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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 runs direct trains from London to Rotterdam & Amsterdam, taking 3h30 to Rotterdam & 4 hours to Amsterdam.
The Man in Seat 61 says, "It's one of the world's busiest air routes. Eurostar now runs London-Amsterdam trains in just 4 hours with up to 80% lower CO2 emissions than a flight. Centre to centre with power sockets & free WiFi and (in 1st class) a meal & wine served at your seat. It's a game-changer for London-Amsterdam."
Important update July to December 2024: The Eurostar terminal at Amsterdam Centraal will close for 6 months while the station is refurbished and a new larger Eurostar terminal built in one of the under-track passageways. London to Amsterdam Eurostars will continue to run direct. Amsterdam to London Eurostars will run Amsterdam-Brussels (with no check in), you'll alight at Brussels, go through the check-in process and re-board a Eurostar for London. Just as they did before the terminal originally opened, in fact. The current terminal can only process 250 passengers for a 900-seat train, the new terminal will be able to check in up to 650 passengers. Details of the July to December timetable will be posted here when known.
Train times London to Amsterdam
Train times Amsterdam to London
Through tickets to Any Dutch Station
On board classes, facilities,
pets & luggage
London St Pancras
station guide
Amsterdam Centraal
station guide
Suggested hotels in Amsterdam & Rotterdam
London to Amsterdam
by Stena Line Rail & Sail
Timetable outward until June 2024
Timetable inward until June 2024
Weekend service often varies and often opens late for booking due to trackwork planning in the Netherlands.
Check times online at www.nsinternational.nl or eurostar.com. There is a 30-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 more expensive.
How much does it cost?
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London to Amsterdam or Rotterdam starts at:
£51 one-way or £98 return in Standard class.
£97 one-way or £168 return in Standard Premier with a light meal & wine included.
£335 one-way or £580 return 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
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Option 1, buy tickets at www.nsinternational.nl, this can sell tickets to any Dutch station.
Option 2, buy at www.eurostar.com which can only sell to Rotterdam & Amsterdam.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, although some dates may open later than this. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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If you book at www.nsinternational.nl you can use the Manage 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 from the UK to the Netherlands.
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If you have an Interrail or Eurail pass, you can buy a Eurostar passholder ticket online as shown here.
Additional departures with change in Brussels
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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 then either a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) 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).
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To find these additional departures with a change in Brussels, use www.nsinternational.nl or www.thetrainline.com.
Travelling from other British stations
Travelling to other Dutch stations: Utrecht, Den Haag, Leiden, Arnhem...
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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.
Check in at London St Pancras
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In the eastbound direction from London, you must check-in at London St Pancras at least 30 minutes before departure, ideally 60-90 minutes, by holding the barcode on your ticket against the barcode reader on the automatic ticket gates (pictured below left) or you can use the staffed kiosks (a kiosk 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.
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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!
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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.
Check-in at Amsterdam Centraal
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In the westbound direction from Amsterdam Centraal to London you must check in at the Eurostar terminal at least 30 minutes before departure for a security check and passport control, ideally 60-90 minutes.
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The Eurostar terminal is on the far eastern end of platform 15 (that's the end of the platform to your right as you walk from the station building and city). Enter the station, go through the ticket gates (the QR code on your Eurostar ticket will open the gates), walk through the passageway under all the tracks to the far side of the station and go up the escalators onto platform 15. See Amsterdam Centraal station guide.
Check-in at Rotterdam Centraal
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In the westbound direction from Rotterdam Centraal to London you must check in at the Eurostar terminal at least 30 minutes before departure, ideally 60-90 minutes, for a security check and passport control.
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The Eurostar terminal is located on platform 1, see the photo below. From the main hall, go through the ticket gates (the QR code on your Eurostar ticket will open the ticket gates) then turn almost immediately left up the escalators to platform 1. In the photo below, the arrow marks the entrance.
What's it like on board?
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Eurostar has 3 classes, Standard, Standard Premier & Business Premier. See an explanation of Eurostar's 3 classes here.
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You take your bags onto the train & put them on the racks inside the entrance to each car or above your seat. More about luggage on Eurostar.
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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.
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Eurostars have wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, and toilets with baby-changing tables.
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There are two cafe-bars in cars 8 & 9 serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, champagne, sandwiches, snacks, and several hot dishes.
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Dogs are not carried (except guide dogs), for UK-Netherlands travel with a dog use Stena Line Harwich-Hoek, see the Travel with dogs page.
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.
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.
Route map
Video guide
Suggested hotels in Amsterdam
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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.
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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.
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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 Kimpton de Witt Amsterdam Centre, 6 minutes walk from Amsterdam Centraal and also with excellent reviews.
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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.
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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
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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.