← Blog · Published 2026-10-28 · Prices checked October 2026

Eurostar vs flying to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam: time, luggage and cost compared

On a map, flying looks faster. In practice the gap is far smaller, and sometimes it's the other way round. Eurostar goes from central London to central Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, while a flight adds airport transfers, security and boarding at both ends. Here's an honest door-to-door comparison, so you can choose the option that suits your trip, your bags and your budget.

Journey times on paper

• London to Paris: fastest Eurostar about 2 hours 15 minutes non-stop, St Pancras to Gare du Nord.
• London to Brussels: fastest about 2 hours, St Pancras to Brussels-Midi.
• London to Amsterdam: about 3 hours 52 minutes to a little over 4 hours, St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal.
• Flights: each of these is roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes in the air from London.

Door to door: the real comparison

Here's an illustrative journey for someone starting in central London. Your own times will depend on where you live and which airport you use.

Eurostar

• Get to St Pancras: say 20 to 30 minutes.
• Arrive before departure: Eurostar's ticket shows your recommended arrival time, usually about 75 minutes for Standard and Plus, or about 45 minutes for Premier. Gates close 30 minutes before departure. French and Schengen passport checks, including the new EU Entry/Exit System, happen in London before you board, so you simply walk off the train when you arrive.
• Time on the train: about 2 hours 15 minutes to Paris, 2 hours to Brussels, or about 4 hours to Amsterdam.
• Arrive in the city centre: 0 to 20 minutes onward by metro or tram.
• Approximate total: Paris about 4 to 4.5 hours, Brussels about 4 hours, Amsterdam about 6 hours.

Flying

• Get to the airport: 30 to 60 minutes or more. Heathrow Express is about 15 minutes from Paddington, but most journeys to Gatwick, Stansted or Luton take longer.
• Arrive before departure: most airlines advise around 2 hours for international flights.
• Flight: about 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes, plus taxiing, then passport control and baggage reclaim on arrival.
• Into the city: Paris CDG to the centre by RER B takes about 30 to 40 minutes (€14). Amsterdam Schiphol to Centraal is about 15 to 20 minutes by train. Brussels Airport to Brussels-Central is about 17 minutes by train.
• Approximate total: Paris and Brussels about 4.5 to 5.5 hours, Amsterdam about 4.5 to 5 hours.

The verdict: Eurostar usually wins or ties for Paris and Brussels, especially from central or north London. For Amsterdam, flying is often an hour or so quicker door to door. Even so, the train gives you about four hours of usable time with a table, plug sockets and no seatbelt sign.

Luggage

This is where the train pulls ahead.

• Eurostar Standard and Plus: two bags plus a small handbag or daypack per adult, with no weight limit, as long as you can carry and lift them yourself. On London routes each bag can be up to 85 cm long. Premier allows three bags plus a small one.
• Liquids: no 100 ml liquid rule on Eurostar, so you can bring toiletries, a bottle of wine or a picnic.
• Flights: many basic fares, especially on low-cost airlines, include only a small under-seat bag. A larger cabin bag or a hold bag costs extra and can make a cheap fare much less cheap. Always compare the total price with the luggage you need.

Typical costs

We won't invent average fares, but here are the published starting points and the things to factor in:

• Eurostar: according to Seat61's October 2026 fare guide, Standard fares from London to Paris or Brussels start from about £51 to £52 one way, and Eurostar Plus from about £97 to £98. London to Amsterdam Standard starts from about £51 one way. Fares rise as trains fill up, and booking opens up to 11 months ahead.
• Flights: headline fares can look lower, especially midweek. Add bags, seat selection and the cost of getting to and from both airports before comparing. The CDG train alone is €14 each way.
• Flexibility: Seat61 notes that Eurostar Standard and Plus tickets can be changed free of charge up to an hour before departure, as long as you pay any difference in fare. Many budget air fares charge a fee to change.

For live comparisons, check Eurostar against flights on Skyscanner for the same dates.

Which should you choose?

• Choose Eurostar for Paris or Brussels, if you live near St Pancras, if you're carrying more than a cabin bag, or if you want to work or relax on the way.
• Choose flying for Amsterdam when time is tight, if you live near a regional airport, or if you're connecting onwards to somewhere further away.
• Mix and match: take the train out and fly back, or go London to Paris by Eurostar and continue by TGV.

Good to know before you go

• The EU's Entry/Exit System is now in use. On your first trip you may be asked for fingerprints and a photo, and at St Pancras this happens before you leave the UK. Queues can be longer on busy days, so allow extra time.
• ETIAS, the EU's planned travel authorisation, has no confirmed start date yet. Don't pay any website that claims to sell it.
• Make sure your passport meets the Schengen validity rules for UK travellers. GOV.UK explains the details.

More ideas: our Eurostar guide, Europe by rail, the London to Rome by train route and our Amsterdam guide.

Plan your trip

Going beyond one city? Our free multi-city trip builder puts together trains, flights and hotels for every stop.

Compare London to Paris flights on Skyscanner, then find a hotel near your arrival station on Booking.com.

Prices checked October 2026. Fares are the published "from" prices and change with demand, so check live prices before booking.

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