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How early to arrive for Eurostar?

14 replies

perimenofertility · 22/08/2022 14:32

Has anyone travelled on Eurostar recently? I'm aware of lengthy check-in and security queues at airports, but how is it for Eurostar?
How early would I need to be at St Pancras station? Is it the same process as flying - check-in, security, get on train?

OP posts:
Scaredypup · 22/08/2022 14:45

I’ve been told 60mins

AttilaTheMeerkat · 22/08/2022 15:10

from Eurostar's website

www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/your-trip/check-in

AttilaTheMeerkat · 22/08/2022 15:10

90 minutes minimum

MinnieMountain · 22/08/2022 16:27

Arrive 90 minutes before, if the queue isn’t too bad go somewhere nearby for a drink.
It took us 10 minutes to get through everything on Friday evening with an 8yo and 2 suitcases.
Boarding is 20 minutes before the train leaves.

perimenofertility · 22/08/2022 20:59

Thanks everyone. Tried to find this info online but couldn't manage it.

OP posts:
Janek · 22/08/2022 21:12

We were told to arrive 1.5 hours before our train at the start of August. We were a bit early, but we couldn't actually join the quite queue for our train until 1.5 hours before so being too early is a waste of time.

Aprilx · 24/08/2022 07:29

I am travelling in the next few weeks, haven’t been on for years but people have told me to allow at least 90 minutes.

Janek · 24/08/2022 08:28

They rather annoyingly send you an email just before you travel telling you to download your tickets to find out how early you need to be. Eurostar have always been convinced that everyone travelling on them is starting in London and going to Paris, so all customers have infinite flexibility. Actually I don't live in London and am always getting an onward train, so any information that I need to allow more time is met with fury from me!

When we were travelling three weeks ago, our outbound train to London was cancelled, the next would have got us there an hour before the Eurostar. We really rushed and got an earlier train (and discovered in the process that the check-in opens 90 mins before departure, not 'at least' 90 mins before departure. If we had arrived an hour before we probably would have made the train, but it would have been much more stressful (and have no option for our UK train to be delayed at all).

WriggleOnNow · 25/08/2022 18:32

out of interest, how long do people leave between connecting trains on the way home? If we are due to arrive at 3pm, train goes from St Pancras. Can I assume that we will arrive on time and I can book on the 4pm train?

Janek · 25/08/2022 18:46

I would say yes. It's better to have an open ticket IME (we've arrived into St Pancras at 17:37 and caught the 18:01 train from Euston, having dragged two children up Euston Road! - we wouldn't have booked that train, however). Seat 61 recommends buying a ticket from London International CIV instead of your usual London station then you are covered by the international conditions of carriage if your Eurostar is delayed. You have to buy it from the station, not online.

Janek · 25/08/2022 18:50

www.seat61.com/european-travel-from-uk-regions.htm

Station code for London International is LNE.

gogohmm · 25/08/2022 18:52

Dp only ever allows 60 mins. He uses it for business connecting from the intercity into Paddington which is hourly. He's never had an issue, usually is through in under 15 mins

WriggleOnNow · 25/08/2022 21:19

Thanks all - I’d seen the advice on seat61 but the price difference is huge!

Gough20 · 26/08/2022 23:49

Early in morning 45 mins before departure. Day time 60 minutes.

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