Work was eventually abandoned until construction on the tunnel as we now know it began again in While we prefer our journeys comfortable, relaxing and underground through the Euro Tunnel, a few dare devils have travelled in slightly different ways. The Channel Tunnel or in the air, on the water or in a bathtub? You decide. He first attempted the crossing on 12 August , but had to give up due to strong winds and rough seas. Undeterred, he tried for a second time 12 days later.
Escorted by three boats and covered in porpoise oil, he reached Calais in 21 hours 45 minutes, despite challenging tides and a jellyfish sting. American swimmer Sarah Thomas raised the bar in September , setting a world record by becoming the first person to swim across the Channel four times non-stop.
She completed her incredible swim in 54 hours and 10 minutes. On July 31 , Felix Baumgartner jumped from a plane 30, feet 9, meters above Dover wearing a carbon wing and flew for 22 miles Six minutes later he landed in France and became the first man to cross the channel in a wing suit. He told the journalists shortly after landing "For the last 2, meters I could see the other side and I knew I was going to make it".
Tim first attempted this incredible challenge in but was forced to abandon when he was caught in a storm with force 6 winds. Before attempting the crossing, Tim had to learn to row and trained with Britain's Olympic rowing team. Tim completed the grueling journey in nine hours and six minutes. On his arrival, he told journalists "You can't fake rowing; you can either do it or you can't. It's exhausting. Because you're using so much energy, and every area of your body, your heart and lungs are working overtime.
On March 12 , The One Show presenter Christine Bleakley water-skied across the English Channel and completed the mile 34 km stretch in just minutes. Despite being terrified by water and admitting she wasn't a strong swimmer; she became the first person to water-ski across the world's busiest shipping lane.
She raised thousands of pounds for Sport Relief in the process and, after finishing the challenge, said "I can't believe I've actually done it. It was really tough. On May 28 , Jonathan Trappe crossed the Channel strapped to 54 industrial strength helium balloons. Jonathan started his incredible journey from a field, near Ashford, and became the first cluster-balloonist to cross the English Channel.
The year-old adventurer drifted in the air for four hours before landing in a French cabbage field narrowly escaping death after avoiding a power line.
After landing Mr Trappe, said: "The flight was outstanding, but it was a hell of a landing. I'm tremendously proud. It's an outstanding thing to do. On August 04 , Frenchman Franky Zapata became the first man to cross the Channel by jet-powered hoverboard. Unlike airlines, children under 4 go free on Eurostar, no ticket is required, just bring them along with their passports.
A special child fare applies to children from 4 to 11 inclusive. All children under 12 must travel accompanied by an adult, and unaccompanied children from 12 to 16 require a consent form signed by their parent or guardian. You can now use an Interrail or Eurail pass on Eurostar on payment of a passholder fare, for details see here.
Back to top How to buy tickets If you're only using Eurostar, not onward trains further into Europe, buy tickets at either www. Eurostar bookings normally open up to days 6 months before departure. You print your own tickets or can load them into the Eurostar app on your smartphone, or can collect them from the machines at the station.
After paying, you can return to the www. Tips on choosing a specific seat on Eurostar. To buy a passholder fare with an Interrail or Eurail pass, see here. If you are going beyond Paris or Brussels, for example from London to the South of France, Spain or Italy, it's best to book Eurostar and your onward train tickets together in one place at www. Eurostar bookings usually open days before departure, but reservations for most other European trains only open 90, 92 or sometimes days ahead.
I strongly recommend waiting until onward bookings open so you can confirm onward train times before committing to a non-refundable Eurostar ticket. Timings for onward trains can sometimes change on specific dates because of engineering work.
After buying Eurostar tickets at www. See the Train travel to Europe page for more information about how to buy European train tickets. Advice on changing trains in Brussels. Option 1, buy a Eurostar through ticket : www. Option 2, use www. This site can book through from any rail station in Britain to Paris, Brussels and destinations all over Europe. It does this by adding a special ticket to London International CIV as described below, to a Eurostar ticket and onward European tickets.
