The Eurostar is the fastest, most direct way to travel from the UK to France. The train takes you from city-centre to city-centre, and unlike air travel, there’s no delay waiting for baggage or airport transfers.
What’s on board the train?
Eurostar operate a mixture of e300 and e320 trains on the London-Paris route. E300s are Eurostar’s original trainsets, refurbished to a high standard, while the e320s are their newer, swankier cousins. Both trains are virtually indistinguishable on the inside; they’re equipped with free WiFi throughout, café-bar areas, power sockets and luxurious leather seats in Business Premier class. Both trains operate at a top speed of 300km/h (186 mph), although the e320s are capable of 320km/h, hence the name!
Standard seating is located in coaches 4-13 on the e320 trains and coaches 1-5 and 14-18 on the e300s. Every pair of seats has access to a UK 3-pin plug and EU 2-pin plug. There is one plug underneath each seat, so you may need to reach a compromise with your neighbour if you both need the same type! There are a handful of tables in each Standard carriage – ideal for families travelling together.
If you’re looking to travel in style, consider upgrading to Business Premier. This is Eurostar’s answer to First Class – think reclining leather seats, a complimentary 3-course meal and access to lounges at St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord. Business Premier seats come with a USB port in addition to the UK/EU plugs, allowing you to charge multiple devices at once. Find out more about travelling Business Premier to Paris.
Food on the Eurostar
The on-board catering service, Café Metropole, is back in service, as is the at-seat catering for Business Premier travellers. There are no restrictions on bringing your own food on the train, except for alcohol, where you’re allowed a maximum of four cans or a bottle of wine.
Accessibility
There are four wheelchair spaces on e300 and e320 trains, and companion seats are available at a discounted rate. If you’re in a wheelchair space, there will be a ramp ready for you on the platform, plus lots of friendly Eurostar staff to give you a helping hand. Priority seats for travellers with reduced mobility are located mostly in coaches 5 and 14 on e300s, and throughout the train on e320s.
Book flexible tickets
All Eurostar tickets are now exchangeable for free up to 14 days before the departure date. If your travel plans change, you can swap your tickets for a later train and pay the difference if the new fare is more expensive. Unfortunately, Eurostar cannot refund the difference for cheaper tickets. Use our Journey Planner to search for cheap tickets, and keep an eye out on our Deals & Discounts page for Eurostar promo sales!
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). 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 – Standard, Standard Premier (equivalent to Premium Economy, with light refreshments served), and Business Premier (equivalent to First or Business Class, with flexible travel options, priority boarding, lounge access and delicious food and drink included).
Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from London to Paris by booking early.§
Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.
On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!
Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.
The average journey time by train between London and Paris is 3 hours and 46 minutes, with around 3 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.
Eurostar high-speed trains from London to Paris can travel at speeds of up to around 186 mph (300 km/h) when on land. When travelling through the Channel Tunnel (also known as the Chunnel), train speed is reduced to around 100 mph (160 km/h). The fastest journey time by train from London to Paris is 2 hours and 29 minutes.
Train ticket prices from London to Paris can start from as little as €59 when you book in advance. The cost of tickets can vary depending on the time of day, route and class you book and are usually more expensive if you book on the day.
Yes. There are 1 direct Eurostar trains that travel from London to Paris each day with an average journey time of 3 hours and 46 minutes.
The first train from London to Paris leaves at 11:22 from London St. Pancras International. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.
The last train from London to Paris leaves at 04:03 from London St. Pancras International. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.
Trains travelling from London to Paris cover a distance of around 213 miles (342 km) during the journey.
All trains travelling from London to Paris are operated by Eurostar – high-speed services linking London to France, Belgium and the Netherlands via the Channel Tunnel.
Yes. 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 between London and Paris.
The Chunnel tunnel is 31.3 miles (50.56 km) in length and it takes a Eurostar train approximately 35 minutes to travel its full length. In total, the fastest journey time from London St. Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord is 2 hours and 29 minutes.