travel to france on eurostar

Everything you need to know about booking Eurostar train travel across Europe

If you're already based in Europe, the iconic Eurostar train likely needs no introduction; if you're only visiting the continent, however, you may not be quite aware of the service or how speedy and convenient its connectivity is between the U.K. and mainland Europe.

If you're looking for an easy (and typically cheaper) alternative to flying in Europe , then Eurostar might be just what you're looking for. It provides easy access to several countries — if you're short on time during your vacation, you could opt to take a daytrip from London to Paris using this train service.

Keep reading to find out more about traveling on Eurostar, including how to book tickets and save on fares by using your points and miles . Plus, check out our in-depth overview of each fare type on the Eurostar .

Eurostar trains travel to several destinations

Eurostar began operating in 1994 and is one of Europe's most well-known high-speed train services. The train currently offers direct service to London; Paris; Brussels; Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Amsterdam.

Further connecting Eurostar services will take you to Antwerp, Belgium; Liege, Belgium; Dusseldorf, Germany; Duisburg, Germany; Essen, Germany; and Dortmund, Germany.

In addition to operating its own trains, Eurostar serves as a connecting rail service for other high-speed carriers to destinations like Disneyland Paris.

Related: 7 reasons why your next family vacation should be a train trip

What are the different ticket types for Eurostar trains?

The fare classes on Eurostar come in three tiers. The lowest and most affordable is Standard, which is the equivalent of coach or economy class with an airline.

Next up is Standard Premier, which is akin to premium economy. Finally, there's Business Premier, which is Eurostar's version of business class.

The fare classes are broken down as follows:

With regards to pricing, the cost of fares in Standard and Standard Premier fluctuates based on seasonality, peak periods and destination. Business Premier, on the other hand, remains fairly consistent year-round in terms of pricing. Eurostar tickets can usually be booked up to 330 days before your return travel date.

Generally speaking, if you're considering a trip from London onward, you can expect prices to fall somewhere within the following margins for a one-way trip:

If you're looking to snag a bargain, it's worth keeping your eye out for flash sales, which Eurostar regularly runs throughout the year, often with tickets for as little as 30 British pounds (around $38).

How do Eurostar trains compare to flying?

Compared to flying to your destination and transiting through European airports, traveling via Eurostar is much more low-stress.

The most obvious difference is the security experience, which, compared to that at an airport, is effortless, with no removal of liquids or large electric items. Although queues can mount up during busy periods, we've found that we're through security in under 10 minutes when we travel with Eurostar.

Check-in is similar to airport check-in in that you must show your ticket and passport at a desk or kiosk. London's St. Pancras International Station , however, is currently testing biometric face scans , which may make checking in even faster.

Regarding lounge access, it's worth noting lounges are only available at the St. Pancras, Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi/Zuid stations.

If you're used to airline-run business-class airport lounges, you may need to lower your expectations somewhat here. Although comfortable and pleasant, the lounges are somewhat basic — don't expect too much in the way of food.

Related: The best lounges at London Heathrow — and how to get inside

On board the Eurostar, it's like most modern trains you may have taken at home. The differences between Standard Premier and Business Premier are nominal. You'll get slightly more legroom and a slightly more modern seat in both classes than in Standard.

What you're paying for in these classes is the luggage allowance and food service. If you don't deem either of those things a huge must-have, you'll be more than comfortable in Standard.

That said, the food service on the Eurostar is much better than on most airplanes and currently features a menu designed by the renowned Raymond Blanc. Champagne and coffee services are also served free of charge in Business Premier.

How to book the Eurostar train with credit cards

Travel on Eurostar, booked directly with Eurostar or through an online travel provider, should be coded as travel.

The following credit cards offer bonus points for travel expenses, along with strong welcome bonuses:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card : Earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 2 points on all other travel purchases.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve : Earn 3 points per dollar on travel purchases.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases, including travel.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases, including travel.
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express : Earn 3% cash back on transit, including taxis, parking, tolls, trains and buses.
• Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees ): Earn 2% on every purchase, with 1% cash back when you buy and an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.

Related: 14 best travel credit cards

How to earn points and miles for Eurostar trains

Eurostar operates its own loyalty program named Club Eurostar. For every British pound spent (about $1.27), you will earn 1.2 points. This means you earn around 1 point per $1 spent.

Elite members receive the following points bonuses when booking:

• Avantage: 25%
• Carte Blanche: 50%
• Etoile: 75%

Eurostar tickets can now be booked through the Uber app , and you will earn 10% back in Uber credits on Eurostar bookings and National Rail train tickets in the U.K.

Additionally, you can earn 10% back when you purchase your coach tickets with the following U.K. operators: National Express and Megabus. If you decide to opt out of taking public transit, you can also hire a car from Avis, Hertz and other companies in your Uber app. When you book your trip, you'll receive £10 off (about $12).

You can also transfer 2,000 Accor Live Limitless points and receive 300 Eurostar points.

How to redeem points and miles for Eurostar trains

You can redeem 2,000 Club Eurostar points for a round-trip ticket in Standard class (or 4,000 points for a Standard Premier ticket), though these tickets are limited. For 1,000 more points, you can book any Standard or Standard Premier seats available.

A round-trip ticket can easily cost over $200 in Standard class (and double this at peak periods), making Club Eurostar points very valuable.

Business Premier tickets are available for 6,000 points round-trip for any available seat (saver-level space is not offered).

A one-way upgrade from Standard to Standard Premier is 600 points.

If you don't wish to redeem Club Eurostar points for train travel, you can transfer 500 Eurostar points and receive 1,000 Accor points .

You can redeem Virgin points through Virgin Red for the following Eurostar vouchers:

• 2,000 points for a 10-pound E-Voucher (about $12)
• 5,000 points for a 25-pound E-Voucher (about $31)
• 10,000 points for a 50-pound E-Voucher (about $63)
• 20,000 points for a 100-pound E-Voucher (about $126)

We would not recommend redeeming Virgin points in this way under any circumstances, as this will only give you a redemption value of 0.5 cents each, which is only one-third of our current valuation of Virgin points . You can obtain far more value from your Virgin points by redeeming through flights on Virgin Atlantic or partner airlines like Air France, KLM and Delta Air Lines.

Related: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: How to earn and redeem points for maximum value

Bottom line

Eurostar's popularity boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic as travelers looked for ways to move around Europe without relying on airlines. As a result, Eurostar fares can be more expensive compared to flights with the same route. For short journeys like between London and Brussels, taking Eurostar is a much quicker and more relaxing experience, while on longer journeys like London to Amsterdam, the price can be similar.

If you want to travel within Europe and like the idea of keeping your feet on the ground, book in advance or redeem points and enjoy the stress-free Eurostar rail experience.

12 Things You Need To Know Before Riding Eurostar Between Paris and London

Riding Eurostar between Paris and London is an amazing travel experience. Not only is it a smooth and fun ride, but it can save you time and stress when compared to flying. If you’ve never ridden Eurostar before, here are some tips to help you have a better trip.

• 1 How Early Should I Arrive For The Eurostar Train
• 2 Are Passports Checked on the Eurostar Train
• 3 How Long Are You Underwater on the Eurostar
• 4 Is Eurostar Quicker Than Flying
• 5 Does the Eurostar Feel Fast
• 6 Is It Better To Fly or Take Eurostar to Paris and London
• 7 Is Eurostar Scary
• 8 Is Eurostar a Double Decker Train
• 9 Can You See Underwater on Eurostar
• 10 Does Eurostar Check Your Bags
• 11 Do You Keep Your Luggage With You On Eurostar
• 12 Are There Tables on Eurostar
• 13 Booking Train Tickets In Europe

How Early Should I Arrive For The Eurostar Train

You should arrive at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure on Eurostar. On our recent ride it took 30 minutes to get through customs and immigration on our way to London. On top of getting through these security checks, you’ll want to arrive early enough to enter the train when boarding opens, which is 20-30 minutes before the train leaves.

Are Passports Checked on the Eurostar Train

Passports are checked when riding on the Eurostar train. You passport will be checked at the Gare du Nord station in Paris before boarding the Eurostar train from Paris to London. There are separate lines for EU passport holders and all other passport holders. The check is made after you go upstairs to the London Hall.

How Long Are You Underwater on the Eurostar

The speed limit in the Channel Tunnel for trains is 160kph / 100mph. The Channel Tunnel is under the English Channel for 37.9 km or 23.5 miles, which is the worlds longest undersea tunnel. When riding the Eurostar you’ll be underwater for about 13 minutes.

Is Eurostar Quicker Than Flying

It takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to go from Paris to London on Eurostar. With security and customs checks taking an additional 30 minutes, your total travel time from the city center can be 3 hours. Eurostar is quicker than flying due to airport security taking longer than train security and the location of the airports.

Does the Eurostar Feel Fast

The Eurostar does not feel fast while you are riding on it. It is a very quiet and smooth train and you’ll have trouble figuring out how fast you are going without looking at a speedometer. Even though you’ll be travelling at around 100mph through the tunnel and 160mph outside of the tunnel, it won’t feel that fast.

Is It Better To Fly or Take Eurostar to Paris and London

It is better to take Eurostar to Paris and London versus flying. When riding on Eurostar the stations are in the city center, which will save you time and money once you reach your destination. If you fly, you’ll be landing at a remote airport and need to take a train into the city. It is also a big time saver to ride Eurostar versus flying.

Is Eurostar Scary

Eurostar is not scary and will not feel different than riding any other train. Most trains go through several tunnels at some point, and the Channel Tunnel will feel just like any other tunnel, just a little longer. If you didn’t know you were underwater you wouldn’t be able to tell. Riding Eurostar should not be a frightening experience as it is a very smooth and quiet train ride.

Is Eurostar a Double Decker Train

The Eurostar is not a double decker train, it is a single level train. Seats can be purchased in 3 separate classes, but all classes are on the same level. There are no stairs to negotiate when riding on Eurostar. You’ll have a choice of sitting in the direction of travel or away from it, but there are no levels to choose from.

Can You See Underwater on Eurostar

Eurostar trains have nice picture windows at the seats that let you see outside. When you are in the underwater section of the ride you will only see the inside of the Channel Tunnel. You cannot see underwater while riding on Eurostar, so no you will also not see any fish.

Does Eurostar Check Your Bags

There is a bag check before boarding Eurostar. Since you are changing countries while on the train, your bags must pass through customs, where they will be scanned and checked. It is a much quicker check than at an airport. You’ll load all of your luggage onto the belt and it’ll be scanned in a matter of seconds.

Do You Keep Your Luggage With You On Eurostar

When riding Eurostar you’ll keep your bags with you on the train. Your bags will either go in the luggage racks at the end of the car, or in the overhead space above your seat. There is plenty of space for your bags. You’ll need to label all of your bags with your name before riding. Simply put your bags on the racks, find your seat and enjoy the ride, then grab your bags on the way off the train.

Are There Tables on Eurostar

Each train car on Eurostar will have tables. Not every seat will have a formal table though, as most just have a fold down tray from the back of the seat in front of them. If you want to sit at a table, reserve seats that face each other, as those seats have tables between them.

Booking Train Tickets In Europe

We book our train tickets in Europe using either Trainline or Rail Europe . These services offer an easier customer experience as we’ve found our credit cards work better when booking through these sites. Eurostar Tickets can be booked on either platform. In addition Rail Europe offers rail passes if you are planning a longer trip.

Eurostar is a marvel of the train world. What many once thought was impossible is now possible by travelling under the English Channel. It is certainly one of the most unique and memorable short rides on a train you can take.

No matter if you are travelling from Paris to London on Eurostar or the other way around, we hope you have an enjoyable and memorable trip!

Robert Marmion

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Journey details

Travelling direct from london to paris with eurostar in 2 hours and 16 minutes.

What’s in this guide?

• Eurostar classes
• Onboard services on Eurostar trains
• Eurostar luggage allowance
• Everything you need to know about London St Pancras International station
• Arriving in Paris Gare du Nord from London
• Public transport in Paris

Going through the Channel Tunnel

Discover paris.

• See more of Europe with an Interrail pass
• Review: London to Paris by train

Planning your next trip and looking to travel from London to Paris by train? You've come to the right place!

The Eurostar is the fastest, most direct way to travel from the UK to France. It takes as little as 2 hours and 16 minutes to travel from London to Paris on the fastest services. The train takes you from one city centre to another, and unlike air travel, there’s no delay waiting for baggage or airport transfers. You also don’t have to worry about limits on liquids, which takes away some of the stress of travelling.

Once you arrive at Paris Gare du Nord station, you’ll find Metro and RER trains nearby to start exploring the city straight away.

