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Travelling by train from London to Barcelona
Planning to travel from London to Barcelona by train? You've come to the right place!
The train from London to Barcelona usually takes 16h 36m, but can take 11h 31m on the fastest services. You'll need to make one change along the way during your journey, travelling with Eurostar and Renfe-SNCF. On board, you'll find comfortable seating, space for luggage and, on most services, free WiFi as standard.
It may be quicker to fly, but if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, admire the European countryside or even turn the journey into a bigger trip with a stop along the way, taking the train is a relaxing and interesting way to travel the 707 miles (1139 km) between these two cities.
After you’re whisked across France and over the border into Spain, you’ll arrive into Barcelona’s main station – Barcelona Sants. Centrally located, it won’t be long before you’re wandering Las Ramblas or taking in the iconic Sagrada Familia once you’ve alighted your train.
So, what are you waiting for? Search for cheap train tickets from London to Barcelona in our Journey Planner today or keep reading for:
- Today’s train times
- How do I get from London to Barcelona by train?
- How to get to London St Pancras International station
- Board a train to Paris at London St Pancras International
- Going through the Channel Tunnel
- How to get from Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon
- Board a train to Barcelona at Paris Gare de Lyon station
- Arriving in Barcelona
- Using public transport in Barcelona
- Things to see and do in Barcelona
- Where to travel next after Barcelona
- Explore more of Europe with an Interrail pass
- Getting to the airport from Barcelona city centre
Trains to Barcelona from London
It takes an average of 14h 49m to travel from London to Barcelona by train, over a distance of around 707 miles (1139 km). There are normally 9 trains per day travelling from London to Barcelona and tickets for this journey start from £141.74 when you book in advance.
What do people frequently ask about the train journey from London to Barcelona?
Want to know more about your journey from London to Barcelona? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.
What is the quickest journey time between London and Barcelona by train?
Are there direct trains from London to Barcelona?
What's the distance between London and Barcelona by train?
Who runs the trains from London to Barcelona?
Can you travel from London to Barcelona without taking a flight?
What is the best way to get to Barcelona from London?
What time is the first train from London to Barcelona?
What time is the last train from London to Barcelona?
How often do trains go from London to Barcelona?
Do you need to prebook train tickets from London to Barcelona?
Is there a return trip from London to Barcelona?
Eurostar trains from London to Barcelona
Eurostar is the exclusive high-speed train service that links London to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and the rest of Europe at speeds of up to 186 mph (300 km/h). Eurostar also runs trains on more routes between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. All Eurostar trains have modern, comfortable facilities, plenty of room for luggage, and onboard food and beverage car. There are three comfort classes on offer – Eurostar Standard, Eurostar Plus (equivalent to Premium Economy, with light refreshments served), and Eurostar Premier (equivalent to First or Business Class, with flexible travel options, priority boarding, lounge access and delicious food and drink included).
What Eurostar classes are there from London to Barcelona?
Compare the different travel classes offered by Eurostar when travelling from London to Barcelona.
Eurostar Standard
In Eurostar Standard, you'll find comfortable seats, free WiFi and a large selection of drinks and snacks for sale in the onboard café-bar.
- Free WiFi
- Bar/restaurant carriage
- Luggage storage
- Power sockets
- Complimentary meal at seat
- Catering at your seat
- Gourmet menu
- Lounge access
Eurostar Plus
As well as all the facilities you'll find in Eurostar Standard, in Eurostar Plus you'll also get a light meal served at your seat for trips to and from London. Though you won't get a meal at your seat for trips solely in Europe, you'll get to sit back and relax in comfier seats.
- Free WiFi
- Bar/restaurant carriage
- Luggage storage
- Power sockets
- Complimentary meal at seat (1)
- Catering at your seat
- Gourmet menu
- Lounge access
- (1) A meal at your seat is only provided on trains travelling to or from the United Kingdom.
