Travelling to Europe from the UK by Train: Eurostar, Connections and Night Trains

Did you know you can leave London after breakfast and be in Zurich in time for dinner? Or fall asleep in Brussels and wake up in Berlin? Travelling to Europe by train is easier than many people think. It is also more relaxing than flying, as you go from city centre to city centre.

We love getting to our hikes by train in the UK, from hiking near London by train to our wild camping trip on Dartmoor, which started at Ivybridge station. For our trip to Croatia we flew in high season, and it wasn't cheap. Next time we travel to the Alps, I would love to try the train. So I've researched Eurostar, the new border checks, the best connections and the night trains you can reach from London. Here is everything you need to know in 2026.

Quick answer

• Eurostar from London St Pancras: Paris in as little as 2 hours 15 minutes, Brussels in about 2 hours, plus Lille, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
• Fares: London to Paris or Brussels from about £51 one way in Standard. London to Amsterdam from £39 one way (2026, subject to availability).
• Check-in: arrive at the time shown on your ticket. Ticket checks close 30 minutes before departure. British travellers now register for the EU's Entry/Exit System at St Pancras.
• Connections: change in Paris for Switzerland (TGV Lyria) and in Brussels for Germany (ICE).
• Night trains: European Sleeper runs from Brussels to Prague, Berlin and Milan. Nightjet runs every day from Amsterdam to Vienna and Innsbruck.

Eurostar routes from London

All Eurostar trains to mainland Europe leave from London St Pancras International. Ebbsfleet and Ashford are no longer served.

Some old favourites have gone. The direct trains to the south of France stopped in 2019, and the direct Disneyland Paris train was cancelled in June 2023.

Eurostar fares and classes

Prices (2026):

• Standard: London to Paris, Lille or Brussels from about £51 one way or £78 return.
• Plus (first class, with a light meal): from about £98 one way.
• Premier (business class, with lounge access and fully flexible tickets): about £325 one way.
• Amsterdam: Eurostar lists fares from £39 one way in Standard.
• Children: under-4s travel free on a parent's lap. Children aged 4 to 11 pay a child fare.

Fares go up as trains fill, just like airfares. Booking opens up to 11 months ahead. A return is usually cheaper than two one-way tickets, and midweek is usually cheaper than Friday or Sunday afternoons. You can change the date or time of your ticket for free until one hour before departure, but you pay any difference in fare.

Checking in at St Pancras and the new EES border check

On Eurostar you do all the border formalities before you board. That means a ticket scan, a security check and passport control at St Pancras. When you arrive in Paris or Brussels, you just walk off the train.

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) started on 12 October 2025 and is being rolled out in phases. It applies to non-EU travellers on short stays, which includes British passport holders of all ages. Because the French border check happens in London, you register at St Pancras, not in France.

How it works at St Pancras:

• Go to the registration kiosks at the time on your ticket. Standard and Plus passengers use zone A or C. Manage your booking tells you which.
• At the kiosk you scan your passport, have your photo taken and, if needed, give your fingerprints.
• Fingerprints are only taken the first time you register, and only from age 12. Children under 12 still go through EES, but without fingerprints.
• You can't do it in advance. It is done at the station on the day you travel.
• Ticket checks close 30 minutes before departure (15 minutes for Premier). So don't turn up just before that!

On the way back, you complete the EES exit check at Paris Nord or Brussels before you check in.

Eurostar luggage rules

You keep your luggage with you on the train. Eurostar allows two large items, up to 85 cm in any dimension, plus one small bag. There is no weight limit, but you have to lift it onto the racks yourself. You can also take one pair of skis or one snowboard. Pets are not allowed, except guide dogs. Knives with blades over 3 inches are not allowed either.

Onward connections from Paris and Brussels

London to Switzerland via Paris

This is the route I am most excited about, as we love Switzerland for outdoor adventures. You take Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, cross Paris by metro or taxi to Gare de Lyon, then take a TGV Lyria into Switzerland.

• Journey times from Paris: Basel about 3 hours, Geneva about 3 hours, Lausanne about 3 hours 40 minutes and Zurich about 4 hours.
• Prices: TGV Lyria from €29 in second class.
• In one day: leave London at 7:01 am on a weekday and arrive in Zurich at 4:26 pm local time (2027 timetable, from 13 December 2026).
• Bernese Oberland: you can reach Interlaken Ost via Basel the same day. From there, trains go up to Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Grindelwald. Perfect for a walk through the Lauterbrunnen valley.