Not sure where to go? Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of recommendations for you:

• Sainte-Chapelle: This beautiful 13th-century chapel has 1,113 stained glass windows – be dazzled by their colours and soak up some history while you’re visiting Sainte-Chapelle .
• Musée d’Orsay: Looking for your culture fix? Head to the Musée d’Orsay for sculptures and paintings galore, including some notable works by Van Gogh.
• Sacré-Coeur: If you’re searching for the best view of Paris, look no further! Sacré-Coeur Basilica was built at the top of Montmartre, so you can see for miles around – plus, the Basilica itself boasts some gorgeous architecture.

Ready to book? Start your search for cheap train tickets from London to Paris with us today using our Journey Planner , or keep reading for our train timetable and an expert review of what you can expect on the train journey from England to France. And make sure to keep an eye out on our European deals & discounts page for Eurostar promos . 

London to Paris by train

It takes an average of 2h 22m to travel from London to Paris by train, over a distance of around 212 miles (342 km). There are normally 17 trains per day travelling from London to Paris and tickets for this journey start from £51 when you book in advance.

London to Paris train times

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Eurostar trains from London to Paris

Photo :  Smiley.toerist , under licence   CC BY-SA 4.0

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 carriage. 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). On 1st October, 2023, Eurostar and Thalys joined forces and are now united under the Eurostar name. Eurostar now runs trains on more routes between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. These trains, with their distinctive red colour scheme, have three classes: Standard, Comfort and Premium (equivalent to First Class, with lounge access included).

More information

• Eurostar  / 
• Eurostar check-in  / 
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• Eurostar Standard Class (Economy)  / 
• Eurostar Standard Premier (Premium Economy)  / 
• Eurostar Business Premier (First Class)  / 
• Channel Tunnel  / 
• Book Eurostar tickets in a snap

Eurostar classes from London to Paris

Compare the different travel classes offered by eurostar when travelling from london to paris..

In Standard class, you'll find comfortable seats, free WiFi and a large selection of drinks and snacks for sale in the onboard café-bar.

• WiFi WiFi Free WiFi
• Bar Bar Bar/restaurant carriage
• Luggage Luggage Luggage storage
• Plug Plug Power sockets
• Restaurant Restaurant Complimentary meal at seat
• Restaurant Restaurant Catering at your seat
• Restaurant Restaurant Gourmet menu
• Lounge Lounge Lounge access

Standard Premier

As well as all the facilities you'll find in Standard Class, in Eurostar Standard Premier you'll also get a light meal served at your seat for trips to and from London. Instead of Standard Premier, Red trains travelling around Europe have Comfort Class. 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.

• Restaurant Restaurant Complimentary meal at seat (1)
• (1) A meal at your seat is only provided on trains travelling to or from the United Kingdom.

Business Premier

For trains to and from London, Business Premier gives you the freedom to travel in your own time, with speedy boarding and Eurostar's exclusive Business Premier lounges where you can relax before your trip. In Premium Class, exclusively on trains in Europe, you'll benefit from complete comfort, including a free meal and free drinks at your seat.

• Restaurant Restaurant Gourmet menu (1)
• (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.

Eurostar Standard

From 4th November 2024: 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.

Eurostar Plus

From 4th November 2024: 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.

Eurostar Premium

From 4th November 2024: Eurostar Premium 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 Premium Class, you'll also benefit from complete comfort, including a free meal and free drinks at your seat.

Onboard services on Eurostar

Discover more about the onboard services offered on trains from london to paris..

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 Class, 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 Standard Premier, a light meal and a drink will be served at your seat.

Travel in Business 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 Premium class, 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 Standard Premier or Business Premier - you'll only pay for a Standard Class ticket. Someone can travel with you at a discounted rate.

If you're travelling on red trains in the rest of 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:

• 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 London to Paris

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 London to Paris 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.

Learn more about European train travel

European train deals, first vs second class on european trains, high-speed trains in europe, night trains in europe, how many bags are allowed in the different eurostar classes, standard/standard premier.

• 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
• 3 pieces of luggage up to 85cm long for rucksacks, suitcases, golf clubs or ski equipment

Children (for all classes)

• 1 piece of luggage up to 85cm long
• 1 hand luggage, e.g. backpack or laptop bag

Everything you need to know about London St Pancras station

How to get to london st pancras international.

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, including Victoria (blue line), Northern (black line), Metropolitan (purple line), Circle (yellow line) & Hammersmith and City (pink line) .     

If you’re travelling 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.

How far ahead of time do you need to arrive?

Where are eurostar check-in gates.

At London St Pancras International, Eurostar check-in gates can be found in the middle of the station, on the main concourse. They’re clearly signposted and many help desks are available where staff can help you in case you are lost.

How does Eurostar check-in work?

When you arrive at the ticket gates, simply scan the barcode on your paper ticket or on your phone. You need to scan each ticket individually – even the kids’.

Once you've scanned your ticket at the gates, you'll join the luggage check, which is identical to what you have at the airport - except there's no limits on the liquids you can bring! After that, you'll enter a line for passport inspections.

For EU passengers, there are also electronic gates you can use if you have an e-passport. We recommend using these as they speed up the check-in process.

Depending on the train's departure time, check-in can take as little as 15 minutes or up to 30 minutes at peak times.

What’s on offer at London St Pancras International?

There are plenty of shops, cafés, and restaurants you can choose from at London St Pancras International station, including Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Prime Burger and Yo! Sushi. There’s also the Eurostar ticket office, as well as self-service ticket machines and a Eurostar Assist desk for those who need help getting to the train. Toilets with baby-changing facilities are available.  

Which facilities are in the Eurostar Departure Lounge?

You can find the following facilities in the Eurostar Departure Lounge:

• A duty-free shop
• Shops and cafés
• Cash machines with currency in Euros and Pounds
• Toilets with baby-changing facilities
• A bureau de change
• The Station Pantry – a cosmopolitan café where you can enjoy a wide range of snacks and drinks.

Which facilities are in the Business Premier Lounge?

Entrance to the Business Premier Lounge is on the right-hand side of the concourse. Only Business Premier travellers and Eurostar Carte Blanche holders can access the First Class lounge. Here, you’ll get to enjoy:

• Comfortable seating for working or relaxing
• Spacious meeting areas
• A selection of snacks and drinks at two self-service bars
• A wide range of newspapers and magazines
• Seat-side power sockets

Arriving at Paris Gare du Nord station from London

Your Eurostar train from London to Paris will arrive right in the heart of the French capital at Paris Gare du Nord station .

Paris Gare du Nord is one of the main train stations in Paris, so it’s got all the amenities you could need. If you fancy a quick coffee before making your way into the city, there are plenty of food and drink outlets. There are also shops, a pharmacy and toilets (though you may have to pay to use the toilet in many French train stations, so it’s worth going on the train before you leave!). 

Since all the passport checks are done before leaving the UK, you can step off the train and start exploring the city straight away. Not far from the platform, you’ll find Métro and RER trains to whisk you to Paris’ top museums and galleries.  

From the quaint cobbled streets and independent boutiques along the Canal St Martin to the hip new foodie hangouts across the 10th arrondissement, this is an area packed with Parisian flavour you don’t want to miss! 

Using public transport in Paris

Taking the métro in paris .

Paris Métro is the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way to travel around the city. If you want to skip the queues at Gare du Nord, you can buy your Métro ticket at Café Métropole on board the Eurostar. It can get really busy at Gare du Nord’s metro station, so it’s worth planning ahead. 

Metro tickets (also known as T+ tickets) allow connections between Métro and RER trains in central Paris and will take you to all the main stations in Paris where you can catch a connecting TGV high-speed train to other French cities. T+ tickets are also valid on RATP buses and trams. Each T+ ticket is valid for a single journey. 

Did you know? Children under 4 can travel for free on the metro, RER, bus, and tramway services, provided they sit on your lap and don’t occupy a seat. Children under 10 get 50% off the ticket price.  

Taking a taxi in Paris 

If you want to get a taxi, you can find a taxi rank near Eurostar arrivals at Paris Gare du Nord station. Just head to the concourse at the front of the train, then take the exit on the right where you'll see the line of taxis.  

Does the train from London to Paris go underwater?

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 in length and is the longest continuous underwater tunnel in the world. At a maximum speed of 100 mph  in the Chunnel, it takes a Eurostar train around 35 minutes to travel this underwater stretch between London and Paris.

How long is the Chunnel from London to Paris?

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 London St. Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord is currently 2 hours and 16 minutes .

Boasting fascinating architecture, delicious cuisine and monument-lined boulevards, Paris is always a great idea! To help inspire your trip to the French capital, here are some ideas for things to do in Paris:

Emily in Paris: Where it was filmed

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After visiting Paris, 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. 

Buy your Interrail Pass

Want to know more about your journey from London to Paris? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How long does the train from london to paris take.

The average journey time by train between London and Paris is 2 hours and 22 minutes, with around 17 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.

What's the fastest journey time between London and Paris by train?

The fastest journey time by train from London to Paris is 2 hours and 17 minutes.

How much does the train from London to Paris cost?

Train ticket prices from London to Paris can start from as little as £51 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.

Is there a direct train from London to Paris?

Yes, it is possible to travel from London to Paris without having to change trains. There are 16 direct trains from London to Paris each day. Though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date.

What time does the first train from London to Paris leave?

The first train from London to Paris leaves at 06:01. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.

What time does the last train from London to Paris leave?

The last train from London to Paris leaves at 20:01. 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.

What's the distance between London and Paris by train?

Trains travelling from London to Paris cover a distance of around 212 miles (342 km) during the journey.

Looking for more information?

If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Paris to London . If you’re looking for other options, you can also catch the bus from London to Paris .

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., travelling from london to paris in eurostar standard class, july 2023.

Kristina Fox

UK and EU travel writer

Catching the train at London St Pancras station 

All Eurostar trains depart from London St Pancras station – not to be confused with King’s Cross station next door (the two stations share a Tube stop). Once you’re at St Pancras, look out for signs towards the Eurostar departures area, which is situated in the middle of the station. 

I was heading to Paris after work and arrived around an hour before my train’s scheduled departure time of 7:01 pm. The ticket gates close 30 minutes before departure, so it’s important to arrive in plenty of time – Eurostar recommends arriving 90 minutes before your train leaves. 

I scanned my ticket at the automatic ticket gates. I then had to go through security (similar to airport luggage checks, though there are no liquids limits here) and passport control before reaching the Eurostar departures lounge. There are shops in the waiting area as well as some seating, though often there aren’t enough seats for everyone, so be prepared to stand around for a little while before your train.  

Around half an hour before departure, our platform was announced, and everyone headed to get seated. It’s a long train so boarding can take a little while, but there’s no need to worry. Everyone has allocated seats on their tickets, so it was easy to find our places and get settled in. There’s plenty of luggage storage at the ends of each carriage and overhead too, though it’s important to stick to the luggage size limits so there’s enough room for everyone. 

Travelling in Eurostar Standard Class 

I love travelling with Eurostar. The trains have everything you need, even in Standard Class. Plug sockets (both UK and European) at your seat, free WiFi, a café bar (Café Métropole)... What more could you want? I have always wondered what it’s like in Standard Premier, though – you get light refreshments served at your seat throughout the journey, so it feels like it would add a little touch of luxury... Perhaps next time! 

I’m always surprised by how it takes so little time to get to France from London – in half an hour, we reached the Channel Tunnel, and an hour into the journey we were already in Calais! After this, it takes around an hour and a quarter to reach the City of Light. 

Arriving at Paris Gare du Nord 

After just 2 hours and 16 minutes, we pulled into Paris Gare du Nord at 10:17 pm – watch out for the one-hour time difference across the Channel! This is one of Paris’ main stations, so it’s well-connected to other places across the city. 

Overall, the journey from London to Paris was fast and fuss-free. It was easy to board the train even with a large suitcase, and I was glad not to have to worry about weight or liquid restrictions for my luggage. I’d recommend travelling from London to Paris by Eurostar to anyone, whether you’re going for a short weekend break or a longer trip. 

About Kristina  Kristina, a Trainline employee, chose to share their experience of the journey between London and Paris.

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What documents do I need to bring?

