London and Paris are a natural pair for one trip, with only the English Channel between them. Below are the distances by straight line, road, rail and air, how long each journey takes, and which way suits your trip.
London is about 344 km (214 miles) from Paris in a straight line, about 460 km (285 miles) by road through the Channel Tunnel and about 490 km by rail. Eurostar takes 2 hours 16 minutes from St Pancras to Gare du Nord, a flight about 4 to 5 hours door to door, and the drive 6 to 7 hours.
How Far Is London from Paris? Distance in Kilometres and Miles
| Measure | Distance | Journey time |
|---|---|---|
| Straight line (as the crow flies) | 344 km (214 miles) | – |
| By road, through the Channel Tunnel | about 460 km (285 miles) | 6 to 7 hours door to door |
| By rail, Eurostar | about 490 km (305 miles) | 2 hours 16 minutes, St Pancras to Gare du Nord |
| By air, Heathrow to Charles de Gaulle | about 350 km (216 miles) | 1 hour 15 minutes in the air, 4 to 5 hours door to door |
The straight-line figure is the one most maps show, but no traveller covers it. Trains and cars both run south-east to the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone before turning towards Paris, which is why the road and rail distances are longer. Distances are measured centre to centre; your own figure depends on where your hotel is in each city.
Spending a few days in London first? A private chauffeur in London takes you between the sights and to St Pancras on departure day.
How Far Is Paris From England?
Paris is about 344 km (214 miles) from London; the English Channel itself narrows to just 33 km (21 miles) at the Strait of Dover. In practice, travelling between England and Paris almost always means the London–Paris route: just over two hours on the Eurostar, or around 6–7 hours by car using the ferry or Channel Tunnel shuttle. If you would rather see the Kent coast without crossing it, a private Canterbury and White Cliffs of Dover day trip brings you back to your London hotel the same evening.
Paris to London Distance (and How Far France Is from London)
Heading north, the distance is the same in reverse (see the table above). Plan on around 7 hours by car with one stop, including check-in for the shuttle, or just over two hours by Eurostar into St Pancras.
If you mean France as a whole rather than Paris, the answer is much shorter. The French coast sits only 33 km (21 miles) from England across the Strait of Dover, and Calais is around 165 km (about 100 miles) from central London by road, counting the drive through Kent to Folkestone and the tunnel itself.
London to Paris by Train: Eurostar Distance and Time
The Eurostar runs about 490 km from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord under the Channel. Both stations are in the city centre, so there is no airport transfer at either end.
- Fastest journey: 2 hours 16 minutes
- Departures: about 14 to 18 a day depending on the date, from about 6am to about 8pm
- Check-in: be at St Pancras by the time on your ticket, usually 75 minutes before departure; the gate closes 30 minutes before
- Luggage: two large cases and one small bag per person, with no weight limit and no liquids limit
- Coming back: the UK and French checks are both at Gare du Nord before boarding, so arrive there by the time on your ticket too
- Christmas: no trains run on 25 December
Door to door from a central London hotel: about 30 minutes to St Pancras, the 75-minute check-in window, 2 hours 16 minutes on the train and 20 to 30 minutes from Gare du Nord to a central Paris hotel, so about 4½ hours in all.
| Ticket type | Approx. price in £, one way (varies by date) |
|---|---|
| Standard | 39 – 100+ |
| Eurostar Plus | 70 – 200+ |
| Eurostar Premier | 250 – 400+ |
Fares rise as the travel date gets closer, so booking early gives the widest choice of prices and times.
London to Paris by Plane: Flight Distance and Time
Heathrow to Charles de Gaulle is about 350 km, and the flight itself takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. The total is usually 4 to 5 hours once you add the trip to the airport, security, boarding, baggage claim and the ride into Paris.
- From London: Heathrow, plus Gatwick, Luton and Stansted for low-cost airlines. A Gatwick airport transfer to central London is one fixed fare for the whole car.
- Into Paris: Charles de Gaulle (CDG), the main hub, and Orly (ORY), closer to the centre. A private CDG airport transfer meets you at arrivals and drives you to your hotel at a fixed price.
