The Eurostar trip from London to Paris takes around 2 hours. Including check-in and local travel, the door-to-door journey takes about 3.5 hours. In addition, the travel time is nearly the same both ways.
Compared to flying, the Eurostar London–Paris train journey saves 2-3 hours.
Since 1994, Eurostar has carried over 400 million passengers. One major reason this route is famous is the Channel Tunnel, which runs under the English Channel and allows trains to travel directly between the UK and France without ferries.
Eurostar Journey Time London to Paris
The Eurostar journey between London and Paris happens in the following stages.
- Departure from London St Pancras: Passengers must arrive and board the train at least 30 minutes before departure. Once the train leaves St Pancras, it gradually picks up speed while passing through the urban rail network.
- UK High-Speed Section: The train enters the High-Speed 1 line (HS1) and covers about 110 kilometers in 30 minutes. During this phase, it reaches a speed of up to 300 km/h while passing through the Kent countryside.
- Channel Tunnel entry: Near Folkestone, the trains slow to around 160 km/h before entering the Channel Tunnel.
- Under the sea crossing: The train spends about 20 minutes inside the Channel Tunnel. Although there are no views, the ride remains smooth and quiet.
- France high-speed section: After crossing into France, the train switcheds on to LGV Nord high-speed line. This segment of the trip spans 300 kilometers and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. During this stretch, the train reaches speeds of up to 300 km/h. Passengers can enjoy countryside views and small towns along the route.
- Arrival at Paris Gare du Nord: As the train nears Paris, it reduces its speed before entering the final stop at Gare du Nord.
Eurostar London to Paris Speed
The Eurostar journey from London to Paris covers around 492 kilometers (306 miles). With a top speed of 300 km/h, the Eurostar ranks among Europe’s fastest trains.
On average, it maintains a speed of 215 km/h, with roughly 70% of the route traversed at maximum speed on high-speed rail lines.
Eurstar uses modernE320 trains which can carry up to 900 passengers and runs dsirectly on overhead power lines. As trains cross borders, it automatically switches between different power systems, including 25 kV AC and 750 V DC.
London to Paris by Train: Total Travel Time Including Check-In
Althrough London-Paris train duration takes just over two hours, passengers should allow extra time for check-in. Before boarding, passengers must complete security checks, passport control, and customs procedures.
Recommended arrival time: Eurostar advises passengers to arrive early based on ticket type.
- Leisure travelers must arrive at least 60 minutes before departure.
- Business Class passengers must arrive about 45 minutes before departure.
Pre-boarding: Before boarding, passengers go through the following steps:
- Security screening: It takes about 20-25 minutes, depending on the crowd levels and the travel season.
- UK exit passport control: The UK does not conduct face-to-face passport checks on departure. Instead, the train operators collect Advance Passenger Information (API) during check-in and boarding.
Pro-Tip: Upon arrival in Paris, passengers must clear French Entry passport control and customs checks.
Door-to-door travel time: When you include check-in, security, and boarding, the total London to Paris door-to-door journey takes about 3.5 hours.
In many cases, traveling by Eurostar is more convenient than taking a flight. Train passengers avoid airport transfers, long security lines, boarding delays, and baggage claim wait times.
To conclude, the Eurostar journey from London to Paris takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes on average. The train covers 492 kilometer distance at a speed of up to 300 km/h. The train departs from London St Pancras, passes briefly through the Channel Tunnel, continues on France’s LGV Nord high-speed line, and arrives at Paris Gare du Nord.
Including check-in, security, and boarding, the total door-to-door travel time is about 3.5 hours, and the return trip follows a similar path.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Eurostar tickets can be booked about 6–8 months in advance. It gives passengers the best choices for seats and potentially the lowest fares.
Yes. London operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), while Paris uses Central European Time (CET), which is one hour ahead. This means passengers arriving in Prais from London need to set their watches one hour forward. While on the return tripm you need to set your watch back by one hour.
Eurostar operates 11 to 15 trains daily from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. The first departure of the day is scheduled at 6:00 AM, and the last train from London leaves at about 8:00 PM. The train frequency is every 1 hour, and the schedule varies by weekday and weekend.
Eurostar offers a meals-served-at-your-seat facility for Standard Premier (Plus) travelers and exclusive lounges and fine dining options on board for Business Premier. All passengers will enjoy free WiFi on board and power outlets. On board, there is a cafe bar where you can buy snacks and drinks.