Eurostar Premier
Eurostar Premier gives you the freedom to travel in your own time, with same-day boarding guaranteed and Eurostar's exclusive lounges (where available) where you can relax before your trip. In Eurostar Premier, you'll also benefit from complete comfort, including a free meal and free drinks at your seat.
- Free WiFi
- Bar/restaurant carriage
- Luggage storage
- Power sockets
- Complimentary meal at seat
- Catering at your seat
- Gourmet menu (1)
- Lounge access
- (1) A gourmet hot meal is exclusive to trains to and from the United Kingdom; on trains in Europe, you'll have a cold meal served at your seat.
What are the onboard services on Eurostar?
Discover more about the onboard services offered on trains from London to Barcelona.
What luggage limits are there? | Although there's no weight limit for your luggage on Eurostar trains, you must be able to carry your bags safely by yourself. Each bag must be clearly labelled and must be no longer than 85 cm (for trains to and from the United Kingdom) or no larger than 75 x 53 x 30 cm (for trains in Europe). |
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What food and drink is available? | Are you travelling to or from the United Kingdom? In Eurostar Standard, choose from a wide selection of drinks and snacks at the Eurostar Café, the onboard café-bar in the middle of the train. Cards and cash (Euros or pounds) are accepted. If you're travelling in Eurostar Plus, a light meal and a drink will be served at your seat. Travel in Eurostar Premier and you'll be treated to a gourmet meal, as well as a continuous drinks service throughout your journey. For all other Eurostar trains (red trains, formerly Thalys), head to the bar car and choose from a wide range of hot and cold drinks as well as sweet and savoury snacks. |
What onboard entertainment is available? | Eurostar doesn't have an onboard entertainment portal. However, there is free WiFi available, as well as UK and EU plug sockets at your seat so you can charge your devices while travelling. |
What facilities are there for travel with children? | Children under 4 can travel free on Eurostar trains, as long as they're sitting on an accompanying adult's lap. Alternatively, buying a child ticket guarantees them their own seat. You'll find changing tables on all Eurostar trains, as well as family-oriented seating (4 seats facing one another) where available. |
Can I bring a bike on board? | Currently, only certain Eurostar trains running between London and Brussels can transport fully assembled bikes - contact Eurostar for more information. You can, however, take a foldable bike on board Eurostar trains to and from the UK provided that it's no more than 85 cm long and it fits in a protective bag that covers the whole bicycle. Folded bikes are treated as standard luggage. For all other Eurostar trains in Europe, a limited number of non-foldable bikes can be brought on board, provided that the wheels are taken off and the whole bicycle is stored in a suitable cover (max. size 135 x 85 x 30 cm). Foldable bicycles are also allowed and count towards standard luggage limits. |
Can I bring pets on board? | The rules around travelling with your pets depend on whether you're travelling across the Channel or not, so check before you travel: Eurostar trains to and from the United Kingdom:
Trains in the rest of Europe:
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What special assistance is available? | If you need help getting on or off the train, you should contact Eurostar directly before your trip. To use Eurostar's special assistance program, fill in the contact form at least 48 hours before your journey so that the team can help you. If you're travelling to/from the United Kingdom:
If you're travelling on red trains in the rest of Europe:
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What else do I need to know? | Specific restrictions for trains to/from the United Kingdom: Liquids:
Sports equipment:
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How do I find cheap train tickets from London to Barcelona?
If you’re planning a trip to Europe soon, our Trainline team of experts have put together some tips to help you find cheap tickets. Booking on the day in Europe is usually more expensive and costs can vary depending on the time of day, route or travel class.
1. Book in advance
2. Be flexible with your travel times
3. Buy a rail pass
4. Choose a slower or connecting train
5. Look out for train ticket sales and discounts
6. Take a night train
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.
How do I get from London to Barcelona by train?
If you’re hoping to reduce your travel days to a minimum, it is possible to take the train from London to Barcelona in one day. Bear in mind, though – it'll be a pretty long day!
- Take an early Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord – the journey takes around 2 hours and 17 minutes.
