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London to Paris by Eurostar . . .

...the high-speed train to Paris, Lille & Brussels via the Channel Tunnel

Eurostar high-speed train from London to Paris via the Channel Tunnel...

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A Eurostar for Paris at St Pancras

Booking tips:

- Use this form to book direct with www.eurostar.com, with no booking fees & all the cheap fares shown.

- You simply print out your own ticket, or collect it at the station.

- St Pancras is Eurostar's London station.  You can also buy through tickets starting in 130 UK towns & cities, or buy a special connecting ticket from any UK station.

- This form is set up for journeys starting in the UK, to book a journey starting in Paris or Brussels, click here.

- Booking opens 120 days before departure.

- Business Premier & Leisure Select = 1st class, fare includes drinks & meals.  Standard = 2nd class.

- For through tickets to Amsterdam, Cologne & any station in France, also try www.raileurope.co.uk.

- Tips on choosing a specific seat

- Buy special connecting train tickets within the UK

 

What's it like on board Eurostar?

  Eurostar first class

Eurostar first class.  On each train, some 1st class cars are allocated for business travellers ('Business Premier' with flexible tickets) others for leisure users ('Leisure Select' with cheaper inflexible tickets).  More information Tips for choosing your seat.

  Eurostar second class

Eurostar standard class.  Only cars 5 & 14 have power sockets for laptops.  Cars 1 & 18 are the family-friendly cars with baby-changing rooms.  More information Tips for choosing your seat

  Eurostar cafe-bar

Eurostar's café-bars in cars 6 & 13 serve hot & cold drinks, sandwiches & snacks...

  Meal in Eurostar first class

In first class (both Business Premier & Leisure Select), Eurostar passengers are served a hot airline-style meal with wine and/or champagne, included in the fare...

What is Eurostar?

Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train from London to Paris & Brussels via the Channel Tunnel, run by a consortium of French railways (SNCF), Belgian railways (SNCB) & Eurostar UK Ltd.  It started running in 1994.  Don't confuse Eurostar with Eurotunnel, the company which owns the Channel Tunnel (or 'Chunnel'), whose car-carrying trains shuttle cars, lorries & coaches from one side of the Channel to the other.  Eurostar does not carry cars, just passengers.  London to Paris by Eurostar is 495 km (about 307 miles), and takes as little as 2 hours 15 minutes, centre to centre, at up to 186 mph.  This page explains all you need to know about travelling with Eurostar.

On this page...

Eurostar timetables, fares & tickets    Checking in    On board Eurostar    About the journey

Tips on choosing the best seats (with seating plan)     St Pancras station facilities

On other pages...

Special train tickets from other UK towns & cities designed to connect with Eurostar

Taking your bike on Eurostar    Taking a dog    Luggage    General European train travel  info

Eurostar through fares from UK region to Paris & Brussels

Scotland to Paris by sleeper+Eurostar     Cornwall & Devon to Paris by sleeper+Eurostar

Eurostar times, fares & buying tickets...

Eurostar timetable...

Eurostar runs from central London (St Pancras Station) to central Paris (Gare du Nord) every hour or so, 7 days a week all year round except Christmas Day.  Eurostar runs London to Brussels every couple of hours or so.  London to Paris takes as little as 2 hours 15 minutes, London to Brussels just 1 hours 51 minutes, now that the whole 186mph high-speed line is open in the UK.  Only a brief 20 minutes of the Eurostar journey is actually spent in the Channel Tunnel, the rest is passing through the countryside of Kent and northern France.  Many Eurostars stop to pick up passengers at Ebbsfleet International near the M25 & a few stop at Ashford International.  Many Eurostars call at Lille in northern France, the interchange for French TGV high-speed trains to destinations all over France, see the France page.

Download whole Eurostar timetable in .pdf format

Eurostar fares...

