As Audrey Hepburn famously said, “Paris is always a good idea.” Who am I to argue?
I’m a London and Canterbury tour guide, specialising in museums, and I also take my clients to visit the great museums of Paris: the Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre, and the Catacombs.
I recently led a group of four adults from London to Paris, and like always, we took the Eurostar. It’s simply the most convenient way to travel between London and Paris.
My clients initially told me that the the Eurostar made them feel a bit overwhelmed. After all, this isn’t a typical train – it requires customs, immigration, and a little bit of savvy.
But by the end of our trip, they saw how easy it was, and gained the confidence they needed to make the return journey on their own.
Maybe I can do the same for you! If you have questions about how to take the Eurostar from London to Paris, I’ve got you covered.
In this article, I cover everything you need to know to take the Eurostar from London to Paris, from the security situation to how to get oriented when you arrive.
- Buying Eurostar tickets from London to Paris
- How Often Does the Eurostar run from London to Paris?
- Which station does the Eurostar to Paris leave from?
- How much are Eurostar tickets from London to Paris?
- What are the different classes of service on the Eurostar from London to Paris?
- Eurostar Security at St Pancras Station
- How intrusive is Eurostar Security?
- How early should I arrive for Eurostar Security at St Pancras?
- What services are available after Security at St Pancras Station?
- The Eurostar on-board experience – What’s it like?
- Luggage storage on board the Eurostar
- Can I get food on the Eurostar from London to Paris?
- Arriving at Gare du Nord – What you need to know
- Left Luggage
- Restrooms and Showers
- The Metro
- Taxis and Ride-Sharing Apps
Buying Eurostar Tickets from London to Paris
Here’s everything you need to know about buying Eurostar tickets from London to Paris.
How long does the Eurostar take from London to Paris?
The Eurostar from London to Paris usually takes 2 hours 16 minutes, but occasional trains will take 2 hours 37 minutes. On this particular trip, we took a 10:30am departure on a Thursday, and it was 2”16.
You will know your journey duration when you select your ticket. Just make sure you account for the one-hour time difference. I’ve seen it mess up a lot of people’s plans!
Do also remember that European train times use the 24-hour clock. This can cause confusion when booking and travelling, so don’t get caught out.
How Often Does the Eurostar run from London to Paris?
The Eurostar runs from London to Paris every hour or so, with 14 trains per day from early morning to late at night. They run every day of the year except Christmas Day.
Which station does the Eurostar to Paris leave from?
All Eurostar trains to Paris leave from St Pancras Station, which is in the heart of London. It’s just steps away from another famous station, King’s Cross.
The two stations are side-by-side. In fact, they share a London Underground Station that services them both. It’s called – you guessed it – King’s Cross St. Pancras.
I asked my clients to meet me in front of Hamley’s Toys in St Pancras Station – it’s a great meeting point.
How much are Eurostar tickets from London to Paris?
The prices for Eurostar tickets from London to Paris can really vary. They work a lot like airplane tickets – prices are higher when demand is higher.
That means that the tickets will usually be a higher price during special occasions and holidays. They also go up in price as the tickets sell, with the last few remaining tickets sold at the most expensive fares.
Standard economy tickets go down as low as about £30 per direction, usually for the early morning or late evening departures. However, they can also go up to £300+!
I really recommend that you book as early as possible and sign up for official email alerts about sales. I try to book my groups about three months in advance, or even earlier if it is a school holiday or other special occasion.
In this case, I booked about six weeks in advance, but we still managed to get a good price - £78 per person, one way.
What are the different classes of service on the Eurostar from London to Paris?
There are three different classes of service on the Eurostar from London to Paris – Standard, Standard Premier, and Business. With Standard Premier and Business Premier, you’ll have a bigger seat and be served complimentary meals and drinks from dedicated attendants.
Business Premier tickets include a three-course meal and champagne; the tickets are fully refundable or changeable. You also get to use the Business Premier Lounges, which serve complimentary alcohol, coffee, soft drinks, and a selection of snacks. I’ve done it a few times, and it is lovely!
Of course, I usually go with economy tickets for my clients – I do whatever they prefer. In this case, they were open to Standard Premier, but the price jump was actually quite big, at £138 per person. Since they were a group of four, they decided to use the extra £200 on a nice meal!
Where can I buy Eurostar tickets?
While you can buy Eurostar tickets by calling their ticketing offices or in person at St Pancras Station, it is always best to buy them online from the official site.
You’ll see Eurostar tickets for sale on third-party websites, but I recommend you go directly to the source. You don’t save any money booking with a third-party (in fact, you may even pay extra fees).
But the real problems occur if you need to make changes, or the train is cancelled. Dealing with a third party can add all kinds of extra stress and fees – always book direct if you can.
I’ve been caught out with this – I booked with a third party, and it took six months to get my money back when all trains were cancelled!
Thankfully, on this journey we had no issues.
Are there any discounts on Eurostar tickets?
You won’t usually find discounts on Eurostar tickets. However, you can sometimes find package deals that include hotel nights. The costs can be lower than booking the train and hotel separately, which is attractive.
However, getting these packages does require booking through third-party sites, such as Expedia, and you might run into problems if you need to make changes.