We’d hate to leave anyone behind. Here’s the lowdown. Travelling to and from London You’ll need a valid passport. Depending on your nationality and the purpose of your stay, you may need additional travel documents, like a visa. And i f you don’t need a visa to visit the UK , you may need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead. Please ensure you’ve got everything you need or you may not be able to travel. Check what documents you need . Travelling between Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany Your ticket will be checked both during the pre-departure process and on board. You may also be asked to present an identity document, to check the accuracy of your ticket or during a random customs inspection. Authorisation to leave the country: Any minor residing in France who travels from France to another country without his/her parents must be in possession, in addition to his identity document, of an Authorisation to Leave the Country (ALC), duly completed and signed, and a copy of the identity document or passport of the parent or legal guardian of the ALC. Without this authorisation, your child will be refused access on board of trains from Paris.

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Top Eurostar Destinations from London

Top Cities and a Suggested Itinerary for Northern Europe

Eurostar is the high-speed rail link connecting London to Paris, Brussels and beyond. The convenient city center train stations mean that travel time is far shorter than by plane, when you consider check-in times, getting your luggage and transferring from the airports). In fact, Eurostar carries more passengers than all of the airlines combined on both routes out of London.

Why Take the Eurostar?

London is usually the shortest path from the U.S. to a major airport in Europe, and often the most inexpensive choice for non-stop flights. It's natural to start your vacation in London, and when you're through visiting, Eurostar is right there at St Pancras station—and Paris just over two hours away. If you only have a short time to see Europe and want to see some of  Europe's Best Cities , Eurostar is a fast, convenient way to tour London, Paris, and cities in bordering countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.

The fastest London to Paris trains take just over two hours, while the London to Brussels journey is exactly two hours long. Other travel times are listed with the relevant city, below.

And if you're tempted by Business Premier Class, you'll also get fast-lane check-in, four-course lunch or dinner service with wine and a free taxi service from your arrival point to any city destination

Suggested Itinerary

Starts in London (for as many days as you can afford), for either Lille (one day) or Paris (again, as long as you can afford) on the Eurostar. Alternatively, skip both and head straight to Brussels (two days). From there a loop takes you to Amsterdam (three days) through Antwerp (one day), then on to Cologne (one day). From Cologne, you can return to Brussels or Lille in anticipation of the return trip on the Eurostar.

Paris, France

The classic Eurostar route. It takes just over two hours to get between two of Europe's greatest cities, meaning it's possible to visit​ ​ Paris as a Day Trip from London !

• Compare Prices on Paris Hotels on TripAdvisor
• Paris Train Stations
• Skip-the-Line Louvre Tickets

Where to Next?

There are high-speed trains from Paris all over Europe. Maybe you feel like heading south to Barcelona .

Brussels (and the rest of Belgium)

TripSavvy / Gautier Houba 

On the London to Brussels route, your Eurostar ticket is good for continuing on to  any station in Belgium . Thus, if you didn't want to see Brussels, you could go on to  Ghent, Brugge ,  Damme , or anywhere else in Belgium that captures your fancy, without paying extra. 

• Brussels Travel Guide
• Compare Prices on Brussels Hotels on TripAdvisor​
• Brussels Day Trip from London

Brussels is in the heart of Europe, with high-speed trains to Paris and to Amsterdam.

Disneyland Resort

Europe's only Disneyland theme park is close to Paris.

• Buy Disneyland Resort Tickets
• Compare Prices on Hotels near Disneyland

Most visitors to Disneyland head to Paris ​afterward. There are also direct trains to Brussels.

 The first stop on the French side of the tunnel is Lille , close to the Belgian border. Lille is close to some historic World War I battlefields.

• Compare Prices on Hotels in Lille on TripAdvisor
• Tour of Lille by Convertible 2CV
• Things to Do In Lille

Where to Next?​

Belgium is the obvious next stop.

The capital of the Rhone region and good for access to the Beaujolais Vineyards . Lyon is said to have the most restaurants per capita in France.

Journey time is four-and-three-quarter hours from London.

• Lyon Travel Guide
• Compare Prices on Hotels in Lyon on TripAdvisor

To the Cote d'Azur or into Spain.

Avignon is a walled city in southern France's Provence region. Avignon is also considered the capital of the famous Cote du Rhone wine region. Avignon is reached easily by fast TGV train from Paris.

The main attractions in Avignon are the 14th century Palace of the Popes and the 12th century Avignon Bridge​ called the Saint-Benezet bridge after the young shepherd who heard divine voices instructing him to construct it. Both are UNESCO world heritage sites.

• Tour Provence from Avignon
• Read Reviews of Hotels in Avignon 

You have to change in Brussels, but the train to Amsterdam is still faster than flying when you take into account check-in times and airport transfers.

• Top European Cities: from the Cheapest to the Most Expensive
• Compare Prices on Hotels in Amsterdam
• Skip-the-line Van Gogh Museum and Canal Tour
• Windmill Tour of Holland from Amsterdam

A direct train from London to the south coast of France? Incroyable!

 Journey time is six-and-a-half hours, with departures once per day.

• Best of Provence Day Trip from Marseille
• Top Rated Hotels in Marseille on TripAdvisor

Eurostar High Speed Trains Through the Channel Tunnel

How to Travel From London to Paris by Train, Bus, Plane, and Car

Traveling by Train in Europe: Where, Why, and How

About Single Europe Train Tickets

France Travel Planner for Every Vacation

Travel Guide to Bruges, Belgium

What to Do in Lille in Northern France

Traveling to Arles by Train, Plane, and Car

How to Travel from London to Marseille by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane

How to Take the Eurostar Between London and Paris

How to Travel from London to Nice by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane

European City Map with Driving Distances and Train Times

How to Get Around Belgium Like a Local

What to See and Do in Lens, France

How to get from London, the UK and Paris to Caen in Normandy

Champagne Region Map and Travel Guide

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Why You Should Consider Train Travel in Europe

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Table of Contents

Train system in Europe

Europe train map, booking train travel in europe, 3 ways to make your european train fare cheaper, smart money move: earn points on train travel, train travel in europe recapped.

If you’ve been dreaming about visiting Europe this summer and eating gelato in Italy or visiting the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in Spain, good news: Airfare is down 8% compared to this time last year, according to Hopper’s 2024 Summer Travel Outlook.

And once you’re in Europe, you may be able to save money if you travel by train. Traveling by train in Europe is convenient and sustainable. Plus, some trains, like the Glacier Express in Switzerland, are designed to travel through scenic destinations so you can sightsee while you relax.

If you’re considering incorporating train travel into your European itinerary , here’s what you need to know about getting around and how to save money on tickets.

There are several train companies in Europe. Some only offer regional train service, while others offer trains between countries. As you plan your trip, familiarize yourself with the train companies that serve your intended destination so you can determine if traveling by train makes sense for you.

Here are some train companies that serve different countries in Europe:

Eurostar trains travel between the U.K., France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. (Although the U.K. is not in Europe, it's a popular destination on its own and often coupled with a European itinerary.) 

NS is the leading train company in the Netherlands. 

Renfe is the national train company in Spain. 

Deutsche Bahn (DB) offers long-distance and regional trains in Germany.

SNCF Connect offers high-speed train travel in France.

Trenitalia is the state-run train company in Italy.

Glacier Express offers scenic trains within Switzerland.

Some of these train companies have partnerships with each other to offer convenient connection options. For example, DB-SNCF is a joint venture between DB and SNCF that links travel between Germany and France.

If you Google search “Europe train map,” you’ll find many different maps based on regions, countries, or travel throughout the continent. Here’s a European train map offered by Trainline, which shows different destinations accessible by train.

The interactive map on Trainline’s website highlights popular routes across the country. If the country you’re looking for isn’t featured or you want to see regional trains instead, make your search more specific to check availability.

Buying train tickets in Europe is fairly straightforward. You can purchase your tickets through:

An online travel agency (OTA): Several OTAs that sell train tickets in Europe include Trainline, Rail Europe, Eurail and Omio.

The train company: If you know which train company serves your destinations, consider booking directly on the train company's website in case you need make any changes, since booking travel through an OTA adds an extra layer of complexity . 

At the train station: If you don’t know (or plan) your schedule in advance, you can purchase a ticket at the train station. Keep in mind purchasing at the train station is running a risk that the train time you want might be sold out, or more expensive, since it’s a last-minute purchase. 

Depending on when and where you buy your tickets, there are a few ways to save money on train travel within Europe.

1. Comparison shop

If the train company and an OTA offer tickets, compare prices to see where those seats are cheaper. We searched for a train from Paris to Amsterdam in August 2024 on the Eurostar site and on Trainline to see which option is cheaper.

Booking directly with Eurostar (price in U.S. dollars and euros)

Booking a Eurostar train on Trainline (price in U.S. dollars and euros)

If you pay in euros, tickets on Eurostar and Trainline are the same price (60 euros). But if you pay in U.S. dollars, the fare is slightly cheaper on Trainline ($68.30 versus $70). If you don’t have a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees, you’d want to book the ticket from Trainline in U.S. dollars.

Generally though, if you’re going to Europe — or really anywhere outside of the U.S. — consider using a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees , because these pesky fees are usually between 1% to 3% and can quickly add up.

2. Take advantage of discounts

There are often discounts available for students, seniors and families.

For example:

Spanish train operator Renfe, offers up to a 30% discount on tickets for those ages 14 to 25.

Eurail offers a family discount, a 10% senior discount and up to 25% off for travelers age 27 or below. 

Eurostar offers discounted rates for those under age 26 and 60 and up. 

Other discounts or sales may be available, so be sure to shop around. Booking early can also score you a deal. For comparison purposes, we searched for a ticket from Rome to Milan on Trenitalia one week and three months out. Most of the available tickets a week out were priced at $108, while the tickets three months in advance hovered around $48.

3. Consider travel insurance

According to NerdWallet’s annual summer travel survey , an impressive 84% of Americans plan on vacationing in 2024, with 45% of Americans going on a summer trip (June-August). Summer travelers plan to spend $3,594, on average, for their flights and hotel stays.

When considering an expensive vacation, travel insurance can be a good option, particularly if your trip plans are nonrefundable and you want overseas medical coverage. Even if you have a credit card that offers complimentary travel insurance , most U.S.-based medical plans don’t protect you for medical care abroad.

In addition to travel medical coverage, a comprehensive travel insurance plan includes benefits such as trip cancellation , trip interruption , baggage delay and lost luggage coverage . If you don’t need travel medical insurance, and the coverage provided by your travel credit card is sufficient, you may not need to purchase a standalone travel insurance policy.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

If you have a credit card that earns extra points for travel, using it to buy train tickets makes sense since trains are part of the travel category. Here are some popular cards that earn additional rewards for travel and don’t charge foreign transaction fees.

on Chase's website

• 2 points per $1 spent on travel, including train travel.

• 3 points per $1 spent on travel, including train travel.

• 2 miles per $1 on every purchase.

• 3 points per $1 on transit, including train travel.

Terms apply.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

» Learn more: Best travel credit cards

Traveling around Europe by train can be a great way to explore one or several countries, all while avoiding the hassle of the airport or renting a car. There are many options for finding train tickets, but generally, purchasing tickets in advance and directly from the train company can save money.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

France by train

Top booked trips.

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Flight-free made easy All transport and accommodation included

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France show-stoppers: longer adventures

Discover Corsica

Marseille, Cassis, Toulon, Bastia, Calvi, Ajaccio, Nice, Paris

The beaches of the Côte d'Azur couldn't contrast more with the rugged landscapes of the Jurassic island of Corsica. Discover both by train and boat.

Stop-offs to Spain

Angers, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Biarritz, San Sebastián

A tapestry of striking landscapes makes up this unhurried journey through the Loire, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Basque regions to Spain’s north coast.

The French and Italian Rivieras

Marseille, Cassis, Toulon, Nice, Menton, Alassio, Genoa, Paris

Eastward along the French Riviera into Italy is one of Europe’s finest coastal journeys worth lingering over, with stop-offs in Nice and lesser-known towns.

Rural France

Vineyards of Burgundy

Colmar, Dijon and Beaune.

The Burgundy vineyards stretch across 50 kilometres, where you can bike, walk and taste your way across France’s most acclaimed wine-growing region. 

The Loire Valley

Orléans, Nantes, Paris

Green valleys meet French splendour in the UNESCO Loire. Based in Orléans and Nantes, you’ll get the best of history, gastronomy and verdant landscapes.

Provincial lavender fields

Avignon and Aix-en-Provence

Escape to Provence for balmy afternoons weaving through the fragrant Routes de la Lavande, and catch the last of the evening sun over crisp glasses of rosé.

Spring highlight

Jardin du Luxembourg

Watch spring bloom in Paris. The palatial Jardin du Luxembourg in the Sixth Arrondissement is a 57-acre garden commissioned by the French queen, Marie de Medici. Kick back under the shade of horse chestnut trees or on the low-slung chairs surrounding the fountain, and in springtime, admire colourful flowers and fragrant orchard fruit trees.

