London to Paris: Flight vs Train
Is it faster and cheaper to fly or take the train from London to Paris? Eurostar vs plane: full carbon footprint, real cost breakdown including hidden fees, and door-to-door journey times.
Carbon footprint
18x greener
Train: 6.1 kg CO₂ · Flight: 107 kg CO₂
Source: EcoPassenger / Eurostar Life Cycle Assessment 2023
True cost comparison
Train from £69
Flight from £39 base
+ £55–£105 on top of the base fare in extras
True flight cost: £94–£225
Door-to-Door Journey Time
By Train
2h 16m
London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, direct Eurostar
By Plane
5h 30m
Includes 90 min check-in at Heathrow/Gatwick + 1h 10m flight + 60 min arrivals/transfer at CDG + 30 min into central Paris
Carbon Emissions per Passenger
| Mode | kg CO₂ per passenger | Vs train |
|---|---|---|
| Train | 6.1 kg | Baseline |
| Flight | 107 kg | 18x greener more |
Flight figure includes radiative forcing multiplier at altitude. Train figure is per-passenger based on Eurostar's published LCA.
Full Cost Breakdown
Train (all-in)
£69–£199
No hidden fees. City-centre departure and arrival.
Flight (true cost)
£94–£225
- Base fare: £39–£120
- Checked baggage: £25–£45
- Airport transfers: £30–£60
- Airport parking: £15–£40 per day (if driving)
Verdict
Train is competitively priced once flight hidden costs are included, and saves over 4 hours door-to-door.