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. 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 now runs direct trains from London to Rotterdam & Amsterdam, taking 3h28 to Rotterdam & 4h07 to Amsterdam.  These London-Amsterdam trains started on 4 April 2018, and when Covid-19 is behind us Eurostar expect to be running up to 5 trains a day each way.

The Man in Seat 61 says, "London to Amsterdam is one of the world's busiest air routes.  Eurostar is now running direct London-Amsterdam trains in an airline-competitive 3h55, cutting your CO2 emissions by around 80% compared to flying.  It's city centre to city centre, hassle-free with room to work, power sockets, free WiFi and (in 1st class) a meal & wine served at your seat.  Eurostar has already captured 70% of the London-Paris market, and this new service is a game-changer for London-Amsterdam."

COVID-19 update:  Eurostar is running a reduced service, two trains a day London-Amsterdam as shown below (just one on Saturdays).  There'll be no stops at Ebbsfleet or Ashford until 2023.  You can also use the Harwich-Hoek ferry, see here.  See COVID-19 updates & travel info.

  Train times London to Amsterdam

  Train times Amsterdam to London

  How much does it cost?

  How to buy tickets

  Through tickets to Any Dutch Station

  Check-in procedure

  On board classes, facilities & luggage

  About the journey

  Route map

  London St Pancras station guide

  Amsterdam Centraal station guide

  Suggested hotels in Amsterdam & Rotterdam

  London to Amsterdam by Stena Line Rail & Sail

Timetable outward 2022

Timetable inward 2022

Times may vary, and more trains may be added at busy times or as business picks up post-pandemic.  Check times online at www.nsinternational.nl or eurostar.com.  There is a 30-minute minimum check-in for Eurostar.

London to Amsterdam is 581 km (361 miles).  London to Rotterdam is 513 km (318 miles).

There are additional departures with a change of train in Brussels, see here.

How much does it cost?

• London to Amsterdam or Rotterdam starts at:

  £40 each way in Standard class.

  £79 each way in Standard Premier with a light meal & wine included.

  £260 one-way in Business Premier with a hot meal, wine & champagne included.

  Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days or dates.

How to buy tickets...

• Buy tickets at either www.nsinternational.nl (which can sell tickets to any Dutch station, not just Rotterdam & Amsterdam) or www.eurostar.com.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

• If you book at www.nsinternational.nl you can use the Manage a booking feature at eurostar.com to change seats and select new ones from a seating plan.  See Eurostar seat numbering plans & tips on choosing a seat.  The Amsterdam route is always operated by an Eurostar e320 as only e320s can operate into the Netherlands.

• If you have an Interrail or Eurail pass, see how to book passholder places online.

Additional departures with change in Brussels...

• Taking a direct Eurostar is the fastest, most convenient and cheapest option.  However, if the times don't suit you there are additional departures by Eurostar to Brussels and either Thalys (a high-speed train, all tickets come with a seat reservation for a specific train) or the hourly Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam Intercity train (tickets are good for any departure that day, no reservations, you sit where you like).

• To find these additional departures with a change in Brussels, use www.nsinternational.nl or www.thetrainline.com.

Travelling from other British stations...

• See here for advice on add-on tickets from British station to London to connect with Eurostar.

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

• You can book from London to anywhere in the Netherlands via this new service using www.nsinternational.nl.  One simple change at Rotterdam for Utrecht, Eindhoven, Den Haag, Leiden, Groningen for example.

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...

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

Check in at London St Pancras...

• In the eastbound direction from London, you must check-in at London St Pancras at least 30 minutes before departure, ideally 60 minutes or more, simply by placing the barcode on your ticket over the barcode reader on the automatic ticket gates (pictured below left) or you can use the staffed kiosks (kiosk 5 is visible in the photo below left).  Check in opens an hour or two before departure.  This video shows the Eurostar check-in & boarding process.