Coastal escapes

Côte d'Azur

Paris, Menton, Nice

Head southward to uncover two contrasting sides of the French Riviera: the classic glamour of Nice and the slow-paced life of Menton at the border’s edge.

The Opal Coast

Le Touquet and Boulogne-sur-Mer

You needn’t travel far for a taste of sandy French coastlines. Head to the Cote d’Opale for dune-jumping, undercliff walks and fresh de fruits de mer.

Bay of Biscay

Bordeaux, Biarritz, San Sebastián, Santander

Sprawling beaches, failsafe surf and one of the best coastal food scenes around. Sit back on a cross-border journey around Biscay from France to Spain.

Hilltop hideaways

Saint-Paul de Vence

Nice, St-Paul-de-Vence, Paris

With the Alps to the northwest and the coast to the southeast, St-Paul-de-Vence is the ideal hilltop hideaway for those looking for coast and mountains.

Cassel and Bergues

The hilltop town of Cassel regularly pulls awards as one of the most picturesque rural communities in northern France.

Sospel, Paris

Venture off the beaten path of the Riviera to Sospel, a remote mountain community where a slow village pace of life meets mountain biking territory.

Historical France

WW1 sites in Northern France

Compiègne, Amiens and Arras

Uncover Northern France’s most significant WW1 sites, from the Clairière de L’Armistice to the Chemin des Dames ridge.

Medieval Alsace

Colmar, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé

At the crossroads of French and German history, the Alsace region beckons with castles, medieval old towns and a unique cultural border landscape.

Chateaus of Hauts-de-France

Chantilly and Compiègne

Uncover chateaus, gardens and former hunting grounds in Chantilly before skirting along the river Oise to Compiègne.

City breaks France

Paris and Lille

Uncover the hidden side of Paris (head down to the Catacombs or to the tucked-away Montmartre Vineyards), before exploring up-and-coming Lille.

Marseille and Nice

Paris, Nice, Sospel and Marseille

Two Riviera port cities. (Almost) guaranteed sun. A hint of resort-town glamour, with tucked-away cafés and watering holes to wine and dine with the locals.

UNESCO Bordeaux

Spend a weekend in the world’s largest urban UNESCO World Heritage site. Dabble in fine food and wine, and a trip to Europe’s biggest sand dune.

French regions

French Riviera

For turquoise Calanques and sand between your toes.

French Alsace

For Medieval towns and vineyards at sunset.

For Jurassic landscapes and real escapism.

Hauts-de-France

For Chateaux and freshly-baked Macarons.

Here’s the minimum time you’ll need for a relaxed round trip starting from London. We do other departure stations, too!

How long does it take?

7 best France holiday destinations by train

Embark on a train adventure through France to discover its diverse and captivating holiday destinations, easily accessible by train from London to Paris and beyond.

Take the Eurostar to Paris in just over two hours. The city of lights has iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum, but sometimes the pleasure of a weekend break in Paris lies more in strolling its neighbourhoods, stopping for coffee and to browse its boutiques.

Take the Eurostar from London to Lille in just over an hour to discover the city's charming Old Town and experience the unique blend of French and Flemish influences that make Lille a fascinating destination. The food alone is worth a weekend break to the Hauts-de-France.

French Alps

Take a train from London to Lyon or Geneva, then connect to regional trains that will bring you to various Alpine destinations. Enjoy breathtaking mountain views and in winter enjoy sustainable ski by train .

Travel on the Eurostar from London to Paris before connecting to the glamorous Riviera port cities of Marseille, Cassis, Nice and Menton. Enjoy the sunshine and order a spritz on your flight-free holiday to the French Riviera.

Reach Bordeaux via the London Paris Eurostar, and then connect to a high-speed train to Bordeaux. Explore the city's elegant architecture, stroll along the Garonne River, and indulge in wine tastings in the nearby vineyards.

Journey by train from London to Colmar and admire the city's charming streets and half-timbered houses. From here, it’s easy to use local buses to explore the Alsatian countryside and enchanting villages like Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé. This trip is truly off the beaten path and helps you avoid being an overtourist .

Travel by train from London to Marseille, then take a ferry to Corsica . Once on the island, explore its stunning beaches, rugged mountains and picturesque villages that can be easily reached by train.

Looking for something else?

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in France set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact France’s Embassy in the UK .

Countries may restrict travel or bring in rules at short notice. Check with your travel company or airline for changes.

Visit TravelHealthPro (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre) for general COVID-19 advice for travellers .

Public spaces

You’re strongly recommended to wear a face mask in health settings. In some areas, people aged 6 and above may need to wear a face mask.

Passport validity requirements

If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, follow the Schengen area passport requirements .

Your passport must be:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

Check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

Contact the French Embassy in the UK if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to .

Passport stamping

At French border control, you may need to:

• show proof of where you intend to stay, for example, a hotel booking or proof of address if visiting your own property
• show proof of insurance for your trip – check FCDO’s travel insurance guidance
• show a return or onward ticket
• prove that you have enough money for your whole stay

Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through France as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.

You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets.

If you live in France, read our Living in France guide for passport stamping information.

Proof of accommodation and funds

You may need to show proof of where you intend to stay. Read about documents you may need for short stays on the French government website . This will differ depending on where you are staying.

Staying with family, friends or a third party

You may be asked to provide an ‘attestation d’accueil’ (welcome invitation) from your host. The French resident hosting you must get the ‘attestation d’accueil’ from their local mayor’s office, and send the original ‘attestation’ before you enter France. Be prepared to show proof that you have at least €32.50 euros a day for the duration of your stay.

Second homes in France

You will need to be able to prove ownership or tenancy of your property, such as a tax or utility bill.

Staying in a hotel or other commercial accommodation

You may be asked for confirmation of your reservation when entering France. Be prepared to show proof that you have at least €65 euros a day for the duration of your stay.

Other circumstances

If you do not have an ‘attestation d’accueil’ (welcome invitation) or any pre-booked accommodation, you may be asked to prove you have at least €120 euros a day for the duration of your stay.

For more information on these requirements, visit the French government’s website on travel conditions for British citizens.

Visa requirements

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area, which France is part of, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

If you are travelling to France and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you will need to meet the French government’s entry requirements. Check which type of visa you may need on the France Visas website .

If you are travelling to France for work , read the guidance on visas and permits.

If you stay in France with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

British citizens who cannot return to the UK before their visa, permit or visa-free limit expires should contact their local prefecture in France .

Vaccination requirements (other than COVID-19)

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and vaccination certificates you may need on TravelHealthPro.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of France. Check the French Directorate General of Customs and Excise website . Declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food and drink into the EU

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions for medical reasons, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons. Check the rules about taking food and drink into the EU on the European Commission website.

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Eurostar to Belgium and France

• Travel quickly and comfortably to Belgium and France
• In just 3.18 hrs to Paris
• Daily 14 connections to Brussels and 10 connections to Paris
• Reserved seats

Tip: we advise you to book your tickets from a station near you. This way, you get the cheapest tickets for your trip from the station you board to Amsterdam, Schiphol or Rotterdam. That route has a maximum price of € 15 in first class and € 9 in second class. This way you also only have to check in once and you will receive travel updates about the entire route.

Thalys is now Eurostar

The name 'Thalys' is no longer in use, all trains are now called 'Eurostar. You can now book Eurostar to Paris, Disney and Charles de Gaulle. And Sun-Thalys is nog called Eurostar Sun. More information

Eurostar schedule

Eurostar is the high-speed train for daily connections to the Netherlands, Belgium and France. In the summer you can travel with Eurostar Sun directly to the South of France and Eurostar Snow will bring you to several ski destinations in the French Alps. Eurostar runs directly on weekends to Charles de Gaulle Airport and Disneyland Paris. On the way you can work and relax; your vacation will begin on board the train!

Disneyland Paris

All Disney idols are even more accessible. You don't need to transfer to Brussels or Paris, but you travel directly to Disneyland Paris. Eurostar runs to Disney twice a day in just 3.50 hours!

To the South of France with Eurostar Sun

Every Saturday in July and August,  Eurostar Sun  runs directly from Amsterdam Central Station to  Valence ,  Avignon ,  Aix-en-Provence  and  Marseille . From these four end stations you can easily travel on to the beautiful Alps region or well-known coastal towns in the South of France.

Eurostar to Paris

Eurostar runs from Amsterdam via Schiphol and Rotterdam to Paris 10 times a day.

For a complete travel itinerary, consult our itinerary planner

Eurostar to Brussels

Eurostar runs from Amsterdam via Schiphol and Rotterdam to Brussel 14 times a day.

Tickets issued from or to Brussels-South-Midi are also valid in the regular trains from or to the stations in the Brussels zone. n Which stations belong to Brussels zone?

Eurostar to Antwerp

Thalys runs from Amsterdam via Schiphol and Rotterdam to Antwerp 14 times a day.

To ski destination with Eurostar Snow

In the winter months Eurostar Snow will bring you directly to Chambéry , Albertville , Moûtiers , Aime-la-Plagne , Landry and Bourg-St-Maurice . From these stations bus transfers will depart to different skiing villages. View the overview of all the ski destinations for the options or read more about Eurostar to the Alps .

Eurostar prices

With NS International you can travel from € 35 to Paris. Your ticket is also your seat reservation. The sooner you book, the cheaper your ticket. You can already book 122 days in advance. Check Eurostar offers

The price depends on

• The moment of booking - Early booking means lowest prices
• Travel class - 1st or 2nd class
• Flexibility - Regarding changing or cancelling bookings

Do you want to and can you book far in advance? Then choose the ticket with the lowest fare. The best rate for the price-conscious travellers.

General tips for getting the cheapest tickets

• Book as early as possibly to have the most chance of getting the cheapest tickets.
• Travelling in the evening is often cheaper.
• For a weekend getaway, travel Sat-Sun-Mon instead of Fri-Sat-Sun.
• Book online to avoid booking fee.

Tips to get the best rates

Eurostar tickets

Eurostar offers different fare types for your journey. You can choose from the following fare types:

More information about Eurostar rates

Buy your ticket with Club Eurostar and Frequent Pass at NS International

Do you have a Club Eurostar or a Frequent Pass subscription? Via NS International you can purchase all Eurostar tickets with a high discount of up to 50% for flexible conditions. When booking your ticket please select Club Eurostar or Frequent Pass and the discount will automatically be applied. If you create an account in My NSI and add your card it will link it to your trip with Eurostar. This way you save points which can be exchanged for gifts. Read more about Club Eurostar

Travelling with children

What are the prices for travelling with children? Is it possible to bring the baby buggy? Can the children walk around and play? Read the practical information about travelling with children for a care-free journey.

Classes in Eurostar

Until 4 november.

Eurostar has 3 service levels: Standard (2nd class) and Comfort and Premium (1st class). In Premium you can profit from extra advantages like free catering at your seat. Compare the advantages and rates

Travel in comfort in 1st class

Experience the advantages of travelling in 1st class (Comfort and Premium) with Eurostar. While travelling in Premium class you will get catering at your seat and comfortable seats.

• More leg room
• Catering at your seat (welcome drink, snack or main meal*) (Premium)
• Electrical outlet at your seat
• A selection of (international) newspapers (Premium)
• Option to make taxi reservations in Paris and Brussels (Premium)
• Admittance to Eurostar Lounges (Premium)
• More flexibility in changing and cancellation (Premium)

* Depending on the departure times of the trains, a snack or main meal will be served between Amsterdam and Antwerp, Amsterdam and Brussels or between Brussels and Paris. There is no catering between Antwerp and Rotterdam.

Eurostar has 3 service levels: Eurostar Standard (2nd class) and Eurostar Plus and Premier (1st class). In Premier you can profit from extra advantages like free catering at your seat. Compare the advantages and rates

Experience the advantages of travelling in 1st class (Plus and Premier) with Eurostar. While travelling in Premier class you will get catering at your seat and comfortable seats.

• Catering at your seat (welcome drink, snack or main meal*) (Premier)
• Admittance to NS International Lounge (Plus and Premier)
• Admittance to Eurostar Lounges (Premier)
• More flexibility in changing and cancellation (Premier)

On board Eurostar

Locating your carriage.

Your carriage number is written on your ticket. On the platforms you will find posters with information about the train set-up which will indicate where you can best wait for your carriage. On the Eurostar trains, the carriage numbers are located next to the exterior doors. So, finding your carriage will be easy. In the carriage, seat numbers are clearly marked above the seats. More information about finding your seat on Eurostar

Travelling in Eurostar offers you comfort with free Wi-Fi in all Eurostar trains, both for Standard, Comfort and Premium.

