Travel From London to Paris by Train — the Easy Way!

If you live in the US, it might be hard to imagine that you could get from London to Paris by train in about 2.5 hours. Your experience of non-plane travel likely has involved days-long road trips or lovely-and-lumbering Amtrak rides that meander across desert expanses or wind through mountain passes. Often the distance between major cities is measured in days, not miles. 

Visitors to Europe are often shocked and delighted to realize that not only are cities relatively close to each other … but you can cross entire countries in a single day’s trip. 

Add to that Europe’s considerable railroad infrastructure, and you’ve got a way to get around that’s fast, efficient, and an unbelievable value. 

That means if you’re staying in London, Paris can be a day trip for you. Of course, you may want to consider staying on an extra day (or three or five) — but with such easy access, there’s no reason to not pop over to the City of Lights. 

With a custom-designed itinerary, I can help you map out the perfect way to get from London to Paris by train to maximize your time in both beautiful cities. 

And if you want to discover exactly what a dreamy day trip to Paris could look like, be sure to check out this post. 

Keep reading to learn my secrets to making the most of your easy-breezy train trip!

How You Get From London To Paris By Train

Eurostar makes it simple to get from London’s city center to Paris’s city center. Not only is this train fast, it’s also very comfortable, and the ride is lovely. 

You’ll want to catch the first train out of London at the St. Pancras International station to get the most out of your day. That means an early morning, departing at 6:30 am — and you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time for border and baggage checks, so that means arriving at the station 60-90 minutes before departure. (Don’t worry, you can catch a nap on the train!)

At the end of your ride, you’ll arrive in Paris city center at the Gare du Nord station at around 9am. 

One of the best parts of this route is that not only do you arrive in the heart of the capital … you’re also within easy walking distance of Métro and RER trains that can take you to all sorts of museums, galleries, and famous sites. 

Now, you might be wondering: How do you get from London to Paris by train when there’s a huge body of water between the two countries?

A great question! Enter: the Chunnel. 

Journey Under the English Channel

The one thing that makes the trip from London to Paris by train utterly unique is that the Eurostar has to cross the English Channel. In the case of this train, the route actually goes under the Channel. 

The English Channel Tunnel (or Chunnel for short) is the world’s longest undersea tunnel, made up of two one-way passages situated next to each other. The entire tunnel itself is about 31 miles long, with about 25 of those miles under the water. At its deepest, it’s about 250 feet below sea level. But of your 2.5-hour ride, you’ll only spend about 13 minutes underwater. 

Why Choosing The Eurostar Is The Best Option By Far

If you’re wondering if flying would be a better choice … the answer in my mind is no. Here’s why getting from London to Paris by train is the way to go. 

1. Much shorter boarding process. The lines move more quickly, there are fewer delays, and all your border checks are done before departure. So when you arrive in Paris, you just walk out as if you’d taken a local train. 
2. No need to travel into the city from the outskirts. Because the stations are both centrally located, you don’t have to hassle with 30- or 60-minute taxi rides to and from the terminal.
3. Way more comfortable. The train seats are larger, softer, and come with LOTS more legroom. 
4. You’re free to move about. No being stuck in a cramped seat! 
5. Good food and beverages. The dining options on the Eurostar are pretty luxe compared to airline food. 
6. More bang for your buck. Train tickets are about $80 each way for coach seats, so slightly more expensive than a cheap flight — but you get so much more. 
7. WiFi the whole way. If you need to work, you can do it in comfort with reliable connection the entire way. 
8. Beautiful views. The 13 minutes under the sea is … well, just dark. But the rest of the trip takes you through gorgeous countryside and interesting English and French towns. 
9. Much smaller carbon footprint. For one flight, you can take 14 trips to Paris for same CO2 emissions. And Eurostar is committed to being powered entirely by renewable energy by 2030. 
10. No extra fees! Once you book your ticket, that’s it! Eurostar has ample luggage allowance, no hidden costs, and no extra fees for choosing your own seat or booking in advance. 

What Will You Do With Your Time In Paris? 

Choosing to head out from London to Paris by train gives you many options for spending your time in lovely Paris! 

Because the stations are so centrally located, a day trip is totally doable and fun. Or, a quick weekend getaway might be in order. Because you choose your outbound and return time, you can decide when you’ll head back to your home base in London. 

When you work with me, I can help you consider which options will work best for you, your travel companions, and your overall travel goals. 

Then all you have to do is sit back with a good book and a glass of wine and enjoy the ride.