Eurostar: the complete practical guide to London from Paris

It all began with theinauguration of the Channel Tunnel in 1994: thirty years ago, in May 1994. Since then, this new route to the UK has above all enabled many travellers to reach many English cities, including London, in a much easier and faster way than by ferry or plane.

From Paris, count on 2 hours - or rather 1 hour, according to the tickets, as London is on a time zone one hour behind the French capital - from London, count on 3 (well, two really, but this time you're one hour ahead). As this is a special train, requiring several passenger checks, we explain how best to manage your Eurostar journey to avoid any inconvenience.

1. A passport is essential

Since Britain's exit from the European Union in December 2020, a passport has become compulsory for crossing British borders. Whereas before this date, a simple French identity card was more than sufficient, from now on, a passport is a must: make sure it's up to date and in your bag when you leave!

EU and Swiss citizens with temporary resident status can still use their national identity card. Please note: depending on your country of nationality, you will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which you can request here.

2. A new VISA required from April 2, 2025 for Europeans

From April 2, 2025 for Europeans (and January 8, 2025 for others), a passport will not be enough to enter the UK: a VISA will also be required. Costing £10 (equivalent to a dozen euros), it will be required when passing through border controls. Allow around three days for it to be issued (but a word of advice: plan ahead, just in case).

3. Fill in the information form before boarding the train

At the request of the British Government, each person boarding the Eurostar must be registered on an Advance Passenger Information (API) form: a few days before the train's departure, you'll receive the link by e-mail. It's then up to you to fill it in with the passport numbers (date of issue and expiry), surnames, first names and nationalities of all the people traveling with you.

The following information is required:

Surname and first name(s)
Date of birth
Gender
Nationality
Type of travel document (passport in most cases)
Travel document number
Country of issue of travel document
Travel document expiry date

4. Arrive one hour before train departure

When you take the Eurostar, there are several checks to go through: identity, luggage... Remember to be early, as the gates for boarding trains close 30 minutes before departure time. Once this half-hour has passed, no passengers are accepted on board.

Everything ready for you? So don't waste any time, head for London from Gare du Nord!