Eurostar fares start at £39 one-way or £69 return from London to Paris or Brussels in 2nd class or £107 one-way, £189 return 1st class.  Eurostar fares are like airline fares, increasing as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early and don't buy a ticket on the day of travel unless you have to.  The cheap fares are non-changeable, non-refundable.  Check fares & times at www.eurostar.com or use the online booking form above.  For the cheapest fares, book ahead and avoid Friday or Sunday afternoons when there are fewer cheap seats.

London to

Paris or Brussels

2nd class 1st class  

What does 'From' £39 mean?  Eurostar prices work like airline fares.  Book early on an off-peak train and it may be £39, but book a popular date or time or book closer to the day of travel, and it may be £50, £73, £89...  The fares shown without a 'from' do not increase like this, and are what you'll pay as long as there are seats left.

Eurostar seat numbering plan

Tips on choosing a seat

Map of Paris & Gare du Nord

One-way Return One-way Return
Adult

From £39

From £69

From £107

From £189
Child under 12 From £29 From £49 From £70 From £123
Child under 4 Free, if not occupying its own seat
Youth 12-25 From £38 From £59   -   -
Senior (over 60)

From £29

From £49   -   -
Railpass holder £57 £100 £102 £180
Wheelchair user £35 £69 £35 £69

One-way fares on Eurostar...

Before June 2009 there was a problem with one-way fares on Eurostar, as one-ways were often more expensive than returns!  But in June 2009 Eurostar introduced sensible one-way fares right across their price range (in other words, one-way fares that are cheaper than the equivalent return!).  So the problem should now have been solved.

Open-jaw journeys (e.g. out London-Paris, back Brussels-London)...

There are no fares for 'open jaw' return journeys out to Paris, back from Brussels, a shame as these would be useful for circular journeys or travel to (for example) Germany or Austria where some connections are best via Paris, others via Brussels.  So either travel out and back via the same city, or buy two one-way tickets.

How to buy tickets:  Use the form above, go to www.eurostar.com or call 08432 186 186

Eurostar bookings open 120 days (4 months) before departure.  If you're only going from London to Paris or Brussels, the easiest & cheapest way to buy tickets is online direct with Eurostar at www.eurostar.com, just use the online booking form above.  You print your tickets using your own PC printer, or you can pick up tickets at the station before departure from the e-ticket machines, or tickets can be sent to any UK, French or Belgian address.  You can also book by calling Eurostar on 08432 186 186 (+44 1233 617575 from outside the UK).  Debit cards are free, but there's a small charge for paying by credit card.  Tips on choosing a specific seat on Eurostar.

Buying tickets if you're travelling beyond Paris or Brussels...

If you are going beyond Paris or Brussels, for example to Spain, Italy or the south of France, it's best to buy your Eurostar ticket and your onwards train tickets together, either from a European rail ticketing agency or online as explained on the relevant page of this website.  Reservations for most other trains in western Europe only open 90 days ahead, and I recommend waiting until 90 days before your travel date to book the Eurostar & onward train tickets together.  That's because timings for onward trains sometimes change due to engineering work, requiring a different Eurostar connection.  Unless you're travelling on a peak date such as Christmas Eve, you'll still find affordable Eurostar tickets available 90 days ahead, they won't have sold out.  See the Train travel to Europe page for more information about how to buy European train tickets.  Changing trains and stations in Paris by metro or taxiChanging trains in Brussels.

Buying UK train tickets to connect with Eurostar...

In partnership with other UK train companies, Eurostar offers through tickets to Paris, Lille or Brussels from over 130 UK towns & cities, just use the booking form above to see the list of stations and book tickets online.  This is usually the cheapest option.  Alternatively, you can buy your UK train tickets to London separately from your Eurostar ticket. There are special fares from almost any station in Britain to a destination called 'London International' specifically designed for use with Eurostar tickets, which you can buy online here.  Most stations can sell these tickets, though they seem a well-kept secret and staff aren't always familiar with them!  These fares have few or no time restrictions, so you can travel in the Monday-Friday peaks at an affordable fare, ay also ensure that international conditions of carriage (the CIV) apply to your whole journey, so you are covered if you miss your Eurostar because the UK train is late or vice versa.  Full details & advice for buying UK train tickets to connect with Eurostar.