- Then, you’ll have to make your way to Paris Gare de Lyon station.
- Here, you can board your second train of the day – a direct TGV INOUI service to Barcelona.
- Just 6 hours and 45 minutes later, you’ll arrive at Barcelona Sants in Spain’s capital, just in time to grab a bite for dinner!
Times accurate as of 11/12/23. Timetables are subject to change; please check our Journey Planner for the most up-to-date times and prices.
How to get to London St Pancras International station
Before your journey to Paris, you’ll need to make your way to London St Pancras International station. Continue reading for more information on how to get there.
London St. Pancras International station is conveniently located in central London in the King’s Cross area and can be easily reached by National Rail, London Underground, bus services and car.
King’s Cross St Pancras Underground station is served by 6 Tube lines: Victoria (light blue line), Northern (black line), Metropolitan (purple line), Piccadilly (dark blue line), Circle (yellow line) & Hammersmith and City (pink line).
If you’re travelling into London by train, you can get to London St Pancras from Euston, Victoria, and Paddington stations in around half an hour.
If you’re driving to St Pancras International, you’ll find a Click and Park car park at the station – it has 315 spaces and is always open, with staff on hand 24/7. If you’re cycling to the station, there are plenty of cycle spaces where you can store your bike too.
Board a train to Paris at London St Pancras International
Once you’ve arrived at London St Pancras International station, you’ll need to check in. Read on for more information on checking in, station facilities and First Class lounges.
How far ahead of time do you need to arrive?
Where are Eurostar check-in gates?
How does Eurostar check-in work?
What’s on offer at London St Pancras International?
Which facilities are in the Eurostar Departure Lounge?
Which facilities are in the Business Premier Lounge?
Going through the Channel Tunnel
During your journey from London to Paris, your train will travel across the English Channel via the Channel Tunnel.
Does the train from London to Paris go underwater?
Trains from London to Paris do go underwater. In fact, the Channel Tunnel (or “Chunnel” if you prefer its nickname) is just over 31 miles (50 km) in length and is the longest continuous underwater tunnel in the world. At a maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h) in the Chunnel, it takes a Eurostar train around 35 minutes to travel this underwater stretch.
How long is the Chunnel?
In length, the Channel Tunnel is 31.3 miles (50.56 km) and it takes a Eurostar train approximately 35 minutes to travel its full length. In total, the fastest journey time from London to Paris is 2 hours and 17 minutes.
How to get from Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon
After you’ve arrived in Paris, the final step in your journey is to catch a train to Barcelona.
Your Eurostar train from London will arrive in Paris at Paris Gare du Nord train station. As you go through security and passport control in London, you simply have to grab your luggage and get off the train once you’re here.
The final leg of your journey to Barcelona involves catching a train from Paris to Barcelona Sants train station. As trains to Barcelona depart do not depart from Paris Gare du Nord, you’ll need to take the RER train to Paris Gare de Lyon station.
Buying RER tickets
Your Eurostar ticket doesn’t include travel with RER, so you’ll need to buy a RER ticket at Paris Gare du Nord before continuing your journey to Barcelona.
If you’re unsure about which ticket to buy, head to one of the ticket counters available at the station and a member of staff will be able to assist you. Alternatively, you can buy your ticket from one of the automated ticket machines – they have multilingual interfaces and accept both cash and card payments.
Taking the RER train from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon
Once you exit the Eurostar platform, follow the signs to ‘RER D’ – this will lead you to the RER train station within Paris Gare du Nord. Go through the RER ticket gates, then follow the signs for ‘RER D Sud’ to Melun, Malesherbes or Corbeil-Essonnes – all these trains stop at Gare de Lyon.
The train ride from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon takes just 7 minutes. There's only one stop on the way – if it's Châtelet-les-Halles, you know you're on the right train!
Board a train to Barcelona at Paris Gare de Lyon station
As soon as you’ve arrived at Paris Gare de Lyon station, you can head to the platform. If you have a Business Première ticket or another eligible ticket, you can take advantage of the First Class lounge.
