London is a city that you could spend months in and never see it all. Trust me, I’ve tried. I lived in this beautiful city for six months and still felt like I’d only begun to understand what was possible from there. The city is an amazing launching pad for the rest of Europe and the UK. And thanks to Eurostar, day trips from London to Paris by train are easier than ever.
Table of Contents
London’s St. Pancras International Station can take you to Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, Lille, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Ghent. But we’re going to cover a train journey from London to the city of love and include all of the many things you can do on a Paris day trip. Let’s go!
London to Paris Checklist
Fancy a day trip from London to Paris? Download our FREE checklist to make sure you don't miss anything!
Planning Your Day Trip
Planning a day trip to Paris starts with heading to the Eurostar website. Select your route and travel dates. If your dates are flexible, check out the date and time range of options above the schedule table. Once you confirm your outbound train you’ll be able to select your return.
The best way to take advantage of the adventure is to get an early start. The first train often leaves London St. Pancras International sometime around 6 AM. This allows for a full day of activities before a late evening return journey. London to the city of Paris is approximately 2.5 hours across the Channel tunnel. London to Disneyland Paris is no longer a direct train (as of 2023) and takes a bit longer, clocking in at 3 hours and 45 min of travel time. They are open to the idea of restarting direct service but as of the time of writing it takes a bit longer.
Eurostar Experience
Eurostar trains are so simple to use that after experiencing the stresses of flying, you may never go back to the airport! Eurostar allows for 2 pieces of luggage and one handbag with no weight limits. There is no charge for seat selection and no liquid limits (are you giggling with joy yet??).
The Eurostar leaves London from St. Pancras International Station, near Kings Cross. Traveling Standard class you can bring your food and drink on board, or buy snacks from the cafe on board. There is a 2 – 2 seat configuration which is perfect for a family of 4. The Standard Premier provides a light meal served at your seat and slightly more spacious seating. Business Premier allows for 3 pieces of luggage and 1 handbag, along with a hot meal and champagne brought to your seat. Both Standard Premier and Business Premier get their own train car as well as fast-track ticket gates and lounges in both London and Paris.
Eurostar tickets get very expensive the closer you get to your trip dates. So for the lowest available fare be sure to check as far in advance as possible. They post their train schedules 120 days out.
Arriving: Navigating Paris Gare du Nord
When traveling from London to Paris you cross a time zone boundary. To understand the time difference you should know that London operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or British Summer Time (BST) during daylight savings. Meanwhile, Paris is on Central European Time (CET) or Central European Summer Time (CEST). Paris is always 1 hour ahead of London.
The time on your departure ticket is London time and the arrival time will be according to Paris time. Since you lose an hour when arriving in Paris, it’s important to maximize your time by starting early.
Arrival at the Paris Gare du Nord station takes you less than 15 min by car to the city center. The railway station is a short walk to Sacre Coeur Basilica and Montmartre district. Both come with sweeping views of the city on a clear day.
London to Paris Checklist
Fancy a day trip from London to Paris? Download our FREE checklist to make sure you don't miss anything!
Suggested Itinerary for a Day in Paris
To ensure one of the best day trips you’ll ever take, we have to keep track of time. You realistically will have only 7 – 8 hours to spend in the city. But I’ve done as few as 6 hours and that is still a good amount of time to at least get a taste of what the city can offer. In my experience, that means you should do activities that allow you to see the most in a fairly decent amount of time. The best places to see are very dependent on your travel style but I will say walking allows you to get to know a neighborhood while a dining river cruise allows you to see a lot of the major iconic sites while relaxing with a meal.
Depending on your travel preference you may be happiest with one of the many Paris tours, free time with the Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum, a stroll along Camps Elysees, and climbing to the top of Arc de Triomphe for views of the city, or a relaxed meal as you float by Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. These are the kinds of fun decisions you get to make while planning a day trip to Paris.
Where to Eat
There is no shortage of excellent dining in the French capital, but if you are in the Marais district do yourself a favor and stop for tea and a sweet treat at Le Loir dans La Theiere. The name means door mouse in a teapot and the restaurant is Alice in Wonderland themed. Trust me when I say this spot should not be missed if you are looking for a neighborhood slice of heaven. I mean, we had tea at the Ritz, and this was better.
In the Latin Quarter while you enjoy the heart of Paris be sure to stop by the Bistro des Augustins. This streetside cafe has some of the best food Paris has to offer. Their gratin is amazing, salads are gorgeous and all of it is affordable as you are sitting with tourists and locals alike. Grab a sidewalk table, order an adult beverage, and relax. Food is made to order so it will give you plenty of time to people watch as Paris strolls by.
And while on the theme of dining, one of the best things to do is to take a dining river cruise. This is a great way to see sites and dine at the same time! Lunch, brunch or dinner options are available so you have the ability to design the trip according to your schedule. And you can select tickets at a variety of price levels so you also have the ability to customize your level of service.
Raise your glass in a toast as you float by the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay, Notre Dame, and our sister Statue of Liberty. I recommend scheduling for a window seat or placement at the front of the boat for best viewing while you enjoy French cuisine.
Shopping and Souvenirs
This is a day trip so shopping in Paris and taking a train back where there are no weight limits leaves your options wide open compared to flying! a great way to keep the experience going is to buy local food items to bring back to London with you. Chocolates or macaroons from the Marais district or a local French cheese that you loved make not only great ways to remember the trip but also good snacks for the train ride back to London.
Postcards, second-hand books, and art prints can be found at street-side stands in the Latin Quarter along the banks of the Seine. These 900 booksellers have seen tourists and writers alike (Ernest Hemmingway perused these stalls) for decades. These sellers have been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992.
We have also grabbed magnets, reusable tote bags, and clothing. These unique to you gifts fit your style of travel and those that you will give them to. Just be sure to leave time in your Paris day tour to grab a moment that makes you smile.
Making the Most of Your Time
One of the top tips, as well as the easiest way, to get as much time as possible out of your trip to Paris, is to leave London as early as possible. If you want to spend time in a museum maybe just pick one and allow yourself a couple of hours or book a VIP tour with early or last entry tickets purchased in advance. That will save you time, the guide will help increase efficiency, and you won’t lose a chunk of your day waiting in long lines.
Quick Paris sightseeing means a combination of walking and ride shares. Balance your desire to walk the streets of iconic neighborhoods with important landmarks. Grab a ride-share service to get to more sites. Don’t forget that your lunch or brunch time meal can be spent on the river Seine which allows for efficient Paris viewing of major sites, coupled with commentary, and a relaxed meal.
London to Paris Checklist
Fancy a day trip from London to Paris? Download our FREE checklist to make sure you don't miss anything!
Returning to London
Your return journey from the city of light should be on the last Eurostar train back to London. Check the train schedule when you book your departure for the latest possible return time for your dates. Remember that you’ll gain an hour when you get back to the train station in London. But be sure to set aside time for travel to Gare du Nord and security checks.
In summary, these top tips make a day trip completely possible. Whether you are looking for something romantic for a couple to do in Paris, or want to catch a glimpse of Paris in a particular season, Eurostar experiences make this completely possible. The train is an easy way to enjoy another destination while in London. The Eurostar experience is the fastest and easiest way to take advantage of the convenience of train travel!
Interested in day trips from Paris? Check out our post filled with tips on how to get away to Giverny.
London to Paris Checklist
Fancy a day trip from London to Paris? Download our FREE checklist to make sure you don't miss anything!