Useful telephone numbers...

  • Eurostar telesales:  08432 186 186 (from outside the UK call +44 1233 617575)

  • Lost Property (UK)  020 7928 0660 (from outside the UK call +44 20 7928 0660)

  • Lost Property (Paris)  00 33 155 31 58 40

  • Lost Property (Brussels)  00 32 2 224 88 62

  • Group travel:  0870 6000 777

  • Eurostar customer relations:  020 7928 5163 - e-mail new.comments@eurostar.co.uk

  • Eurostar arrival information & passenger assistance:  020 7928 0660

  • Bikes & registered baggage service:  0844 822 5822 (from outside the UK call +44 207843 7554).

Direct Eurostars to Avignon (summer) & French Alps (winter)...

Eurostar runs a direct service from London to Avignon on summer Saturdays, and to the French Alps on Friday nights & Saturdays in the winter skiing season.  See the London to France page or www.eurostar.com for details.

Faster & more reliable than flying...

In 2008, 92.4% of Eurostars arrived on time or within 15 minutes, compared with a mere 65% of competing short-haul flights.  Eurostar has been exceeding 95% so far in 2009.  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.  Remember that you can check all European train times at http://bahn.hafas.de.

The environmentally sound way to travel...

Eurostar has commissioned independent research estimating that a trip from London to Paris on a Eurostar train emits 11Kg of CO2 per passenger, over 90% less than the 122Kg per passenger emitted by a London-Paris flight.  In addition, planes emit the CO2 directly into the upper atmosphere, where it is thought to do around 2.5 times the damage of the same CO2 emitted at ground level.  Another good reason for treating yourself to a train journey!  Eurostar has committed itself to reducing its emissions by 25% by 2012, and from 2007, they will offset all their emissions free of charge to passengers, making Eurostar travel carbon neutral.  See www.eurostar.com/environment for more information.

Eurostar leaves from London St Pancras, since 14 November 2007...

The final section of the UK high speed line opened on 14 November 2007, and Eurostar now uses the new St Pancras International Station as its London terminal, no longer leaving from Waterloo.  The London-Paris journey time has been cut to just 2 hours 15 minutes, city centre to city centre.

Sponsored links:

 

St Pancras International station...

 

St Pancras International...

  The station building at St Pancras, built 1868-1876
 

St Pancras station:  Its Victorian Gothic facade has been a London landmark for 140 years...

  Inside St Pancras International:  Lower level concourse
 

Lower level concourse:  You enter St Pancras from the Underground or off the street onto the lower level concourse.  In this photo, the Eurostar ticket office is on the left, the check-in for Eurostar departures is in a passageway along and to the right...

  Inside St Pancras International:  Upper level concourse showing William Barlow's magnificent 1868 trainshed...
 

Upper level concourse:  Go up one level for great views of the station, and for Europe's longest Champagne Bar, just visible on the left alongside the Eurostar.

  Eurostar:  Self-service ticket machines at St Pancras
 

Ticket collection?  If you need to pick up your Eurostar tickets at the station, you simply put your credit card into these machines and enter your booking reference...

  Eurostar check-in gates at St Pancras...
 

Check-in for Eurostar:  You check in just off the main lower level concourse, by putting your Eurostar ticket into these automatic ticket gates.  Immediately after the gates is an easy X-ray security check then passport control...

  Inside the Eurostar departure lounge at St Pancras...
 

Departure lounge:  Once through check-in and the security and passport checks, you're in the departure lounge....

  Eurostar information desk, in the departure lounge at St Pancras...
 