Once you get off your RER train at Paris Gare de Lyon, take the escalators to exit the RER station and follow the signs to the ‘Grandes Lignes’ (long-distance trains). Check the departure boards to find out which platform your train is travelling from and follow the signs to get there.
Once you get to the boarding area, simply scan your ticket at the ticket gates. Please note that with TGV INOUI, you can board up to two minutes before the departure time. After this time, you will be refused access to the train.
If you have a bit of time to kill at Gare de Lyon station, you can take advantage of the following services:
- Restaurants and cafés including Paul, Starbucks and McDonald's
- Shops such as Franprix and Relay
- Pharmacy
- Bathroom
- Lost property.
Grand Voyageur TGV INOUI lounges
If you have a Business Première ticket, a Carte Liberté (with a Première ticket) or the Grand Voyageur loyalty card, you can access the Grand Voyageur TGV INOUI lounge at Paris Gare de Lyon station. The Grand Voyageur TGV INOUI lounge is a premium space and is perfect for relaxing or working. Here, you can enjoy free WiFi, as well as a selection of complimentary newspapers and magazines, drinks and more.
Arriving in Barcelona
At the end of your journey, you will arrive at Barcelona Sants station.
Over six hours later, your train will arrive at Barcelona Sants station, a short journey from the city centre.
Once you’ve exited the station, you’ll want to start soaking up the city’s atmosphere as soon as possible. The centre of Barcelona is easy to reach due to the city’s extensive public transport network. You can get there by:
- Metro: Green Line L3 and Blue Line L5 link the city centre with the train station’s Metro, Sants Estació.
- Bus: There are various buses available from Barcelona Sants station to the city centre.
- Walk: From Barcelona Sants station, La Rambla in the city centre is a 42-minute walk.
If you need to catch a flight, you can simply catch the Renfe train from Barcelona Sants to Barcelona Airport, which takes around 20 minutes.
Using public transport in Barcelona
Barcelona is a sprawling city with many different areas, but it boasts a modern public transport system to help you navigate the city.
Taking the Metro in Barcelona
Consisting of 12 lines and 186 stations, the Metro is the simplest way to get around the city.
When buying tickets for the Metro, you’ll find various options available, including a Single ticket for just one journey and a T-Dia, for unlimited travel for a whole day. Running 365 days a year, the Metro operates from 05:00 am until 12:00 am, except on Friday when it closes at 02:00 am and Saturday when it does not close.
Taking the bus in Barcelona
If you’d like to enjoy picturesque views of the city, take the bus! In Barcelona, over 230 bus lines run from 05:00 am until 10:00 pm.
Taking the tram in Barcelona
Barcelona’s tram network is a quick and convenient way to get around the city. If you’d like to travel via tram, you can purchase tickets from the machines at tram stations.
Top things to do in Barcelona
Considering a journey to the Catalan capital? To help inspire your trip, here are some ideas for things to see and do in Barcelona:
Where to travel next after Barcelona
If you’ve enjoyed your time in Barcelona and want to explore more of Spain and Europe, you can easily reach nearby towns and cities by train. To inspire your next trip, here are some of the most popular train journeys from Barcelona:
Explore Europe with an Interrail Pass
After visiting Barcelona, why not continue exploring Europe by train? With an Interrail Pass, you can travel across 33 European countries as much as you want on participating European train networks for a set amount of travel days.
You can use an Interrail Pass if you're a European citizen or a non-European who is an official legal resident of a European country (this includes UK citizens). If you’re not a European citizen or someone legally resident in Europe, such as an American or Canadian citizen, you can use a Eurail Pass instead.
Travelling from the airport to central Barcelona
Situated around 8 miles southwest of Barcelona’s city centre, Barcelona Airport is Spain’s second busiest airport. To get from central Barcelona to the airport, you can take the bus, metro, train or taxi.