Eurostar summer fares from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam start at £39 one way, with travel available from 20 May through to 18 August 2026. You need to book a return to access the lowest fares, making the cheapest return journey £78. Prices are live now.
This isn’t a flash sale with a ticking clock. These are Eurostar’s confirmed base fares for the summer timetable, released when booking opened. The cheapest seats sell out well ahead of travel, so the earlier you search, the better your chances of finding the lowest prices on the dates you want.
What’s on offer
The £39 one-way fare covers travel on Eurostar’s main UK routes during the peak summer window. Based on fares confirmed by Eurostar on 29 April 2026, the routes and starting prices are:
- London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord: from £39 one way (journey time 2h15m)
- London St Pancras to Brussels-Midi: from £39 one way (journey time 1h51m)
- London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal: from £39 one way (journey time 3h52m)
- London St Pancras to Rotterdam Centraal: from £39 one way (journey time 3h22m)
- London St Pancras to Lille: from £39 one way (journey time 1h22m)
Prices were confirmed as live on 29 April 2026. They vary significantly by travel date, day of week, and time of departure. Weekday trains typically offer more availability at lower fares than weekend departures.
Is this genuinely good value?
The honest answer is yes, with some caveats. A £78 return to Paris is hard to beat when you factor in the full picture. Eurostar departs from central London and arrives in central Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam. There are no budget-airline airports to contend with, no transfers, and no separate check-in bag charge on a standard ticket. You can also bring a large cabin bag without extra cost.
Compare that to flying. Even if you find a £50 return flight to Paris on easyJet or Ryanair, you’re looking at Gatwick or Stansted rather than central London, a Beauvais or Orly arrival rather than central Paris, airport taxes, and a likely bag fee if you want to bring anything substantial. The time cost is considerable too. City centre to city centre, Eurostar to Paris takes around two and a half hours door to door from central London. A budget flight, including transfers and airport time, typically runs four to five hours.
The main caveat is availability. The £39 fares are on a limited allocation per train, and on popular dates, particularly weekends and school holidays in July and August, they go fast. You’re more likely to find them on Tuesday to Thursday departures and on trains at the less popular ends of the day. That said, even at £50 or £60 each way, the Eurostar represents good value compared to flying once the full cost is accounted for.
The verdict
If you’re planning a summer city break to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam, this is the route to take. The price point is right, the experience is significantly better than flying short-haul, and the convenience advantage is real. For those based outside London, the train journey to St Pancras should factor into your thinking, though for most UK cities it’s still competitive with a trip to an airport.
If you’re after a beach holiday, Eurostar obviously won’t help. But for the city break crowd, £78 return to Paris for a summer weekend is a strong deal and worth booking sooner rather than later.
Fares are live now for travel from 20 May to 18 August 2026. No booking deadline, but low-priced seats are limited and will sell out on popular dates.
How to book
A few tips before you search. Tap Book Now to go straight there.
- Search for a return journey to see the lowest fares. One-way searches don’t show the £39 tier.
- Try Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday departures first. Weekend trains are more expensive and fill faster.
- Flexible on time? Eurostar Snap offers up to 50% off if you’re willing to commit to a morning or afternoon slot without a specific train time.
- Book directly on eurostar.com or via the Eurostar app. Third-party sites may add booking fees.