Departure lounge:  The lounge has an information desk and comfortable seating.  There's also a 'laptop bar' with stools, desk, and power-points to recharge your laptop, mobile or camera...

  Boarding Eurostar at St Pancras International...
 

Business lounge:  If you've a Business Premier 1st class ticket (but not a Leisure Select 1st class ticket), you can use the business lounge, with complimentary drinks and snacks...

  Boarding Eurostar at St Pancras International...
 

Boarding:  A boarding announcement is made around 15 minutes before departure, and you head up the travelator to the platforms above to board your Eurostar...

The new St Pancras International station opened on 14 November 2007, and from this date Eurostar no longer leaves from Waterloo.  St Pancras isn't a mere airport terminal for trains, it's a spectacularly-restored piece of history that will take your breath away... 

St Pancras station facilities...

St Pancras International station has been designed as a destination in its own right, with shops of all kinds, newsagents & cafes.  As well as public toilets, other facilities include:

  • Europe's longest champagne bar:  Before checking-in, you can raise a toast to your journey at Europe's longest champagne bar, 96 metres long and on the upper level underneath the magnificent glass-and-steel trainshed.  It's level with and alongside the Eurostar platforms, separated from departing Eurostars by no more than a glass screen.

  • Left luggage:  Run by the Excess Baggage Company, you can deposit items here for £6.50 per 24 hours or part thereof.  Open 06:00-22:00 Monday-Saturday, 07:00-22:00 Sunday.  Bags are X-rayed before deposit.

  • Eurostar & domestic ticket offices:  The Eurostar ticket office is on the lower level on the left as you enter from the street or Underground.  The domestic ticket office is at the far end of the lower level shopping lane, along with the left luggage and toilets.

  • European train ticketing & reservations desk:  The official Eurostar ticket office can only sell Eurostar tickets to Paris, Brussels and a few other destinations.  However, ticketing agency Trains Europe has opened a European train ticketing desk at St Pancras which can sell tickets for almost any train journey in Europe and make European seat, couchette & sleeper reservations.  It's located in the domestic travel centre (signed 'National Rail Tickets') at the far end of the lower shopping level, under platforms 1-4.   It's open 09:30-17:30 Mondays to Fridays, also Saturdays 10:30-16:30.

  • Eurostar departures:  The row of check-in gates is in a wide passageway to the right, off the main shopping lane.

  • Free WiFi internet access:  Eurostar has now installed WiFi throughout St Pancras International station (August 2008), both in the departure lounge and elsewhere in the station, available to everyone free of charge (yes, really!).  The WiFi at Paris Nord & Brussels Midi still needs to be paid for.  WiFi internet access on board Eurostar is still being developed.

  • You can learn more about St Pancras facilities, and shopping opportunities, at www.stpancras.com.

About St Pancras...

St Pancras was opened by the Midland Railway in 1868, as the London terminal for their trains heading north from London to Leicester, Nottingham, Derby & Sheffield.  Trains to these destinations still leave from St Pancras, though they're now relegated to new platforms 1-4 outside the old trainshed.  If you've time, walk outside onto the street to gaze at the ornate Victorian Gothic station building, designed by Sir Gilbert Scott and built 1868-1876.  This was the old Midland Hotel, closed in 1935, derelict for many years, but now being restored and returned to its intended purpose, as a stylish modern hotel.  A true London landmark...

But the most awe-inspiring sight is inside the station.  It's the spectacular glass-and-steel trainshed, designed by William Henry Barlow and completed in 1868.  243 feet wide, 689 feet long and 100 feet high, when it was opened it created the largest enclosed space in the world.  The trainshed has been totally renovated and returned to its original sky-blue.  The original station clock has been found in a Nottinghamshire garden, faithfully reproduced by its original manufacturers, Dent, and put in its place of honour at the apex of the trainshed.  Under the clock stands a 9 metre high statue of two lovers embracing, titles 'The Meeting Place', by sculptor Paul Day.

