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London and Paris are the two cities Americans most often pair on a first trip to Europe, and they are close enough to travel between in a morning. You have four main options: the Eurostar train through the Channel Tunnel, a short flight, a long-distance bus, or a ferry across the English Channel. Here is how they compare, and how to plan the flights from the US around them.
London to Paris at a glance
- Eurostar train: fastest city center to city center, comfortable, prices rise as the travel date gets closer.
- Flight: short time in the air, but add travel to and from airports and security lines. Fares vary a lot.
- Bus: usually the cheapest option, but the slowest by far, often most of a day.
- Ferry: best for drivers. Without a car, you need a train or bus on both sides.
By train: the Eurostar
The Eurostar is the classic way to make the trip, and for good reason. Trains leave from St Pancras International in London, right next to King's Cross, and arrive at Gare du Nord in Paris. Both stations are central and well connected to the Underground and the Paris Metro and RER, so you go from one city center to the other with no long transfers.
How long it takes
The ride itself takes roughly two and a half hours, including the run through the Channel Tunnel. You also need to arrive at St Pancras ahead of departure for security and passport checks, which happen before you board. Eurostar publishes a recommended arrival time, and it can be longer at busy times, so check it when you book.
What it costs
Eurostar fares work much like airline fares: the earliest tickets are the cheapest, and prices climb as trains fill up. Booking several weeks or months ahead usually gets you the best price, and midweek and early-morning or late-evening trains are often cheaper than Friday and Sunday afternoons. There are several classes of service, from a basic Standard fare to more comfortable seats with a meal. Standard is perfectly fine for a ride this short.
Why most people choose the train
- You leave from and arrive in the city center.
- There are no liquid limits like at the airport, and the luggage allowance is generous compared with budget airlines.
- You can walk around, use the cafe car and watch the countryside go by.
- Checks happen once, in London, so you simply walk off the train in Paris.
By plane
London has several airports with flights to Paris, including Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Stansted and Luton. In Paris, most flights land at Charles de Gaulle or Orly. Some budget airlines use Beauvais, which is much farther from the city.
How long it takes
The flight itself is only about an hour. But once you add getting to a London airport, arriving early for security, waiting for bags and getting from Charles de Gaulle or Orly into Paris, the trip usually takes longer door to door than the Eurostar.
When flying makes sense
- You find a fare well below the train price for your date.
- You are staying near a London airport, or connecting from a long-haul flight.
- You hold airline miles or points you want to use.
Watch the total cost: budget airlines often charge extra for carry-on bags, checked bags and seat selection, and airport transfers on both ends add up. You can compare flights between the two cities on Aviasales.
By bus
Long-distance bus companies run between London (mainly Victoria Coach Station) and several stops in Paris. The bus either takes the ferry or uses the Channel Tunnel to cross the water.
The pros and cons
The bus is usually the cheapest way to get from London to Paris, and overnight buses can save you a night in a hotel. The trade-off is time: the trip takes most of a day, sometimes much longer with traffic or border delays at the Channel. Seats are less comfortable than on the train, and you still go through passport checks on the way. The bus is a good fit for backpackers and travelers on a very tight budget with flexible plans.
By ferry
Ferries cross the English Channel between Dover and Calais, and on several other routes between southern England and northern France. The crossing itself is fairly short, but Dover is a train ride from London, and Calais is a long way from Paris.
Who should take the ferry
- Drivers: if you have a car, the ferry is a simple way to take it across.
- Slow travelers: if you want to see the White Cliffs of Dover or stop in northern France on the way.
There is also a car shuttle train through the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone and Calais, which is another option for drivers. If you rent a car, check whether your rental company allows you to take it across the border, and expect a large one-way fee for dropping a UK car in France.
Which option is best for you?
- Short trip, want the easiest option: take the Eurostar and book as early as you can.
- Tight budget, flexible time: take the bus, ideally overnight.
- Already near an airport, or using points: compare flights, and include bag fees and transfers in your math.
- Driving: take the ferry or the car shuttle through the tunnel.
Plan the whole trip: fly into London and home from Paris
The smartest money and time saver for a London and Paris trip happens before you even leave the US. Instead of booking a round trip to London and coming back to London at the end, book an open-jaw ticket: fly from the US into London and fly home from Paris. That way you never have to backtrack, and you only cross the Channel once.
Open-jaw tickets are often priced close to a regular round trip, and sometimes cheaper. Search the trip on our multi-city flight search, with one leg from your home airport to London and one from Paris back home, and compare it with a round trip at live prices.
For each leg, you can check fares on our route pages, for example New York to London and New York to Paris. If you are flexible on dates, our guide to the cheapest time to fly to Europe shows when transatlantic fares are lowest.
Adding more cities? Our 10-day Europe itinerary shows how to combine London and Paris with other stops.
Where to stay in London and Paris
In London, staying near King's Cross and St Pancras makes the Eurostar departure easy. In Paris, the area around Gare du Nord is convenient for arrival, but most visitors prefer to stay closer to the sights. Compare hotel prices on our London hotels page and Paris hotels page. For more ways to save once you arrive, read our guide to Paris on a budget.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the fastest way to get from London to Paris?
- The Eurostar train is usually the fastest city center to city center, at roughly two and a half hours from St Pancras International to Gare du Nord, plus check-in time before departure.
- What is the cheapest way to get from London to Paris?
- The bus is usually the cheapest option, though it takes most of a day. Early Eurostar tickets and budget flights can also be cheap if you book well ahead.
- Do I need a passport to take the Eurostar?
- Yes. You go through UK exit and French entry passport checks at St Pancras before boarding. Entry rules for US citizens are changing, so check the latest requirements before you travel.
- Should I fly into London or Paris from the US?
- For a trip to both cities, consider an open-jaw ticket: fly into one city and home from the other. It saves backtracking and is often priced close to a round trip.