How Long Is the Train Ride From UK to Paris?

By Alice Nichols

If you’re planning a trip from the UK to Paris, one of the most important things to consider is the train ride. Many people opt for train travel as it is often faster, more convenient, and comfortable than other modes of transportation.

But how long is the train ride from UK to Paris? Let’s have a detailed look.

Train Options

There are several options when it comes to taking a train from the UK to Paris. The most popular option is Eurostar, which operates direct trains between London St. Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord. The journey takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Eurostar

Eurostar offers several daily direct services between London and Paris with an average journey time of around 2 hours and 15 minutes. The journey time can vary slightly depending on factors such as the time of day you travel, which day of the week you travel on, and any engineering works or disruptions that may be occurring.

London to Paris

If you’re travelling from London to Paris with Eurostar, you can expect your journey to take around 2 hours and 15 minutes. The service operates up to 18 daily departures from London St Pancras International station and arrives at Paris Gare du Nord station.

Paris to London

If you’re travelling from Paris to London with Eurostar, you can expect your journey to take around 2 hours and 16 minutes – just one minute longer than the opposite way! Eurostar offers up to 19 daily departures from Paris Gare du Nord station arriving at London St Pancras International station.

Other Train Services

In addition to Eurostar, there are other train services that operate between the UK and France including SNCF (French National Railways) and Thalys. These services offer a range of journey times depending on the route and operator, and usually involve a change of train in either Brussels or Lille.

SNCF

SNCF’s service between London and Paris takes around 2 hours and 40 minutes. The service operates between London St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord with one change at Lille. SNCF also offers direct services between Ashford International and Paris Gare du Nord.

Thalys

Thalys operates a direct service between London St Pancras and Brussels Midi station, with a journey time of around 1 hour and 50 minutes. From Brussels Midi, passengers can connect to Thalys’ high-speed services to Paris Gare du Nord with a total journey time of around 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the train ride from UK to Paris can take anywhere from 2 hours and 15 minutes to around 2 hours and 40 minutes depending on the route you choose. Eurostar is the most popular option as it offers direct services between London St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord with an average journey time of just over two hours.

However, other operators such as SNCF and Thalys also offer services that can be faster or slower depending on the route you take. Regardless of which service you choose, taking the train is often the most comfortable, convenient, and enjoyable way to travel from the UK to Paris.