Eurostar ...

[tinkertaylor05]

what's the procedure for getting off at St Pancras? Getting the direct service arriving in at 21:19 if there's no delays. So once we arrive what do we have to do, what controls if any do we have to get through?

I am dreading this now regretting not flying

Travelling with dd and my mum as usual, problem is we'll have 2 medium cases with us probably half full with princess dresses my mum cannot handle a case on escalators, walking through crowds, getting on/off trains sooooo pretty much our whole journey, leaving me to struggle with the two so I want to prepare for everything x

 

[scottwb]

Well, the good news is ... St Pancras is the end of the Eurostar line, so nothing to worry about there - take your time getting off the train.

Usually, British immigration officers get on the train when it leaves DLP and will go up and down the train asking to see passports. This means it should be a straightforward exit from St Pancras.

Outside of the station are plenty of taxis so you shouldn't have to wait too long to continue your journey. Plenty of tubes are also running at this time of night if you are getting the underground.

Trust me, it's far more scary getting off at Ashford as you have about two minutes before the doors automatically close and the train leaves

 

[hanksy]

When we got off at st pancas there was trolleys for cases and the down the escalator to passport control, we was here a long time! If you have a connecting train make sure you tell staff if you worried about the time!

We travelled back on Thursday evening just gone!

If you have booked own transport then choose own seats near front of train!

 

[tinkertaylor05]

When we got off at st pancas there was trolleys for cases and the down the escalator to passport control, we was here a long time! If you have a connecting train make sure you tell staff if you worried about the time!

We travelled back on Thursday evening just gone!

If you have booked own transport then choose own seats near front of train!

Oh no that doesn't bode well, look like I may need to book a hotel for the night, we only have 30 minutes between arriving to St Pancras and departing from Euston

Have got someone on standby who would be picking us up at St Pancras and driving us around the corner to help out. Thanks for the replies, so is this the norm for a wait at passport control?

 

[wbl2745]

I don't know if they have different procedures at different times, but we just took the Eurostar from DLP to St. Pancras about three weeks ago, I think the same train since we arrived at about 9:20 PM. We cleared passport control in France before getting on the train. We had to go through security at the train station at DLP, just like airports, x-raying the luggage.

On the train passport control came through again checking passports.

Once we arrived at St. Pancras there was no more passport checking at all; however, it was quite a hike from the train to the main hall of the station. Once we figured out where the taxi stand was located, we had to wait just briefly to get a taxi. I would think, however, that trying to go between train stations with only 30 minutes to spare could be a little tight. But you never know. My wife and I changed planes in Atlanta with only six minutes between flights.

Good luck! I'd definitely have backup plans if things don't work out just right.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Whilst we used Ashford and not St Pancras we found the Eurostar service excellent.
Our only complaint was kid's sat in the aisles blocking the path of people trying to get past.

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Whilst we used Ashford and not St Pancras we found the Eurostar service excellent.
Our only complaint was kid's sat in the aisles blocking the path of people trying to get past.

I hope we share the same experience, am just starting to have a real heavy feeling about this trip

Have ordered clubcard vouchers to cover the train to London hoping they come through today and I can book the tickets. Will likely book a hotel to take the pressure off and catch the first train Monday morning .... fingers crossed it all goes smoothly

 

[TheMoonman]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but has anyone ever taken the Eurostar from Ebbsfleet?

I've always gone from Ashford in the past, but decided on Ebbsfleet, as it's closer.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I hope we share the same experience, am just starting to have a real heavy feeling about this trip

Have ordered clubcard vouchers to cover the train to London hoping they come through today and I can book the tickets. Will likely book a hotel to take the pressure off and catch the first train Monday morning .... fingers crossed it all goes smoothly

I found the Eurostar service very well run and professional, they are also nicer on the phone to speak to than many other tour operators I have used.
That said I have only used them once.

 

[Cdaniels1987]

I must say I have used the Eurostar on 3 seperate occasions now there and back and everytime has been so stress free and a lot less stressful than flying, the last time we travelled was back in July this year and we manage to get off the Eurostar and get back to euston in 20 minutes so it is doable but 30 would be pushing it a little bit! Bearing in mind on 2 occasions we have actually arrived back about 15 minutes earlier than scheduled!!

 

[poppie123]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but has anyone ever taken the Eurostar from Ebbsfleet?

I've always gone from Ashford in the past, but decided on Ebbsfleet, as it's closer.

I have

It's much smaller than Ashford but i prefer it, and it's closer to me.

There is a small cafe nero and a tiny newsagents. That's about it.

 

[Ware Bears]

Passport checks are now being carried out in the UK so extra time needs to be allowed for this - see this thread here.

tinkertaylor05 - sent you a PM just in case you don't notice this.

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Thanks Elaine So glad I decided to book the first train on Monday morning now! Got a bargain by changing up clubcard vouchers with red spotted hanky x3 which made it cheaper to book advance singles and a hotel over buying open returns

It's all my own fault, just assumed there would be a train later than 21:50 London-Manchester, lesson learned and dd will be travelling in her school uniform. Poor thing won't know what's hit her, straight from DLP-London-Manchester-School at 9am

 

[Ware Bears]

Great that it worked out cheaper and to be honest your DD will probably be less tired than if you'd travelled all the way back the night before.

 

[Chatterbox1169]

I did it last night and no-one came along the train. We had ticket/pasport checks at Marne Le Vallee and then scanners. In London we had to go through passport control (10 mins) and then walk through customs. It's the first time I've done it and would do it again but it was definitely the 'grumpy train'; knackered parents + tired children = interesting journey. Less stressful than a plane so will do it again.

 

[SyracuseOrange44]

I'll be taking the Eurostar to Disney for the first time this year. (I usually fly cause I book far in advance so I can get a cheap rate.) Anyone know how long I should give myself at London St. Pancras to check-in and everything?

 

[scottwb]

At least an hour.