Overview

Eurostar operates the high-speed passenger service between London St Pancras and Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Lille. Because it crosses the UK border, Eurostar has the strictest check-in and document rules of any carrier sold on Rail Europe—treat it more like a short-haul flight than a domestic train.

Luggage allowance

• Adults: up to 2 bags (max 85cm each) plus 1 small item of hand luggage. No weight limit, but you must be able to lift your own bags into the racks.
• Children (4–11): 1 bag (max 85cm) plus 1 hand luggage item.
• Pushchairs/prams travel in addition to the standard allowance if folded and stored in the luggage racks.
• Extra, heavy or oversized (>85cm) items can go via Eurostar's paid registered luggage service, arranged at the station (not available from Ebbsfleet or Ashford).
• Musical instruments ≤85cm count as part of your normal allowance; longer instruments must travel as registered baggage or with a reserved space.
• The Eurostar Ski Train has a dedicated onboard area for skis and snowboards.

Bicycles

Bike reservations must be arranged directly with Eurostar by emailing travelservices@eurostar.com ahead of travel, and are only available on selected trains.

• London–Brussels: fully assembled bikes accepted.
• London–Paris: bikes must be disassembled and packed in a box or bag.
• Folding bikes, folding e-bikes, and children's bikes/scooters up to 85cm travel free as hand luggage in a protective bag — but they cannot be charged at any Eurostar station.
• E-scooters and hoverboards are not permitted onboard.

Traveling with pets

Eurostar (London routes)

Pets are not carried, except certified assistance/guide dogs, which travel between London St Pancras/Ebbsfleet and Paris/Brussels/Lille/Calais. Dogs need a microchip, an official entry certificate and tick/tapeworm treatment documentation for UK entry. Ashford cannot currently accommodate guide dogs arriving from Europe.

Eurostar Red (Belgium/France/Germany/Netherlands mainland services)

• Small pets under 6kg travel free in a carrier (max 45×30×25cm).
• Larger dogs need a dedicated "dog fare" ticket (flat €30), must be leashed, muzzled, and stay on your lap or the floor.
• Guide/assistance dogs and cats always travel free.

Boarding, check-in & station assistance

• Arrival time: 60–90 minutes before departure for Standard/Premier fares (45–60 for Eurostar Premier). Gates close roughly 30 minutes before departure.
• Check-in is mandatory and includes airport-style security screening plus passport/immigration control.
• Since 1 April 2024, every passenger travelling to/from London must submit Advance Passenger Information (API) before tickets can be released — done via "Manage your booking" on Eurostar's site using your booking reference and surname.
• Since 10 April 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) applies to non-EU nationals (including UK citizens) crossing into the Schengen area: passport data, a facial image and fingerprints are captured electronically. Some Eurostar Premier passengers can pre-register at kiosks in London/Paris.
• Mobility assistance: contact Eurostar at least 48 hours ahead; arrive 60 minutes early and go to the Eurostar Assist desk. All Eurostar stations have accessible toilets, ramps, accessible set-down points, automatic doors and full-time assistance staff.
• Trains no longer stop at Calais Fréthun, Ashford International or Ebbsfleet International (suspended since the pandemic) — board from a major city-center station instead.

Onboard & food

Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a meal, with dietary options: vegetarian, kosher, halal, vegan, diabetic, low fat, low salt, gluten free, child, and dairy free. Vegetarian/child meals need 24 hours' notice; all others need 48 hours. Only one dietary preference per passenger can be accommodated.

Bringing your own food is fine (avoid strong smells). Alcohol allowance on intercapital/daytime ski trains: up to 4×440ml beers or one 750ml bottle of wine, no spirits; overnight ski trains don't sell or permit alcohol. From 12 April 2025, pork, beef, lamb, goat and dairy products from the EU cannot be brought into Great Britain.

Tickets & seating

• To collect tickets: use Eurostar's "Manage my booking" with your PNR and surname, then download print-at-home tickets or collect at station (collect-at-station is no longer offered for combined Eurostar/TGV "French Connection" fares from SNCF-only stations).
• To change seats: for uncollected/print-at-home tickets, use "Manage my booking" → change seats → pick from the seat map (per traveller). Already-collected tickets must be changed at a Eurostar ticket office. Deutsche Bahn Sparpreis Europa (London Saver) fares can only be changed in person with Eurostar staff.

Refunds & claims

Delay compensation: 25% of the ticket's value for 60–119 minutes, 50% for 120+ minutes (not payable for causes outside Eurostar's control, e.g. extreme weather, vandalism, trespass).

• Claims must be filed within 60 days of travel (wait at least 24 hours after arrival first).
• Have ready: travel date, PNR (6-letter booking reference) and TCN (9-digit ticket number after "IV").
• UK bank refunds: form at prr.eurostar.com. International: help.eurostar.com or email traveller.care@eurostar.com with subject "Exchanges and Refunds". Vouchers/refunds are typically issued within 28 days.
• Reasonable extra costs (accommodation, transport) may be reimbursed with receipts.