Eurostar has been ferrying passengers between the UK and continental Europe for more than 30 years. Initially there were just two destinations: Paris and Brussels from London. But since then the company has expanded to offer services to other French cities, as well as to Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. There’s also a seasonal connection to Alpine ski resorts. Unlike flying, there are no restrictions around liquids and you get a far more generous luggage allowance. But you still have to go through passport control and security checks, which includes complying with Europe’s new entry/exit system (EES) requirements. Here’s what you need to know.
Direct trains link London to Paris, Lille, Brussels, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. You can connect in any of the European stations and travel to other destinations across France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Some of the most popular routes include connecting at Lille for Disneyland Paris as well as the ski train to the French Alps in winter.
It’s also possible to book trains to other parts of Europe as part of your Eurostar ticket, such as Swiss cities Geneva and Zurich. These are operated by a Eurostar partner, and require a change at one of the main Eurostar hubs.
Eurostar recommends that you get to London St Pancras around 75 minutes before departure for its standard seats. This will give you enough time to clear security and passport control (for both the UK and France), and then wait in the departure lounge until the platform is announced. It’s best to stock up on food and drink in St Pancras station as the choice is limited inside the Eurostar terminal. If you’re travelling in Eurostar Premier you can enter via a fast-track entrance, so arriving 45 minutes before will leave you with plenty of time to clear security, the border and board the train. Those who have booked for accessible travel can arrive 60 minutes before departure.
For stations in continental Europe, depending on which one you’re leaving from, you’ll need to get there between 45 to 90 minutes before departure.
St Pancras has 49 self-service EES kiosks in three areas around the station, which will take passengers’ biometric and passport information. Britons will need to visit these kiosks each time they travel on the Eurostar before going through security.
The difference with Eurostar is that instead of going through the EES on arrival into the EU, which is the case if you’re flying, you have to complete EES checks before you leave London, which could potentially add a few extra minutes to check in.
You will need your tickets, which can be downloaded on the Eurostar app or printed in advance at home, and your passport.
Most journeys from London to Paris take 2hr 16min but some can be as long as 2hr 37min. The Eurostar typically takes 1hr 53min to Brussels; 1hr 22min to Lille; and 4hr 19min to Amsterdam.
Previously, there were three classes to choose from on cross-channel routes (Standard, Standard Premier and Business Premier) and three on Continental routes (Standard, Comfort and Premium). However, Eurostar has replaced these classes with three new unified travel classes: Eurostar Standard, Eurostar Plus and Eurostar Premier.
Eurostar Standard is the basic fare, which does not include food and drinks, while Eurostar Plus includes “extra comfy seating”, added space for working and a meal onboard including drinks.
Eurostar Premier is the most flexible ticket, giving passengers an all-day boarding guarantee, a dedicated priority lane on cross-channel routes and premium food on board. It also includes access to the lounge.
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Eurostar’s luggage allowance is much more generous than that of airlines. Eurostar Standard and Plus passengers can take two pieces of luggage plus one piece of hand luggage, while Eurostar Premier tickets allow three pieces of luggage and one piece of hand luggage. Children can take one piece of luggage and one piece of hand luggage — a pushchair or pram does not count towards your luggage allowance. There is a restriction on size and weight of all luggage though. On trains to and from London, your bag can be up to 85cm at its widest point but on other services it’s a narrower 75cm so this is worth bearing in mind if you’re on a connecting service. There’s also a weight restriction of 30kg per item.
You can book separate spaces for bikes. Musical instruments smaller than 85cm long and guitars can travel with you as part of your luggage allowance on routes to and from London. There are lots of rules around sports equipment, such as skiing kit. If you’re going camping then tents need to be packed in bags or cases up to 85cm long. Check Eurostar’s website for more details.
Yes, you can buy drinks, meals and snacks in Café Métropole, which is reasonably priced. You’re also welcome to bring food and drinks with you on board.
Yes, unlike on flights there’s no limit on the quantity of liquids you can take on board. There is, however, a restriction on the amount of alcohol you can bring.
For consumption on board, Eurostar’s alcohol limit is four 440ml bottles or cans of beer or one 750ml bottle of wine per person. If you’re importing alcohol into the UK for personal consumption, the amount you’re allowed to transport is determined by customs, and will depend on the type of alcohol you’re bringing in. You can see more on the gov.uk website.
Among the items prohibited on Eurostar are unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and some relics from world war sites such as historical weapons, munitions and explosive devices; plus certain inflammable substances, flick knives, gardening equipment and furniture, e-scooters and perishable items such as fish, meat and dairy products. Other items, including authorised firearms, some DIY tools and cut flowers and plants, are restricted. You can find out more about prohibited and restricted items here.
Children under four can travel for free if they can sit on an adult’s lap for the whole journey. If they need their own seat you’ll need to buy a child ticket. In terms of luggage, you can take one pushchair and one car seat per child for no extra cost. Café Métropole is on board and handy if your little one wants to move around during the journey. Eurostar Standard and Plus tickets are at least 30 per cent cheaper for children aged from four to 11. Eurostar also offers discounted youth fares for those aged from 12 to 15 but these are currently not available for trips to and from London.
Yes, there’s free wi-fi throughout the train, though the signal can be patchy because it relies on mobile data — especially when going through tunnels. Head to settings, wi-fi, select EurostarTrainsWiFi and register your details when on board.
Only guide dogs are allowed on board Eurostar trains.
Adult single tickets start from £39 and it’s usually a case of the earlier the better when it comes to booking, particularly if you want to travel over a weekend or on a bank holiday. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the cheapest days to travel. Eurostar advises that you book four months in advance for the best prices. You can change your tickets for free up to one hour before departure, so if you do need to change dates, it’s easy to amend your booking.
You can also try your luck with Eurostar Snap, Eurostar’s ticketing website for last-minute, non-refundable tickets. Tickets are only released on the site 14 days before travel, if there’s availability, with prices starting from £35 each way. There is a catch though — you won’t know which train you’ll be travelling on until about 48 hours before your trip as it all depends on how busy the trains are.
You’ll typically be able to book Eurostar tickets six to eight months before you travel but some services have a shorter booking window.
Refunds depend on which class of ticket you’ve booked. The most flexible tickets are Eurostar Premier. Eurostar Premier passengers can change or cancel tickets without a fee up to 48 hours after their departure date. After that the tickets become non-refundable.
Passengers on Eurostar Standard and Eurostar Plus services can request a refund up to seven days before departure, charged at £25 each leg. These tickets can be changed as often as needed, without additional fees, up until one hour before departure. However, they might need to pay a fare difference.
Note that changes made on the phone or at the station will incur a £12 fee per transaction.
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