You should weigh the savings against the potential issues you could run into. I’ve done it a few times and had good experiences, but if I had needed to make a change, it could have been a hassle.
In the past, Eurostar has offered an official discount partner called Eurostar Snap. With Snap, you could buy tickets for £25 - £45 each way. However, you could only select “am” or “pm.” You didn’t learn your train times until the day before your train.
For instance, if you selected “am,” your train could be any time from 6am to 11:59am. If you chose “pm,” your train could be any time between 12:00 pm and the last train of the night, around 23:00h (11pm).
I’m hoping they offer this again in the future! It’s not great for travelling with tour groups, but it is perfect for my personal travel.
Eurostar Security at St Pancras Station
It pays to be prepared in advance – here are some facts about Eurostar Security at St Pancras Station.
How intrusive is Eurostar Security?
Eurostar Security at St Pancras is very similar to airport security, with the exception that you can bring liquids on board.
How early should I arrive for Eurostar Security at St Pancras?
The official guidance says you must arrive no later than 45-60 minutes before your train, but this can feel really tight at peak times. Ninety minutes is usually a safer bet.
Remember – arriving more than two hours early is usually a bad idea, as you will be placed in a ‘holding pen’ queue and not permitted to go through security.
When I am travelling for personal reasons, I always get there around 75 minutes in advance. With this group, I asked them to meet me at Hamlet’s two hours in advance, and then we joined the queue 90 minutes before departure. It pays to be cautious when you’re the tour leader!
Keep in mind that you may face long queues when you arrive, but these do usually move very quickly.
What services are available after Security at St Pancras Station?
Before security, St Pancras is home to loads of great amenities, such as bars, restaurants, pubs, and fast food.
You’re also steps away from King’s Cross Station, and a short walk to the Coal Drops Yard restaurant complex. I really recommend Lina Stores and Dishoom if you have ample time.
If you’re grabbing something in the station, M&S has great grab-and-go food and drink – and yes – you can bring your own alcohol on board! My guests on this occasion chose some snacks and soft drinks.
However, beyond security you can still find the necessities, with a newsstand a few ‘grab and go’ food kiosks, and a coffee shop.
The Eurostar on-board experience – What’s it like?
In most cases, travelling on board a Eurostar train is a comfortable experience. The seats are larger than standard airline seats, and you can always get up to stretch your legs.
The journey really does fly by! But do keep in mind that the Wi-Fi is almost always unreliable.
Luggage storage on board the Eurostar
With Standard and Standard Premier tickets, you may bring 2 bags up to 85cm in length – there is no weight limit, but you must be able to carry your bags on your own.
You may also bring 1 piece of hand luggage. For Business Premier tickets, that allowance is increased to 3 bags up to 85cm in length, plus 1 piece of hand luggage.
I was only staying one night, so I just had a backpack, but my clients each had a small suitcase and carry-on each.
Children are entitled to 1 bag up to 85cm in length, and 1 piece of hand luggage.
Remember that you won’t be ‘checking’ your bags – you will need to carry them through the station and onto the train. There are large luggage racks at both ends of the train cars, as well as a smaller rack above the seats.
If you are worried about managing your bags, you can contact First Luggage for door-to-door baggage delivery.
Can I get food on the Eurostar from London to Paris?
If you are travelling in Standard Class, you can make your way to the dining car and buy a selection of sandwiches, hot items, snacks, coffees, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages.
However, if you are travelling in Standard Premier, you’ll be served a light meal and refreshments. If you are in Business Premier, you’ll be served a 3-course meal and your choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The food is surprisingly good, and they pour champagne liberally.
Arriving at Gare du Nord – What you need to know
Gare du Nord is a world-class train station that includes everything you need when you first arrive to Paris. Gare du Nord means Station of the North, or Northern Station. It is in Central Paris, and well-connected to the Metro.
- Left Luggage – Bag storage is available on the lowest level of the station, below the SNCF ticket office. It is reasonably priced at around €6 for 24 hours. Follow signs within the station.
- Restrooms and Showers – Follow the signs for the WC, located next to the Metro Entrance. It costs €1 to use the toilets, which are clean and well-maintained. You can also pay to take a shower.
- The Metro – You’ll find the Paris Metro station just underneath the main Gare du Nord concourse – follow the signs. You can catch Line 4 or Line 5, just buy your ticket at the machine first, which you can do in English. They do not have contactless payment – you do need to buy a paper ticket or a pass. I grabbed the tickets for my guests, but it is simple to do on our own.
- Taxis and Ride-Sharing Apps – If you want to hail a taxi or pick up an Uber or Bolt, head out the main exit/entrance, located next to Five Guys. There, you’ll see a scrum of cars waiting to pick people up and drop them off. Ubers and Bolts are usually on-site, so only click the button when you’re ready to go!
We arrived at Gare du Nord without a hitch, and dropped their luggage at their hotel in Marais, and started our tour of the museums with the Musée d’Orsay.
My group had a great time in Paris, and they learned that the Eurostar is far easier than they ever thought. Whether you’re travelling on your own or with a guide, it’s helpful to be prepared.
Are you planning a trip to Paris on the Eurostar? Let me know if you found this guide helpful, or head to our London Travel Tips Facebook group to ask any further questions. I’m always lurking around the group, answering questions, so let me
