Amsterdam Centraal's 19th-century facade on the IJ waterfront, the terminus for direct Eurostar trains from London.
Photo: Jensre / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)London to Amsterdam by Train
An international route between United Kingdom and Netherlands.
Reviewed by Eurotraintrip on 2026-07-30
- Duration
- 3h 52m – 4h 19m
- Price from
- 39 GBP
- Distance
- 585 km
- Operators
- Eurostar
- Frequency
- Around 4-5 direct trains a day in each direction as of the 2026 timetable, plus additional Eurostar options that involve changing at Brussels-Midi
Compare and book London–Amsterdam tickets
Check pricesWhat makes London to Amsterdam different
- Direct London-to-Amsterdam service launched in April 2018, but the reverse direction only became truly non-stop in October 2020, once the UK government permanently stationed Border Force officers inside Amsterdam Centraal - a bilateral border arrangement matched only at Brussels-Midi and the French Eurostar stations.
- The train crosses Belgium and the Netherlands as well as France, calling at Brussels-Midi/Zuid and Rotterdam Centraal (a brief scheduled stop of only around 5 minutes) without passengers changing trains - the longest calling pattern of any current Eurostar route.
- Eurostar runs only around 4-5 direct daily departures each way on this route as of the 2026 timetable - fewer than a third of the 15-18 daily departures on the Paris route - reflecting lower overall demand on the Amsterdam corridor.
London station
Departs from London St Pancras International's Eurostar terminal on the Euston Road side of the station - check-in desks for Amsterdam/Rotterdam departures are separate from the Paris and Brussels queues, and the terminal sits directly above the King's Cross St Pancras Underground interchange, served by six Tube lines.
Amsterdam station
Arrives at Amsterdam Centraal, a 19th-century terminus on the IJ waterfront at the edge of the old city centre - the Eurostar arrivals hall opens onto Stationsplein, with the GVB tram, metro and bus interchange immediately outside and free ferries just behind the station across the IJ to Amsterdam-Noord.
Train vs. other options
Flying Heathrow-Schiphol takes about 1h15m in the air, but once you add getting to two airports well outside each city centre (Heathrow is 45-60 minutes from central London; Schiphol is a 15-20 minute train from Amsterdam Centraal) plus check-in and security, door-to-door time is often close to, or longer than, the direct train's roughly 3h52m-4h19m St Pancras-to-Centraal run - with no connecting transfer needed at either end.
Booking tips
- With only around 4-5 direct departures a day here - versus 15+ on the Paris route - the specific train you want can sell out weeks ahead; Eurostar typically opens sales for this route several months in advance.
- If the direct train is sold out or pricier, check Eurostar's connecting fares that change at Brussels-Midi - sometimes cheaper than the direct ticket, at the cost of a second security and passport check.
- Standard class advance fares start from GBP39 but climb steeply closer to departure - book as early as your dates allow rather than counting on last-minute availability.
Good to know: Heading back to London, you clear Dutch exit checks, EU Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric registration (fingerprints and a facial photo, first-time only) and UK Border Force entry control all before boarding at Amsterdam Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal or Brussels-Midi - Eurostar recommends arriving 60-90 minutes ahead, well beyond the 20-30 minutes you'd budget for a domestic NS Intercity.
While you're in Amsterdam
The Rijksmuseum, the Netherlands' national museum, home to Rembrandt's The Night Watch.
Photo: Velvet / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed canal ring is built for bikes and boats, not cars — but its star attraction, the Anne Frank House, sells out its weekly ticket release within minutes, so it's worth booking before you book the train.
Full Amsterdam travel guide →Frequently asked questions
How long does the direct Eurostar from London to Amsterdam take?
The fastest direct trains take around 3 hours 52 minutes city-centre to city-centre; other direct services with the full calling pattern (Lille, Brussels-Midi, Rotterdam) take up to about 4 hours 19 minutes.
How many direct trains run between London and Amsterdam?
Eurostar runs around 4-5 direct trains a day in each direction as of the 2026 timetable - far fewer than the 15+ daily departures on the Paris route - plus additional options that involve changing at Brussels-Midi.
Do I need to go through border checks between London and Amsterdam?
Yes. Heading to Amsterdam you clear UK exit and French/Schengen entry checks at St Pancras before boarding; heading back you clear Dutch exit checks - including EU Entry/Exit System biometric registration - and UK entry control at Amsterdam Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal or Brussels-Midi before boarding.