This usually costs a bit more than option 1. There's a small booking fee. Option 3, you can buy a separate UK train ticket to London. There are special fares from most stations in Britain to a destination called 'London International CIV' designed to be used with Eurostar tickets, which you can buy online following the instructions here.
Stations can sell these tickets, though staff aren't always familiar with them. Eurostar reservations with an Interrail or Eurail pass To book a Eurostar passholder fare with an Interrail or Eurail pass, see here.
Print-at-home tickets can be sent to you by email or you can pick up tickets at the station before departure from the e-ticket machines.
Back to top. The video shows a Eurostar e Some journeys are operated by refurbished e trains. Also known as 2nd class, standard class is comfortable, carpeted and air-conditioned, some seats unidirectional, a few around tables for four, ideal for families or friends. All seats have an individual reading light and fixed or drop-down table, there is free WiFi and all seats have power sockets.
Standard class seats on the e and refurbished e trains can be reclined slightly, for posture rather than sleeping. Standard class seating.
This is a Eurostar e As in Standard class, there's a minute minimum check-in and no access to the business lounge, tickets are all non-refundable and only changeable for a fee. All seats adjust from upright to a slight recline and all seats have an individual reading light and fixed or drop-down table.
Although confusingly using the word 'Standard' in its brand name to help attract business travellers whose companies don't officially allow first class travel, make no mistake, this is indeed first class. Standard Premier replaced Leisure Select in Is Standard Premier worth the extra? Standard class is perfectly adequate and it's only 2 hour 20 minutes to Paris or 2 hours to Brussels after all.
There's no need to pay more if you don't want to. So yes, it's a nice experience especially if your journey is for a special occasion! Standard Premier table for two on an e Standard Premier light meal Standard Premier light breakfast Standard Premier seating on an e or e train. All seats adjust from upright to a slight recline, and all seats have an individual reading light and fixed or drop-down table.
The only downside? It's priced assuming your company is paying! Business Premier table for two on an e Business Premier cooked breakfast Business Premier meal Business Premier seating on an e or e train. Eurostar vary the allocation of first class cars on each train between these two classes according to demand.
See the Tips for choosing your seat section below for a Eurostar seating plan. All Eurostar tickets include a specific reserved seat, and initially you'll be allocated seats. If you're buying at www. If you buy tickets at www. See tips on picking the best seats below. Important: The Manage Booking system will work if you bought your ticket at www.
By all means try, but don't be worried if your reference number doesn't let you use this feature. Booking references issued by some perfectly legitimate sales channels won't necessarily work this system. Seat numbering plan for Eurostar e Currently, all Eurostar departures are operated by e trains. All 8 e s have been put into storage until passenger numbers return to normal after the pandemic.
However, for the record, here's how to check:. Go to www. If your first class seat is in cars 1, 2, 3 or 14, 15, 16 it is an e If it is in cars 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 it is an e Remember that the type can still be switched on the day for operational reasons!
If you already have a ticket you can go to www. If your train has 16 cars with 1st class at each end, it's due to be an e If 18 cars with all 1st class cars in the middle, it's an e If you're travelling as a group of 3 or 4 people , choose seats around a table as opposed to airline-style pairs all facing the same way, as this is much more sociable. If you're a couple in first class , choose a pair of seats facing across an intimate table-for-two. If you prefer a window seat which lines up with the window rather than one next to a blank bit of wall between the windows , look carefully at the plan.
The white or pale blue sections in the coach walls on the plan are the windows. In standard class, a seat in the car next to the bar car makes it easier to fetch food and drink, which might be a consideration. On the other hand, you get more people walking through to get to the bar. If you've a tight onward connection when your Eurostar arrives in Paris or London , book a seat at the front of the Eurostar train i.
If going to Brussels, see information about the short cut to other platforms here. Quiet coach : Eurostar trialled a 'quiet coach' in Business Premier and Standard Premier but not Standard class in , but the trial ended, and there is now no designated quiet coach. On Eurostar's e trains in all classes but not e , the edge of your seat can be extended 2 inches just by pulling it out.
