When to book the cheapest Eurostar tickets

Eurostar tickets typically go on sale 330 days in advance of departure, and you might think that would be the best time to book. But new Which? research found that it can pay to hold your nerve, or wait for a sale.

We analysed data from thetrainline.com which shows prices for Eurostar actually remain largely the same from the time they’re released until about three months before. They may even dip in price. 

But about 90 days out Eurostar fares start to rise sharply. This pattern is consistent throughout the year.

Read on for more details on when to buy your tickets for each of the major Eurostar destinations, and whether you should buy in a Eurostar sale. 

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How to get cheap Eurostar tickets on sale

Batches of cheaper seats are released throughout the year as ‘surprise promotions’ or 'Eurostar flash sales'.Eurostar recommends you sign up for its newsletter or download the app to be the first to know about any deals, which do tend to sell out quickly. But bear in mind that the best prices are usually for off-peak travel periods, outside of holidays.

In the most recent Eurostar sale, tickets to Brussels, Lille and Paris were available for £35, or £70 return. Our research (see below) suggests this is the lowest possible price you will find for a Eurostar fare, however, it's worth saying that this is not necessarily a huge discount. We found trains outside of the sales period, including during the school summer holidays for as little as £39. 

Those who are flexible on travel dates will also find that they can save money by travelling midweek. According to Eurostar, Tuesday and Wednesday departures tend to offer the lowest fares.

See our Eurostar sales page for the latest deals, and whether they really offer a saving. 

When to book cheap Eurostar Paris tickets

Tickets to Paris cost £79 each way, on average, just after they were released last year. But that’s not their best price. Eurostar says the lowest fare you will ever see is £39 return, but these are usually only available during discount periods, and for unpopular dates and times.

Unless you find a special offer, tickets are cheapest, on average, six months before departure. Customers who bought their tickets six months early last year saved £75 each way on the peak price.

But even if you leave it until three months before, you’ll still find that tickets are £62 cheaper than the last-minute price one week before departure.

Verdict: Don’t book when tickets are first released, wait until six months before departure for the best price

Eurostar London to Paris

When to book cheap Eurostar Amsterdam tickets

Now is the time to book if you want to take the Eurostar to Amsterdam before its scheduled year-long suspension in June 2024, to undertake work on Amsterdam Centraal station. 

London to Amsterdam Eurostar tickets cost from £51 one-way, or £98 return in standard class.

Eurostar tickets to Amsterdam are less than half the last-minute price if you buy them six months in advance. 

Verdict: Book six months before for the best price

Eurostar London to Amsterdam

When to book cheap Eurostar Brussels tickets

Brussels fares really don’t change that much until about 90 days from departure, when they shoot up. 

London to Brussels Eurostar tickets cost from £52 one way, or £78 return in standard class.

If you book six months early you’ll save £61 on the last minute price, but even if you leave it until three months before, you’ll still see a saving of £54.

Verdict: Book anytime between six months and three months before departure for the lowest fares.

Eurostar London to Brussels

Our research

We gathered prices from thetrainline.com based on the last year of sales of one-way tickets, excluding first class.