Eurostar from Paris to London Gatwick

Looks like it's doable (just barely): the first chunnel train out of Paris is at 7:13am arrives 8:30am at the St Pancras chunnel station. From St Pancras there are direct trains to Gatwick via First Capital Connect, travel time is 1 hour. So that should put you at the airport at around 10:30am.

Thanks very helpful. Maybe I'll check into flying from Paris to Gatwick also and compare the prices.

There are no direct flights from any Paris airport to Gatwick. You can arrive at St. Pancras International at 08:30 every day of the week except Sunday. On Sundays the first Eurostar from Paris arrives at 09:39. First Capital Connect trains use the lower level at St Pancras. If you take the 09:04 train, you'll arrive at Gatwick at 09:56. If you take the 09:22 train, you'll arrive at 10:10. It's wise to be at Gatwick three hours before a flight across the Atlantic. If your Eurostar train is on time, you'll be fine. If there are any delays, you may not be so lucky.

I would be so stressed. I'd be worrying what would happen if the Eurostar was delayed. Its rare but things happen. I'd be worried if I would have problems with the Victoria Underground Line or the First Capital Connect, and I'd be worried that something could go wrong with the Gatwick Express or Southern Railway to Gatwick. That amount of worry would convince me to do something different, but maybe you thrive on stress and it would be perfect for you.

I would take the LAST Eurostar to London the night before and stay near the station in London. Then you could have a quick walkabout and breakfast before going to the airport. Otherwise I would lie awake all night worrying about the multitude of "what if's" with Plan A.

Like Nigel, and where time is of the essence, I would not be able to cope with the lack of a practicable Plan B to get to the airport. Eurostar trains were delayed recently because of a technical problem and strikes in France (or even the UK) are not unknown. Any enjoyment of extra time gained in Paris would be undermined by the lack of any wriggle time should thing not go to plan.

I wouldn't take the Eurostar the same day either. It may usually be reliable, but I personally have experienced two delays on the Eurostar. Once, my train was stuck in the channel tunnel for about 2 hours because of a power outage on the French side. Once, a train before mine derailed and between the late departure of my train and the inability to travel at high speed due to the derailment, I arrived 6 hours late into London.

No way would I risk it,, it could work, but if for any reason at all it doesn't you are generally out of luck,, your transalantic flight has a no show and you have to buy a nice very expensive last minute one way fare home,, yikes.

Thanks so much for all your replies. I will definitely get to London the night/day before so I can get some sleep. I definitely do not thrive on unnecessary stress!

My husband and I took the Eurostar from London to Paris two years ago. There was some hang-up with the tracks being worked on or something. We were delayed more than an hour. I wouldn't want to have any exact reservations, knowing that this might happen.