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Planning a trip to the Dutch capital and need more information on how to travel by train from London to Amsterdam? Start your journey with us!
On average, the journey time by train between London and Amsterdam is 4 hours, 52 minutes, but it can take just 3 hours, 55 minutes on the fastest services. On this route, you’ll be travelling directly with Eurostar, so you don’t need to worry about changing along the way.
As soon as you’ve stepped on the train at London St Pancras station, you can start to enjoy the free WiFi, comfortable seating, power outlets and snacks from the Eurostar Café (Eurostar’s onboard bar buffet). If you enjoy traveling in style, why not upgrade to a First Class experience in Business Premier? You’ll receive a complimentary meal served at your seat.
Before you know it, your train will arrive at Amsterdam Centraal station, in the heart of the city. Once you’ve stepped off the train, you can begin your Amsterdam adventure! There are so many things to see and do it can be difficult to know where to begin. For inspiration, check out our guide to the 9 best things to do in Amsterdam, including a trip to Anne Frank’s House and the Van Gogh Museum. If you're visiting in winter, you could check out the Amsterdam Light Festival. You can even wander round some of the filming locations used in Ted Lasso on your visit to Amsterdam! Struggling to choose a hotel? We've got you covered there too, with our guide to Amsterdam's best hotels.
Keen to book? Start your search for cheap train tickets from London to Amsterdam in our Journey Planner at the top of the page. If you’d like to read more information first, keep reading for FAQs, money-saving tips and train times.
It takes an average of 5h 28m to travel from London to Amsterdam by train, over a distance of around 220 miles (355 km). There are normally 9 trains per day traveling from London to Amsterdam and tickets for this journey start from $65.88 when you book in advance.
First train | 6:16 am | |
---|---|---|
Last train | 7:34 pm | |
Departure station | London | |
Arrival station | Amsterdam | |
Journey time | From 3h 59m | |
Distance | 220 miles (355 km) | |
Frequency | 9 trains per day | |
Changes | Direct trains available | |
Price | From $65.88 | |
Train and bus operators |
Eurostar is the exclusive high-speed train service that links London to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and the rest of Europe at speeds of up to 186 mph (300 km/h). All Eurostar trains have modern, comfortable facilities, plenty of room for baggage, and onboard food and beverage car. There are three comfort classes on offer – Standard, Standard Premier (equivalent to Premium Economy, with light refreshments served), and Business Premier (equivalent to First or Business Class, with flexible travel options, priority boarding, lounge access and delicious food and drink included). On October 1, 2023, Eurostar and Thalys joined forces and are now united under the Eurostar name. Eurostar now runs trains on more routes between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. These trains, with their distinctive red color scheme, have three classes: Standard, Comfort and Premium (equivalent to First Class, with lounge access included).
In Standard class, you'll find comfortable seats, free WiFi and a large selection of drinks and snacks for sale in the onboard bar car.
As well as all the facilities you'll find in Standard Class, in Eurostar Standard Premier you'll also get a light meal served at your seat for trips to and from London. Instead of Standard Premier, Red trains traveling around Europe have Comfort Class. Though you won't get a meal at your seat for trips solely in Europe, you'll get to sit back and relax in comfier seats.
For trains to and from London, Business Premier gives you the freedom to travel on your own timetable, with speedy boarding and Eurostar's exclusive Business Premier lounges where you can relax before your trip. In Premium Class, exclusively on trains in Europe, you'll benefit from complete comfort, including a free meal and free drinks at your seat.
From November 4, 2024: In Eurostar Standard, you'll find comfortable seats, free WiFi and a large selection of drinks and snacks for sale in the onboard café-bar.
From November 4, 2024: As well as all the facilities you'll find in Eurostar Standard, in Eurostar Plus you'll also get a light meal served at your seat for trips to and from London. Though you won't get a meal at your seat for trips solely in Europe, you'll get to sit back and relax in comfier seats.
From November 4, 2024: Eurostar Premium gives you the freedom to travel in your own time, with same-day boarding guaranteed and Eurostar's exclusive lounges (where available) where you can relax before your trip. In Premium Class, you'll also benefit from complete comfort, including a free meal and free drinks at your seat.
Although there's no weight limit for your baggage on Eurostar trains, you must be able to carry your bags safely by yourself.
Each bag must be clearly labeled and must be no longer than 33.4 inches (for trains to and from the United Kingdom) or no larger than 29.5 x 20.8 x 11.8 inches (for trains in Europe).
Are you traveling to or from the United Kingdom? In Eurostar Standard Class, choose from a wide selection of drinks and snacks at the Eurostar Café, the onboard bar car in the middle of the train. Cards and cash (Euros or pounds) are accepted. If you're traveling in Standard Premier, a light meal and a drink will be served at your seat. Travel in Business Premier and you'll be treated to a gourmet meal, as well as a continuous drinks service throughout your journey.
For all other Eurostar trains (red trains, formerly Thalys), head to the bar car and choose from a wide range of hot and cold drinks as well as savory and sweet snacks.
In Premium class, you'll get a free meal served directly to your seat.
