How to get the Eurostar from London to Marseille

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If you’re looking for a stress-free, scenic, and more sustainable way to travel from London to Marseille, then the Eurostar is the way to go.

A flight might look quicker (London to Marseille is a 2-hour flight). But, once you add travel to the airport (and getting their 2 hours before your flights), baggage claim, and transfers from Marseille Provence airport into the city (30 min+), the total travel time is similar – or even longer – than taking the Eurostar + TGV.

Taking the Eurostar to Marseille means gliding through the English countryside, switching in Paris, and then heading down to the Mediterranean on a high-speed TGV.

London to Marseille by train: at a glance

Route: London St Pancras > Paris (or Lille) > Marseille Saint-Charles
Changes: one (cross-Paris transfer, or same-station at Lille)
Journey time: from about 6 hours 15 minutes; typically 7 to 8 hours
Cost: from roughly £60 to £70 one way booked early (Eurostar from about £39, TGV from about €25); nearer £100 to £150 last minute
Booking: Eurostar tickets open at least 6 months ahead, TGV ~3 to 4 months ahead; you can book the whole journey as one ticket at eurostar.com

Why take the Eurostar to Marseille?

Flying is the default option for most people, but we love taking the Eurostar when we can (here’s our full case for the Eurostar, if you need converting):

Eco-Friendly Travel: Taking the Eurostar and TGV emits up to 97% less CO₂ than flying. From your front door to your hotel door, we estimate flying uses around 120kg of CO₂ per person compared to 22kg if taking the Eurostar.

City centre to city centre: no expensive airport transfers at either end. You arrive straight into the heart of the city at Marseille Saint-Charles, a 10-minute walk from the Old Port.

Comfort & Space: No crammed airline seats! You can stretch out, walk around, and enjoy the scenery.

No Luggage Fees: Unlike budget airlines, you can bring two suitcases and a small bag for free. If you wait for a sale, ticket prices can be cheaper than flying.

Barely slower than flying: door to door, once you’ve factored in getting to the airport, queueing through it, and transferring into Marseille at the other end, the train takes about the same.

A grand brown brick building under a cloudy sky. Its London St Pancras station, the first stop when taking the Eurostar to Marseille. — St Pancras International station, where you’ll start your journey

Step 1: booking your ticket from London to Paris (and onwards to Marseille)

Direct Eurostar services to Marseille were discontinued in 2020, so you’ll need to book a Eurostar to Paris.

There’s a short transfer in Paris, then a direct service TGV (high-speed train) from Paris to Marseille. You can buy a combined ticket through Eurostar (called Eurostar Sun, previously Thalys Sun) which links Eurostar and TGV services in a single booking. Check that it’s not cheaper to buy separate tickets.

Eurostar tickets go on sale six months in advance, with prices from around £39 one-way if you book early. It’s worth subscribing to the Eurostar newsletter and waiting for a sale – they happen quite regularly and have good availability for £39 fares. Book your train tickets direct on Eurostar for London to Paris.

For the TGV, we recommend buying your train tickets on SNCF Connect or Trainline. TGV tickets are best booked 3-4 months in advance for the best fares (as low as €25), and because they can get booked up in the summer months.

Choosing your ticket type

Eurostar trains have three travel classes:

Eurostar Standard: Standard class, free wifi, and at-seat plug electrical sockets. You can buy food and drinks at the café. It’s like getting a normal train and perfectly comfortable.

Eurostar Plus: Lots of legroom and more space, a light meal included, quieter and nicer facilities such as extra comfy seats. We get this if the upgrade doesn’t cost much more (sometimes it’s as little as £15 more) but its a treat rather than a norm.

Eurostar Premier: Access to Eurostar’s exclusive lounges, a fancy meal, and more flexible tickets including no extra charge to cancel or change your ticket. It’s a lot more expensive though, and we don’t think it’s worth the extra price.

A Eurostar train waiting at the platform at Paris Gare du Nord. — Paris Gare du Nord

Step 2: taking the Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord

The first leg of the journey is from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, through the channel tunnel and into the centre of the French capital.

Journey time: 2 hours 15 minutes.

Check-in: We arrive about 45 minutes before departure, as the departure lounge isn’t the most comfortable (it’s crowded with limited facilities).

Eurostar has airport-style security – it’s not as smooth as an airport, but shouldn’t take you long to get through. You’ll then go through passport checks – again, it’s not the smoothest so there might be a couple of minutes wait. One big benefit is that you’ll go through French passport control, so no waiting round for passport control when you exit the Eurostar in Paris.

It’s all relatively compact so there’s no a lot of walking like at an airport.

