When planning a trip to continental Europe, one of the biggest considerations is booking Eurostar train tickets between London and Paris or Brussels. With fares starting from around £39 one way in Standard class, the Eurostar can be an affordable way to travel. However, prices fluctuate frequently and booking in advance is often required to get the best deals. So is it really cheaper to book Eurostar tickets well ahead of your travel dates?
The short answer
Yes, booking Eurostar tickets in advance is usually cheaper than leaving it to the last minute. While Eurostar does release a small quota of low-priced tickets shortly before departure, availability cannot be relied upon. Booking 3-4 months in advance generally allows you to secure the lowest fares in Standard and Standard Premier class. Business Premier fares should be booked up to a year ahead.
Eurostar’s pricing structure
To understand why advance booking brings savings, it helps to know how Eurostar structures its fares. Tickets are sold in three classes – Standard, Standard Premier and Business Premier – with different levels of flexibility.
Standard fares are the cheapest and most restrictive. Tickets cannot be changed or refunded once purchased. The cheapest Standard fares sell out months in advance. Leaving booking to the last minute means paying the highest Standard price.
Standard Premier allows one free change to travel plans, for a £30 fee. Like Standard fares, pricing is set in bands – the further in advance you book, the lower the fare. Business Premier offers the most flexibility for a premium and has variable pricing, rather than set fare bands.
When do Eurostar tickets go on sale?
Eurostar releases tickets in two phases:
- Advance fares – tickets are available 180 days (around 6 months) before travel
- Timed fares – tickets are available 90 days (around 3 months) before departure
Booking as soon as tickets are released ensures access to the lowest Standard and Standard Premier fares. Timed tickets allow some flexibility to change travel plans. Business Premier tickets can be booked up to 12 months in advance.
How far in advance to book Eurostar
Here are some tips on booking windows for the best deals in each class:
Standard class
Book 3-4 months in advance. This balances cheaper advance purchase with retaining some flexibility if plans change.
Standard Premier
Book 4-6 months out. One free change is allowed but you still want the lowest fare band.
Business Premier
Book 6-12 months in advance for the widest choice of times/dates and cheapest fares.
Eurostar sales and promotions
As well as regular advance fares, Eurostar also offers limited-time sales through the year. These include:
- Snap – Thousands of £29/€39 Standard fares released every few months
- Business Premier sale – Discounted fares in autumn
- Seasonal sales – Discounts in early spring and late summer
Signing up for Eurostar emails ensures you never miss a sale. Booking during promotions allows you to travel at peak times for lower prices.
How to find the cheapest Eurostar tickets
To summarise, here are some top tips for finding cheap Eurostar deals:
- Book as early as possible – aim for 3-4 months ahead in Standard class
- Be flexible with dates and times if possible
- Check both Eurostar.com and Rail Europe sites for sales
- Consider taking the first train of the day as these can be cheaper
- Look for return tickets – these are often cheaper than two singles
- Make sure you are searching for travel in low season (November to March)
Should I risk waiting for last minute deals?
Eurostar does release a small number of cheapStandard tickets in the days and weeks before travel. However, there is no guarantee that cheap fares will be available on your preferred train.
Last minute Standard Premier or Business Premier tickets are extremely rare. While you may sometimes get lucky, the biggest savings come from booking months in advance when tickets are first launched.
Can I get a refund on Eurostar tickets?
Eurostar has a generous cancellation policy, but the amount of refund depends on the fare type:
| Fare Type | Refund Policy |
|---|---|
| Standard | No refund available |
| Standard Premier | One free change. Otherwise 85% refund if cancelled more than 7 days before travel |
| Business Premier | Fully flexible. 100% refund up to day before travel |
For Standard tickets, protection like refundable hotels and travel insurance can offset the risk of losing your train fare. For other classes, the generous cancellation policy increases the benefit of early booking.
Comparing Eurostar prices on different days
To demonstrate the potential savings, here is a comparison of sample Eurostar Standard fares travelling from London to Paris on different days:
| Travel Date | Days in Advance | Each Way Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Monday May 1 | 180 days | £39 |
| Friday May 5 | 90 days | £59 |
| Tuesday May 9 | 14 days | £99 |
| Thursday May 11 | 2 days | £129 |
Booking 6 months in advance saves £90 vs. travelling 2 days later. Even a 3 month head start saves £40 per person.
When are Eurostar prices highest?
You will always pay more for booking close to departure. But some times of year are more expensive than others on Eurostar:
- April to June – Peak spring season
- July to August – Summer holidays
- September to October – Autumn family travel
- Mid December – Christmas and New Year
School holiday periods also see higher demand. Aim to travel in November, early December or March to find the cheapest Eurostar tickets.
Comparing Eurostar ticket classes
Here is an overview of the three main Eurostar ticket classes and key differences:
| Class | Features | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard |
|
From £29 each way |
| Standard Premier |
|
From £59 each way |
| Business Premier |
|
From £149 each way |
Standard makes sense for budget trips where plans won’t change. Higher classes provide more comfort and flexibility.
Saving money on Eurostar with railcards
Certain railcards allow you to save 25-50% on Eurostar tickets. These can be used in conjunction with advance fares for maximum savings:
- 16-25 Railcard – 1/3 off Standard and Standard Premier for 16-25 year olds
- Two Together Railcard – 1/3 off for two named people travelling together
- Senior Railcard – 1/3 off for over 60s
- Family & Friends Railcard – 1/3 off for up to 4 adults and 4 kids
The 16-25 Railcard in particular can cut over £100 off a return trip to Paris or Brussels for a young person.
The bottom line on Eurostar advance booking
Booking Eurostar tickets weeks or months in advance clearly brings significant savings over buying close to departure. You can expect to save £20-£100 or more per return trip by booking early.
The cheapest Eurostar prices sell out fastest. Signing up for fare alerts, being flexible on dates and checking for sales help maximise savings. Standard Premier or Business allow worry-free changes to your plans for a small premium.
While not every train has ultra cheap fares, you boost your chances of grabbing a bargain by booking as early as tickets are available. Overall, earlier booking means cheaper Eurostar travel.