You can learn more about St Pancras station and its history at www.stpancras.com.

Checking in...

30-minute check-in...

You must check in for Eurostar at least 30 minutes before departure (10 minutes for full-fare first class passengers, 60 minutes for the direct trains to the Alps or Avignon).  The check-in gates at St Pancras are in a passageway just off the lower concourse, one level down from the Eurostar trains themselves.  Check-in normally opens just over an hour before departure, and you check in by putting your ticket into the automatic ticket gates at the entrance to the departure lounge, or (if you've a print-at-home ticket) placing the ticket barcode against the small scanner screen on the ticket gate.  Alternatively, there are staffed check-in kiosks.  If for any reason you want to change your allocated seat (for example, to make sure you're facing forward), ask at one of these kiosks on check-in.  Make sure all your bags are labelled with your name.  Immediately after passing through the check-in gates there is an airline-style security check with X-ray and metal detectors, but this is both quicker and easier than airport security.  You'll be inside the departure lounge in a few minutes.  Eurostar website check-in information.

Inside the Eurostar terminal...

Once inside the departure lounge, there is a café, bar, small shop, toilets, and a Eurostar information desk.  The information desk can provide you with Eurostar information, a free map of Paris, a 'carnet' of 10 Paris metro tickets or Paris visitor metro passes.  The six Eurostar platforms at St Pancras (platforms 5-10) are directly above the departure lounge, and an announcement will be made when your Eurostar is ready for boarding, usually about 15 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.

On board Eurostar...

Business first class, leisure first class, standard class...

Eurostar has three classes:  Business first class (branded 'Business Premier'), leisure first class (branded 'Leisure Select' until Aug 2010, 'Standard Premier' from Sept 2010), and Standard class.  'Business Premier' first class has flexible tickets, access to executive lounges at stations and a 10 minute minimum check-in, 'Leisure select' first class (to be rebranded 'Standard Premier' from 1 September 2010) offers more affordable fares for upmarket leisure travellers, but no ticket flexibility, a 30-minute minimum check-in and no access to executive lounges.  The seats in both types of 1st class are identical, with meals & drinks included.  Eurostar is completely non-smoking.  All Eurostars were completely refurbished with a new interior design between autumn 2004 and autumn 2005.  There is a virtual tour of Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.

Food & drink on Eurostar...

In first class (both Business Premier & Leisure Select/Standard Premier) the fare includes a meal & complimentary alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks, all served at your seat.  Business Premier & (until Aug 2010) Leisure Select fares include an excellent hot airline-style 3-course meal with champagne, Standard Premier (from Sept 2010) will include a simpler cold tray meal.  All passengers have access to two bar cars, located in cars 6 & 13, serving tea, coffee, hot chocolate, beer, wine, spirits, sandwiches, crisps and a few hot snacks.  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 your purchases back to your seat.  Feel free to take your own food and drink if you like, even your own bottle of wine, there are no rules against this on trains!

Tips for choosing your seat...  Eurostar seating plan with seat numbers

All seats on Eurostar must be reserved in advance.  There's a detailed seating plan at www.eurorailways.com/brochure/premier/eurostar_seatplan.pdf.  The plan shows 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!  If you book your Eurostar ticket at www.eurostar.com, the 'Seating preferences' section initially only allows you to choose 'aisle' or 'window', but later in the booking process you are now offered a section called 'Want to choose your exact seat?'.  Using this you can choose exactly which seat in which car you want, using a numbered seating plan.  If you book through any other agency or website (for example, Rail Europe) you can usually choose a specific seat if you book by phone, but not if you book online.  Here are some tips for choosing the best seats on Eurostar:

  • If you want a power socket for a mobile or laptop, choose cars 5 or 14 in standard class.  In first class, all cars have these.

  • If you've small children, book seats in cars 1 or 18 (standard class) as these are near the baby-changing room, and are at each end of the train so have less people walking through them to the bar.  These cars have lots of bays of 4 seats (with or without a table, your choice), which are much better for families than face-to-back airline-style seating.

