How to get from London to Paris: Complete Guide to 5 Options

If you’re spending time in London and can’t imagine leaving without a hop across the channel to Paris, this guide is for you! We’ll cover how to get from London to Paris by Eurostar, an organised day tour and also independently by car. 

You should find answers to the key questions you may have here too, and we’ve also included some top travel tips for those who have the good fortune to find themselves in Paris for the day – or even an overnight stay.

If you’re wondering about issues like how long to get from London to Paris, you might be pleasantly surprised. Especially if you live in a vast land like Australia or the USA. In those terms, Paris is just down the road from London (although it’s actually across the water).

For those considering ‘how do I get from London to Paris’ for a quick trip to France, this guide will tell you everything you need to know. Then you can pick the best way to travel from London to Paris to suit your budget, timescale and preferences. Let’s go!

How to get from London to Paris by Eurostar – Quick Guide to tours

How to get from London to Paris by Eurostar, plane, car or tour

There are five main options for those wondering ‘how do you get from London to Paris?’

You can fly, drive, take a trip on the Eurostar train or a coach, or book an organised trip. Let’s take a look at each of those options.

🚗 How to get from London to Paris by car

• Total journey time: 4h 45 min+ via ‘Chunnel; 6h + via ferry

For those considering how do you get to Paris from London by car, let’s just say from the outset that this isn’t the easiest or quickest option. 

You’ll need to take a trip on a ferry or drive through the channel tunnel – aka the ‘chunnel’ from London to Paris (cars are driven onto the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle train so you don’t actually drive through the tunnel yourself).

Brits drive on the left and the French drive on the right, so there’s that to consider too. Car rental may also be required. 

Most people prefer to take the Eurostar or a day trip unless you really have to take a vehicle to France with you. It’s not a viable option for a day trip due to the journey times.

🚄 How to get from London to Paris by train

• Total journey time: 2h 25min + from St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord

Yes, you read that right. You really can be in Paris in under two-and-a-half hours, and there’s no dealing with airports, driving or lengthy transfer times to concern yourself with. 

The London to Paris train cost is also very affordable. Other than taking an organised tour covering everything, the Eurostar is our favourite way to travel. Why fly or drive from London to Paris when the train is cheaper and faster? It’s just far more efficient and of course the more environmentally friendly option too.

Find out all you need to know about the Eurostar in this article (we are updating this post and it will be available soon) – we do have a dedicated section in our Guide to Uk Train Travel ebook about travelling on the Eurostar which you can purchase here.

✈️ How to get from London to Paris by plane

• Total journey time: 4h 15min + depending on airports

Though a flight may seem like the easiest way to get from London to Paris, it’s not the fastest. Bear in mind travel to and from the airports at both ends plus check-in and waiting times.

Then there’s the cost. If you can pick up a really cheap ticket and aren’t based too far from the airport it may be worth flying, but otherwise, the Eurostar is a better option for anyone deciding how to get from Paris to London or vice versa. 

There are several airports in London and Paris too, which can get confusing and may lead to extra costs and travel time. 

🚏 How to get from London to Paris by coach

• Total journey time: 8h 30min + depending on traffic

You can take an independent coach trip to Paris, but again it isn’t a simple or quick option. Just looking at that journey time is enough to put us off!

A London to Paris bus is available through National Express and Flixbus but while it is the cheapest option it is takes far too long to be a viable option if you are planning a day trip.

An organised Eurostar tour is a better way to approach this, as everything is sorted out for you and you don’t have to worry about where in Paris you’ll arrive and how you’ll get around the city. 

⭐️ How to get from London to Paris via a tour

• Total journey time: Varies by tour

Taking an organised tour to Paris is one of the best options from London. Once you’ve booked, you simply have to turn up on the day. Everything else is taken care of. 

When booking one of our recommended tours via Get Your Guide, you can even cancel up to 24 hours before travel to receive a full refund, which is perfect if your plans do change. 

Here are the best options for travelling from London to Paris as part of a guided tour. 

6 of the best London to Paris tours

Full day Eurostar trip to Paris

• Duration: 14 hours
• Destinations: Notre Dame, Champs-Elysees, Eiffel Tower, River Seine
• Departure point: St. Pancras Station, London
• What’s included: Eurostar, coach & boat travel, Eiffel Tower entry, lunch
• Not included: Louvre entry, hotel pick-up
• Means of transport: Eurostar, coach & river cruise

This one day London to Paris train and coach tour includes return Eurostar travel, a boat cruise on the Seine and visits to city highlights such as the Champs-Elysees, Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower. 

Entry to the latter is included, and the Louvre is also offered as an optional extra. You will also have some free time to explore as you wish. A two-course lunch at the Eiffel Tower restaurant is also covered. 

Unguided full day trip to Paris

• Duration: 14.5 hours
• Destinations: Your choice + river cruise included
• Departure point: St. Pancras Station, London
• What’s included: Eurostar ticket, boat cruise, travel map, shopping voucher
• Not included: Entry fees, hotel pick-up, lunch, tour guide
• Means of transport: Eurostar & river cruise

Taking an organised day trip from London to Paris then Paris to London by train doesn’t have to mean discovering the city as part of a tour group. This unescorted trip is ideal for more independent types. Your Eurostar ticket and a river cruise is included.

You’ll also receive a map to guide you around the city and a shopping voucher to use at Galeries Lafayette, one of the world’s most prestigious department stores. Though guidance about how to spend your time is given, ultimately how you spend the day is down to you.  