Catering Eurostar

In the bar/buffet carriage, you can order coffee, tea or another beverage, and sandwiches, salads and hot or cold snacks. You can pay cash or, for orders of € 10.00 or more, with a credit card. You also have the option to purchase your metro ticket at the bar, but please note, they are not always available.

Electrical outlets

There are electrical outlets in the 1st and 2nd class (Comfort 1 and Comfort 2) next to your chair. You can use and charge your electronic devices during your trip.

Luggage in Eurostar

With your Eurostar ticket you may not bring more than:

• 2 items of luggage with dimension: max. 75 x 53 x 30 cm
• 1 item of hand luggage
• There is no weight limit but you do need to be able to carry the luggage yourself

For security reasons it is prohibited to block the aisles and doors of the train with luggage or to secure them (with rope or locks) to the train.

When travelling with a child you may bring a stroller on board for free beside the above-mentioned items. The stroller must be folded before entering the train and be stowed in one of the luggage spaces in the carriage where you are seated. More information about luggage in Eurostar

Bringing bicycles on board

Bicycles on board Eurostar are only permitted if they are packed in a bicycle case (135 x 85 x 30 cm). In order for it to fit, you'll need to dismantle the front and back wheel.

Folding bicycle

Folded folding bicycles are considered carry-on luggage as long as they are no larger than the size of a suitcase, namely 75 x 53 x 30 cm.

Please note:

• You'll need to be at the platform 30 minutes before departure in order to have enough time to dismantle your bicycle.
• If your bike doesn't comply with these conditions, you'll not be able to take it on board.

Travellers with impaired mobility

• In Premium class there is space especially for passengers in a wheelchair. There is a special reduced ticket price for this space and one person may accompany you for the same reduced rate. You will have to make a special reservation. The accompanying passenger needs a Guide Pass. (030-2300023, daily from 07:00 to 23:00).
• The width of the door leading to this carriage is 70 cm. Electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters may be taken on board as long as they are not wider than 70cm. You will have to make a special reservation (030-2300023, daily from 07:00 to 23:00).
• Registered guide and assistance dogs are allowed. Guide and assistance animals always travel for free on Eurostar. On arrival in or departure from the UK, you will need to show your documentation, so make sure you have it with you. A free ticket for a guide or assistance dog can be requested up to 48 hours before departure. Register your guide or assistance dog for your train journey here .

Bringing pets on board

In Eurostar to Belgium and France, you may bring a pet, but certain rules and guidelines apply:

Small pets : Pets under 6 kg travel for free in a pet carrier no larger than 45 x 30 x 25 cm (think dog, cat, rabbit or hamster). Large dogs : Dogs not in a basket or cage are allowed on board only with a ticket at "dog fare". They are allowed on the train only if they are held on the lap or if they are on a leash and muzzled on the floor. You can purchase the ticket on the train from the Train Manager. Guide and assistance animals : Guide and assistance dogs for the blind are allowed and travel free of charge. However, they must be registered at least 48 hours before departure. Register your guide or assistance dog for your train journey here (Dutch) . Not allowed animals : Dangerous dogs, wild animals and certain birds (parrots, canaries, etc.). Passenger comfort : If a traveler objects to the presence of a pet, the Train Manager can move the owner and the animal to another part of the train.

Eurostar Snow to the Alps

Only registered guide dogs and assistance dogs are allowed. Other animals are not. Not even in a cage. Guide and assistance animals always travel free of charge with Eurostar. However, they must be registered at least 48 hours before departure. Register your guide or assistance dog for your train journey here (Dutch) .

Eurostar Sun to the South of France

Great eurostar deal.

Travel to London, Paris or Brussels with Eurostar and take advantage of discounts on museums, bicycle and car rental.

Ruby, Thalys' new train set

Thalys' revamped train set offers more seats, comfort and is now even more sustainable.

Business travel to Belgium and France

Eurostar is an efficient choice for business travel to Belgium and France. Get to your destination quickly while doing what you want.

Eurostar Sun to Southern France

Buy your tickets now: early booking pays off. Eurostar Sun departs from Amsterdam Central every Saturday during the summer.

Going on holiday by train with kids

There's no greater pleasure for children than travelling by train! You have more freedom of movement than in a car.

10 FAQ about Eurostar to Paris

A first-timer’s guide to using the Eurotunnel

May 30, 2024 • 6 min read

Have a hassle-free trip with our guide to traveling on the Eurotunnel © Matt Munro / Lonely Planet

In May 1994, the Eurotunnel – linking England and France under the English Channel – was opened in a ceremony led by French President François Mitterrand and Queen Elizabeth II. In the 30 years since then, the network, which shares its tunnel with the Eurostar service , has carried nearly 10 million passengers per year between England and mainland Europe. 

For drivers, Eurotunnel – now branding itself as LeShuttle – competes with the cross-Channel ferries by offering a journey time of just 35 minutes, in contrast to a 90-minute crossing on the fastest car ferry.

From tickets and terminals to queues and border crossings, here’s everything a first-time Eurotunnel user needs to know.

What is the Eurotunnel and where does it go?

The Eurotunnel, or LeShuttle, is a train that carries vehicles and travels under the English Channel, going between Folkestone in Kent , just off the M20, to Coquelles near Calais in France, on the A16 and near the A26. It serves vehicles only – no foot passengers are allowed on board.

How does it compare with the ferry?

Both services give the convenience of being able to take multiple passengers for the price of one vehicle, and to pack as much luggage as you can fit in the car. Both also allow pets on board.

LeShuttle’s claim to fame is the speed of the crossing. For people heading off on a long drive on the other side of the Channel, that shorter 35-minute journey can be worth the usually more expensive price point. However, if you’re hoping to hop out of your car during the ride to take a stroll or pick up some food, the Eurotunnel is not for you.

Don’t want to drive much further? Here’s our guide to Calais and the nearby Côte d’Opale

Where do I buy tickets?

Book tickets online in advance. You will need to provide “Advance Passenger Information” (API) – name, date of birth, passport details etc – online ahead of travel for everyone riding in your vehicle. 

How does it work?

Aim to arrive one to two hours ahead of your booked crossing time. Follow signs off the main roads and onto the Eurotunnel site. Lanes are clearly marked, guiding you to the check-in kiosks. Most kiosks are automatic, but signs will indicate which lanes have staff if you’d prefer to deal with a human. The system uses license plate recognition so, as you pull up at the barrier, your booking will appear on-screen.

Depending on the volume of traffic, you might be offered an earlier crossing time. You have the choice to accept it or stick with your booked train. Unless you’re particularly keen to hang around at the terminal, I recommend taking that gift. 

A letter or letter/number combo is assigned to your car and printed out on a piece of paper. Tear it at the top so that it’s shaped like a hanger and hang it from your rear-view mirror so that Eurotunnel staff can see it as you approach them. If your crossing is imminent, staff may wave you straight through, bypassing the terminals. If they don’t, park up and keep an eye on the large screens in the parking lot and within the terminal – they show when you’re likely to be called forward. 

Top tip: In Calais, don’t be surprised to be sent on a detour! You may find yourself following signs that appear to be taking you off site. This is a simply a way to manage traffic and you will be directed to check in as soon as possible. 

First time visiting France? Here’s what you should know

What happens if I arrive late?

Usually, if you’re late you will be bumped onto the next available service, which might mean hanging around the terminal until the very end of the day. In some cases, you might be asked to buy a new ticket.

What’s in each terminus?

Don’t expect much. Both terminals have restrooms and water fountains, a couple of fast food restaurants and cafes, a newsagent and a relatively small duty-free shop. There’s a little play area for kids too.

What if I’m traveling with pets?

Traveling with animals requires a bit more planning. Anyone with cats, dogs or ferrets must stop and visit the Pet Reception . The animal must be microchipped and carry an Animal Health Certificate or EU Pet Passport, and dogs must have had tapeworm treatment in advance. There is a dedicated exercise area for dogs near the Pet Reception.

If you’re traveling with rabbits, rodents or reptiles, you must show a certificate that has been approved by a vet to border control.

When do passports get checked?

Once your assigned letter is called, drive on to passport control. Sometimes this is a very smooth process; other times, you might be waiting for hours, shuffling forward one car at a time. You pass through both the UK and French borders at this point – there are no further immigration checks upon arrival.

What about security checks?

Cars are randomly selected for security checks after passport control and you may be asked to pull over while an inspection takes place, including swabbing your steering wheel. 

How do you board the train?

Once passports and security are cleared, you are essentially in one massive queue waiting to board a train. You will be allocated a lane to wait in, and you could be sitting there a while. There are toilets here, a few vending machines and an information screen. When a train is ready to board (usually 25 minutes before its scheduled departure time), barriers rise at the front of the lanes and cars proceed from there.

Staff will indicate where on the train they want you to board depending on the size of your vehicle. The train has an upper level in places, so you will need to drive up a ramp to board the top deck. Follow the vehicle in front – you might drive through a lot of carriages – and keep on going until staff indicate you should stop. You will be directed to park up bumper to bumper, then asked to put on your handbrake and apply first gear, and leave your window halfway down.

Pro tip: The barriers can seem to open in a somewhat random order in the stacking area. As you see one lane departing, you might be tempted to sneak across. Don’t. Staff will stop you and send you back to the section you’re meant to be in.

What’s on the train?

Don't get your hopes up for a well-stocked dining car or a gift shop. Even a working toilet is a bit of a stretch on some crossings. Expect bare-bones carriages, with four to five vehicles in each section, and literally nothing else. 

Following departure, there are various safety announcements and a member of the train crew will pass through carriages scanning hangers. You’re free to move around outside your vehicle, but there’s really nowhere to go.

What happens on arrival?

As the train approaches its destination, you will be asked to return to your vehicle. Internal doors will open but don’t start your engine until the cars in front of you are on the move so you don’t pump the carriage full of exhaust fumes.

Drive straight off the train and head for the motorways – your road trip has begun.

Keep planning your trip:

• Discover the best road-tripping routes in England
• These road trips in France will take you to all the country's highlights
• Plan the best time to visit France for your perfect vacation
• Find out when is best to visit England

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UK borders prepare for EU fingerprint travel rule change

Passengers queue at the Eurostar departure gates at St Pancras in London last December

• Published 28 May 2024

Preparations are under way at major Channel crossing points for a new automated European Union (EU) border IT system due to start this October in an attempt to prevent queue chaos.

Under the Entry Exit System (EES) non-EU nationals, including Brits, will have to register biometric information the first time they cross the border.

This has prompted concerns there might be huge delays as a result.

But tens of millions of pounds are being spent on equipment and processing areas at Dover’s ferry port, Eurostar’s London St Pancras terminus and Eurotunnel’s Folkestone site.

Dover plans to process coaches separately to cars and eventually reclaim a dock from the sea to create more space.

Eurostar will also expand into new areas of St Pancras station to fit in new kiosks.

People taking flights will provide the biometric information when they land at European airports.

However at Dover’s ferry port, Folkestone and London St Pancras, an arrangement of dual border controls means French border officers currently check and stamp passports as people leave the UK.

The new EES process will also take place on British soil at these sites.

Passports will no longer need to be stamped, but fingerprints and a photo will need to be taken. Travellers will also need to answer some questions about their journey.

As the registration process will need to be done in person at the port or station, there have been repeated warnings of bottlenecks as a result.

The UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron recently added his voice to concerns, telling a committee of MPs he was “really worried” about “long delays”.

Separate processes at Dover

Queueing at busy times is already an issue for space-constrained Dover.

The port’s chief executive Doug Bannister told the BBC its plans aimed to "minimise dwell times, queues and of course congestion out on the road network and throughout the town".

When EES kicks in, coaches - which carry dozens of passengers - will go to the Western docks, away from the main check-in areas. Coach halls will be built there, with new kiosks to register details.

Mr Bannister said passengers will then "proceed through the border in the Western docks, re-board their coach, the coach will get sealed, and it will come down here to the ferry terminal. As long as the seal's intact the coach will proceed directly around to check-in."

There will be a different process for cars and other vehicles. To start with, they will file into the usual lanes upon arrival at the port.

The port boss said they will be "met by one of our agents with a tablet" and asked for their details. A canopy will be put up over the lanes for weather protection.

The time it takes to go through border controls is likely to rise from 45 to 90 seconds to a couple of minutes or more per person when registering for EES.

By summer next year, the hope is to relocate that car processing to the Western docks too. This relies on an old dock being filled in to create more land.

The port plans to create more holding space around the port by September 2027.