Top tip: there’s no limit on liquids (check this before you travel in case it changes) so you can bring a bottle of wine (or any other food and drinks) with you to have on the train. Far cheaper and often nicer.

Step 3: transferring from Paris Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon (via RER or taxi)

Once you arrive in Paris, you’ll need to transfer from Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon to catch your TGV to Marseille.

The fastest and most environmentally friendly way is the green RER D train (a suburban train, not the Metro). The train journey is about 9 minutes, and you’ll have done the whole thing in about 30 minutes.

As you exit the Eurostar area you’ll need to follow signs for RER D, direction Melun or Malesherbes, and get off at Gare de Lyon (two stops).

Tickets cost €2.55 as of October 2026. Buy a Navigo Easy Pass at the station for €2, which is reusable, or download the official Île-de-France Mobilités app or the Bonjour RATP app to pay using your phone.

You can also take a taxi. Expect to pay around €15-20, and it’ll take 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Tip: Allow at least 60-75 minutes to make train connections in case of delays. Paris is a cool city and a destination on its own – so you could consider splitting your journey and having a few nights in Paris.

Step 4: getting the TGV train from Paris to Marseille

Once you’re at Gare de Lyon, it’s time for our favourite bit: the TGV from Northern France to Marseille on the Mediterranean coast!

Most trains on this route are TGV INOUI, SNCF’s main service, with a café bar and wifi. The budget alternative is OUIGO: the same speed for less money, but with stricter luggage limits and no café bar. Both are fine so we normally take whatever’s cheapest.

The journey takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Blue sky with a basilica in the background and colourful houses in the foreground. It's the view from Marseille Saint-Charles station, your first sight of the city. — You’ve made it! Enjoy the view from Marseille train station

Step 5: Arriving in sunny Marseille

You’ll arrive at Marseille Saint-Charles, the city’s main station, right in the city centre and a short walk from the Old Port. You have several options from there:

Walking: If you’re staying near the Old Port, it’s just a 10-minute walk. Follow Google Maps or signs to the Vieux-Port – approximately 800m via Boulevard d’Athènes.
Metro: The station connects to Metro Lines 1 and 2, which can take you across the city.
Taxi: A taxi to the Vieux-Port costs around €10-15.

Tip: Before heading to your accommodation, take a moment to step out onto the station’s terrace – the view over the city is spectacular!

What about Lille?

Taking the Eurostar from London to Lille Europe (around 1 hour 30 minutes) and then catching a TGV from Lille to Marseille is another option.

Lille is a great city to explore if you have a few hours to spare, and it could break up your journey nicely (especially if you stay a few nights to explore Lille).

However, Lille connections often involve longer waits for TGVs to Marseille. Unless you want to explore Lille itself, Paris is the faster and more reliable transfer point.

Our extra tips for a smooth journey

✔ Pack snacks – The food onboard is alright, but can be expensive. Pick up a baguette and cheese in Paris before getting onboard.

✔ Bring water – Eurostar has (rightly) phased out single use plastic.

✔ Download your tickets – SNCF sometimes has issues with foreign bank cards, so have PDF copies of your tickets just in case.

✔ Check for strikes – France loves a good train strike. Check SNCF’s website a few days before your trip.

✔ Try Citymapper – it’s great for public transport. It will automatically update when you’re in Paris, Lille or Marseille, and will help you make the transfer in Paris.

Frequently asked questions

No, there are no direct trains from London to Marseille anymore. You’ll need to change along the way, either in Paris or Lille.

The average train journey from London to Marseille takes around 7 – 8 hours including transfers. However, the fastest services can take as little as 6 hours and 15 minutes.

There are around 15 Eurostar trains from London to Paris each day (running every 1-2 hours), and around 25 trains from Paris to Marseille (around once an hour). So, there’s plenty of availability, but prices will vary a lot between trains – book well in advance.

Marseille is a vibrant city with tonnes of things to do and see – we loved it! Check out our post with all the best things to do in Marseille.

Final thoughts: why the Eurostar to Marseille is worth it

Taking the train to Marseille isn’t just about convenience – it’s an experience in itself. You get to watch the landscape change, avoid the stress of airports, and travel in a way that’s far more sustainable than flying.

It’s all part of slow travel – here’s what slow travel means and why we love it

Plus, when you finally step off the train, you’re already in the heart of one of France’s most vibrant cities, ready to explore its buzzing markets, turquoise waters, and mouth-watering seafood.

So, if you’re thinking of heading to the South of France, why not make the journey part of the adventure?

How did your trip go? Any tips we’ve missed? Drop them in the comments!