Full day open top bus tour of Paris

• Duration: 16 hours
• Destinations: Champs-Elysees, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe & more
• Departure point: St. Pancras Station, London
• What’s included: Eurostar ticket, open top bus tour, travel map
• Not included: Entry fees, hotel pick-up, lunch
• Means of transport: Eurostar & open top bus

It’s a shame to be stuck indoors on a sunny summer’s day in Paris, so if you’re visiting during the warmer months this open-top bus tour could be ideal. It includes return Eurostar travel and a city map too.

This offers the best of both worlds, as you’ll take a guided tour to see the main sights followed by free time to spend as you like. Whether it’s shopping, relaxing in a Left bank cafe, admiring the masterpieces at the Louvre or taking a trip up the Eiffel Tower, how you experience Paris is your choice. 

Paris day trip with Eurostar, tour & river cruise

• Duration: 14.5 hours
• Destinations: Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, River Seine & more
• Departure point: St. Pancras Station, London
• What’s included: Eurostar ticket, guided tour, river cruise
• Not included: Entry fees, hotel pick-up, lunch
• Means of transport: Eurostar & boat cruise

After taking the high-speed Eurostar from London to Paris, you’ll be treated to a guided tour of the French capital’s main sights. This is followed by a relaxing river cruise along the Seine, so you can see the iconic landmarks lining the city waterfront properly.

During the afternoon there is plenty of time for you to do whatever you wish too, before travelling from Paris to London by Eurostar once more. 

Hop-on, hop-off Paris day trip by Eurostar

• Duration: 15.5 hours
• Destinations: Your choice + hop-on, hop-off bus included
• Departure point: St. Pancras Station, London
• What’s included: Eurostar & hop-on, hop-off bus tickets, welcome pack
• Not included: Entry fees, hotel pick-up, lunch, city guide
• Means of transport: Eurostar & hop-on, hop-off bus 

A hop-on, hop-off bus tour is a classic way to see many of the world’s most popular cities and Paris is no exception. After travelling from London to Paris by Eurostar, you can use the hop-on hop-off tour ticket as you like to explore at your leisure.

You’ll also be given a Paris welcome pack, including guidance on what to see and do plus a map to help you navigate. 

Paris day trip including Eurostar & Metro travel card

• Duration: 15 – 15.5 hours
• Destinations: Your choice + Metro travel included
• Departure point: St. Pancras Station, London
• What’s included: Eurostar & Metro tickets, welcome pack with map
• Not included: Entry fees, hotel pick-up, lunch, city guide
• Means of transport: Eurostar & public transport

The final way to get from London to France via an organised day trip is also a more self-guided option. This time it includes a Paris Visite card, which entitles you to unlimited journeys on the Metro and other public transport in the city. 

A map and guide are also given to you, which will help you decide what to see and do and how best to get to each attraction. 

🏨 Where to stay in Paris

Should you decide that a day in Paris isn’t enough, the hotel we highly recommend (and where we stay on our trips to Paris) is the Hotel de la Place du Louvre. 

Hotel de la Place du Louvre ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Though the name is a bit of a mouthful, the location and value for money of this three star Paris hotel are unbeatable. It offers a range of rooms, from ‘cosy’ doubles to large duplexes with wow-inducing views over the Louvre. 

All accommodation has cable TV, free WiFi and air conditioning, and the best part is that it’s just a few minutes walk from everything you’re likely to want to see and do. Breakfast is even served in an awesome vaulted cave that was once connected to the Louvre.

This squeaky-clean property is also very highly rated by other past guests – so it’s not just us!

How to get from London to Paris – FAQs

Is there a high speed train from London to Paris?

There most certainly is a high-speed rail service between London and Paris The Eurostar can whisk you from central London to the French capital in under 2.5 hours and is by far the most affordable and convenient way to travel. 

Is it cheaper to fly or Eurostar to Paris?

While you may grab a lower cost flight at times, you need to factor in travel costs to and from the airports – and that’s 4 journeys in total. Some airports are further from the cities than others too. All in, the Eurostar ticket price will often work out cheaper. 

Is there a bridge from London to Paris?

There is no bridge over the English Channel, the sea that lies between Britain and France. An underwater tunnel does connect the two countries, however, called the Channel Tunnel or ‘Chunnel’. 

5 top tips for Paris first-timers

💶 Take some cash

Having some Euros at your disposal right away can be useful, whether it’s for tipping the driver, guide or hotel staff, or for buying a drink or snack from one of the stalls found in the tourist areas. It may also be useful for emergencies. 

On our last trip to Paris we decided to go cashless. Unfortunately one tummy bug later and no cash to pay for access to public restrooms was not a great combination!

🎒 Stay safe

Like any busy city, Paris is prone to pickpockets and other thieves. Keep money, documents and valuables close to you, where you can feel or keep an eye on them at all times. Be particularly vigilant when you’re part of a crowd too. We recommend theft-proof bags from Travelon or Pacsafe.

After one attempt on the Paris Metro by a gang of pickpockets I was VERY relieved to be using my Pacsafe backpack and crossbody bag.

🆘 In case of emergency

If you are in an accident or need to report one urgently, the emergency number is 112. For the police, call 17. 

🏢 Avoid museums on Mondays & Tuesdays

Many Parisian museums are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so do check before you go if travelling on those days. 

🇫🇷 A few words of French…

…can be much appreciated! Even if your pronunciation or usage isn’t perfect.