The Port of Dover aims to create extra space for checks by next summer by filling in this dock area

Coach companies are worried about the new system.

Roselyn Coaches is based in Cornwall. By the time its vehicles reach Dover, they have already been on the road for hours.

Commercial manager James Church said any extra delays at Dover would not only affect customers’ experience, but would also carry more costs because drivers could hit their hours limit.

"If you’ve got a full coach with 50 to 70 people on board, that takes quite a long time anyway," he told the BBC. "We’re quite concerned."

He added that the business didn’t want EES to end up putting "a negative thought on continental coach crossings".

Implementing EES at London St Pancras means a big change for Eurostar passengers taking trains to Paris and beyond.

The number of border control points in the existing departures area will be doubled. Space constraints won’t leave room for the EES kiosks as well.

So 49 of them will be installed at other points around the station, which is owned by HS1 and used by several domestic rail operators too.

A coffee shop near the main station entrance will make way for the main kiosk area. Two other zones will include an overflow room on St Pancras’ mezzanine level.

An impression of how Entry Exit System kiosks will look at London St Pancras station

Simon Lejeune, Eurostar’s chief stations and security officer, insisted these arrangements, with extra staff on hand to assist customers, meant people would not need to turn up any earlier for a train than they currently do.

"With our set-up it will still be 45 to 90 minutes check-in time," he said.

"We’ve really planned intensely for this, making sure that we’ve got the best arrangement for our customers."

Eurostar’s preparations are costing the equivalent of £8.5m.

Eurotunnel, which operates freight and vehicle shuttles though the Channel Tunnel, is spending the equivalent of £70m building processing zones, where people will queue in their cars to use automatic machines.

It will also hire 70 new passenger assistance staff on each side of the channel.

The company's boss Yann Leriche recently told the BBC getting through border controls would take five to seven minutes longer, but insisted the extra lanes and technology would avoid queues spilling out onto the roads.

The EU has been developing an app to enable EES registration to be started from home, but it's not expected to be ready for the start of the new system.

However, for a six-month transition period, the EU is expected to allow the checks to be reduced in some circumstances if bad queues build up.

A spokesperson for the UK government said it was "working closely with the EU and member states to minimise any impact at our shared borders with Europe".

They added: "We are also working closely with the Kent Resilience Forum as well as with port authorities, ferry operators and industry to develop robust contingency plans to ensure they are prepared to minimise the risk of delays."

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The Man in Seat 61

How to travel into Europe

Taking your dog by train.

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Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, how to take your dog by train.

This gets asked surprisingly often, as it's difficult and expensive to send dogs, cats or other pets by air, and pets find it very stressful alone in the hold of a plane.  So why not take your dog by train or ferry, the civilised and comfortable option?  Unfortunately Eurostar doesn't allow dogs on trains to/from London, except guide dogs.  But there are alternatives - this page explains the options for civilised & enjoyable train & ferry travel between the UK and European destinations with your dog, cat or other pet.

Microchip, vaccinations, health certificate

Before you start, you'll need to make sure your dog or pet is fitted with a microchip and has an up-to-date rabies vaccination.  Call your vet, they can advise you.

To take a pet from the UK to the EU , see your vet no more than 10 days before you travel for a simple health check and to get a health certificate.  Expect this to cost £180 (yet another a Brexit cost as the UK is no longer a member of the Pet Passport scheme).  The certificate is a 10-page document with more stamps than a 1970s Soviet transit visa which allows you to take your pet into the EU for up to 4 months and to re-enter the UK within 4 months.  You can have more than one pet on the same health certificate.  For certain countries you'll also need a tapeworm treatment, including Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Finland & Malta.

A day or two before you return to the UK , make a vet's appointment.  The vet gives your dog a tapeworm tablet and fills in/stamps the relevant section on the form.  This must be done no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you enter Great Britain.  Expect this to cost around €40.  This allows you to return to the UK.

For full details on how to take a pet abroad, see www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit .

For full details on how to bring a pet into the UK, see www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel .

Tip:   As you can't take meat or dairy products into the EU, only take enough regular pet food for the Channel crossing.  Take kibble for the onward journey, or stock up with wet food once on the Continent.

Step 1, taking a pet on British trains

This bit is easy.  You can take dogs, cats and other small animals free of charge on all British trains, up to a maximum of two per passenger, as long as they don't endanger or inconvenience passengers or staff.  Dogs must be kept on a lead unless inside a carrier.  Dogs without leads, cats, birds and small animals must be carried in an enclosed cage or pet carrier which must be rigid and not open (to prevent escape) and the animal able to stand and lie down in comfort.  Animals and containers must not occupy seats or a charge may be made.  If you want to use a Caledonian Sleeper to or from Scotland, you'll need to pay a fee, see here .  For full details of dog & pet regulations on British trains see www.nationalrail.co.uk/on-the-train/train-travel-with-pets .  So far, so good.

Step 2, getting across the Channel

Option 1 , london to holland with stena line.

I highly recommend this option for both comfort and simplicity for travel with your dog between the UK and the Continent. It's an ideal route for the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Czechia, Scandinavia and so on.  It's a round-about route to France, Spain, Switzerland & Italy, but because it's so dog-friendly & inexpensive with really easy integrated train-to-ferry and ferry-to-train connections on either side of the Channel, it's a surprisingly good option even for that.  It may also avoid the need for an overnight stay in Paris because after an overnight sailing to Hoek in a cosy pet-friendly cabin you can catch a morning high-speed train to Paris in time for an afternoon TGV to Barcelona, Switzerland or Milan.

What is Stena Line Rail & Sail?

Stena Line Rail & Sail is an integrated train & ferry service between London & the Netherlands run jointly by Greater Anglia & Stena Line.  One ticket bought at www.stenaline.co.uk covers the whole journey from London or any East Anglia rail station to Hoek van Holland.  It works in both directions, of course, but I'll describe the outward journey from the UK here.

You take the 18:45 train from London Liverpool Street station to Harwich and your dog travels with you on the train.  At Harwich, the train arrives alongside the ferry terminal at around 20:45.  It's totally painless:  You walk straight off the train into the ferry terminal, through passport control (where your dog or cat's pet passport will be checked too) and onto the luxurious Stena Line superferry to Hoek van Holland.

You enter the ship via the passenger gangway onto Deck 7.

If you've booked a pet-friendly cabin , take your dog or cat by lift or stairs up to deck 10, where all the pet-friendly cabins are.  All cabins have a shower, toilet, free WiFi and satellite TV.  Your pet stays with you in the cabin, they are not allowed on the rest of the ship.  If your pet needs a pee or poo, go down the Red Stairs to Deck 7 and press the white button to open a door to a small outside deck area where they can get some air, have a little exercise and do their business.  Inevitably, we refer to this as the poop deck.

If you've booked a kennel , you take your dog up two decks by lift or stairs to the Guest Services desk on Deck 9, which is the main passenger deck with all the bars, lounges & restaurants.  The Guest Services staff will give you a kennel number in either Kennel A or Kennel B, and give you the 4-digit code to access the kennels.  You then go down one deck on Red Stairs to the kennels on Deck 8.  The kennels have a sink with running water, and they provide blankets for dogs to sleep on, but you should take your own pet's water bowl, food bowl and perhaps their favourite toy.  If your pet needs a pee or poo, go down one deck on the same Red Stairs to Deck 7 and press the white button to open a door to a small outside deck area where they can get some air, have a little exercise and do their business.

After settling your pet into their kennel you can settle in to your own private en suite cabin on Deck 10 or 11 and perhaps have a late dinner in the ship's restaurant or a nightcap in the bar on Deck 9.  All cabins have a shower, toilet, free WiFi and satellite TV.  Channel 6 on the TV shows CCTV pictures of the kennels, with close-ups of individual cages.  You can visit your dog at any time during the crossing, although pets are not allowed in the public areas, other than to reach the Customer Services desk on embarkation, or to reach a pet-friendly cabin.

The ferry sails at 23:00 every day and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 next morning, Dutch time.

You now collect your dog from the kennels, if they need a pee you can take them to that small outside deck area on Deck 7.  You then walk off the ferry into the terminal and out onto the adjacent railway station for the frequent metro train to Schiedam & Rotterdam.  Dogs travel for free on the RET metro trains.  You can use any contactless bank card to travel, just touch in and out at the start and end of the metro journey.

Get off the metro in Schiedam Centrum for a frequent NS (Dutch Railways) InterCity train to Amsterdam, arriving Amsterdam Centraal around 10:25.  In the reverse direction, you'd leave Amsterdam Centraal around 18:46, the ferry sails from Hoek around 22:00 arriving Harwich at 06:30, you reach central London around 08:50.

Or continue to Eendrachtsplein station in Rotterdam city centre, from where it's then an 800m 10-minute walk to Rotterdam Centraal .  Or continue to Rotterdam Alexander for NS trains to Utrecht, Groningen and so on.

You'll find full details, photos & a video guide on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page .

Onward trains to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Eastern Europe etc...

Direct daytime trains link Amsterdam with Germany and Switzerland - in many cases these go via Utrecht, and changing at Utrecht saves going all the way into Amsterdam.  Regular daytime trains link Rotterdam with Brussels and Paris.  All of these trains take dogs, sometimes free, sometimes for a fee, sometimes with a child rate ticket.

Or take the Nightjet sleeper from Amsterdam to Basel, Zurich (change for Italy), Munich, Innsbruck or Vienna (change for Bratislava, Budapest, Zagreb).  Dogs are carried on Nightjets for €29 paid on board the train, as long as you and your party occupy a whole compartment.

You'll find specific timetables for journeys between London and each of the following countries here:  Belgium , Italy , Switzerland , Germany , Austria , Denmark , Hungary , Czech Republic & Poland .

Onward trains to Paris (for France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy)

Take the metro from Hoek van Holland to Eendrachtsplein station in Rotterdam city centre, dogs go free of charge on the metro.  It's then an 800m 10-minute walk to Rotterdam Centraal .

Then take a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed train from Rotterdam Centraal to Paris Gare du Nord , you'll usually find a 10:58 arriving 13:38.  Dogs can travel in any class on Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains for €30, you pay the dog fee on board to the conductor.  Book your own ticket from Rotterdam to Paris from €35 online in advance at www.sncf-connect.com (don't bother trying to add a dog to the booking, this doesn't work with Eurostar (formerly Thalys) .

How much does it cost?

You'll find specific fare & booking information for journeys between London and each of the following countries by clicking the relevant link:  Netherlands , Belgium , Italy , Switzerland , Germany , Austria , Denmark , Hungary , Czech Republic & Poland .

...and to take a dog or cat?  

On the train from London to Harwich your dog travels free.  On the ferry, you must reserve a kennel (£23) or pet-friendly cabin during the online booking process.  On the Dutch domestic trains between Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam & Amsterdam or Utrecht, small dogs or cats in containers on your lap travel free of charge, but if you have a larger dog you'll need to buy a dog day-ticket (Dagkaart Hond) for €3.30, you may be able to buy this at the Guest Services desk on deck 9 on board the Stena Line ferry, otherwise buy it at Schiedam station.  On the international daytime trains from Amsterdam or Utrecht to Germany and Switzerland, cats and small dogs (up to cat sized) in containers go free, larger dogs on leads require a child rate ticket which you can buy online exactly as you would for a child, although unlike kids they don't qualify for the free kid with an adult deal.

How to buy tickets for you & your dog, step 1 :

Book your Rail & Sail ticket from London to Amsterdam online at www.stenaline.co.uk .  You simply need to choose a pet-friendly (animal) cabin at the cabin stage plus the 'pet in cabin' option at the extras stage, or just add a pet in kennel at the extras stage.

How to buy tickets, step 2 :

You now need to book the onward trains to your European destination.  Booking usually opens 90 days ahead, you cannot book before reservations open.  Trains from Amsterdam to Cologne, Frankfurt and Switzerland pass through Utrecht so it's quicker to pick them up there rather than going all the way into Amsterdam, unless you really want to.  For daytime travel from Amsterdam or Utrecht to Germany or Switzerland, book your own ticket at int.bahn.de .  Small (cat-size) dogs & cats in containers go free, if you have a larger larger dog it travels at the child rate (either full-fare Flexpreis or discounted Sparpreis , it doesn't matter) so simply use int.bahn.de again to buy a child ticket, I recommend buying this as a separate booking to avoid the system automatically offering the 'Child under 15 accompanied by an adult goes free' offer which doesn't apply to dogs!  There are Nightjet sleeper train from Cologne to Innsbruck (for Italy) & Vienna (for all points east) and you can easily book these online at int.bahn.de .  Onward connections from Innsbruck to Italy or Vienna to Budapest can be booked at www.oebb.at .