Eurostar doesn't have an onboard entertainment portal. However, there is free WiFi available, as well as UK and EU power outlets at your seat so you can charge your devices while traveling.
Generally, Eurostar trains running to and from the United Kingdom can't transport fully assembled bikes - though on certain trains between London and Brussels, you may be able to book a bike space by contacting Eurostar. You can, however, take a foldable bike on board Eurostar trains to and from the UK provided that it's no more than 33.4 inches long and it fits in a protective bag that covers the whole bicycle. Folded bikes are treated as standard baggage.
For all other Eurostar trains in Europe, a limited number of non-foldable bikes can be brought on board, provided that the wheels are taken off and the whole bicycle is stored in a suitable cover (max. size 53.1 x 33.4 x 11.8 inches). Foldable bicycles are also permitted and count towards standard baggage limits.
The rules around traveling with your pets depend on whether you're traveling across the Channel or not, so check before you travel:
Eurostar trains to and from the United Kingdom:
Trains in the rest of Europe:
If you need help getting on or off the train, you should contact Eurostar directly before your trip. To use Eurostar's special assistance program, fill in this contact form at least 48 hours before your journey so that the team can help you.
If you're traveling on trains to/from the United Kingdom:
If you're traveling on red trains in the rest of Europe:
Specific restrictions for trains to/from the United Kingdom:
Liquids:
Sports equipment:
Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from London to Amsterdam by booking early.§
Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.
On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!
Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.
Visiting London from abroad? Chances are you'll be arriving at one of London's airports. If you want to know how to get to central London from the airport, keep reading for more details.
In total, London has six major airports:
Each airport is linked to central London through the city's comprehensive train and bus system. Typically, the fastest way to get from any airport to the city center is by taking the train.
Before your journey to Amsterdam, you’ll need to make your way to London St Pancras International Station. Scroll down for more information on how to get there.
London St. Pancras International station is conveniently located in the center of the capital and is easy to reach via National Rail, London Underground, bus services or car.
Due to its central location, King’s Cross St Pancras Underground station is served by 6 Tube lines, including the Hammersmith & City (pink line), Circle (yellow line), Metropolitan (purple line), Northern (black line), Piccadilly (dark blue line) and Victoria (light blue) lines.
If you’re planning to travel by train to London St Pancras, you can get there from Euston, Victoria, and Paddington stations in around half an hour.
Driving to St Pancras International? You’ll find a Click and Park car park at the station – it has 315 spaces and is always open, with staff on hand 24/7. If you’re cycling to the station, there are plenty of cycle spaces to store your bike safely.
Once you’ve arrived at London St Pancras International station, you’ll need to check-in. Read on for more information on checking in, station facilities and First-class lounges.
Once you’ve arrived in Amsterdam, you can begin to explore the city’s most famous landmarks!
When traveling from London to Amsterdam with Eurostar, you’ll arrive in the city center at Amsterdam Central station.
Once you’ve hopped off the train, you won’t need to go through passport checks again as these are done before leaving the UK. You’ll just need to scan the barcode on your ticket to pass through NS ticket gates and exit the platform area at Amsterdam Centraal station, so make sure you keep your ticket handy when you arrive.
Looking for local information? Head to the Amsterdam Tourist Office outside the main entrance – you’ll find it in a traditional white wooden Dutch coffee house.
If you want to use public transport, Amsterdam Centraal Station is extremely well-connected to the rest of the city by the local tram, metro and bus networks. The station is also within walking distance from most of the top neighborhoods.
Yes. Trains from London to Amsterdam do go underwater. In fact, the Channel Tunnel (or “Chunnel” if you prefer its nickname) is just over 31 miles in length and is the longest continuous underwater tunnel in the world. At a maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h) in the Chunnel, it takes a Eurostar train around 35 minutes to travel this underwater stretch.
The Channel Tunnel is 31.3 miles in length and it takes a Eurostar train approximately 35 minutes to travel its full length. In total, the fastest journey time from London to Amsterdam is 3 hours and 55 minutes.
When visiting Amsterdam, there are so many things to see and do, it can be difficult to know where to start! To help you find inspiration, here are some ideas for things to do in Amsterdam:
After visiting Amsterdam, why not continue exploring Europe by train? With a Eurail Pass, you can travel across 33 European countries as much as you want on participating European train networks for a set amount of travel days.
You can use a Eurail Pass if you’re not a European citizen or resident. If you're a European citizen or a non-European who is an official legal resident of a European country, you can use an Interrail Pass instead.
The average journey time by train between London and Amsterdam is 5 hours and 28 minutes, with around 9 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.
The fastest journey time by train from London to Amsterdam is 3 hours and 59 minutes.
Train tickets from London to Amsterdam can start from as little as $65.88 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book.
Yes, it is possible to travel from London to Amsterdam without having to change trains. There are 3 direct trains from London to Amsterdam each day. Though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date.
The first train from London to Amsterdam leaves at 06:16. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.
The last train from London to Amsterdam leaves at 19:34. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.
Trains travelling from London to Amsterdam cover a distance of around 220 miles (355 km) during the journey.
If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Amsterdam to London.