Paris day trip from London: what to expect
The Eurostar from St Pancras reaches Paris Gare du Nord in about 2 hours 16 minutes; Paris is one hour ahead of London. Our Paris page gathers 11 day trips that make the return journey by rail. Passengers have written more than 322 reviews of these Paris days, and they average 4.5 out of 5.
Listed lengths for the trips we describe run from 14 and a half to 16 hours.
Types of Paris day trip from London
Panoramic city tour plus a Seine cruise
Combined days put the high-speed train, a guided panoramic drive around Paris and a boat on the Seine into one booking. On one of them, the sights named are the Eiffel Tower, the Opera House and the Arc de Triomphe, with live commentary in English and a one-hour river cruise; it scores 4.6 out of 5. Another escorted version reserves your Eurostar seat and covers the city by coach with a guide.
Return Eurostar with sightseeing options
Some standard days are built around the return Eurostar ticket, and the Paris sightseeing depends on the version you pick. On one such trip, the panoramic bus tour comes with two of its versions, while the hour on the Seine runs only on Tuesdays.
Self-guided Paris with a boat ride
Self-guided days keep the train and the cruise but leave the streets of Paris to you. One supplies a "Map of Paris with public transportation information", its listing notes, and the cruise passes the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre; travellers give it 4.5 out of 5.
Lunch on the river and a hop-on hop-off bus
Boat-centred days make the Seine the main event and leave the rest of Paris to a flexible bus. One serves a three-course lunch during a 2-hour cruise, adds a hop-on hop-off ticket and offers free Wi-Fi on the train, with a rating of 4.8 out of 5.
Shared small group with a guide
On a shared small-group departure to Paris, the guide and the Eurostar journey are split with the other travellers who booked the same date. The one we describe includes an English-speaking guide, the round-trip rail journey and a sightseeing cruise on the River Seine.
Comparing Paris day trips from London
| Type of day trip |
★ |
Duration |
Includes |
| Guided panoramic tour and cruise |
4.6 |
~15h |
1-hour river cruise + Guided panoramic tour + English commentary |
| Self-guided, with map and cruise |
4.5 |
~15h |
1-hour Seine cruise + Paris map with transport info + Self-guided tour |
| Lunch cruise with hop-on hop-off bus |
4.8 |
~16h |
2-hour lunch cruise + Hop-on hop-off bus ticket + Wi-Fi on the train |
| Shared small group, guided |
— |
~16h |
English-speaking guide + Return Eurostar + Seine cruise |
On the Paris days we describe, the rail crossing is part of the booking, so what sets them apart is how much of the city comes guided and whether the Seine comes with lunch. Of the tours shown here, "From London: Paris Day Trip, Guided Tour and Seine Cruise" has collected the most reviews, more than 222, and holds 4.6 out of 5.
Table data is indicative and comes from the GuruWalk catalogue. Each activity's current details, including availability, are the ones shown on its listing when you book.
Tips before your Paris day trip from London
Early trains from St Pancras
Early trains, around 6 to 7 in the morning, give the most time in Paris. With the clock in France set one hour ahead of London, keep both times in mind when you read your train details.
Trocadéro, the Tuileries and Le Marais
Classic day routes take in the Eiffel Tower seen from the Trocadéro, the Seine, Place de la Concorde and the Tuileries, Le Marais and the Louvre. On the guided formats we cover, a panoramic bus or coach handles part of that ground; on the self-guided one, you plan it yourself with the map.
Paris day trips from London: frequently asked questions
Is the Eurostar included on a Paris day trip from London in 2026?
Yes, on the Paris day trips we describe, the train journey from London is part of the booking. Several name a return Eurostar outright, and one also reserves your seat.
Which language are the guided Paris trips from London in?
English. Each Paris tour we describe that states a language lists English alone, whether through live commentary or an English-speaking guide.
Can I explore Paris on my own during a day trip from London?
Yes, the self-guided format pairs the train with a 1-hour cruise on the River Seine and a map with public transport information. The lunch-cruise day gives similar freedom through its hop-on hop-off bus ticket.
