How to get cheap Eurostar tickets

1. Book in advance

This tip almost goes without saying, but the earlier you book your trip - the cheaper the tickets are likely to be! Prices tend to skyrocket the closer you get to your departure date as the cheaper seats sell out and there is limited availability overall, not to mention fares already being higher during the peak times, such as weekends and bank holidays.

The good news is, you can book Eurostar tickets as early as 120 days in advance, so as long as you're organised with the details of the trip, this is one of the easiest ways to access the most affordable Eurostar ticket prices, as well as better flexibility with dates and departure times, and your wallet will surely thank you!

2. Be first to the flash sale

The Eurostar flash sale is considered the best opportunity of the year to bag those bargain tickets. If this is the first you've heard of the Eurostar flash sale -then don't worry! They normally occur a few times a year and are only a limited-time sale (as the name may suggest!) that offer incredibly low cost tickets to Paris, Bruges and Amsterdam - for as little as £35 each way!

The most recent flash sale ran between 3rd-9th January 2025, and offered cheap tickets to the above-mentioned cities, so long as the travel dates fell between January and April. There were a few other flash sales in 2024 too, that ran between 16-18 July, 10-12 September, and finally - the 30th Anniversary Eurostar flash sale which ran between 12-14 November, and offered discounts of up to 30% off Eurostar tickets.

We did some research, and found that during this flash sale, the absolute cheapest price of tickets were £35 one way. Although these low-cost tickets were mostly for the early morning departures, between 6am - 8am. According to research, the average cost of a one-way ticket to Paris is £79, so if you are lucky enough to bag the cheapest possible ticket within the Eurostar flash sale, you could be shaving a whopping £44 off the cost of your fare - and that's just one way!

3. Sign up to the Eurostar Newsletter

If you're kicking yourself for missing the Eurostar flash sale as mentioned above - then don't worry. A great way to stay in the loop with all Eurostar updates, including future sales, exclusive discounts, promotions, and new low-cost travel dates - is signing up to the Eurostar newsletter!

This is a super easy and low-maintenance way to keep your ear to the ground on all things Eurostar. You can sign up to the newsletter here, simply input your name and email address - and you'll be well on your way to receiving exclusive perks to make the very most out of your travel, and importantly - keep your costs down.

By signing up to the Eurostar newsletter, not only could you be the first to know about future flash sales and other travel offers, but you'll also be informed about competitions - where you can enter to win special goodies, free ticket upgrades, exclusive invites to events and more; detailed where-to-go guides for all the top Eurostar destination cities including the best bars and top restaurants to make the most out of your trip, and finally, free access to the Metropolitan Magazine - the Eurostar's very own lifestyle and travel magazine, which comes out quartlery and is full of destination inspiration and travel trends.

4. Swap your stations

Simply swapping out your destination city's arrival station, could save you those extra pounds on ticket prices. This travel tip can sometimes be overlooked, because a lot of people prioritise convenience and time-saving, and would rather be in the central hub of it all from the moment the train pulls into said station.

Let's take Paris as an example! If you decide to swap your arrival station from the iconic 'Gare du Nord' to 'Marne-la-Vallée' station instead - just a 40 minute train-ride away from Central Paris, you'll find Eurostar tickets will most likely be cheaper, AND accomodation will be more affordable too - compared to the buzzing tourist hotspot that is Central Paris - saving you more money overall.

5. Toggle your timings

According to Eurostar, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are the cheapest days of the week for train tickets!

If you are flexible with your timings, and willing to travel mid-week, you may find you bag one of the better prices, as these days fall within the off-peak period, and are cheaper than travelling in peak periods, like weekends.

Eurostar also state that some of their best deals are available between midday and midnight on a Monday - so bear this in mind when booking your tickets, for the very best prices.

6. Join Club Eurostar

Club Eurostar is another great way to unlock savings on your travel costs. This is Eurostar's official rewards programme, where you can earn points on each booking which can then turn into amazing travel benefits, like upgrading your tickets, seat upgrades, and so much more!

