of hand luggage
Can you bring liquids on a Eurostar train?
Yes. Although airport-standard security checks, including baggage screening, are in place at all Eurostar stations, there are no restrictions on carrying liquids with you on the train.
What are the facilities on board?
All trains have a buffet car (called the “Eurostar Café”).
