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London to Paris by Train

The Eurostar makes London to Paris a 2-hour-16-minute city-centre-to-city-centre hop - faster door-to-door than flying, with no liquid limits and 300 km/h through the Channel Tunnel. Here's how the fares work, what check-in actually requires, and how to pay the least.

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By Sophie5 min readPublished
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Gare du Nord in Paris
Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0

In Brief

How do you travel from London to Paris by train?

Eurostar runs direct high-speed trains from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord in 2 hours 16 to 28 minutes, with roughly 14-17 departures a day. Advance fares start around £39/€52 one-way in Standard; typical fares run £60-120. Arrive 60-75 minutes before departure for check-in, security and French border control - it all happens in London.

Key takeaways

  • Book 2-4 months ahead for the cheapest fares - Eurostar prices only rise as seats sell.
  • Tuesday to Thursday and midday departures are consistently cheapest.
  • Faster than flying door-to-door: ~3.5 hours St Pancras to Gare du Nord including check-in, vs 4.5-5.5 hours via any airport pair.
  • Two large bags plus hand luggage included free - no weight limit, no liquid rules.
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Every way to get from London to Paris

The Eurostar is the default for a reason, but it's worth seeing what it beats. Here's every way to make this trip:

  • Eurostar

    Our pick

    Eurostar

    Duration
    2 h 16 min – 2 h 28 min
    Typical price
    £39–150 one-way
    Frequency
    ~14–17 departures/day

    St Pancras to Gare du Nord direct at up to 300 km/h. Standard, Plus (extra legroom, light meal) and Premier classes. The check-in and both borders happen before boarding in London.

  • Flying

    British Airways, Air France, easyJet, Vueling

    Duration
    ~1 h 20 min in the air; 4.5–5.5 h door-to-door
    Typical price
    £30–150 one-way
    Frequency
    20+ flights/day across airport pairs

    Only wins if you're already near Heathrow/Gatwick or need a specific connection at CDG. City centre to city centre, the train is roughly an hour faster and immune to air-traffic delays.

  • Coach

    FlixBus

    Duration
    8 h 30 min – 10 h 30 min
    Typical price
    £20–45
    Frequency
    Several/day incl. overnight

    Victoria Coach Station to Paris Bercy via the Channel crossing. The overnight departures save a hotel night; that's the entire pitch.

  • Driving (LeShuttle)

    LeShuttle (Eurotunnel), Folkestone–Calais

    Duration
    ~5–6 h door-to-door
    Typical price
    From ~£75–150/car each way
    Frequency
    Up to 3–4 shuttles/hour

    35 minutes on the car train, then ~3 hours' drive to Paris plus tolls. Only sensible if you actually need the car in France - see our full England to France comparison.

How to book, step by step

  1. Book as early as your dates allow

    Eurostar releases seats months in advance and uses airline-style buckets - the £39-59 Standard fares go first, and same-week fares regularly exceed £150. Two to four months ahead is the sweet spot.

  2. Be flexible by an hour or two

    The 06:00-07:00 and post-19:00 departures, and anything Tuesday-Thursday, price consistently below the Friday and Sunday evening peaks. The fare difference for shifting one train is often £30-50.

  3. Arrive 60-75 minutes before departure

    St Pancras check-in closes 30 minutes before departure, and you pass airport-style security plus UK exit and French entry checks before boarding. Non-EU passports (including UK) get stamped; the EU's biometric EES checks are being phased in, so allow the full hour at busy times.

  4. Arrive in the middle of Paris

    Gare du Nord connects directly to Métro lines 4 and 5 and RER B and D. You step off the train already inside the city - no transfer, no passport queue on arrival.

Insider tips

  • No liquid restrictions and no baggage weigh-in: two large bags plus hand luggage ride free, which alone can beat a 'cheap' flight's total price.
  • Book the return at the same time - Eurostar round-trip pricing is just two singles, and the cheap buckets on your return date are selling while you think about it.
  • Standard Premier/Plus is worth it on the early trains: the served breakfast and quieter coach turn the ride into the best part of the trip.
  • For connections beyond Paris (Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille), TGVs leave from other Paris stations - allow 45-60 minutes to cross town via Métro or RER.
  • Traveling with kids: Eurostar sells child fares and books families together automatically - and a 2.25-hour train beats an airport day with a toddler every time.

London to Paris: FAQ

The questions travelers ask most about this route.

2 hours 16 minutes to 2 hours 28 minutes on Eurostar, direct from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord through the Channel Tunnel. Add the ~60-minute pre-departure check-in and it's about 3.5 hours door-to-door between the two city centres.

Advance Standard fares start around £39/€52 one-way, typical fares run £60-120, and last-minute or peak Friday/Sunday trains can exceed £150-200. Prices only move upward as each fare bucket sells, so booking 2-4 months ahead is the single biggest saving.

Yes. Since Brexit, UK and other non-EU passport holders clear French entry checks (with passport stamping) at St Pancras before boarding, and the EU's biometric Entry/Exit System is being phased in on top. EU citizens travel on a passport or national ID card. Most visitors - including UK and US citizens - need no visa for stays up to 90 days in 180.

Eurostar recommends 60-75 minutes before departure for Standard tickets; gates close 30 minutes before. You pass security screening plus UK exit and French entry control before boarding. Business Premier has a 45-minute fast-track. Holiday peaks and Friday evenings genuinely need the full 75 minutes.

The train, for almost everyone: ~3.5 hours door-to-door versus 4.5-5.5 hours via any airport pair, no liquid rules, generous free luggage, and you arrive in central Paris rather than 25-45 km outside it. Flying only wins if you live next to an airport or are connecting onward from CDG.

Standard and Plus tickets include two bags up to 85 cm plus one item of hand luggage, with no weight limit - you just need to carry and rack them yourself. There are no liquid restrictions, so wine and full-size toiletries travel fine.

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