Eurostar train from London to Paris
 

The very first public Eurostar, arrived at Amsterdam Centraal on 4 April 2018 with me on board - in seat 61, of course.  Eurostar's new e320 trains have the necessary signalling systems & electric traction voltages to operate to Amsterdam.

Buy Eurostar tickets to Amsterdam

For tickets between London & other destinations such as Utrecht, Den Haag. Leiden, Arnhem, Groningen, use www.nsinternational.nl.

London to Amsterdam in 4 hours...

Eurostar runs direct trains from London to Rotterdam & Amsterdam, taking 3h28 to Rotterdam & 4h07 to Amsterdam.  These London-Amsterdam trains started on 4 April 2018.

The Man in Seat 61 says, "London to Amsterdam is one of the world's busiest air routes.  Eurostar now runs direct London-Amsterdam trains in just 4 hours with up to 80% lower CO2 emissions than a flight.  City centre to city centre with power sockets & free WiFi and (in 1st class) a meal & wine served at your seat.  It's a game-changer for travel between London & Amsterdam."

small bullet point  Train times London to Amsterdam

small bullet point  Train times Amsterdam to London

small bullet point  How much does it cost?

small bullet point  How to buy tickets

small bullet point  Through tickets to Any Dutch Station

small bullet point  Check-in procedure

small bullet point  On board classes, facilities, pets & luggage

small bullet point  About the journey

small bullet point  Route map

small bullet point  Video guide

small bullet point  London St Pancras station guide

small bullet point  Amsterdam Centraal station guide

small bullet point  Suggested hotels in Amsterdam & Rotterdam

small bullet point  London to Amsterdam by Stena Line Rail & Sail

Timetable outward 2023

 London ► Amsterdam

 

Monday-Friday

Saturday

Sunday

 London St Pancras dep.

06:16

08:16

11:04

18:04

08:16

11:04

08:16

11:04

18:04

 Brussels Midi

arr.

09:12

11:12

14:05

21:12

11:12

14:05

11:12

14:05

21:12

dep.

09:22

11:22

14:22

21:22

11:22

14:22

11:22

14:22

21:22

 Rotterdam Centraal arr.

10:32

12:32

15:32

22:32

12:32

15:32

12:32

15:32

22:32

 Amsterdam Centraal arr.

11:11

13:14

16:11

23:11

13:11

16:11

13:11

16:11

23:11

Timetable inward 2023

 Amsterdam ► London

 

Monday-Friday

Saturday

Sunday

 Amsterdam Centraal dep.

07:47

13:47

16:47

18:47

07:47

16:47

13:47

16:47

18:47

 Rotterdam Centraal dep.

08:28

14:28

17:28

19:28

08:28

17:28

14:28

17:28

19:28

 Brussels Midi

arr.

09:38

15:38

18:38

20:38

09:38

18:38

15:38

18:38

20:38

dep.

09:49

15:56

18:50

20:56

09:49

18:50

15:56

18:50

20:56

 London St Pancras arr.

10:43

16:57

19:43

21:57

10:43

19:43

16:57

19:43

21:57

Times may vary.  Weekend service often opens late for booking due to engineering work in the Netherlands and service may vary.

Check times online at www.nsinternational.nl or eurostar.com.  There is a 30 or 45-minute minimum check-in for Eurostar.

London to Amsterdam is 585 km (363 miles).  London to Rotterdam is 515 km (320 miles).

There are additional departures with a change of train in Brussels, but these usually work out slower & more expensive.

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets

Additional departures with change in Brussels

Travelling from other British stations

Travelling to other Dutch stations:  Utrecht, Den Haag, Leiden, Arnhem...

Direct westbound trains from Amsterdam to London started 26 October 2020

Direct eastbound trains from London to Rotterdam & Amsterdam started running in April 2018.  However, until 25 October 2020, there were no direct westbound trains because the necessary agreements were not in place for passport & security checks at Amsterdam or Rotterdam.  Passengers had to travel from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Brussels by Thalys high-speed train then Brussels to London by Eurostar, with passport & security checks for Eurostar carried out in Brussels.

Direct westbound Eurostars from Amsterdam & Rotterdam to London finally started on 26 October 2020, with border formalities undertaken in the new Eurostar terminals at Amsterdam Centraal & Rotterdam Centraal.  The start had been postponed from 30 April 2020 because of COVID-19.

