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Travelling from Paris to London on a direct Eurostar train
Want to find out more about taking the train from Paris to London? Look no further.
The fastest train journey from Paris to London is 2 hours and 21 minutes – you’ll travel from city centre to city centre on a direct high-speed Eurostar service. With no airport transfers to worry about, it's likely to be quicker than flying!
Get yourself checked in and it won’t be long until you’re speeding towards London, where you’ll arrive at London St Pancras International station. This station is well-connected to London Underground lines, buses and taxis for wherever your onward destination may be.
You may be leaving the world of cafés and croissants behind but don’t worry, there are plenty of places to grab a bite in London too. Why not check out:
- Borough Market: London’s oldest market, Borough is bustling and bursting with street food for you to enjoy. Check out our guide to visiting Borough Market for more details.
- London’s range of restaurants: A city as big as London is bound to be full of great restaurants for you to try – we’ve rounded up our favourites in this London restaurants guide.
Ready to book? Start your search for cheap train tickets from Paris to London with us today. Keep reading for more information, including:
- Paris to London train times
- Information about Eurostar
- Eurostar classes from Paris to London
- Onboard services on Eurostar trains
- Luggage allowance on Eurostar
- Getting from the airport to central Paris
- Things to know about Paris Gare du Nord station
- Arriving at London St Pancras International station
- Using public transport in London
- The Channel Tunnel
- Things to do in London
- Explore Europe with an Interrail pass
- Review: Travelling from Paris to London by train
Paris to London by train
It takes an average of 2h 28m to travel from Paris to London by train, over a distance of around 212 miles (342 km). There are normally 21 trains per day travelling from Paris to London and tickets for this journey start from £49.50 when you book in advance.
FAQs about the train journey from Paris to London
Want to know more about your journey from Paris to London? 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 Paris and London by train?
Are there direct trains from Paris to London?
What's the distance between Paris and London by train?
Who runs the trains from Paris to London?
Can you travel from Paris to London without taking a flight?
What is the best way to get to London from Paris?
What time is the first train from Paris to London?
What time is the last train from Paris to London?
How often do trains go from Paris to London?
Do you need to prebook train tickets from Paris to London?
Is there a return trip from Paris to London?
Eurostar trains from Paris to London
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).
Eurostar classes from Paris to London
Compare the different travel classes offered by Eurostar when travelling from Paris to London.
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.
Onboard services on Eurostar
Discover more about the onboard services offered on trains from Paris to London.
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).
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.
In Eurostar Premier on European routes, you'll get a free meal served directly to your seat.
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.
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.
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.
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:
- Pets are not permitted on board.
- Guide dogs and assistance dogs can travel, but they must be accompanied by their owner. You must also reserve a ticket for your assistance dog at least 48 hours before travel, by filling out Eurostar's contact form.
Trains in the rest of Europe:
- Small dogs and other pets weighing less than 6 kg can travel for free. They must travel in a cage or carrier (max. dimensions 45 x 30 x 25 cm).
- If your dog is larger than this, you must buy them a dog ticket (generally the price is fixed at €30, around £26), and the dog must travel on your lap or on the ground, on a lead and with a muzzle.
- Guide dogs and assistance dogs, whatever their size, travel for free.
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:
- Arrive at least one hour before your train's scheduled departure time, then head to the Eurostar Assist desk or ask a member of staff.
- If you have a wheelchair, you must reserve a wheelchair space in either Eurostar Plus or Eurostar Premier - you'll only pay for a Eurostar Standard ticket. Someone can travel with you at a discounted rate.
If you're travelling on red trains in the rest of Europe:
- Wheelchair users travel in Eurostar Premier on routes in Europe.
- Wheelchairs can be transported as long as they're no bigger than 70 cm long and 120 cm high. The wheelchair's turning circle must be no larger than 150 cm in diameter. The combined weight of the wheelchair, passenger and any luggage must not exceed 300 kg.
- Please note that combustion engine-powered wheelchairs are not permitted on board. However, electric wheelchairs are allowed.
Specific restrictions for trains to/from the United Kingdom:
Liquids:
- There's no restriction on liquids. However, there are restrictions on alcohol: you can take 4 bottles/cans of beer or 1 bottle of wine per person to enjoy on the journey, but large bottles of spirits are not permitted. If you're travelling with large quantities of alcohol, you should contact a courier service.
Sports equipment:
- You can travel with a golf bag as long as it's no larger than 120 x 35 x 35 cm.
- You can bring tents or other shelters if they're stored in bags or cases less than 85 cm long.
- Camping gas or butane bottles are not permitted on board.
- Camping utensils or tools such as pocket knives and Swiss army knives are permitted provided the blades are less than 75 mm long. Folding knives where the blade locks into place are prohibited.
- You can bring bats, snooker or pool cues and darts on board if they're stored in a protective case.
Cheap train tickets from Paris to London
Book in advance
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 Paris to London by booking early.§
Be flexible with your travel times
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.
Choose a slower or connecting train
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!
Look out for special deals
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.
How many bags are allowed in the different Eurostar classes?
Standard/Plus
- 2 pieces of luggage up to 85cm long for rucksacks, suitcases, golf clubs or ski equipment
- 1 hand luggage, e.g. handbag, laptop bag or briefcase
Premier
- 3 pieces of luggage up to 85cm long for rucksacks, suitcases, golf clubs or ski equipment
- 1 hand luggage, e.g. handbag, laptop bag or briefcase
Children (for all classes)
- 1 piece of luggage up to 85cm long
- 1 hand luggage, e.g. backpack or laptop bag
Travelling from the airport to central Paris
If you’re flying into Paris to start your French adventure, you’ll need to get from the airport into the city centre. Want to know how to get to central Paris from the airport? Keep reading for more details.
