Quick Answer
London St Pancras + King’s Cross — quick reference: Eurostar to Paris: 2h16, from £52. Eurostar to Brussels: 1h53, from £52. Eurostar to Amsterdam: 3h52, from £62. LNER to Edinburgh: 4h20, from £30 advance. LNER to York: 1h57, from £24. Thameslink to Gatwick LGW: 30 min, £11.30. Underground hub: 6 tube lines + Elizabeth Line access via Farringdon. Twin station design: St Pancras (Eurostar + LNER + Thameslink) and King’s Cross (LNER north). Connected by walkway 2 min. Eurostar check-in: 30-45 min before — passport control. Left luggage: yes — Excess Baggage Company, £7-12 per 24h. Iconic clock: under glass roof, 2.5 metre Dent clock — meeting spot.
Eurostar to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam
- To Paris Gare du Nord: 2h16, 15-18 daily, from £52 Standard.
- To Brussels Midi/Zuid: 1h53, from £52.
- To Amsterdam Centraal: 3h52 direct, from £62.
- To Rotterdam: 3h09, from £62.
- To Lille: 1h22, from £39.
- To Disneyland Paris: 2h47, from £62.
- Check-in: 30 min for Paris/Brussels; 45 min for Amsterdam (additional security).
- Terminal: upper level St Pancras International, separate entrance.
- Lounge: Eurostar Business Premier (Standard Premier paid access).
- Luggage: 2 bags up to 30 kg + 1 hand bag.
- Snowflake (winter): Eurostar Ski to French Alps from December-April.
LNER north + Hull Trains + Lumo
- LNER from King’s Cross: primary operator for east coast main line north.
- To Edinburgh: 4h20, from £30 advance.
- To Newcastle: 2h47, from £21 advance.
- To York: 1h57, from £24 advance.
- To Leeds: 2h15, from £23.
- To Aberdeen: 7h, from £45.
- Lumo (low-cost): London-Edinburgh from £14.90 (advance).
- Hull Trains: London-Hull from £14.
- Advance fares: book 11 weeks ahead for cheapest.
- Standard vs First: First includes meals on long routes.
- Family + child fares: Family Travelcard discounts.
- Booking apps: Trainline, LNER, RailEurope.
Thameslink to Gatwick + Luton airports
- Thameslink to Gatwick LGW: 30 min direct, every 15 min, £11.30 off-peak.
- Thameslink to Luton LTN airport: 30 min to Luton Parkway, then 10 min Luton DART shuttle. Total ~40 min. £14.50 off-peak.
- Thameslink to St Albans, Brighton, Bedford, Cambridge: commuter coverage.
- Pricing: off-peak after 9:30am weekdays + all weekend = cheaper.
- Peak times: before 9:30am Mon-Fri prices higher.
- Travelcards valid: daily/weekly Travelcards cover Thameslink within London zones.
- Underground St Pancras: Hammersmith & City, Circle, Metropolitan, Northern, Victoria, Piccadilly lines.
St Pancras vs King’s Cross — twin stations
- St Pancras International: Eurostar, EMR (East Midlands), Thameslink, Southeastern High Speed.
- King’s Cross: LNER, Northern, Great Northern, Lumo, Hull Trains.
- Walking distance: 2 min between (King’s Cross is east of St Pancras).
- Shared underground: King’s Cross St Pancras tube — one of busiest UK stations.
- Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross: Harry Potter photo opportunity + shop.
- St Pancras Gothic architecture: Victorian masterpiece, Grade I listed.
- Champagne bar: Searcy’s Champagne Bar — longest in Europe at 96 m.
- St Pancras Renaissance Hotel: 5-star, in original 1873 building.
Services, left luggage, safety
- Left luggage: Excess Baggage Company at St Pancras, lower ground floor. £7-12 per 24h.
- WiFi free: available throughout St Pancras and King’s Cross.
- Lounges: Eurostar Business Premier (free for premium tickets), Plaza Premium (paid access).
- Shopping arcade: St Pancras has 50+ retailers, M&S, John Lewis.
- Food: Searcy’s, Sourced Market, Le Pain Quotidien, Pret, McDonald’s, restaurants.
- ATMs: multiple banks.
- Currency exchange: Travelex at St Pancras International (worse rates) + bureaux around station (better).
- Tourist info: in St Pancras lower ground.
- Accessibility: step-free throughout, induction loops.
- Safety: well-policed, generally safe. Pickpockets in tube area. Watch bags.
- British Transport Police: visible presence.
- Common meetup spot: Dent clock under main glass roof — “meet under the clock”.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eurostar London to Paris how long?
2h16 fastest service, 15-18 daily, from £52 Standard. Check-in 30 min before — passport control. Terminal upper level St Pancras International.
Cheapest Eurostar to Paris?
From £52 if booked 4-6 months ahead. Travel Tue-Thu off-peak. Avoid Friday + Sunday return + holiday weeks. App: Eurostar.com or Trainline.
Thameslink to Gatwick LGW?
30 min direct from St Pancras, every 15 min, £11.30 off-peak. Cheaper than Gatwick Express (£24.50 from Victoria). Off-peak after 9:30am weekdays.
LNER London to Edinburgh?
4h20 on LNER, from £30 advance (book 11 weeks). Lumo competitor £14.90+ same route. From King’s Cross — walk from St Pancras 2 min.
Difference St Pancras vs King’s Cross?
Twin stations. St Pancras = Eurostar + EMR + Thameslink. King’s Cross = LNER + Northern + Lumo. 2-min walk apart. Shared underground.
Left luggage St Pancras?
Excess Baggage Company, lower ground floor. £7-12 per 24h. Card payment. Useful for day-trips before Eurostar departure.
Recommended on Amazon
grandgo.com is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Links open your local Amazon store.
- Travel adapter Europe — multi-country plug.
- Compact travel backpack — cabin-friendly carry-on.
- Travel insurance Europe — rail-delay coverage.