Eurostar Tickets: How to Book, Prices & the Best Fares

Updated: 12 October 2026

The price range on Eurostar tickets is enormous. The cheapest advance fares start from £39 one way (Eurostar’s advertised fare, return booking only) from London to Paris. The same seat, bought the week before you travel on a Friday evening, might cost £230. The difference is entirely down to when you book and which train you choose.

This guide covers how Eurostar pricing works, what the different classes cost, where to buy, and how to get the best fare for your trip.

How Eurostar Pricing Works

Eurostar uses dynamic pricing — the same mechanism as airlines. A fixed number of seats are allocated to each price band, and as they sell through, the remaining seats move to a higher band. Once the cheap seats are gone, they’re gone. Prices almost never go back down closer to departure.

The practical consequence: book early for the cheapest fares. The further ahead you book, the more likely you are to find the lowest price tier. Leave it until the last few weeks and you’re paying a premium, regardless of how flexible the day you’ve chosen.

Demand is the other driver. Friday afternoons and evenings, Sunday afternoons and evenings, and the first and last days of UK school holidays carry higher prices because more people want them. The cheapest trains tend to run on weekday mornings and midweek departures.

Ticket Classes and What They Cost

Eurostar sells tickets in three classes. Unlike most airlines, the classes differ meaningfully in experience, not just seat width.

Standard

The base class. Comfortable seats, a power socket, two bags included with no weight limit, and access to the bar buffet car. For a two-hour journey to Paris or Brussels, Standard is completely adequate.

Typical prices:

• Cheapest advance: from £39 one way to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam (Eurostar’s advertised fare, return booking only)
• Realistic advance fare (6–10 weeks out): £55–90 one way
• Short notice (1–2 weeks): £100–180 one way
• Last minute / flexible: £150–250+ one way

Eurostar Plus (formerly Standard Premier)

Includes a light meal and drinks served at your seat on London routes, and on the e320 fleet a roomier 2+1 seat instead of Standard’s 2+2. Ticket terms are the same as Standard: free exchanges up to an hour before departure and refunds up to 7 days before for a £25 fee. On morning and evening departures when you’d be hungry, Plus can be worth the extra cost.

Typical prices:

• Advance: from ~£98 one way
• Mid-range: £120–180 one way
• Short notice: £180–250+ one way

Eurostar Premier (formerly Business Premier)

Fine dining at your seat, lounge access in London, Paris and Brussels, priority gates, a same-day boarding guarantee and three bags. The seat is the same as Plus on the e320. The flexibility is the main draw for business travellers: Premier tickets can be exchanged or refunded with no fee up to two days after departure.

Typical prices:

• Advance: around £325 one way (about £490 return)
• Standard booking: £300–400 one way
• Peak departures (Friday evening, etc.): £400+ one way

For a full comparison of what you get in each class, see the Eurostar seat classes guide.

When to Book

The general rule: the earlier you book, the cheaper the fare. But there are some specifics worth knowing.

Tickets typically go on sale 6 months ahead. When Eurostar releases a new batch of departures, the full range of price tiers is available. If you book as soon as a date opens, you’re most likely to hit the cheapest tier.

The 6–10 week window is a sweet spot for most travellers. The cheapest fares may already be gone for popular dates, but mid-price advance fares are usually still available.

Within 2–3 weeks of departure, prices climb noticeably. Within one week, you’re typically paying full flexible rates.

Specific dates to watch:

• School holiday start and end days (particularly in England) see a sharp price spike
• Bank holidays carry premiums in both directions
• Christmas and New Year departures are among the most expensive dates of the year
• July and August peak summer departures are consistently expensive

If you have any flexibility in dates, shifting one day — or even one train — can save £30–50 per ticket.

Where to Buy Eurostar Tickets

Eurostar.com (Direct)

The recommended first port of call. Booking direct gives you:

• Free seat selection for all classes
• The simplest exchange and refund process
• Club Eurostar points on your booking
• No third-party booking fees

The website and app are straightforward. Enter your route and dates, pick a train, choose a class, and select your seats. Paying by card incurs no surcharge.

Trainline and Omio

Both aggregate train tickets and include Eurostar. Sometimes useful for price comparison, and Trainline’s interface is clean. They may add a booking fee (typically £1–5) and the seat selection process is slightly less direct than booking with Eurostar.

Trainline is worth checking if you’re combining Eurostar with onward rail travel in France, Belgium, or the Netherlands — it can show combined itineraries, though you can also just book segments separately.

Travel Agents and Holiday Companies

If you’re booking a package holiday that includes Eurostar travel, the agent will handle the ticket. Otherwise, for point-to-point Eurostar travel, booking direct or via a major aggregator is typically cheaper than a traditional travel agent.

Seat Selection

When booking via eurostar.com, seat selection is included free. You can choose:

• Standard or upper deck (Eurostar trains are double-deck; upper deck windows are slightly higher and give a better view)
• Window or aisle
• Table seats vs airline-style seats
• Direction of travel (not always available, depending on rolling stock configuration)

Seats are numbered consistently: A and B are window and aisle on one side, C and D are aisle and window on the other side. Even-numbered window seats tend to face the direction of travel heading from London on most configurations — worth checking when you book if you care about forward-facing travel.

Ticket Flexibility and Changes

The rules vary by fare type:

These are the terms Eurostar publishes in its help centre. If the new train costs less, you don’t get the difference back. Check the conditions shown at booking, especially for tickets bought through a third party or as part of a package.

Club Eurostar Points

Eurostar’s loyalty scheme, Club Eurostar, assigns points to your bookings. Points can be redeemed against future Eurostar travel and other rewards. It’s worth joining even if you only travel a few times a year — there’s no annual fee, and the points accumulate.

Register at eurostar.com before booking, then add your membership number to each booking. Points are earned on the ticket price, so Premier earns faster per journey.

Buying Tickets on the Day

Tickets can be bought on the day of travel. Walk-up fares are expensive — typically £180–250+ one way for Standard to Paris or Brussels. There’s no guaranteed seat until you’ve bought a ticket, and popular trains may be full.

If you need a last-minute trip, check the app: sometimes a particular time slot will have unsold seats at a lower price, particularly on midweek services or off-peak trains.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Eurostar tickets go on sale?
Typically 6 months before the departure date. The cheapest fares are most likely to be available when tickets first go on sale.

What is the cheapest Eurostar ticket to Paris?
The cheapest Standard advance fares start from £39 one way (Eurostar’s advertised fare, return booking only). A realistic return in advance is typically £80–150. Prices depend heavily on when you book and which day you travel.

Can I change a Eurostar ticket?
Yes. Standard and Plus tickets can be exchanged with no fee up to an hour before departure, as long as you pay any difference in fare. Premier tickets can be exchanged free up to two days after departure.

Is it cheaper to book direct with Eurostar?
Generally yes — eurostar.com doesn’t add booking fees and gives you the best seat selection. Third-party sites sometimes match the price but may add a fee.

Can I get a refund on a Eurostar ticket?
Standard and Plus tickets can be refunded up to 7 days before departure for a £25 fee. Premier tickets are refundable with no fee up to two days after departure. Check the conditions of your specific fare when booking.

Does Eurostar have a loyalty programme?
Yes — Club Eurostar. Free to join, earns points on all bookings, redeemable against future travel.

For everything else about travelling on Eurostar — routes, check-in, baggage, on-board experience — see the Eurostar travel guide.