A Eurostar at Amsterdam Centraal

Eurostar at Amsterdam Centraal

The morning Eurostar from London arrived at Amsterdam Centraal, 3h55 from central London.

Eurostar at Amsterdam Centraal

Check in at London St Pancras

Check-in gates   Eurostar departure lounge

Ticket gates at London St Pancras...

 

Departure lounge at London St Pancras...

Check-in at Amsterdam Centraal

Eurostar terminal at Amsterdam Centraal   Inside the future Eurostar terminal at Amsterdam Centraal

Check-in at Rotterdam Centraal

Eurostar terminal at Rotterdam Centraal

What's it like on board the Eurostar?

Eurostar e320   Eurostar e320 first class seats

All aboard for Rotterdam & Amsterdam!

 

1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Eurostar e320   Eurostar e320

Standard class.  Sockets & free WiFi at all seats.

 

One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9...

Eurostar e320   Eurostar e320

Baby-changing facilities in all toilets...

 

Plenty of luggage space at the end of each car.

Table for two on a Eurostar to Amsterdam   The very first public Eurostar to Amsterdam on 4 April 2018

Seat 61!  A table for two in 1st class, easily the nicest seating arrangement for couples.

 

Boarding at St Pancras.  This is the very first public Eurostar to Amsterdam on 4 April 2018.

Meals & drinks are included in Standard Premier & Business Premier

A light breakfast or cold light meal is served in Standard Premier, included in the fare.  A cooked breakfast or hot meal is served in Business Premier, with menus designed by Eurostar's culinary director, master chef Raymond Blanc.  Examples of each are shown below...

Standard Premier breakfast   Standard Premier meal

Standard Premier light breakfast.

 

Lunch with a view:  Standard Premier meal.

Business Premier breakfast   Eurostar Business Premier dinner

Business Premier cooked breakfast.

 

Business Premier lunch or dinner.

About the journey

After leaving St Pancras the train tunnels through north London and emerges on the north bank of the Thames.  Look out for the impressive QE2 road suspension bridge on your right, carrying the M25 across the Thames.  The Eurostar then tunnels briefly under the Thames to reach Kent, speeding past Kentish woods and fields.  The Eurostar crosses the River Medway on a high viaduct, on your left is the M2 motorway bridge but over the top of that you can make out Rochester Castle and Cathedral in the distance.  On your right is the nicest view, the River Medway and its muddy banks dotted with small boats.  The train passes Ashford station non-stop over a dramatic flyover and just half an hour from London it slows slightly and enters the Channel Tunnel.  The tunnel transit takes just 20 minutes, but your phone reception and Eurostar's WiFi still work even deep under the Channel and regular Eurostar travellers hardly notice the tunnel these days.  When you burst back into daylight, you're in France.  You can just see the tower of Calais town hall on the skyline to your left as the train begins its race past the fields and villages of Northern France at 300 km/h, 186 mph.  The lights of Lille Europe station flash past (the trains is non-stop to Brussels) and shortly afterwards it enters Belgium.  The train stops at Brussels Midi for several minutes.  The Eurostar speeds through Antwerp Central non-stop and crosses into the Netherlands, where there are several wide river crossings including the Moerdijk bridge over the Hollands Diep at the mouth of the River Maas.  The train stops at Rotterdam Centraal then 40 minutes later rolls into Amsterdam Centraal, a mere stroll from Amsterdam's famous canals.

Dutch windmill seen from Eurostar to Amsterdam

Yup, this Eurostar is now in Holland!  North & South Holland are two provinces of the 12 that make up the Netherlands.  To understand the difference between Holland and The Netherlands, watch this nifty video...

Crossing the Moerdijk Bridge over the Hollands Diep

Returning south across the Moerdijk Bridge over the Hollands Diep (an estuary of the Rhine & Meuse rivers) in early evening, between Rotterdam & Antwerp.

Route map

Eurostar route map

 

Click for larger map

Red = high-speed lines Highlighted = Eurostar route.

Black = conventional lines.  Green = scenic routes

Reproduced from the excellent European Rail Map with kind permission of the European Rail Timetable people. 

Buy a copy of the European Rail Map for your travels at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu with shipping worldwide.

European rail map and timetable

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Video guide


Suggested hotels in Amsterdam

Suggested hotels in Rotterdam

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