For many rail holidays from the UK, the journey begins with Eurostar. Direct trains link London St Pancras with Paris, Brussels, Lille, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, putting a wide range of European destinations within reach without flying.

For some holidays, Eurostar will take you directly to your first destination. For others, you can change onto the European rail network and continue further into France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and beyond.

If you haven’t travelled by Eurostar before, the process is slightly different to taking a domestic train. You’ll need to allow time for security and passport control before boarding, but once on board, you can settle into your reserved seat and travel directly between city centres.

Here’s what to expect when travelling by Eurostar, from luggage allowances and travel classes to security, food and onward connections.

Where does Eurostar go from London?

Eurostar operates direct trains from London St Pancras to several European cities, including:

• Paris
• Brussels
• Lille
• Amsterdam
• Rotterdam

Paris and Brussels are also important gateways for onward rail travel. Change trains in Paris and you can continue by high-speed TGV towards destinations throughout France, Switzerland and beyond, while Brussels provides useful connections into Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

This means Eurostar can form the first stage of a much longer European rail journey. Many of our European rail holidays begin with a Eurostar journey from London before continuing by train across the continent.

Eurostar Classes of Travel

There are three Eurostar travel classes: Standard, Eurostar Plus and Eurostar Premier.

Eurostar Standard

Eurostar Standard is, as the name suggests, the standard class of travel, with two seats on either side of the aisle. A ticket includes a reserved seat, free Wi-Fi and access to power sockets. Food, snacks and drinks can be purchased from the Eurostar Café during the journey.

Eurostar Plus

Eurostar Plus is First Class for leisure travellers and offers more spacious seating – two seats on one side of the aisle and one on the other, with the option of tables for two opposite each other.

On journeys to and from London, a light meal and drinks are served at your seat. You’ll also have the same basic luggage allowance as Standard.

If you’re considering an upgrade for your rail holiday, you can read more about first class rail travel in Europe and what to expect on different European trains, and discover our top 10 suggested holidays in first class.

Eurostar Premier

Eurostar Premier is Eurostar’s highest travel class, aimed at business passenders. It includes the same style of seating as Eurostar Plus, with enhanced dining and additional flexibility.

Premier passengers also benefit from priority ticket gates on London routes and access to Eurostar lounges in London, Paris and Brussels. The luggage allowance is also increased to three pieces of luggage plus one small item of hand luggage.

How early should you arrive for Eurostar?

Unlike taking a domestic train, you can’t just arrive a few minutes before departure and head straight to the platform.

Before boarding Eurostar, you’ll need to scan your ticket, pass through security and complete passport checks.

The recommended arrival time varies according to your departure station and ticket type, and can change at busy times. We recommend checking Eurostar’s latest guidance before you travel and allowing plenty of time at the station. In larger stations such as London, Paris and Brussels, if you do manage to breeze through security, there are plenty of food and drink outlets and facilities.

If you’re travelling on a Tailor Made Rail holiday, we’ll provide the details you need for your journey as part of your travel documentation.

Eurostar security and passport control

Eurostar passengers go through security before boarding.

The process has similarities with airport security, although there are some important differences. Your luggage passes through a scanner and you’ll pass through a security check, but there aren’t the same restrictions on liquids that you find when flying.

You’ll also pass through the necessary passport controls before boarding. One of the advantages of this is that, when you arrive at your destination, you can normally leave the station without going through immigration again.

Make sure you check the current passport and entry requirements for your destination before travelling – in particular the recent rule changes, it’s easy to get caught out.

What is the Eurostar luggage allowance?

One of the advantages of travelling by Eurostar rather than flying is the relatively generous luggage allowance.

Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard or Plus can take:

• Two pieces of luggage
• One small piece of hand luggage

On routes to and from London, each larger piece of luggage can be up to 85cm long.

There is no set weight limit for your included luggage, but you need to be able to carry your bags safely yourself.

Eurostar Premier passengers can take three pieces of luggage plus one small piece of hand luggage.

Larger bags can be stored in luggage racks within the carriage, with smaller bags stored on overhead racks.

If you’re travelling with particularly large items, bikes or sporting equipment, check Eurostar’s latest luggage rules before setting off, as separate arrangements may be required.

Can you take liquids on Eurostar?

Yes. Eurostar does not have the same restrictions on liquids as airlines, so you don’t need to limit toiletries and other liquids to 100ml containers.

There are restrictions on certain items and limits relating to alcohol, however, so check Eurostar’s current guidance if you’re unsure about something you plan to take with you.

Can you take food and drink on Eurostar?

You can bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks onto Eurostar, making it easy to pick something up at St Pancras before your journey.