Paris has three major airports:
- Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- Orly Airport (ORY)
- Beauvais Tille Airport (BVA)
All airports offer bus and taxi services, while only Charles de Gaulle and Orly have their own dedicated train stations (the nearest train station to Beauvais Tillé is nearby in Beauvais).
How to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to central Paris
How to get from Orly Airport to central Paris
How to get from Beauvais Tillé Airport to central Paris
Things to know about Paris Gare du Nord
How to get to Paris Gare du Nord
Paris Gare du Nord station is conveniently located at the heart of the city and can be easily reached by public transport.
If you’ve been sightseeing and you’re travelling to Paris Gare du Nord from another part of Paris, you’ll need to hop on the Métro, RER or a local RATP bus to get to the train station. Métro lines 4 (purple) and 5 (orange) have stops at Gare du Nord, plus RER lines B, D and E stop here.
If you’re travelling by train from another city or country, you can get to Paris Gare du Nord from France’s northern cities such as Lille and Calais and even neighbouring countries like Belgium and Germany on a direct train.
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 Paris Gare du Nord?
Which facilities are in the Eurostar Departure Lounge?
Which facilities are in the Premier Lounge?
Everything you need to know about London St Pancras station
Arriving at London St Pancras International from Paris
Your Eurostar train from Paris to London will arrive right in the heart of London at the beautiful and historic London St Pancras International station.
Since all the passport checks are done before leaving France, you can step off the train and start exploring the city right away. From London St Pancras you can hop on the London Underground, take a bus or have a nice walk if you prefer discovering the city on foot.
From a wide range of shops and restaurants to London’s top museums and galleries, there are plenty of things to see and do nearby.
Using public transport in London
London Underground, commonly known as the Tube, is one of the quickest ways to travel around the city. Once you get off at London St Pancras International station, simply follow the signs to London Kings Cross Underground station, where you’ll be able to choose from 6 Tube lines – the Hammersmith & City (pink line), Circle (yellow line), Metropolitan (purple line), Northern (black line), Piccadilly (dark blue line) and Victoria (light blue) lines.
Tube services usually run from 05:00 am until midnight, with Night Tube services available on some lines on Friday and Saturday evenings.
London buses are one of the cheapest ways to travel around the city, with plenty of sightseeing opportunities along the way. You can pay with an Oyster Card, Travelcard or a contactless payment card for Tube and bus journeys.
If you want to get a taxi, you can find a taxi rank on the forecourt of London St Pancras station.
Going through the Channel Tunnel
Does the train from Paris to London go underwater?
Yes. Trains from Paris to London do go underwater. In fact, the Channel Tunnel (or “Chunnel” if you prefer its nickname) is just over 31.3 miles (50 km) in length and is the longest continuous underwater tunnel in the world. At a maximum speed of 99 mph (160 km/h) in the Chunnel, it takes a Eurostar train around 35 minutes to travel through this underwater tunnel between Paris and London.
How long is the Chunnel from Paris to London?
The Channel 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 Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras is 2 hours and 21 minutes.
Things to see and do in London
Explore Europe by train with an Interrail Pass
If this trip whets your appetite for a European adventure, why not think about an Interrail pass? 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.
Tips and tricks from our Trainline team
We love helping our customers find inspiration for their next train journey. Discover some travel stories written based on our employees' experiences.
Standard
Plus
Paris to London in Standard Premier with Eurostar
Friday night. 6pm. Paris Gare du Nord. All set for a weekend getaway to London!
Arriving at the station, customs and boarding the train
As I live in Paris, I was able to get to Gare du Nord by walking and using public transport. At the station, I headed straight to the first floor – look for the stairs with the colours of the British flag.
After my ticket and passport were checked and I had been through customs with my luggage, I had enough time to look over my plans for the weekend. As I’d arrived in plenty of time at the station (a little over an hour), I definitely had time to relax.
Once boarding opened, I headed toward the correct carriage, in Standard Premier (First Class). Don’t forget to keep your ticket on you, as a member of Eurostar staff may welcome you and check your ticket before you hop on the train!
Standard Premier on board Eurostar trains
Travelling to London in Standard Premier was a first for me – and it was a successful experience! I got a solo seat, and there was enough legroom and luggage storage space, as well as a plug socket and a USB port. My one minor complaint would be that the onboard WiFi network always has problems – I'd advise you to bring a good book or to download what you what to watch or listen to before you travel.
Soon after we left the station, it was time for a meal! Two meal choices were on offer, and I picked a salmon and bulgur wheat salad, with a chocolate tart for dessert! After I’d finished, a member of staff asked whether I wanted a tea or coffee too. By now, I was feeling full, so I put on a good playlist and took a nap (not a problem, as the carriage was very quiet!).
After the train had travelled through the Channel Tunnel, we quickly arrived at London St Pancras International station. I got off the train and headed out towards King’s Cross St Pancras tube station to catch a Piccadilly line train, then walked around enjoying the city lights before finally getting to my hotel.
About Marie
Marie, a Trainline employee, chose to share their experience of the journey between Paris to London. It was written before Standard Premier was rebranded to Plus.