  • 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.

  • If you prefer seats facing forward, this can be seen on the plan (look closely at the train diagram!).

  • If you prefer a window seat which lines up with the window (as opposed to one next to a blank bit of wall between the windows), look carefully at the plan.  The pale blue bits 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.

  • If you've a tight connection in Brussels (or for that matter, Paris), book a seat at the front of the train (i.e. in coach 17 or 18), as you'll get off the platform ahead of everyone else and with less of a walk, saving a few vital minutes!

Power points for laptops and mobiles & WiFi access...

There are UK and European power outlets (240/110 volts AC) for laptops and mobiles in all Eurostar 1st class cars and in 2nd class cars 5 & 14.  Other 2nd class cars do not have power outlets.  WiFi internet access on board the trains is still in development and not yet available, but there's WiFi internet access at St Pancras International station for everyone, free of charge.  WiFi access at Paris & Brussels is also available, but needs to be paid for.  Top tip:  Take a Power Monkey universal backup battery with you when you travel.  This gives up to 96 hours phone stand-by when your phone's battery dies and similarly recharges iPods, PDAs and some cameras.  Highly recommended!

Luggage on Eurostar...

Unlike travelling by air, you don't check in your bags when travelling by Eurostar.  You keep them with you, placing small or medium size bags 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.  Also unlike air travel, there's no weight limit, so you can pretty much take what you like.  Just remember that you will have to carry it!  However, in theory there's a limit of two large items per passenger, plus a smaller bag.  Also remember that as of March 2007, all bags taken onto Eurostar must have a label showing your name and surname.  Eurostar offer a checked baggage service for extra large items, which costs extra, see the Eurostar website baggage information page for details.

Left luggage lockers in London, Paris & Brussels...

London St Pancras has a left luggage office run by the Excess Baggage Company, where you can deposit items here for £8 per item for the first 24 hours, then £4 for each of the next 24 hour periods.  Open 06:00-22:00 Monday-Saturday, 07:00-22:00 Sunday.  Bags are X-rayed before deposit.

Paris Gare du Nord has left luggage lockers ('consigne' in French) downstairs under the main concourse just off the end of the Eurostar platforms.  Open 06:15 to 23:15 daily.  At the Gare du Nord and other stations in Paris, expect to have your bags X-rayed before entering the locker area.  In Paris, a small locker costs 4.50 euros, a back-pack or suitcase-sized locker around 7.50 euros for 24 hours, and a larger locker for two backpacks around 9.50 euros.  There's a change machine which can convert 10, 20 or 50 euro banknotes into the coins needed for the lockers.

Brussels Midi has both luggage lockers and a staffed left luggage facility near the Eurostar check-in and Thalys reception.  Both are open 24 hours a day, the staffed facility costs 3.80 euros per item per calendar day, the three sizes of lockers cost 3 euros, 3.50 euros, 4 euros per 24 hours.

Taking your bicycle on Eurostar...

Bicycles can be taken on Eurostar either free of charge as hand luggage in a zip-up bike bag (available from bike shops), with pedals and saddle removed and handlebars turned, or you can take it with you in the luggage van for £20 each way.  See the Taking your bike section for information about taking bikes on Eurostar and other European trains.

Taking dogs & pets on Eurostar...

Unfortunately, you cannot take dogs or other pets on Eurostar, except for guide dogs.  To get round this (other than pretending to be blind, tricky if you have a Yorkshire terrier), you'll need to switch to train+ferry Between London and Paris.  See the taking your dog or pet section for more information.

Children & babies...