Food and drink are also available on board. Standard passengers can buy snacks, meals and drinks from the Eurostar Café, while passengers travelling in Plus on London routes have a light meal and drinks served at their seat.

Premier includes an enhanced at-seat dining service.

What is it like travelling on Eurostar?

Once boarding is announced, make your way to the platform and find the carriage and seat numbers shown on your ticket.

Seats are reserved, so there’s no need to rush to find somewhere to sit. Luggage storage is available within each carriage, and trains have toilets, Wi-Fi and power sockets.

One of the pleasures of travelling by Eurostar is how quickly the journey changes once you leave London. After travelling through the Channel Tunnel, you emerge in northern France and continue across the countryside towards your destination.

London to Paris takes a little over two hours on the fastest services, making Eurostar a particularly convenient way to travel between the two capitals.

Arriving at your destination

One of the big benefits of Eurostar, and rail travel generally, is it connects city-centre stations, which means when you arrive, you just step off the train, out of the station and head into your destination. There are no further passport or customs checks.

It’s also easy to continue your journey elsewhere by train, with a change of platform or sometimes a simple change of station.

In Paris, trains arrive at Gare du Nord, while Brussels services use Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid. Amsterdam services arrive at Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam services at Rotterdam Centraal.

Travelling beyond Eurostar by train

Eurostar is often just the first train of a much longer journey.

Paris has high-speed rail connections across France and into neighbouring countries, making it possible to continue towards destinations such as Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Avignon, Nice and on into Switzerland.

Brussels provides connections towards destinations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, while travelling directly to Amsterdam opens up further rail routes through the Netherlands and beyond.

If your journey involves changing stations in Paris, you’ll usually need to allow time to travel across the city. For example, Eurostar arrives at Gare du Nord, while many trains towards southern and eastern France leave from Gare de Lyon.

Our Travel Designers take these connections into account when planning a holiday, allowing suitable time between trains and arranging overnight stops where these make the journey work better. We will provide suggestions as to how to travel between stations as part of your travel documents.

Read our guide to what to expect when travelling by train in Europe for more practical information about European rail journeys.

Rail holidays from London by Eurostar

Eurostar makes it possible to reach far more than Paris and Brussels without flying.

You could take a short rail break to Amsterdam and Rotterdam, combine several destinations on our Amsterdam, Luxembourg & Brussels holiday, or continue through France towards the Mediterranean.

Travelling further afield, Eurostar can also be the first stage of a journey to Switzerland, Italy, Germany and destinations across Central and Eastern Europe.

At Tailor Made Rail, we arrange the trains, hotels and connections as part of your holiday. Our holidays aren’t bookable online, but we have over 130 suggested itineraries to get you started. Instead, our Travel Designers can adapt itineraries to suit where you want to go, how long you’d like to travel for and the places you’d like to stop along the way. In fact, over 60% of the rail holidays we provide are tailored – find out more about how to tailor a holiday here.

Browse our European rail holidays or contact our Travel Designers to start planning your journey.

Eurostar FAQs

How early should I arrive for Eurostar?

You need to allow time to pass through security and passport control before boarding. Recommended arrival times vary by station and travel class, so check Eurostar’s current advice before your journey and allow extra time during busy periods.

Do you go through passport control on Eurostar?

Yes. Passengers travelling between London and continental Europe pass through passport controls before boarding. This means that when you reach your destination, you can normally leave the station without going through immigration again.

Do you go through security on Eurostar?

Yes. Your luggage is scanned and passengers pass through security before boarding Eurostar.

How much luggage can you take on Eurostar?

Eurostar Standard and Plus passengers can take two pieces of luggage plus one small item of hand luggage. Premier passengers can take three pieces plus a small item of hand luggage. On London routes, larger bags can be up to 85cm long.

Is there a weight limit for luggage on Eurostar?

There is no set weight limit for luggage included with your ticket, but you must be able to carry and lift your bags safely yourself.

Can you take liquids on Eurostar?

Yes. Eurostar does not impose the same 100ml liquid restriction used at airports, although restrictions apply to certain items and alcohol.

What is the difference between Eurostar Standard and Plus?

Eurostar Plus has more spacious seating than Standard. On routes to and from London, Plus passengers also receive a light meal and drinks served at their seat.

Where does Eurostar go from London?

Direct Eurostar trains run from London St Pancras to Paris, Brussels, Lille, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. You can connect with other trains at these destinations to travel much further across Europe.

Can you travel around Europe by train from London?

Yes. Eurostar connects London with the European rail network, with onward trains making it possible to travel to destinations across France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and many other European countries.