By signing up to Club Eurostar you'll earn 1.2 points for every £1 you spend on Eurostar tickets for your own travel, and earn 1.2 points for every £2 you spend on Train + Hotel packages. This is a fantastic way to reap the benefits of your travel, with so many perks to make the most of.

If you're a frequent interrailer, then Club Eurostar may be right for you. As the more you travel, the more rewards you can reap, and even move up club levels with better rewards (and more points) on every trip! Currently, there are 4 club levels to be aware of and you can work your way up the club levels by earning the set number of points as detailed by the image below:

7. Reap the benefits with a return ticket

You may be questioning whether it's cheaper to buy two one-way tickets on the Eurostar or a return ticket instead! The answer is, a return ticket will save you more money than booking two individual tickets. Whilst single tickets give you more flexibility on your return dates, if you know exactly when you want to travel, and how long for - then you can unlock great savings simply by booking both tickets at once.

The good news is, the Eurostar website has a cheap fare finder -- a dedicated section to finding you the best deals and lowest fares possible.

8. Use a railcard

You may be thinking, what does my railcard have to do with getting cheap Eurostar tickets?! But one of the easiest, and most overlooked way of lowering your overall travel costs, is simply by investing in a railcard. Especially if you need to take one (or more) trains to get to St. Pancreas for the Eurostar, to begin with!

There are so many railcard options across varying age groups, including:

- 16-25 railcard

- 26-30 railcard

- 60+ Senior railcard

If you frequently travel by train, it is well worth investing in a railcard, as this can save you 1/3 on rail fares across every journey you take, for just £30 per year! We've done the maths, and depending on the type of railcard you get - you can redeem the cost of your railcard in as little as 2 journeys! The great news is, according to Trainline - you can also use more than one railcard in conjuction with each other - up to the same number of passengers listed on your booking.

It may also be worth investing in a Two Together Railcard, which is worth it if you are frequently travelling by train with a partner. This costs just £30, the same as a regular single Railcard, and also offers 1/3 on rail fares when travelling together.

See which railcard is right for you and browse our Railcard discount codes to save you even more money in the process!

9. Be mindful of luggage allowance

Let's be honest, nothing ruins a trip you've been looking forward to more than knowing you've accidentally exceeded maximum luggage allowances and you're told you need to pay extra to bring your own luggage on board! Most of us have been there once or twice at the airport, but it's best to be mindful of Eurostar luggage allowance to keep your costs at bay.

If you're simply heading to Paris, Amsterdam or Bruges just for the day, then you probably don't need to worry about luggage allowance, as you could easily use a handbag or rucksack instead. But if you've planned a city break or short stay, then you'll most likely be taking luggage. The good news is, there's no actual weight limit on the luggage you bring on board, and no restrictions on liquids either - which means no added stress of squeezing essential toiletries into those plastic ziplock bags that never quite seem to shut! However, Eurostar do advise that on trains to and from London, each piece of luggage you take should be no longer than 85cm at its widest point, and for reference - should clearly be labelled as hand luggage.

Be sure to check Eurostar luggage allowance on their website for details on dimensions, luggage policies and more. This is a super easy way to keep any additional costs down, but also ensure your travels are as smooth-sailing and stress-free as possible, with no unwelcome surprises!

10. Group travel discounts

If you're planning a city-break for the whole squad, whether it's a family get-together, a hen party or stag do, or quite simply - the holiday FINALLY made it out of the group chat - for groups of 10 or more, you can request a group quotation from a dedicated team at Eurostar, and receive top travel tips as well as a personalised quote from the team via email within just 24 hours.

According to Eurostar, a group travel quote can save you up to 10% off standard rates, plus you'll get a trip thats personally tailored to you - including expert knowledge on areas you may need to be mindful of when travelling in a large group, to make your trip as smooth-sailing as possible, for all parties!