Getting to the Eurostar in Paris: Best Tips and Advice

Getting to the Eurostar in Paris: Best Tips and Advice

If you’re doing a trip between London and Paris, the Eurostar is likely going to be a life changing experience. For those who are more geographically unaware, the UK and France are not attached lands; they are separated by a giant sea. The UK is actually an island, drifting off of mainland France. 

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The Eurostar is the railway system what was designed to bridge the two countries in a way that had never been possible before. It’s a train that runs in a tunnel underneath the sea, eliminating any need for planes or boats. 

Eurostar – by Smiley.toerist – Wikimedia Commons

If you’ll be catching the Eurostar from Paris to London, there are a few helpful tips and tricks that you should know prior to departure — stay with me!

What is the Eurostar?

The Eurostar is a high speed passenger train with the ability to reach speeds to upward of 300km per hour. The train doesn’t actually stop in Paris, but can connect passengers with Lille, Rotterdam, Amsterdam & Brussels too!

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The tunnel that the train runs though is called the Channel Tunnel, as it was built across the floor of the English Channel. Interestingly, the tunnel is owned by a group that is separate to those who own the actual train. 

The Eurostar started running in 1994 and shows no sign of stopping!

Fun Facts About the Eurostar in Paris

In Paris, the Eurostar offers trains that depart every hour or so, running between Gare du Nord and London’s St Pancras station. This happens 7 days a week, and almost 365 days a year. On Christmas Day, there are no Eurostar trains in operation.

Eurostar – by Florian Pépellin – Wikimedia Commons

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The fastest journey between Paris and London is 2h15min nonstop. There are some trains that have stops to pick up passengers from nearby stations, and others that run straight through. 

Tip Number 1: Check your particular train to see if it is a direct route, or if there will be delays due to stops!

The train is absolutely faster and more cost effective than flying. More than this, passengers don’t have the added worry of purchasing baggage in addition to already exorbitant airfare. One can take as much or as little luggage as they choose on the train, so long as one is able to carry/pick up each bag to store it properly on board. 

Tip Number 2: Your larger luggage will be stored by the entry doors to the Eurostar, while smaller baggage items will need to be lifted onto shelving above your seat. 

Catching the Eurostar Elsewhere in France

As mentioned, the Eurostar isn’t only running between Paris and London. There are a number of alternative routes to take one into the lower regions of France, too. For example, there are currently direct Eurostar trains between Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, French Alps & Disneyland. 

Eurostar – by kitmasterbloke – Wikimedia Commons

Tip Number 3: The Eurostar trains to alternate zones of France are not available daily, and typically run between 1 to 4 times per week. 

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Finding the Best Tickets for the Eurostar

Personally, I’ve always found the direct Eurostar website to be super reliable and offer the best fare rates, comparatively. The site also makes it super easy to change/refund tickets in the event of a change in schedule, which 3rd party ticket retailers tend to make somewhat of a nightmare. 

Tickets for the Eurostar can be purchased up to 180 days in advance, and it goes without saying that this is when you’re going to get the absolute best rate. 

Tip Number 4: Never hold off on a Eurostar purchase with the expectation that the rate will go down in a few days. This is very rarely the case, and fares typically move upward again, and again, and again…

When buying tickets, you’ll have the choice between 1st or 2nd class. This is standard practice for all trains in Europe, where class fares differ in price and amenities. Truth be told, there isn’t a huge difference between 1st and 2nd class on the Eurostar. 

Eurostar – by Gary Bembridge – Wikimedia Commons

What you can expect is slightly bigger chairs, though you’d have to look very closely to tell any real difference. You’ll also get the option of a meal service in 1st class, but I’ve always found its best to take your own food on the trains and avoid the generic experience of transportation catering. 

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Seating is pre-allocated on all Eurostar trains, just like when you board an airplane. You will have the option of selecting the seat that you want at your time of booking (or amending your booking closer to your travel date). 

Tip Number 5: If you’re traveling in a group, opt for the cluster seats around the tables. If you prefer a window seat, look closely at the booking layout and where you see white/pale blue boarders, that’s where a window will be on the train!