Can you take a train from the UK to Europe?

Yes. Eurostar high-speed trains run through the Channel Tunnel from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in 2 hours 20 minutes, Brussels Midi in 2 hours, and Amsterdam Centraal in 3 hours 52 minutes.

How long is the train from London to Paris?

The Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord takes approximately 2 hours 20 minutes through the Channel Tunnel.

Is Eurostar the only train from the UK to Europe?

Currently yes — Eurostar is the only passenger rail service through the Channel Tunnel connecting the UK to continental Europe, serving Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam directly.

Route guide · From London

Trains from London

By WoW Train · Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

London is the hub of Britain's rail network and the departure point for Eurostar. Within the UK, trains leave from different terminals depending on where you are going; to continental Europe, the direct trains run from St Pancras International. This guide lists the main trains from London, with the stations, indicative journey times and the operators you will actually use.

The main trains from London

London → Paris

~2h 20m Direct · Eurostar St Pancras → Gare du Nord

London → Brussels

~2h Direct · Eurostar St Pancras → Brussels-Midi

London → Amsterdam

~3h 50m–4h 15m Direct · Eurostar St Pancras → Amsterdam Centraal

London → Manchester

~2h 10m Direct · Avanti Euston → Manchester Piccadilly

London → Liverpool

~2h 10m–2h 30m Direct · Avanti Euston → Liverpool Lime Street

London → York

~1h 50m–2h Direct · LNER King's Cross → York

London → Edinburgh

~4h 20m Direct · LNER / Lumo King's Cross → Edinburgh Waverley

London → Oxford

~1h Direct · GWR / Chiltern Paddington or Marylebone → Oxford

London → Cambridge

~50m–1h 15m Direct · Great Northern / Greater Anglia King's Cross or Liverpool Street → Cambridge

Which London station do you need?

St Pancras International — Eurostar to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, and Southeastern high-speed trains in Kent.
Euston — Avanti West Coast to Manchester and Liverpool, and the Caledonian Sleeper to Scotland.
King's Cross — LNER and Lumo to York and Edinburgh, and Great Northern to Cambridge.
Paddington — Great Western Railway to Oxford, Bath and the west.
Marylebone — Chiltern Railways to Oxford, via High Wycombe and Bicester Village.
Liverpool Street — Greater Anglia to Cambridge, Norwich and Stansted Airport.

King's Cross and St Pancras are next door to each other, and Euston is about a 15–20 minute walk away, but Paddington, Marylebone and Liverpool Street are on different parts of the network, so check which station your ticket names before you leave.

Booking tips for trains from London

Book early for the cheapest fares. Advance tickets are tied to a specific train and sell out first; flexible tickets are much more expensive.
Use a Railcard if you qualify: most of them take about a third off many fares.
Avoid peak times — Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings and school holidays are the busiest and most expensive.
For Eurostar, arrive in good time because passport and security checks happen before boarding.

Looking beyond London? See all Eurostar routes from the UK to Europe, or browse every route.