Page 2 | Train to connect with Eurostar

Janek · 17/05/2023 18:05

ReviewingTheSituation · 17/05/2023 18:00

You're right that we'd need to pay the difference in fares, but the fare we paid is still available (because the new train we're looking at is at a much less favourable time than the one we're booked on)

Show quote history

Ah good! Glad I'm right and glad it won't cost you any more! I guess you can also pick a cheaper train, you're not tied to a particular time.

I was looking at a b and b hotel in Paris for the summer. They seem good and cheap(ish) if Premier Inn is your thing!

NBLarsen · 17/05/2023 18:20

Being nitpicky but I'd allow 20-25 minutes from your Marylebone train to Eurostar.
Every time I travel through Marylebone the train is on the furthest platform, a good few minutes walk there. The if you go into the tube at Marylebone you need to allow time for changing lines. Either that, or you walk from Marylebone to Baker Street - very close - but still adding time. Then there's the walk from the tube up out and across St Pancras station, which is a big place! All easy, but it's the extra bits to add on to the journey time. 20-25 minutes by tube, 15 minutes by taxi.
I do think arriving 10.15 at Marylebone is totally fine though, so long as there is one soon after in case that one is cancelled.

But I'd say your plan to travel Saturday night with the extra night in Paris is way more fun though!

Thirty5 · 18/05/2023 21:03

If you want a hotel recommendation in Paris, try the Hoxton, it’s £££ but we did one night and it was blissful!

Oh I love Paris, hope you have a wonderful time

notsurewherenotsurewhy · 18/05/2023 21:11

NBLarsen · 17/05/2023 18:20

Being nitpicky but I'd allow 20-25 minutes from your Marylebone train to Eurostar.
Every time I travel through Marylebone the train is on the furthest platform, a good few minutes walk there. The if you go into the tube at Marylebone you need to allow time for changing lines. Either that, or you walk from Marylebone to Baker Street - very close - but still adding time. Then there's the walk from the tube up out and across St Pancras station, which is a big place! All easy, but it's the extra bits to add on to the journey time. 20-25 minutes by tube, 15 minutes by taxi.
I do think arriving 10.15 at Marylebone is totally fine though, so long as there is one soon after in case that one is cancelled.

But I'd say your plan to travel Saturday night with the extra night in Paris is way more fun though!

Exactly this - no way is Marylebone to Kings X actually 10 mins, for a small station Marylebone involves a hell of a lot of walking to get onto the tube, and there's a long walk off the tube at King's X too. But I would still be comfortable with arriving in to Marylebone at 10.15 (allowing half an hour for delays) to catch a 12.30 Eurostar.

twilightcafe · 18/05/2023 21:18

Be v careful re trains in to Marylebone. Chiltern Railways has had all kinds of trouble recently with delays and trains so packed that you can't get on - even at weekends.

lljkk · 18/05/2023 21:34

I caught Eurostar with colleagues, 2 months ago. We walked in at about 90 minutes to go (90 minutes = before we went thru security).

Based on this, what's the latest you'd chance arriving at your incoming London train station (which is about 10 mins from St P by tube)?

11am. Honestly the waiting room at Eurostar is horrible, hard & overcrowded, the Wifi is awful, nowhere to sit (I sat on floor & so did another colleague), the less time spent there the better. You don't start boarding until about 15 minutes before departure. 15 minutes would be a long time to get thru security. And it was heaving when we went, start of Easter hols.

Original poster

ReviewingTheSituation · 18/05/2023 23:13

notsurewherenotsurewhy · 18/05/2023 21:11

Exactly this - no way is Marylebone to Kings X actually 10 mins, for a small station Marylebone involves a hell of a lot of walking to get onto the tube, and there's a long walk off the tube at King's X too. But I would still be comfortable with arriving in to Marylebone at 10.15 (allowing half an hour for delays) to catch a 12.30 Eurostar.

Show quote history

You're both right - I know it's longer than 10 mins. But I am familiar with both stations (to a degree). I def won't get on the tube at M'bone - it will either be a walk to Baker St, or - more likely - a cab down to KX.

OP posts:

Original poster

ReviewingTheSituation · 28/05/2023 12:31

We're on the eurostar!

Train arrived 30mins late into Marylebone, but we still arrived at St Pancras at 11am. The Met line is lovely and quick as it's only a short flight of stairs down (no endless escalators and corridors), and comes up right at the entrance to St Pancras.

I'm glad we didn't go down the night before - it was all very smooth checking in to Eurostar.

Thanks for all the words of wisdom along the way!

OP posts:

lljkk · 28/05/2023 12:36

Glad journey went well. How long did you wait around in Eurostar waiting area, with nothing to do? How bad was the wifi/data reception?

The wifi was pretty non-existent when I last went on Eurostar. THAT was annoying, too.

Original poster

ReviewingTheSituation · 28/05/2023 13:30

We arrived at St P at 11, and by the time we'd been to the loo, queued to check in and got through security/passport it was probably about 11.40.

We went to the cafe, had a coffee and then boarded at 12.10. The hanging around was minimal, queuing was all ver efficient, and it didn't feel that crowded (and the train is definitely full).

Currently zooming through France, using the train WiFi, which seems OK!

OP posts:

NBLarsen · 28/05/2023 22:38

Wishing you a lovely holiday! Am very jealous!

Janek · 30/05/2023 12:25

That's amazing news, thanks for the update!

gogohmm · 30/05/2023 12:36

10.15 seems fine to me, dp usually leaves it a lot tighter than that and has never had an issue boarding Eurostar (regularly for business)