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Travel with children on Eurostar
Skip the airport headaches when you travel with kids by train with Eurostar. Discover everything you need to know about train travel with children here.
Family train travel made easy with Eurostar
We know that going on holiday with little adventurers can be a juggling act. That's why we've made travelling with children by train refreshingly simple. Step on board in the heart of London and glide straight into Europe, with no airport queues, no baggage guesswork, and plenty of space to settle in.
Whether you're checking which travel rules apply to your child, comparing ticket fares or finding out what's available on board, our guide has everything you need to plan your Eurostar journey with children.
To keep the kids entertained along the way, you can download and print our fun activity sheet right here (opens in a new tab) (opens a PDF).
Eurostar child fares and travel rules by age
Find out what applies to your child below.
Children under 4
Children under 4 can travel for free without a ticket, but they must sit on an adult's lap throughout the journey. Alternatively, you can purchase your child a ticket if:
- You'd prefer your child to have their own seat.
- You're travelling alone with more than one tot in tow.
Remember, kids of any age need their own passport or documentation to travel.
Find out more about travelling with babies and toddlers on Eurostar.
Children aged 4 to 11
To and from London
In Eurostar Standard or Eurostar Plus, fares for children between 4 and 11 years old can be discounted by:
- 30% during peak periods.
- 30% to 50% during off-peak periods.
Between France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany
Our fares for children aged 4 and 11 may be discounted by up to 50% in Eurostar Standard and Eurostar Plus, subject to availability, and terms and conditions.
On all our routes
Here's what you need to know:
- Children between 4 and 11 must travel with a responsible person aged 16 or older.
- Child tickets can only be booked with an adult ticket. To book a standalone child ticket, please contact us.
- Exchange and refund conditions are the same as for an adult ticket. You can learn about our fares and fees here.
- There are no discounts on children's fares in Eurostar Premier.
Children ages 12 to 15
Children aged 12 to 15 should travel with a responsible person aged 16 or older. However, they can also travel on their own to some Eurostar destinations, as long as they have the correct paperwork. If they're travelling to or from London, they must have:
- Eurostar ticket
- Passport
- Visa or travel authorisation (where applicable)
- Eurostar unaccompanied minor form (opens in a new tab) (opens a PDF), signed by a parent or legal guardian
Find more information on what travel documents and requirements your child might need here.
Under-18 travel rules and documents
Anyone under 18 travels under the responsibility of their parents, guardians, or another person authorised by their parents. Before travelling, parents or guardians should make sure their child or teenager has:
- All required travel documents for the journey.
- Any additional documentation needed, if they're travelling unaccompanied.
We also strongly recommend checking the latest government advice for both the departure and destination countries.
For more details, please read the under-18s section on our travel documents page.
Children's facilities on board: family seating, pushchairs and baby-changing
From pushchairs to family seating and baby-changing facilities, we've made everything easy. Here's what you need to know.
Pushchairs
In addition to your luggage allowance, you can take a pushchair on board free of charge. It must be folded before boarding and stored in one of the baggage racks near your seat.
Where to sit as a family
As soon as you've booked, log in to Manage your booking to choose exactly where you'd like to sit. If there's space, you can choose to sit around a table and spread out the colouring books or get stuck into a game.
Where to find baby-changing facilities
All of our trains have baby-changing facilities. On our trains between France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, you'll find them in coaches 7, 17, and 27.
If you'd like to sit nearby, visit Manage your booking and choose your seats once you've booked.
Food on board for children
You're more than welcome to bring your own food on board – we've got no restrictions, we know kids can be fussy! But if you do fancy a tasty snack or light meal, you can find out exactly what food we serve on board here.
Children's meals
To and from London
If you're travelling in Eurostar Plus or Eurostar Premier, you can request a child's meal before your journey. Just visit Manage your booking at least 24 hours before you travel and let us know.
Between France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany
You'll find child-friendly options at Eurostar Café – take a peek at the menu here.
Baby food
We don't sell baby food on board, but our team will be happy to warm yours up. Head to the Eurostar Café and they'll sort you out.
Why travel by train on a family trip?
Weighing up how to get to Europe with kids? Here's how train travel with children compares with flying, driving and coach travel.
Eurostar vs flying with children
Travelling by train means no 100ml liquid rule, so bottles, baby food, and snacks can come along for the ride, plus luggage is included with every ticket. Pushchairs travel free on top of your allowance, and you'll go through border checks before departure, so you can step straight off in the city centre on arrival. No baggage carousel. No tricky transfer shuffle.
Eurostar vs driving with children
Skip the motorway marathons, service-station pit stops, and hours of everyone strapped into a car seat. On board, children can stretch their legs and settle around a table with a game or a colouring book. Every train has baby-changing facilities on board, so sit back, relax and arrive in the city centre ready to go – without the extra job of finding somewhere to park.
Eurostar vs coach and ferry with children
Coach and ferry journeys can mean hours spent in the car or at sea, with little space to roam around. On Eurostar, families can settle into comfortable seats, pop to the Eurostar Café for snacks or light bites, and keep the essentials close by. On routes like London to Paris, where the journey takes just 2 hours and 16 minutes, the train drops you right into the city centre – a much neater way to keep the family adventure on track.
City-centre to city-centre: the family advantage
The real win? Eurostar takes you from city centre to city centre. Forget airport transfers and lengthy onward journeys – simply hop on at London St Pancras and glide into the heart of Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam. You'll be enjoying the delights of Europe in no time.
For families heading to Disneyland Paris, our stress-free train routes make the journey part of the magic! With simple connections from central Paris, you can spend less time navigating transfers and more time getting excited for the adventure ahead.
Travelling with children on Eurostar: documents and formalities by age
Use this table to check what applies to your child before you travel.
| Ticket required | Seat | Travel documents | Luggage | Good to know | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 | Free, no ticket (child ticket optional) | On an adult's lap (own seat if ticket has been purchased | Passport (London routes only) | Pushchair free | Own seat needed if travelling alone with more than one child |
| 4-11 | Child fare (30-50% off) | Own seat | Passport (London routes only) | 1 bag (85cm London / 75cm continental) + hand luggage | Booked with an adult ticket; no discount in Premier |
| 12-15 | Child fare* | Own seat | Passport (London routes only) | 1 bag (85cm London / 75cm continental) + hand luggage | Can travel alone as an unaccompanied minor with paperwork |
| 16-17 | Adult fare* | Own seat | Passport / ID | Adult allowance | Travel under parental responsibility (under-18 rules apply) |
*Ticket fares are subject to availability and Eurostar's terms and conditions.
FAQs
Yes, children under 4 can travel for free without a ticket, as long as they sit on an adult's lap throughout the journey. If you'd like them to have their own seat, or you're travelling alone with more than one young child, you can buy a discounted child ticket for children aged 4 to 11.
Yes, children of any age need their own passports to travel to and from London. Older children travelling independently may also need additional paperwork, so it's worth checking the latest requirements before you set off. Check our travel and documents page for what documents children need to travel.
Once you've booked, visit Manage your booking to choose your seats. If there's space available, you can choose seats around a table too – perfect for colouring books, card games and snack breaks.
You can bring a pushchair on board free of charge in addition to your luggage allowance. It must be folded before boarding and stored in one of the baggage racks near your seat.
All Eurostar trains have baby-changing facilities. If you're travelling between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, you'll find them in coaches 7, 17 and 27.
Children aged 4 to 11 must travel with a responsible person aged 16 or over, but children aged 12 to 15 can travel alone on selected routes. They must have the correct paperwork, including their ticket, passport, any necessary travel authorisations and the appropriate Eurostar forms.
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