• Immediately after the ticket gates there's a simple baggage X-ray and metal detector check, simpler than at airports, usually with no need to remove shoes or belts and no nonsense about liquids - although you can't carry an open cup of coffee through!

• In just a few minutes you're in the departure lounge directly under the tracks, with seating, cafe, bar, phone recharging points, toilets, shop and Eurostar information desk.  Business Premier passengers can use the Business Lounge with complimentary snacks & drinks including spirits, beer & wine.  When departure is announced, you go up the travelators to the platform to board your train...

• See London St Pancras station guide

Ticket gates at London St Pancras...		Departure lounge at London St Pancras...

Check-in at Amsterdam or Rotterdam...

• In the westbound direction to London you must check in at the Eurostar terminal at least 30 minutes before departure for a security check and passport control.  At Amsterdam Centraal, the Eurostar terminal is on the far eastern end of platform 15.  There is also a Eurostar terminal at Rotterdam, follow the signs.  See Amsterdam Centraal station guide.

Eurostar terminal at Amsterdam Centraal, on the eastern end of platform 15.

What's it like on board the Eurostar?

• Eurostar has three classes, Standard, Standard Premier & Business Premier.  See an explanation of Eurostar's 3 classes here.

• You take your bags with you onto the train & put them on the racks inside the entrance to each car or above your seat.  More about luggage on Eurostar.

• There's free WiFi in all classes, and free TV & movies to stream.  All seats have power sockets, either UK 3-pin or European 2-pin type.  Standard Premier & Business Premier seats also have USB charging ports.

• Eurostars have wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, and toilets with baby-changing tables.

• There are two cafe-bars in cars 8 & 9 serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, champagne, sandwiches, snacks, and several hot dishes.

All aboard for Rotterdam & Amsterdam!		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class.  Sockets & free WiFi at all seats.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9...

Baby-changing facilities in all toilets...		Plenty of luggage space at the end of each car.

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 light breakfast...		Standard Premier light meal...

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.

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...

Returning south across the Moerdijk Bridge over the Hollands Diep in early evening, between Rotterdam & Antwerp.

Route map

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Suggested hotels in Amsterdam

• Tip: Book your accommodation in Amsterdam early, as it can be difficult to find rooms at peak periods at short notice, the better and cheaper rooms quickly sell out.  You'll also find prices vary significantly even at the same hotel, depending on the season and what's going on in the city.

• The ultimate Amsterdam hotel is The Grand, now the Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam.  From around €300 per night upwards for a double room, this is one of the most famous hotel in Amsterdam, 5 minutes walk from Dam Square and 10 minutes walk from Centraal Station.  For something smaller, slightly cheaper but equally special, try the Canal House boutique hotel, 15 minutes walk from the station, €205 upwards.

• Mid-range to top end:  The Park Plaza Victoria Hotel gets great reviews and is very convenient as it's on the corner just across the road from Amsterdam Centraal station, doubles from around €135 upwards per night.  In a similar price bracket, try the Crowne Plaza Amsterdam City Centre, 6 minutes walk from Amsterdam Centraal and also with excellent reviews. 

• Mid-range:  The Hotel Luxer is cheaper, from around €109 upwards per night, and also just 7 minutes walk from Centraal station with great reviews.  Also try The Times Hotel, Hotel Tourist Inn or Daily Rooms Hotel.  Or the Hotel Sebastians, around €115 per night, equally well located 10 minutes walk from Centraal station, another hotel which gets great reviews.

• Cheapies:  There are many cheap hotels, including many near the station, but very few get outstanding reviews.  For ones that do, try the floating boat hotel AmiciA (formerly Friesland), around €45 per night 15 minutes walk from the station or the Rembrandt Hotel from €80, 10 min walk from Dam Square though 20 minutes walk from the station.

Suggested hotels in Rotterdam...

• The SS Rotterdam:  Easily the most original place to stay in Rotterdam is aboard the moored 1959 transatlantic liner, the SS Rotterdam.  It's a taxi ride or 50 minute walk from Rotterdam Centraal Station.

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