Do your bags get searched at Eurostar?

All passengers boarding at any station to use Eurostar trains will have their luggage scanned. It's similar to scanning at airports but with importance differences. You can take more things on a Eurostar than you can on aircraft.



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On Eurostar there's no weight limit for your luggage, but you must be able to carry and lift your bags safely on your own, as there is no porter service at the station and our teams are unfortunately unable to help with luggage. Each bag can be up to 85cm long at its widest point and should be clearly labelled.

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Eurostar check-in process Eurostar passengers require a valid passport or identity card. You will pass through UK, French, Dutch or Belgian customs depending on the journey you are undertaking.

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Declaring cash Cash you must declare includes: Banknotes and coins. Bearer negotiable instruments (eg. cheques, travellers' cheques, promissory notes and money orders)

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The United Kingdom operates juxtaposed immigration controls on the Eurostar routes. Therefore, our immigration checks are carried out prior to departure from the stations in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Passengers disembarking on arrival at St Pancras are not routinely subject to any further checks.

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Check that you have a clear page in your passport, as it will need to be stamped with your travel date when you're travelling to and from the EU.

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Usually, you just hop on the train… no security checks or bag searches. They do random bag checks sometimes, but they don't make everything go through security like at the airport.

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Port or Channel Tunnel Operators are permitted to search any public vehicle travelling through their system, and may, where necessary, involve the Police in this process. This includes searching of the Coach itself and all baggage carried on it.

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Can I take food on board? Absolutely. You can bring your own food on European and London routes. And unlike in the sky, we won't restrict you with stifling rules on liquids.

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There are usually sniffer dogs (with handlers) milling about. They're quite friendly but alert to dangerous substances and drugs so don't even think about it.

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If possible, try to secure the bag with a lock or cable tie so that it cannot easily be taken away from you. Additionally, if there is space available for storage above or below the seat, use it!

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Travel by train between London and Paris does not typically involve a passport check at the border. Passport checks are generally conducted when crossing international borders, but there is no border check between the United Kingdom and France as they are both part of the European Union's (EU) Schengen Area.

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Passport checks used to be carried on the international Eurostar train, but all formalities are now carried out before boarding. At some border crossings, the train stops twice. First on one side of the border for checks and then on the other side for a second set of checks.

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Make your journey from St Pancras International that little bit more seamless with our facial verification technology. From July 2023, SmartCheck will allow you to use the dedicated lane without scanning your ticket. You then only need your passport checked once before entering the departure lounge.

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What Not to Bring to Europe from the U.S.
  • Tobacco products: Limits can range depending on the port of entry you choose, although EU guidelines state a maximum allowance of:
  • Alcoholic Beverages:
  • Other goods (including perfume, coffee, tea, electronic devices etc.):


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Eurostar recommends that you get to London St Pancras around an hour and 15 minutes before departure. This will give you enough time to clear security and passport control (for both the UK and France), and then wait in the departure lounge until the platform is announced.

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For usage on the train you can take 4 bottles/cans of beer or 1 bottle of wine per person. In closed packaging you can take: Max. 4 liters of spirits (with an alcohol percentage of 22% or higher) or max.

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Smoking Restrictions 25.1 You are not allowed to smoke while on board a Eurostar train.

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Although you can bring alcohol with you and we serve alcohol on board, safety is our top priority. So, please drink in moderation. If you behave in an antisocial way which ruins the journey for other passengers or break any laws or by-laws, we might ask you to leave the train at the nearest station.

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