We are leaving from London St Pancras Int'l on a Friday The 8:01 Eurostar for Paris. I am not familiar with the logistics and security around international train departures. What time should we arrive at the station to ensure we make our boarding?
We are traveling Standard Premier and our luggage will be airline carry-on.
1 hour is the current recommendation, but read this.
https://support.thetrainline.com/en/support/solutions/articles/78000000443-what-do-i-need-to-know-about-eurostar-check-in-#:~:text=When%20does%20check%20in%20for,the%20necessary%20checks%20before%20boarding.
This is the Eurostar webpage that gives the arrival time suggestions. Scroll down:
https://www.eurostar.com/us-en/travel-info/your-trip/check-in
This says 90 minutes at St Pancras. It doesn't do any good to arrive too early as they board trains by departure time. Travelers are held outside the departure area until time for boarding.
The suggested arrival time has always been included on the ticket delivery email when I have taken the Eurostar. Did you book yourselves?
In Standard Premier the check in time given by Eurostar themselves is 90 minutes thus 0630- https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/your-trip/check-in.
It is only 60 minutes at Lille, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Even at AMS and ROT it is 60 to 90 minutes so tend towards the longer time.
Thanks so much for the info. Have not bought tickets yet and the necessary arrival time may impact our chosen departure times. Not early morning people.
there are vlogs about taking Eurostar, watch a few to see the procedures. after Brexit it has become more complicated and takes longer, and apparently they play all kinds of games with pricing.
first thing is get you from your hotel to the station - where are you staying?
Just keep in mind you will be doing alll the passport checks and stamps, as well as security, prior to boarding the train. When you arrive in Paris, you just walk off and go on with your day.
It's also best to go by the official Eurostar website rather than a third party reseller.
Any Schengen zone international further trains on the continent will be simple walkups on the train platform, without immigration formalities, except for a return to the UK.
We are staying close to Trafalgar Square. I am hopeful that early AM on a Sunday will be a 15 minute cab ride.
have you changed your plans from Friday to Sunday?
Please allow at least 90 minutes. We took the Eurostar from London to Paris last year and it took us the full time. The lines for security and passport control were very long. Patience was required!