Inward one-way tickets :  Note that www.stenaline.co.uk can only book one-way or return tickets starting in the UK.  One-way or return tickets starting in the Netherlands must be booked at the Dutch version of the Stena Line website, see the advice here .

Option 2, London to Paris via the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry

See the London/Brighton-Newhaven-Dieppe-Paris timetable on the London-Paris by train & ferry page .  This is the cheapest option if you're heading for France or Spain.

Step 1, take a train to Newhaven Town , see www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times.

Up to 2 dogs of any size go free of charge on British trains, just buy a ticket for yourself.

Step 2, take a DFDS ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe , check ferry times at www.dfds.com .

DFDS allows you to take a cat or dog with you as a foot passenger on these routes.

Only small and medium size dogs are carried, according to DFDS customer services.  That means I'd expect them to have no problem with springer spaniels, but they won't carry great Danes or St Bernards.  You'll have to call them to check whether your labrador will fit their kennels.

If the animal is small and in a carrier, the pet & carrier are handed to staff at check-in and returned to you after the crossing.  Larger dogs have to be booked in one of the ship's 3 kennels, although you can visit the pet in the middle of the crossing by taking an appointment at the reception desk.

To book as a foot passenger with a pet you must call DFDS on 033 058 787 87 if you're in the UK or 0809 541 890 if you're in France or +44 33 058 787 87 from outside either country.  You cannot book online if you're taking a pet!

Step 3, take a French train from Dieppe to Paris St Lazare , book this at www.thetrainline.com . 

Dogs can be taken on all French trains.  Small dogs (under 6Kg) placed in containers not exceeding 45cm x 30cm x 25cm pay no more than €5.10 per journey.  Larger dogs muzzled and on leads pay half the 2nd class full fare (even travelling in 1st class).

You can buy a ticket in English at the official French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (for English scroll to the bottom and change France to Europe (other countries).   You add a dog to the booking by clicking the Add button (English version) or Ajouter (French version) before running the enquiry.

Once in Paris, you can take onward trains to Spain, Portugal or the South of France, as shown in step 3 below.

Option 3, London to Paris by train + taxi with Pet Travel Abroad .

For France, Spain or Portugal you really need to go via Paris.  As Eurostar won't take pets and most Channel Ferries won't let foot passengers take pets either, here is a solution which works well, although it's not cheap:

Step 1, travel from London to Folkestone by train.

You can use any normal British domestic train, dogs go free.  There are hourly or half hourly trains from London Charing Cross, Waterloo East or St Pancras to Folkestone Central, check train times & fares at www.nationalrail.co.uk .

Step 2, book a taxi from Folkestone to Calais via the Eurotunnel shuttle with Pet Travel Abroad .

Book your trip by calling Pet Travel Abroad (part of Folkestone Taxis) on 01303 246 925 (+00 44 1303 246925 from outside the UK), see their pet transport page at pettravelabroad.co.uk .

They can take you and your dog and up to 3 other passengers from Folkestone Central station to Calais Ville or Calais Fréthun stations for around £190 plus the cost of the Eurotunnel ticket, typically £164, but this can vary.

You and your dog remain together in the taxi throughout the journey via the Channel Tunnel car shuttle train.  Pet Travel Abroad (part of Folkestone Taxis) has been highly recommended by several travellers, further feedback is always appreciated.

Of course, a cheaper solution is to get a friend to drive you to Calais and drop you at the station, using a cheap day return ferry ticket - try www.dfds.com or www.poferries.com .  The dog remains inside the car on the ferry car deck.

Step 3, take a French domestic train from Calais Ville or Calais Fréthun to Paris .

To check train times use www.raileurope.com (in £ or €) or www.thetrainline.com (in €).  On French trains, small dogs under 6 Kg placed in containers not exceeding 45cm x 30cm x 25cm pay no more than €5.10 per journey.  Larger dogs muzzled and on leads pay half the 2nd class full fare, even travelling in 1st class.  For onward train travel with your dog to Spain, Italy, Portugal and so on, see the following section.

How to plan your trip.

The French trains from Calais to Paris are irregular and less frequent than the British ones, so start by picking a suitable afternoon train from Calais to Paris and work backwards.  Ask Folkestone Taxis what time you need to leave Folkestone Central in their taxi to make this train.  Then work out a train from London (or your local station) to Folkestone Central with plenty of time in hand.

This blog may inspire you: Argo, the dog who took the train to Italy .

Option 4, Hull-Rotterdam or Newcastle-Amsterdam by ferry

You can take a dog as a foot passenger on P&O Ferries Hull-Rotterdam route, with pet-friendly cabins & kennels.  Book online and add a pet plus pet-friendly cabin or kennel at www.poferries.com .  More about the Hull-Rotterdam ferry route .

You can also take a dog as a foot passenger with pet-friendly cabins on DFDS overnight Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry.  However, you can't book online as a foot passenger with a pet, you need to book by phone, so check sailing times at www.dfds.com then call DFDS on 0871 522 9955.  More about the Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry route .

Back to top

Step 3, taking pets on trains in mainland Europe

Once safely across the Channel, you can take a dog or cat with you on most trains across Europe, sometimes free, sometimes for a small charge, sometimes with a normal child-rate ticket.  In sleeping-cars and couchettes on overnight trains, you can generally only take a dog if your party occupies all the berths in a compartment.

From the UK to France

Eurostar doesn't take dogs and nor do most ferry companies unless you are a motorist.  P&O used to allow foot passengers to take dogs, but have stopped doing in 2012.  However, DFDS will take caged pets if you're a foot passenger on their Newhaven-Dieppe route.

So either travel from London to Newhaven by train, take a DFDS ferry to Dieppe as a foot passenger with your pet in a cage as explained above in option 2 , take a taxi to Dieppe station and a train to Paris, or travel from London to Folkestone by train, pay Folkestone Taxis to shuttle you through the Tunnel from Folkestone Central station to Calais Ville station, then take a train to Paris as explained above in option 3 .

Or you can travel from the UK to Paris via Hoek van Holland using option 1 , it's a round-about route, but so easy, dog-friendly, inexpensive and avoids the need for an overnight stop in Paris as you can sail overnight from Harwich to Hoek van Holland in a cosy pet-friendly cabin, catch the metro to Rotterdam and a morning high-speed train to Paris, then take an afternoon train to almost anywhere in France, even Nice & the south coast.

Pets on trains within France

Dogs can be taken on all French trains.  Small dogs (under 6 Kg) placed in containers not exceeding 45cm x 30cm x 25cm pay €7 per journey.  Larger dogs muzzled and on a lead pay €7.

You can buy a ticket in English at the official French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com , you add a dog to your booking by clicking the Add travellers, pets & bicycles button before running the enquiry.

To the Netherlands

From the UK to the Netherlands

I recommend travelling via the Harwich-Hoek van Holland superferry as shown in option 1 above .  Once at Hoek van Holland your Dutch Flyer ticket is valid to any Dutch station, not just Amsterdam.  You can book from London to Amsterdam or any Dutch station online at www.stenaline.co.uk , adding a kennel during the booking process.

Alternatively, you can also take a dog as a foot passenger with pet-friendly cabins on DFDS overnight Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry, but you must book by phone, check sailing times at www.dfds.com then call 0871 522 9955.  P&O take dogs with foot passengers on their overnight Hull-Rotterdam ferry, see www.poferries.com .

Pets on trains within the Netherlands

On Dutch trains, small dogs or cats in containers placed on your lap travel free of charge, if you have a larger dog on a lead you will need to buy a Dagkaart Hond   (dog day-ticket) for just over €3.  You can check details for this at the Dutch Railways site www.ns.nl .

To Switzerland

From the UK to Switzerland

You should use the train & ferry service from London to Amsterdam via the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, as explained in option 1 above .  For details of the London to Switzerland journey via this route see the Switzerland page , which has timetables & fares.  You can book the London-Amsterdam part of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.uk , adding a reserved kennel during the booking process.  You'll then find daytime trains from Utrecht to Basel & Zurich, which you can book online at int.bahn.de . 

Pets on trains within Switzerland

Dogs of any size can travel for half the 2nd class fare on any Swiss train (for longer journeys there's a Dog Day card), small dogs up to 30cm high at the shoulder can travel free if they are in a carrier, you'll find information on the Swiss railways website www.sbb.ch and you can easily buy Swiss tickets at the station when you get there.

From the UK to Italy, via Hoek van Holland

Travel overnight from London to Hoek van Holland using the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry as explained in option 1 above .

I'd then suggest travelling from Amsterdam to Munich by daytime trains, then overnight again from Munich to Venice on the excellent Nightjet sleeper train.  You'll find full details of these trains and how to book them in the via Harwich section of the London to Italy page .

Dogs travel on the German-run trains between Amsterdam, Cologne & Munich under the same arrangements as for trains within Germany explained in the To Germany section below .

Dogs are carried on the Nightjet sleeper from Cologne to Innsbruck or Vienna for €29, as long as you and your party occupy a whole compartment.  You don't need to book the dog, you just pay the extra €29 to the staff on board the train.

First book the London-Amsterdam part of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.uk , adding a reserved kennel during the booking process.

Then book Amsterdam-Munich followed by Munich-Venice using www.thetrainline.com .  Then buy a separate 2nd class child ticket for your dog from Amsterdam to Munich as explained in the To Germany section below .

Then travel onwards from Venice to other Italian cities.  See the Pets on trains within Italy section below.

Alternatively, you can take daytime trains from Utrecht to Basel or Zurich, book these online at int.bahn.de .  Stay overnight in Basel or Zurich.  Then take a Zurich to Milan EuroCity train, which you can book online at www.sbb.ch .  Dogs under 30cm high at the shoulder in a carrier travel free on this EuroCity train and on onward trains within Italy.  Dogs over 30cm high and not in a carrier must have a ticket, usually charged at half the 2nd class fare, which you can buy at the station in Zurich for about £35.

From the UK to Italy, via Paris

Step 1, Eurostar doesn't take dogs, so travel from London to Paris via Folkestone/Newhaven & Paris using option 2 or option 3 above, both involving ferry or EuroTunnel to France then domestic French train to Paris.  You may need to stay in Paris overnight.  Or use option 1 via Hoek van Holland, it's a round-about route, but so easy, dog-friendly, inexpensive and avoids the need for an overnight stop in Paris.

Step 2, you can then take one of the three daily Paris-Turin-Milan TGV trains in 1st or 2nd class with any size of dog muzzled and on a lead for €20, or a small dog/cat in a pet carrier not exceeding 45cm x 30cm x 25cm for €7.  You can book yourself and your dog from Paris to Milan at www.sncf-connect.com , look for the Add Travellers, animals, bicycles button and add a dog on a lead or in a carrier before running the enquiry.

Step 3, take an onward train from Milan or Turin to anywhere in Italy, see the Pets on trains within Italy section below.

Dogs are also carried on Trenitalia's competing Paris-Milan Frecciarossa , dogs under 5 Kg go free, dogs 5-50 Kg €30, all dogs must travel in Standard or Business class Allegro cars.  See the London to Italy page for details of times, prices and how to buy tickets.  The £10 fee for taking a dog on the Paris-Milan TGV must be paid by phone, it cannot be booked online.

Pets on trains within Italy

Dogs and pets are carried on most Trenitalia trains, free in a carrier (maximum size 70cm x 30cm x 50cm) or at half the 2nd class fare if on a lead and muzzled, for full details to www.trenitalia.com and look under Services for Transport of pets . 

You'll need to carry the dog's pet passport or health certificate, and yes, you will need to use a muzzle if your dog isn't inside a carrier.  You aren't allowed to take dogs on regional trains between 07:00 & 09:00 weekdays.  You aren't allowed to take a dog in Premium or Executive classes on Frecciarossa high-speed trains .  You can only take a dog in sleepers or couchettes if your party occupies the whole compartment.

From the UK to Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Valencia, Alicante...

Step 2, you can then take one of the twice-daily Paris-Barcelona TGV trains with any size of dog muzzled and on a lead on for €20, or a small dog/cat in a pet carrier not exceeding 45cm x 30cm x 25cm for €7.  More about the Paris-Barcelona TGV journey .

You can buy a ticket for yourself and your dog from Paris to Barcelona at www.sncf-connect.com , look for the Add Travellers, animals, bicycles button and add a dog on a lead or in a carrier before running the enquiry.

Step 3 if your dog is under 10 Kg, you can then travel from Barcelona direct to Madrid, Malaga, Valencia or Alicante, see the Pets on trains within Spain section below.