Unlike airlines, children under 4 go free on Eurostar, and a special child fare applies to children from 4 to 11 inclusive.  Children 12 & over travel at the adult 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 more details.  If you're travelling with young children in 2nd class, ask for a family area seat - this is at the end of the train in cars 1 and 18, with seats around tables where children can play (see the Eurostar seating plan).  Eurostar has baby-changing facilities in cars 1 & 18, at each end of the long 18-car Eurostar train.  These are 2nd class cars, a long walk from the 1st class in the centre of the train, especially when carrying a gently dripping baby!  The baby changing rooms have sink, soap, changing table and disposable changing table covers.  Bar car staff will heat baby bottles if asked.  There are more tips for travelling with babies and children in the Travelling with children section.

Travellers with disabilities on Eurostar...

Eurostar can provide assistance to passengers with special needs travelling from London to Paris, Lille or Brussels.  If you are confined to a wheelchair, there are wheelchair spaces and wheelchair-friendly toilets on each Eurostar train.  There are also special fares for people travelling in wheelchairs and a travelling companion.  Electric-powered scooters can also be carried, subject to some maximum dimensions, in the baggage area.  For more information, see www.eurostar.com.

A journey on Eurostar...

 

Paris Gare du Nord...

  Gare du Nord, Paris, where Eurostar arrives.
 

The magnificent (and freshly renovated) façade of the Gare du Nord, completed in 1865.  The first Gare du Nord was built in 1846, but being too small was moved to Lille in 1860 to become Lille Flandres station.

  Inside Paris Gare du Nord.  The Eurostar platforms are on the left.
 

Arrival at Paris Gare du Nord.  Eurostar arrives at and departs from platforms 3-6.  For Eurostar departures, follow the Eurostar signs up the steps or escalator to the first floor check-in and departure lounge.

  The Eurostar departure lounge at Paris Gare du Nord
 

Departure from Paris Nord:  The Eurostar terminal, check-in & departure lounge are up the escalators on the first floor.

Departure from St Pancras...

The train manager makes his announcement that the Eurostar 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 your Eurostar 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 adjacent Kings Cross station, which becomes a long tunnel under east London taking the Eurostar east and south.

...East London & the Dartford Crossing...

About 5 minutes after leaving St Pancras, you'll see a glimpse of daylight and the platforms of Stratford International station, due to open in time for the London Olympics in 2012.  Around 8 minutes after leaving St Pancras, the Eurostar finally 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 of the Thames, emerging the other side in the county of Kent.  Some Eurostars now call at Ebbsfleet station in north Kent, near the M25 motorway.

...the Medway Viaduct...

Eurostar 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 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...

Now at last you're in green and pleasant rural Kent, with villages nestling at the foot of the chalky hills to the left.  A few Eurostars still call at Ashford International station, a major railway junction in east kent, but most Eurostars now 'fly' over the town on a high flyover, with the station below you, the town centre to the left and the old Southern Railway Ashford works to your right.

...into the Channel Tunnel...

Just 35 minutes from St Pancras, the fields and hedgerows of east Kent give way to the roadways and check-in lanes of the Folkestone EuroTunnel terminal.  This is where cars and lorries are put on the EuroTunnel car-carrying shuttle trains to go through the tunnel to France.  Your Eurostar passes through the middle of the terminal non-stop, and the train manager announces that you are about to enter the Channel Tunnel.  Passing through the Channel Tunnel takes just 20 minutes, and is something of an anti-climax.  The Channel Tunnel (sometimes called the "Chunnel") is just like any other rail tunnel, only a bit longer.  As a precaution, the yellow fire safety doors between each pair of coaches are closed during the tunnel transit, but you can still pass through freely if you want.

...welcome to northern France...

The Eurostar emerges into France at up to 100 mph, and 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 Eurostars 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 and the line to Paris diverge just after Lille Europe station.

...bonjour Paris..!

The high speed line to Paris ends just short of Paris Gare du Nord, and the Eurostar passes seamlessly onto a short stretch of conventional line to complete its journey into Paris Gare du Nord, the historic terminus where the traditional boat trains from Calais or Boulogne used to arrive.  The Gare du Nord is also the station for trains to Brussels, Amsterdam, and Germany, and you will see red and silver 'Thalys' trains arriving and departing from these places.

