The Cheapest Way from London to Paris (and the Fastest)

London and Paris are about 340 km apart in a straight line, separated by the English Channel. That stretch of water shapes every option: you can go under it by train, across it by ferry, or over it by plane. Each has a different balance of price, speed and comfort. Here is how they compare, and how to find the lowest fare for your dates. To see live options, open the London to Paris route planner.

Quick comparison

• Eurostar train – fastest city centre to city centre, around two and a quarter to two and a half hours from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord.
• Coach – usually the lowest headline fare, but takes roughly eight to ten hours including the Channel crossing.
• Flight – about an hour and a quarter in the air, plus airport transfers and security on both ends.
• Train + ferry + train – slow but scenic, with a sea crossing such as Dover–Calais or Newhaven–Dieppe.

Eurostar: the default choice

Eurostar runs through the Channel Tunnel and arrives in the heart of Paris. You need to check in before departure – Eurostar advises arriving well ahead of time to pass security and passport control, and queues can be long at busy times. Both UK and French border checks happen in London, so you walk straight off the train in Paris.

How to pay less on Eurostar:

1. Book early. Fares are released several months ahead and rise as trains fill.
2. Travel off-peak. Mid-week and early-morning or late-evening departures are often cheaper than Friday and Sunday afternoons.
3. Be flexible by a day. A small shift in dates can make a big difference.
4. Check the standard non-flexible fare if you are certain of your plans.

Coach: lowest fare, longest trip

Coach operators such as FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus run between London (often Victoria Coach Station) and several Paris stops. The coach crosses the Channel either on a ferry or through the tunnel on a shuttle train. Daytime and overnight departures exist.

Coach is the right choice if price is your main concern and you do not mind a long day. Overnight coaches save a night's accommodation, though sleep quality varies. Allow extra time for border checks at Dover or Folkestone, especially in summer and around holidays.

Flying: occasionally cheap, rarely faster

Flights link London's airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City) with Paris Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Beauvais. Beauvais is a long way from central Paris, so factor in the transfer bus. Once you add the journey to and from the airports, security and boarding, flying usually takes as long as or longer than Eurostar.

Flying can win on price during sales, or if you are connecting to a long-haul flight. Watch out for baggage fees on low-cost airlines.

Train and ferry

For a slower trip with a sea view, take a train from London to Dover, cross to Calais by ferry as a foot passenger, then continue by train in France. Another route goes from Newhaven to Dieppe, then on by train to Paris via Rouen. These combinations are rarely the cheapest or simplest, and some ferry routes have limited foot-passenger options, so check before you commit.

Driving

Driving takes you to Folkestone for the Eurotunnel shuttle or Dover for a car ferry, then on French autoroutes (which have tolls) to Paris. It can make sense for a group sharing costs, or if you plan to explore Normandy or Picardy on the way. Paris parking is expensive and many central areas have low-emission rules that apply to cars, so check requirements for your vehicle.

Which is cheapest?

There is no permanent answer – it depends on your date, how far ahead you book, and how much your time is worth to you. In general:

• If booking months ahead, Eurostar can be competitive with coach and much faster.
• If booking last minute, coach is often the cheapest.
• If your trip starts near an airport with a low-cost route, flying may be worth checking.

Tokyo2Us shows each option with a recent cached fare or a labelled estimate, then links to partners for the live price. We never present an estimate as a quote.

Continuing your trip

From Paris, high-speed trains run to Brussels, Amsterdam, Lyon and beyond. See Paris to Amsterdam and our France country guide for ideas.

Getting through Eurostar check-in

Eurostar asks passengers to arrive at St Pancras International ahead of departure. Security screening and both British and French border controls take place before boarding. That means there is no passport queue when you arrive in Paris, but you must leave enough time in London. At busy times, such as Friday evenings and school holidays, queues can be long, so allow extra time and check Eurostar's current advice before you travel. New European border registration systems for non-EU travellers can also add time at the border.

Arriving at Gare du Nord

Gare du Nord is in the north of central Paris and is well connected. Metro lines 4 and 5 and RER lines B, D and E all stop there. RER B goes directly to Charles de Gaulle airport and also to the Latin Quarter. The station is busy, so keep your bags close and buy Metro tickets from the official machines or an official transport app rather than from people offering help.

Travelling with children, bikes or pets

Families often prefer Eurostar because children can move around on the train and there is no airport security. Bikes and pets are where the options differ. Rules on bikes and on pets change from time to time, and some routes do not accept pets at all, so check the operator's current policy before you book. If you are travelling with a dog, the car with Le Shuttle through the Channel Tunnel or a car ferry is often the practical choice.

Booking tips

Eurostar fares usually open several months ahead, and the cheapest seats go first, so book early for school holidays and long weekends. Travelling midweek and outside morning and evening peaks often helps. Coach fares also rise as departure approaches. Compare both on London to Paris before you pay.