If you're tall, this is a great feature! Unlike other British and European trains, Eurostar operates a check-in system. You must check in for any Eurostar train at least 30 minutes before departure 10 minutes for Business Premier passengers, 60 minutes for the Eurostar ski trains. However, the gates still close 30 minutes before departure 10 minutes for Business Premier so if you can't make the full 90 minutes because of your other train connections it should still be OK.
But earlier is better! Check-in opens at up to 2 hours before each train departure, it varies depending how busy they expect to be that day. Check-in at London St Pancras. Check-in at Paris Nord. Check-in at Brussels Midi. The check-in gates are in the wide passageway off the lower street level shopping arcade, one level down from the Eurostar trains themselves.
To check in, place your ticket barcode on your phone or a printout against the small scanner screen on the automatic ticket gates. Or you can use a staffed check-in kiosk. If you want to change your allocated seat for example, to make sure you're facing forward , ask at a staffed kiosk.
No need to remove your belt or shoes, no nonsense with liquids though they don't like you carrying a cup of coffee through!
After the security scan there's a UK passport check, where staff will scan your passport. Then there's a French passport check. Then you're inside the departure lounge and free to use the shops, bar, cafe or other facilities until your train is ready for boarding, usually minutes before departure.
The Eurostar information desk can provide you with Eurostar information, a free map of Paris, and Paris visitor metro passes. The entrance to the Business Lounge at St Pancras is on the right-hand side of the departure lounge, immediately after the passport check.
The six Eurostar platforms at St Pancras platforms are directly above the departure lounge, and a boarding announcement will be made about minutes before departure. There are two gently-sloping moving walkways up to each platform, plus a lift. If your reservation is in cars , you use one walkway, if your reservation is in cars you use the other.
Just follow the signs! There are no formalities on arrival in Paris, Lille or Brussels other than a very occasional spot check , it's all done before you board.
So on arrival you just walk off the train, simple as that St Pancras' beautiful gothic facade The station building is now a luxury hotel, the Renaissance, accessed from the forecourt via the big archway in the photo above. See London St Pancras station information. This way to check-in! Check-in gates: You scan your ticket barcode to open the automatic gates, then through security, then a passport check, and you're in the departure lounge! Departure lounge In this photo you can see the travelator up to the platform, and the shop at the back.
The blue bench seating in the centre of this photo has now been improved with more regular seating of the brown type. Business Premier lounge When boarding is announced, staff open the glass doors and passengers go up the travelators to the platform above.
There are six platforms, Station plan, click top right to expand. To use the automatic gates, place your ticket barcode on your phone or a printout against the small scanner screen on the gate. If you want to change your allocated seat for example, to make sure you're facing forward , use a staffed kiosk. Immediately after the ticket check you enter the terminal and have your passport checked by French police.
Then there's a passport check by UK Border Force, with a choice between staffed kiosks and automated passport e-gates. You then turn right and enter the departure lounge which is on the first floor alongside platform 3 there isn't a platform 1 or 2 at Paris Nord.
It also has a cocktail bar, open afternoon and evenings. It's on the second floor, immediately after the security checks turn left and go up the stairs or lift.
Porte A is the one closest to the buffer stops, for boarding cars at the rear of the train. Porte B is the far one, for boarding cars at the London end of the train. However, they lead to the same platform, so it's not the end of the world if you use the wrong one. There are no formalities on arrival in London unless UK customs people pull you over , it's all done before you board.
This photo is taken looking along the station concourse with the platforms on the right. When Depart - Return. Passengers 1 Adult. Three travel classes with tickets for every budget. From city centre to city centre. Important travel information Because of Brexit and coronavirus, your Eurostar journey may be different than usual.
Take a train to London Get to Paris Gare du Nord at our recommended arrival time to allow plenty of time to get through border controls and security. All while you whizz through France at mph. Eurostar trains arrive right in the heart of London at the beautiful and historic St Pancras International.
You can never be bored in London. Kensington, Knightsbridge and Chelsea Style and elegance are the order of the day in this upmarket part of London.
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