How early should you get to St Pancras International?

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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Please ensure that you have enough time to go through all the extra passport and security checks before your train departs. We recommend arriving around 30 minutes before your train leaves. Don't cut it too fine, as it is no longer possible to board the train within five minutes of departure.

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Our trains can carry up to 894 passengers, so there may be times when you experience queues at the station. This can particularly happen on peak days or when checks take a bit longer. But don't worry – our staff will be on hand to guide you through the departures process and ensure you board your train.

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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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Until two years ago, passengers could just show their passports for often quick checks, but since 2021, after Britain left the European Union, British travelers in both directions have been required to get their passports stamped.

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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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Generally, if you'd left enough time had the delay not happened, Eurostar will re-book you onto the next available service. If you're delayed getting to the Eurostar station by something other than a train, YMMV, so it's probably best to leave more time for that.

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But, whichever station you're catching the Eurostar from, you'll need to make sure you've printed your tickets at least 45 minutes beforehand - this gives you time to check in and board the train. You'll also need your ID to check in.

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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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