Step 3 if your dog is 10-40 Kg, you can travel from Barcelona to Madrid on certain AVE trains, then from Madrid to Malaga, Valencia or Alicante also on certain trains only, see the Pets on trains within Spain section below.

From the UK to San Sebastian

Step 1, Eurostar doesn't take dogs, so travel from London to Paris via Folkestone/Newhaven & Paris using option 2 or option 3 above, both involving ferry or EuroTunnel to France then domestic French train to Paris.  Or use option 1 via Hoek van Holland, it's a round-about route, but so easy, dog-friendly, inexpensive and avoids the need for an overnight stop in Paris.

Step 2, you can then take one of the regular TGVs from Paris Montparnasse to Hendaye on the Spanish border, a stone's throw from San Sebastian.  These also take dogs of any size muzzled and on a lead for €20, or a small dog/cat in a pet carrier for €7. 

You can buy a ticket for yourself and your dog from Paris to Hendaye at www.sncf-connect.com , look for the Add Travellers, animals, bicycles button and add a dog on a lead or in a carrier before running the enquiry.

Step 3, the half-hourly trains from Hendaye to San Sebastian run by Euskotren take dogs of any size, muzzled and on a lead, or in a pet carrier, buy that ticket when you get to Hendaye.  More about the Paris-San Sebastian journey .

Pets on trains within Spain

Dogs under 10 Kg in pet carriers (maximum size 60cm x 35cm x 35cm) can be taken on most Renfe long distance trains either free or for a small fee, see www.renfe.com/es/en/viajar/informacion-util/mascotas (please let me know if that link stops working).

In general, larger dogs are not allowed at all on Spanish medium & long-distance trains .  I gather this is a cultural thing, as large dogs are generally regarded as working animals (for example, guard dogs) not pets in Spain.  Disappointingly, that not only goes for national operator Renfe, but for open-access competitors Ouigo and Iryo , too.

However, as from June 2023, dogs up to 40 Kg are allowed on certain Barcelona-Madrid, Madrid-Malaga, Madrid-Alicante & Madrid-Valencia AVE trains, for a fee, muzzled, with a 40-minute check-in and some forms to complete.  See www.renfe.com/es/en/viajar/informacion-util/mascotas (please let me know if that link stops working).  Dogs up to 40 Kg are only allowed 2 or 3 designated trains per day on each of those routes, there's a list of trains linked from that page.  Feedback would be appreciated!

More about train travel in Spain .  Buy Spanish train tickets with dog added at www.renfe.com .

To Portugal

From the UK to Portugal

Eurostar doesn't carry dogs, so first travel from London to Paris using either option 2 or option 3 above.  You'll then need to stay overnight in Paris. Then travel from Paris to Lisbon as shown on the London to Portugal page .

They key issue is that dogs over 10 Kg aren't carried on trains beyond Madrid.

From the UK to Germany

Step 1, first travel from London to Amsterdam via the overnight Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, see option 1 above .

Step 2, check train times & buy tickets from Amsterdam Centraal to anywhere in Germany at int.bahn.de .  On the German-run international IC & ICE trains between Amsterdam and Cologne, Frankfurt, Hannover & Berlin, the same arrangements apply as for German domestic travel explained below.

Alternatively, the overnight European Sleeper between Rotterdam/Amsterdam & Berlin takes dogs for free if you and your party occupy a whole couchette or sleeper compartment, see the European Sleeper page for more information .

Pets on trains within Germany & on international trains between Amsterdam & Germany

Small dogs & cats in containers go free.  Larger dogs pay the child price.

You can buy tickets for you and your dog at int.bahn.de .  Click the From field to open the details panel, click on Passengers, bicycles , click on Add , click on More passenger types and add a dog to the booking.

Dogs not in carriers must be on a lead and (in theory at least) muzzled.  In practice you'll seldom see dogs muzzled).  Dogs classed as 'dangerous breeds' aren't carried on trains in Germany.

To Austria , central & eastern Europe

From the UK to Austria & central Europe

I recommend travelling from London to Amsterdam via the overnight Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, see option 1 above .  For details of a journey from London to various countries via this route, click the relevant destination link:  Austria , Hungary , Czech Republic , Poland .

For Austria

Step 1, book the London-Amsterdam part of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.uk , adding a reserved kennel during the booking process.

Step 2, book a late afternoon train from Amsterdam Centraal to Cologne Hbf at int.bahn.de .  On trains between Amsterdam and Cologne, small dogs and cats in containers go free, larger dogs pay the child rate, you can buy child tickets for your dog online at int.bahn.de , but do this as a separate booking from your own ticket to avoid the 'child under 15 accompanied by an adult goes free' offer which doesn't apply to dogs!  Note that dogs classed as 'dangerous' breeds aren't carried on trains in Germany. 

Step 3, then use www.oebb.at to book the Nightjet sleeper from Cologne Hbf to Munich Hbf , Innsbruck or Vienna Hbf .  Change in Munich for Salzburg.  Dogs are carried on the Nightjet sleeper from Cologne to Innsbruck or Vienna for €29 paid on board the train, as long as you and your party occupy a whole compartment.

Pets on trains within Austria

Small dogs (meaning cat-size) or cats in containers go free, larger dogs require a child ticket, which can be booked online at www.oebb.at .

For Hungary

Travel to Vienna as above.  On onward trains from Vienna to Budapest, small dogs (meaning cat-size) or cats in containers go free, larger dogs require a child ticket, which can be booked online at www.oebb.at .

Dogs aren't allowed in MAV (Hungarian Railways) sleeping-cars or couchette cars at all, which rules out the Munich-Budapest and Zurich-Budapest sleeper trains.

To Denmark , Sweden, Norway

From the UK to Scandinavia

I recommend travelling from London to Amsterdam via the overnight Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, see option 1 above .  For details of a journey from London to various countries via this route, click the relevant destination link:  Denmark , Sweden , Norway , Finland .

Step 1, you can book the London-Amsterdam part of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.uk , adding a reserved kennel during the booking process.

Step 2, check train times & buy tickets from Amsterdam Centraal to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de .  An overnight stop in Hamburg may be necessary.

On the German-run international trains between Amsterdam, Hamburg & Copenhagen, small dogs and cats in containers go free, larger dogs pay the child rate.  You can buy child tickets for a larger dog online at int.bahn.de , although do this as a separate booking from your own ticket to avoid the child under 15 accompanied by an adult goes free offer which doesn't apply to dogs.  Note that dogs classed as 'dangerous' breeds aren't carried on trains in Germany.

Step 3, dogs can go on the Copenhagen-Stockholm X2000 trains , but you can't take a pet in 1st class and you need to use the special pets allowed section of the train in 2nd class.  You can reserve seats in this section when booking at www.sj.se or call their telesales line.

From the UK to Greece

Step 1, travel from London to Venice via Harwich-Hoek and Munich exactly as shown in the To Italy section above .

For more information

For information on the transport of dogs and other pets in particular countries, search the website of the relevant national train operator.  There is a list of links to each operator's website on the useful links page .

Feedback requested!

Feedback from anyone who takes their dog or cat into Europe by train would be very welcome.

Traveller's reports

Dog owner Wendy Shillam reports :  "We've been taking our dog abroad since the rules changed 9 years ago.  Firstly I agree that its mad that Eurostar doesn't allow dogs, especially as it would be a good earner for them and they need the money!  I wrote to the COE but got no reply.  The most comfortable and quickest way for dogs to cross the channel (though not always the cheapest) is by car with Eurotunnel .  They just stay in the car with you and there is no bother.  Once, we then left our car at the Calais 'parkway' station, but on returning we saw that quite a few cars - not ours thank goodness - had been broken into.  It is a very desolate spot and no security as far as I can see.  But it is free parking.  Once across the channel be careful which train you get from Calais - some especially on Sundays are really slow.  We also have taken the motorail train from Düsseldorf, it's not too far and then you can get a car-carrying overnight train from Düsseldorf to Italy, the south of France or Austria .  Dogs are accepted on these German motorail trains in the sleeper cabins and we have never had a problem. Our dog Astrid, a nine year old Mini Schnauzer, has lasted 17 hours on a train with no ill effects - overnight she just settles down to sleep, generally taking up most of my bunk!  The steward will tell you if there are longer stops which allows you to give your dog a 'comfort' walk.  The irony is that if we could travel on Eurostar we would never dream of taking our car with us at all!  On Spanish trains dogs should be muzzled - the guard did let us get away with it, but if Astrid had been a bigger dog there might have been trouble.  Also beware if you plan to travel with your dog by bus in Spain.  They insist that the dog goes in a casket (which you have to bring) in the hold underneath the seats, which I suspect on a hot day is tantamount to animal cruelty!  Astrid has been most comfortable and spoilt in France, Italy, Belgium and Sweden.  Also remember that if you are going to the South dogs need to be protected against a nasty bug called lishmania which can cause a chronic disease with no cure - but drugs can control it.  So always check with a  vet who knows about foreign travel well before you go."

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Eurostar train service between London and Paris hit by major delays

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Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, editing by Deepa Babington

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Eurostar passengers to be fingerprinted twice under complex new EU rules

Five-step Entry/Exit System is feared to spark long delays at train stations and ports

Eurostar passengers at St Pancras station will be forced to negotiate a five-step check-in process under strict new EU rules , providing their fingerprints and a mugshot twice and answering a series of questions on the nature of their trip.

People planning to travel through the Channel Tunnel will be sent a guide to the new system as soon as they book, including a flow chart and checklist detailing each stage of the process and explaining why it is being implemented.

Eurostar has spent €10m (£8.5m) on dozens of new border kiosks, which it said on Tuesday will keep passengers moving once the so-called Entry/Exit System (EES) is finally introduced on October 6.

Brussels says the EES, which will replace the physical stamping of passports, is aimed at enhancing border security. It will harvest data on EU entries and exits, calculate the number of times people cross the border, and record overstayers and refusals of entry.

Implementation of the new post-Brexit system has been delayed several times, most recently to avoid the Paris Olympics, amid fears it could spark long delays at ports and train stations when it is first implemented.

Eurostar has doubled the capacity of its departure system to ensure that check-in times remain within the current 45 to 90 minute range (or 20 minutes in first class), with an extra 1,000 square feet of space, 20 extra staff per shift and an app-based live map to show people’s progress.

However, concerns remain as to how the uninitiated will cope with the process. A survey published by Coop Group last month suggested that almost two thirds of UK adults were unaware of the changes that the EES will bring, with one in five saying they would be put off travelling by the demands of the new system.

Simon Lejeune, Eurostar’s chief stations and safety officer, said: “We’ve got a big job on our hands to educate our passengers, to start talking around EES publicly and to make sure there is an awareness there.

“We are investing in our passenger information processes and we are going to design a checklist that enables passengers to know exactly what to expect.”

Under the extended check-in process, non-EU passengers will be expected to read and digest emailed travel guidance on negotiating the EES system before they travel.

On arrival at St Pancras they’ll first encounter a row of automated kiosks, where they must have their passports scanned and fingerprints and a facial photograph taken .

They must also answer questions about their trip, specifically how long they intend to stay, if they will be lodging in a hotel or private accommodation, if they have a return ticket, and whether they have sufficient funds to repatriate themselves.

While France provided funding for 24 kiosks, Eurostar’s calculations showed that was insufficient to prevent potential logjams. It prompted Eurostar and High Speed 1, which owns the lease on St Pancras station, to pay for a further 25.

After passing through the kiosks, passengers will wait in the departure area before being called to the security barrier for luggage scans. They will then clear the UK border at a further set of booths, much as before.

On reaching the final barrier, representing the border with the EU, first-time travellers must provide their fingerprints for a second time and have a further photograph taken, this time by French border police. The number of staffed booths has been doubled to 18, and three new e-gates, which can be used by repeat travellers, have been added.

Only then will people be able to ascend to platform level and board their train. There’ll be no further checks on arrival, the same as today.

Once Britons have made an initial journey their EES records will be stored for three years, though even then they’ll have to have a facial scan taken at the kiosks before every trip.

Mr Lejeune said he sees zero risk of delays come October, provided people take notice of the guidance and the check-in timings specified in their bookings.

He said: “We’ve invested a huge amount of time in modelling passenger flows using a digital twin of the station to anticipate hundreds of scenarios.

“With our knowledge of passenger demographics – when people arrive, what nationalities they are – we know that this setup can cope with the challenges of EES.”

The Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, which also have French border officials stationed on UK soil, are working on their own responses to EES as they seek to avoid queues of vehicles seeking to cross to France. Airline passengers must negotiate the system once they land.

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