How to Travel From Amsterdam to London by Train
It is easy to travel from Amsterdam to London by train by taking the high-speed Eurostar service linking the two cities.
The Eurostar offers a stress-free and comfortable way to travel by train from the city centre of Amsterdam to the heart of London.
Search Eurostar train connections and book your tickets using the widget from Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the Dutch Railways, below.
About the Amsterdam-London Eurostar
Eurostar has recently expanded its services between the UK and the Netherlands and now operates six daily departures in each direction instead of five.
The journey from Amsterdam to London by Eurostar takes 5 hours and 17 minutes, with the first service of the day departing the Dutch capital at 06:40 and the last at 18:40.
The Amsterdam–London Eurostar calls at Rotterdam Centraal, Brussels South (Bruxelles Midi), and Lille Europe before reaching its terminus at London St Pancras.
Eurostar trains at London St Pancras. ©AndyBTravels
Travel classes
On Eurostar trains, you can choose between three travel classes: Standard, Plus, and Premier.
Check my Eurostar guide for more information about the high-speed Eurostar train, including details on seating, onboard facilities, lounges, and much more.
Boarding the Eurostar in Amsterdam
Boarding a Eurostar train to or from London is a bit different from what you may be used to with train travel in Europe or the UK.
Eurostar trains have a check-in procedure, which must be completed at least 30 minutes before departure (15 to 20 minutes for Eurostar Premier passengers and Carte Blanche loyalty cardholders).
That said, it’s advisable to arrive around 1 to 1.5 hours before departure to complete all formalities.
After check-in, you must go through airport-like security checks, although there are no limits on liquids you can carry on board in your luggage.
You will also need to go through passport control in Amsterdam, which involves both Dutch (Schengen) exit checks and British immigration procedures.
Once you arrive in London, the experience is much like stepping off a domestic train, and you can simply walk straight from the platform out of the station and into the city.
Taking the Eurostar to Amsterdam
When taking the Eurostar train from London to Amsterdam, the procedure is very similar to travelling to the UK, with the only difference being that all check-in and passport control procedures are handled at London St Pancras.
This means that when you take the Eurostar train from the UK to Rotterdam or Amsterdam in the Netherlands, you will already go through Schengen immigration at London St Pancras.
Upon arrival in Rotterdam or Amsterdam, you can simply disembark the train as you would on a domestic service.
The Eurostar train from London to Amsterdam. ©AndyBTravels
Conclusion
Taking the high-speed Eurostar train is the best way to travel between Amsterdam and London.
It is a comfortable and stress-free way to travel, with ticket prices that can be quite affordable when booked in advance.
Indeed, the Eurostar can even be faster than flying between London and Amsterdam once you take into account that you travel city-centre to city-centre, as well as the reduced time spent on check-in procedures compared to airports.