- Fares: about €20–80 one way on budget airlines and €70–250+ on full-service airlines; bags, seats and airport transfers add to the low fares.
Flying suits travellers connecting to another flight. For a city-to-city trip with cases, the train is usually quicker and simpler.
Driving from London to Paris: Distance and Drive Time
By road it is about 285 miles from central London to central Paris through Folkestone and Calais. The car rides on the Eurotunnel shuttle for 35 minutes under the Channel; the ferry from Dover to Calais takes about 1 hour 30 minutes instead.
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Central London to Folkestone (tunnel) or Dover (ferry) | about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours |
| Check-in and passport control | about 1 hour |
| Channel crossing | 35 minutes (tunnel) / 1 hour 30 minutes (ferry) |
| Calais to central Paris | about 3 hours |
That adds up to 6 to 7 hours. Paris is one hour ahead of London, so a car leaving central London at 8am reaches central Paris at about 4pm local time. A lunch stop in Amiens or Lille breaks the drive.
Prefer to be driven? Tripyana offers London to Paris by car with a private chauffeur, hotel door to hotel door via the Channel Tunnel shuttle. The journey takes about 7 hours; the price starts from £1,510 per car one way, with the crossing and French tolls included. The cases stay in the boot the whole way, and the total is written before you travel.
Best Way to Travel from London to Paris
- Fastest and simplest: the Eurostar, 2 hours 16 minutes centre to centre with no airport at either end.
- Cheapest: an early Eurostar fare or a budget flight if you travel light (the coach is in the FAQ below).
- Door to door with luggage, children or older relatives: a car, 6 to 7 hours, with no station or airport changes.
- Connecting onwards: a flight, if your next leg leaves from Charles de Gaulle.
Many visitors mix them: the Eurostar to Paris, a few days with a private driver in Paris for days out such as the Loire Valley châteaux, the Normandy D-Day beaches, Monet’s garden in Giverny or Mont-Saint-Michel, then back to London by car. Tripyana can build a custom itinerary around your dates, and our London day trips reach Windsor, Oxford and the Cotswolds if you have spare days in England.
FAQ: Your Questions About Traveling from London to Paris Answered
How far is London from Paris by train?
About 490 km (305 miles) under the Channel, and the fastest Eurostar takes 2 hours 16 minutes from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord.
What is the fastest way to travel from London to Paris?
The Eurostar: about 4½ hours from a central London hotel to a central Paris hotel, against 4 to 5 hours by air once you add the airports at both ends.
What is the cheapest way to travel from London to Paris?
An overnight or daytime coach is usually cheapest, from about €20 if booked early, but it takes 7 to 10 hours. Budget flights can also be cheap, though bag fees and airport transfers add to the price. Early Eurostar fares start at about £39.
What is the driving distance from London to Paris?
About 460 km centre to centre, crossing the Channel on the tunnel shuttle: roughly 115 km to Folkestone, 50 km in the tunnel and about 290 km from Calais.
How long does it take to drive from London to Paris?
Allow 6 to 7 hours including check-in and the crossing. With the one-hour time difference, a car leaving London at 8am reaches Paris at about 4pm local time.
Is Paris in London, or close to London?
No. Paris is the capital of France and London is the capital of the United Kingdom. They are about 214 miles apart with the English Channel between them, close enough for a short train ride.
Can I do a day trip to Paris from London?
Yes. An early Eurostar from St Pancras reaches Paris before 10am, and the last trains back leave in the evening, which gives you about eight hours in the city. Staying a few nights instead? A private Versailles tour from Paris fits easily into one of the days.
Do I need an ETA or EES registration between London and Paris?
Since 10 April 2026 the EU Entry/Exit System is fully in force: non-EU travellers have their fingerprints and a face photo taken at their first crossing. At St Pancras the French checks happen before boarding, so arrive by the time shown on your ticket. Visitors from the US, Europe and other visa-free countries also need a UK ETA, now £20, to enter Britain.
Start Your Journey the Comfortable Way
Let a professional chauffeur take you to St Pancras International or the airport — on time, with help for your luggage and a fixed price agreed in advance.