Paris to London by train

Paris to London is a direct Eurostar journey of about 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes, and the quickest trains take 2 hours 17 minutes. Trains leave Paris Gare du Nord and arrive at London St Pancras International. Eurostar is the only company running them. You clear French and UK border checks in Paris before boarding, so treat it more like a flight than a normal train departure. Standard fares start from £39 or €44 one way, depending on which Eurostar site you book on.

Direct Eurostar trains run from early morning to evening

Every train is direct, with no change. Trains leave through the day, from the early morning to the evening, so there is usually a train every hour or two. Most are timetabled at 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes, and some take longer, so look at the arrival time and not only the departure.

London is one hour behind Paris, and tickets show local times. For example, a train that leaves Paris at 07:06 arrives at 08:30 London time, a journey of 2 hours 24 minutes.

Eurostar departures are in Hall 2 at Gare du Nord

Do not wait under the main departure board. Follow the signs with a UK flag to Hall 2, where Eurostar departures are on a first-floor balcony above the concourse. Take the escalators opposite platform 17 or the lifts opposite platforms 9 and 10.

Trains to London leave from platforms 3, 4, 5 or 6. The platform appears on the screens in the departure lounge, and boarding is announced about 30 minutes before departure. After the checks you will find shops, cafés, free wi-fi and toilets in the lounge.

Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure

Ticket gates close 30 minutes before departure in Standard and Plus, and 15 minutes before in Premier. The train does not wait, and you are not let through after the gates shut.

Eurostar recommends arriving 75 to 90 minutes before departure in Standard and Plus, and your ticket shows its own recommended time. Aim for that, not for the gate deadline. The checks come in order: ticket scan, then passport control, then security. Your passport is checked twice, first by French officers and then by UK Border Force, both inside the station in Paris. If you have a biometric passport you may be able to use the ePassport gates.

Passport, and an ETA if you are not British or Irish

You need a valid passport. EU, EEA and Swiss national ID cards are not accepted for travel to the UK, apart from people living in the UK with settled or pre-settled status. Before you can collect your ticket you must give your passport details to Eurostar online, in the app or under Manage your booking.

Most visitors who are not British or Irish citizens need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation, known as an ETA, including EU citizens and children. It costs £20, is linked to your passport and lasts two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Most applications are decided within 3 working days, so apply before you book. You cannot board without one.

If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, such as a British, US or Australian traveller, the EU's Entry/Exit System may mean registering a face image and fingerprints at the French border check. It is free and needs no application beforehand. Border rules in this area change, so check the official guidance before you go.

Tickets, fares and what is included

Standard fares start from £39 or €44 one way. The price depends on the day and how full the train is. Fares rise on busy days, so book early for weekends and school holidays.

A seat is included with every ticket, with no extra charge for choosing one. Standard and Plus tickets can be exchanged free up to one hour before departure, and you pay any fare difference. They can be refunded up to 7 days before travel for €25 or £25.

Luggage is two pieces up to 85 cm long, plus one small bag, in Standard and Plus. Eurostar Plus adds a light meal at your seat. Premier adds lounge access and priority gates.

Rail pass holders must reserve and pay for a seat

Interrail and Eurail Global Pass holders can use Eurostar between Paris and London, but a seat reservation is compulsory. The reservation costs €35 in Standard and €40 in Plus. The pass covers the ticket price, and the reservation fee is a separate charge on top.

A second class pass gives you Standard only. A first class pass gives you Standard or Plus. You cannot use a pass in Premier. Pass seats are limited on each train, so reserve as soon as your date is fixed. If the pass quota is full, you buy a normal ticket instead. Booking through Interrail adds a €2 booking fee per passenger per train.

Arriving at St Pancras

There are no border checks in London, because they were done in Paris. Step off the train and walk out. The Underground and buses are inside the station, a black cab rank is right outside, and King's Cross station is just across the road for trains to the north.