So we'll be leaving Kensington area via Glouster Road Underground and heading to St. Pancras International to take the Eurostar to Paris. I'm wondering because it's international, should we allow an hour or more for this process to check in and board? Or is it a fairly quick procedure? Anyone have experience with the chunnel? Any advice? We'll have non-flex tickets and buying them from the USA. Thanks!
Very easy - we always arrive about an hour before just in case and its fine. They say to arrive 30 mins before. You go through the ticket barrier (print your ticket at home if you can so you dont have to stand in line at the machine - if you do you need to arrive earlier to account for this).
Then go through security like at the airport, then passport control and you are ready to roll!
Then go through security like at the airport, then passport control and you are ready to roll!
I recall you can get there direct via picadilly line in about 20 minutes but give yourself extra time in case of tube problems, etc. Once you get to St. Pancras, you have to walk a bit to get to where the Eurostar departs so give yourself another 10-20 minutes cushion for that. Once you actually get to the Eurostar check in area, it is usually relatively quick although will completely depend on time of day and crowds. You go through a security screening (not as intense as airports) and passport control so I've had it taken anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes so we usually try to be at the Eurostar check in area 1 hour ahead of departure time just to be safe. Once you get through passport control, you just stand around and wait for them to open boarding and let you on the platform and then it's a minor free for all to get your yourself and your luggage on the train (there are luggage racks by the door when you get on your coach and you'll see that the coaches are numbered so you can figure out which one to get on.
All in all, a fairly easy process but less luggage is best, especially if on the tube during commute hours!
Also, we usually buy some snacks/drinks/food at the various shops right by the Eurostar check in (there is an M&S which is great for fruit, salads, etc)as the options on the train are quite limited and you can take on whatever you want unlike planes.
All in all, a fairly easy process but less luggage is best, especially if on the tube during commute hours!
Also, we usually buy some snacks/drinks/food at the various shops right by the Eurostar check in (there is an M&S which is great for fruit, salads, etc)as the options on the train are quite limited and you can take on whatever you want unlike planes.
You should not just "try to be" at St Pancras an hour before. I believe you must be.
Ackislander - I think you mis-read, "try to be" referred to the actual Eurostar check-in area, not St Pancras in general. Eurostar actually gives guidance of 30 minutes but I had suggested 1 hour to be cautious plus a bit of time to walk from the tube to Eurostar check in.....
Don't know about the tube we always take a taxi . It drops you off right at the entrance. You go thru passport control and security and wait in the waiting room until yourplatform is announced then head there and look up the car number on the boarding platform. We try to get there 1 hour in advance so I have time for a coffee or a drink before boarding and sometimes a bit of shopping!
The lounge has a couple of cafés and a bookshop, and feels a bit over-stretched at peak times, so you might want to factor in a little time for any last minute shopping in the concourse area before you check in. Arriving at Sr Pancras an hour before departure would be about right.