On arrival at the Gare du Nord, you walk straight off the end of the Eurostar platform onto the main concourse, and either out into the streets of Paris, or turn left and head downstairs to the metro.  The taxi rank is outside the station to the right.

Changing trains in Paris or Brussels...

Changing trains & stations in Paris:  See the Paris metro page...

In Paris, Eurostar arrives at the Gare du Nord, and your connecting train will probably leave from one of the other Paris stations.  The Gare de 'Est is a 10-minute walk from the Gare du Nord, but to get to any of the other Paris stations you'll need to take the metro or RER (Express Metro) across Paris.  See the guide to changing trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

Changing trains in Brussels:  See the Europe page

In Brussels, all long-distance trains including Eurostar use Brussels Midi station (Brussel Zuid in Flemish), so changing trains is easy.  These recommended times are the minimum.  Left luggage lockers and a staffed left luggage office are available at Brussels Midi (24 hours).

Recommended connection times in Brussels...

The minimum connection times shown here are the minimum amount of time you should allow between the scheduled arrival of your train in Brussels and the scheduled departure time of your connecting train from Brussels.
Travelling FROM London If you're connecting in Brussels with a local or non-reserved InterCity train, where missing it simply means catching the next one: 25 minutes.
If you're connecting in Brussels with a Thalys or ICE train, where you have a train-specific ticket and reservation: 25 minutes, but preferably a bit more - if you miss it because the Eurostar is late they should let you catch the next one, as long as seats are available.
If you're connecting in Brussels with a long-distance sleeper train which you cannot afford to miss: 60 minutes, preferably 90 minutes.
Travelling TO London Any connection in Brussels 40 minutes minimum, which includes the compulsory 30-minute Eurostar check-in time.  if you miss the Eurostar because your train is late the Eurostar staff should let you catch the next one, as long as seats are available.


The train+ferry alternatives...

London-Paris by train+ferry:  See the London to France page...

You can still take train+ferry+train from London to Paris if you wish.  It takes 9 hours, but can be cheaper if you need to travel at short notice or want 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 and information for London-Paris by train+ferry+train are on the France page.

Northern England & Scotland to mainland Europe...

ScotRail sell inclusive tickets for the Caledonian Sleeper + Eurostar, see www.firstscotrail.com.  Don't forget the ferry options:  Edinburgh (Rosyth) to Zeebrugge with www.superfast.com (3 sailings weekly, overnight) for onward trains to Brussels and Paris (see http://bahn.hafas.de for train times).  www.DFDS.co.uk sail from Newcastle to IJmuiden (the port of Amsterdam) overnight, and www.poferries.com sail from Hull to Rotterdam, for trains to Amsterdam, Antwerp or Brussels.


The Thomas Cook European Timetable

Thomas Cook European Timetable -  click to buy onlineThomas Cook Rail Map of Europe - buy onlineThe Thomas Cook European timetable has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  Published since 1873, it costs £13.99.  It's essential for any serious traveller and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Still not convinced you need one?  More information on what the Thomas Cook Timetable contains.  You can buy the latest monthly edition online at www.thomascooktimetables.com with worldwide delivery or buy it in person from any UK branch of Thomas Cook (ask at the bureau de change), or from W H Smiths in Victoria or Kings Cross stations in London.  Or buy the twice-yearly independent traveller's edition with laminated cover from Amazon.co.uk:  Summer 2010 edition (June to December 2010)

The Thomas Cook Rail Map of Europe is the best and most comprehensive map of train routes right across Europe, from Portugal in the west to Istanbul, Moscow & Ukraine in the east, from Finland in the north to Sicily & Crete in the south.  High speed & scenic routes are highlighted.  Highly recommended!  Buy online at www.amazon.co.uk (worldwide delivery).  See an extract from the map.



 

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