There are no through tickets from London to Switzerland, so you buy the Eurostar and the TGV Lyria separately. Seat61 recommends leaving about 2 hours in Paris, as booking systems sometimes offer connections as tight as 42 minutes. It also suggests avoiding cheap Swiss Supersaver tickets for the first Swiss train, because they are only valid on one specific train. Check the Swiss part on the SBB website.

London to Germany via Brussels

• Brussels to Cologne: ICE trains take about 1 hour 50 minutes. Eurostar (the former Thalys) also runs Brussels to Cologne.
• Brussels to Frankfurt: ICE trains take about 3 hours.
• London to Cologne: about 5 hours in total.
• London to Berlin: about 11 hours by day, changing in Brussels and Cologne. Or take the night train (see below).

A 20-minute change in Brussels counts as an official connection. If your Eurostar is late and you miss it, rail operators' connection rules (Railteam and HOTNAT) protect you. Seat61 suggests checking this on Deutsche Bahn's international site. ICE seat reservations are optional but recommended.

Night trains from Brussels and Amsterdam

Now this is the fun part! You can take a morning or lunchtime Eurostar to Brussels or Amsterdam, then board a sleeper in the evening. You save a night in a hotel and wake up somewhere new.

European Sleeper

As of November 2026, European Sleeper runs three routes, each three times a week in each direction:

Prices: from €49.99 for a place in a shared compartment, or from €179.99 for a private compartment.

European Sleeper's own booking engine can add a connecting Eurostar to or from London. It only offers connections with plenty of time to change in Brussels. However, connections between the two companies are not guaranteed. If you miss the night train, you have to buy a new ticket for another day. Also, you can't book bikes on European Sleeper trains in 2026.

I love that the Prague train stops in Bad Schandau. It is the gateway to Saxon Switzerland, so you could wake up and go straight to the Bastei Bridge hike. The Milan train also stops at Arth-Goldau, in central Switzerland, not far from our favourite hikes near Lucerne.

Nightjet

ÖBB's Nightjet runs every day from Amsterdam to Vienna and from Amsterdam to Innsbruck. Innsbruck is a great base for the Tyrolean Alps. You can reach Amsterdam directly by Eurostar from London.

Interrail and Eurostar

If you are planning a longer trip, an Interrail Pass can be good value. The Interrail Global Pass covers Eurostar between the UK and France, Belgium and the Netherlands. However, you must book a seat and pay a reservation fee. Seat61 lists pass holder fares from £26.50 one way in Standard. Pass holder seats are limited, so book early. If they sell out, you need a normal ticket.

Booking tips

• Book Eurostar last. If you are travelling beyond Paris or Brussels, Seat61 suggests waiting until your onward train is on sale too. TGV Lyria opens about 6 months ahead, and German trains up to 12 months ahead.
• Where to book: Trainline, Rail Europe and SNCF Connect can sell the whole journey. For Germany, Deutsche Bahn's international site is handy. For Swiss trains, use SBB.
• Travel midweek for cheaper fares.
• Download your ticket close to travel, as Eurostar sometimes swaps trains and changes seats.
• Pack snacks. There is a café-bar on Eurostar, but a picnic is cheaper.

Is the train greener than flying?

Yes, by a long way. Seat61 says Eurostar produces about 90% less CO2 per passenger than flying between London and Paris. For us, sustainable travel is about making small, realistic swaps. Taking the train for one trip a year is a great place to start.

FAQ

How early should I arrive for Eurostar?

Eurostar asks you to arrive at the time shown on your ticket. Ticket checks close 30 minutes before departure, or 15 minutes for Premier. You need that time for EES registration, security and passport control.

Do I need to register for EES on Eurostar?

Yes, if you are a non-EU traveller, including British passport holders. You register at a kiosk at St Pancras on the day you travel. Fingerprints are only taken the first time, and not from children under 12.

Can you take a night train from London to Europe?

Not directly. You take Eurostar to Brussels or Amsterdam, then change onto a sleeper. European Sleeper goes to Prague, Berlin and Milan, and Nightjet goes to Vienna and Innsbruck.

How long does it take to get from London to Switzerland by train?

You can do it in a day, with a change in Paris. For example, the 7:01 am weekday train from London reaches Geneva at 3:36 pm and Zurich at 4:26 pm, local time (2027 timetable).

Can I use an Interrail Pass on Eurostar?

Yes, the Interrail Global Pass covers Eurostar to France, Belgium and the Netherlands. You must book a pass holder seat and pay a reservation fee, and seats are limited.

Have you travelled to Europe by train? Which route would you recommend? Let me know in the comments!