Eurostar is the only passenger train through the Channel Tunnel, linking London St Pancras with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam in as little as 2 hours 17 minutes. In 2026 there are up to 15 daily departures on the core London–Paris route. Here is everything you need to book, pack and board smoothly. Live times and checkout live on the money URLs: London → Paris and Paris → London.
Book the Channel Tunnel pair: London → Paris times & book (2h 15m from €59) · Paris → London times & book (2h 15m from €39) · cost / how-to: Paris–London train cost.
Eurostar routes & journey times (2026)
| Route | Duration | Direct? | From (advance) | Station pair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London → Paris | 2h 17m | Yes | €39 / £39 | St Pancras ↔ Gare du Nord |
| London → Brussels | 2h 01m | Yes | €39 / £39 | St Pancras ↔ Midi |
| London → Amsterdam | 4h 10m | Yes* | €49 / £49 | St Pancras ↔ Centraal |
| Paris → London | 2h 17m | Yes | €39 | Gare du Nord ↔ St Pancras |
| Brussels → London | 2h 01m | Yes | €39 | Midi ↔ St Pancras |
*Amsterdam → London: passport check at Brussels Midi; you remain on board. Some Paris–Brussels and Brussels–Amsterdam legs are operated by Eurostar or SNCB/NMBS connecting services.
Check-in, passport control & boarding
Eurostar is an airport-style border crossing. UK and EU passport checks happen before you board — there is no immigration on arrival.
- London St Pancras: Enter via the Eurostar departures hall (upper level). E-gates for UK/EU biometric passports; manual desks for other nationalities. Arrive 90 min early.
- Paris Gare du Nord: Follow signs to London — a separate terminal on the upper level. French exit + UK entry checks. Allow 60–90 min.
- Brussels Midi & Amsterdam Centraal: Similar layout; Amsterdam northbound trains also stop at Brussels for UK border on return.
- Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure. Late passengers are not boarded.
Ticket classes: Standard, Standard Premier, Business Premier
| Class | Seating | Included | Typical from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 2+2, standard legroom | Buffet car purchase | €39 |
| Standard Premier | 2+1, extra legroom | Light meal + drinks at seat | €99 |
| Business Premier | 2+1, widest seats | Full meal, lounge access, flexible exchange | €299+ |
Not sure which to pick? Read our first class vs second class guide — Standard Premier is Eurostar's sweet spot for comfort without Business fares.
How to get cheap Eurostar tickets
- Book 2–3 months ahead — cheapest seats release first and sell out on school holidays and rugby weekends.
- Travel Tue–Thu — Friday evening and Sunday afternoon Paris/London trains are the most expensive.
- Choose early or late departures — 07:00–08:00 and after 20:00 often have lower fares.
- Compare one-way vs return — two singles can beat a return on mixed outbound/inbound dates.
- Search live on EuroRail Times — see exact prices for your date via All Aboard. More tips in our cheapest tickets guide.
Luggage, food & on-board tips
- Luggage: 2 bags up to 85 cm + 1 hand item per person. No porters — pack light for stairs at Gare du Nord.
- Food: Standard class uses the buffet (sandwiches €6–10, coffee €3). Premier classes include a meal — worth it if you would eat at the airport anyway.
- Wi-Fi: Free on all classes; fine for email, slow for video.
- Power: UK and EU sockets at every seat in Premier; Standard has mixed availability — bring a USB battery.
Connecting beyond Eurostar
Eurostar is the first leg of many continental trips:
- Paris → Lyon, Marseille, Barcelona via TGV/Ouigo (same day from London with 2h+ connection).
- Brussels → Amsterdam, Cologne, Berlin via ICE or Eurostar (ex-Thalys).
- London → Amsterdam → Berlin on one ticket through All Aboard — see Paris–Berlin and London–Paris route pages.
Related routes & reading
Paris → London London → Paris London → Brussels London → Amsterdam Eurostar operator page 1st vs 2nd class guide Frecciarossa Italy guide 2026 Renfe AVE Spain guide 2026 Cheapest tickets 2026 Long weekend rail tripsPlan this trip
Book your train first on EuroRail Times (All Aboard), then hotels and tours.
Book Eurostar for your date
Search live London–Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam times and prices — book via All Aboard.
Book London → Paris → Book Paris → London →