UK to Disneyland Paris by Train

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Gone are the days of hopping on a single Eurostar from London straight to Mickey's doorstep - as of summer 2023, the direct Eurostar service to Disneyland Paris (Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station) has been discontinued. But don't worry, the magic is still within easy reach. UK travellers can still enjoy a seamless high-speed rail journey to Disneyland Paris via a quick connection in either Paris or Lille. In this field guide, we'll explore the best train routes from the UK (not just London, but major cities like Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh too) to Disneyland Paris now that the direct route is gone. We'll compare the fastest and cheapest options, highlight how to connect from various UK departure points, and discuss both do-it-yourself rail journeys and hassle-free package deals. So pack your Mickey ears and let's get started on planning a rail journey to the magic kingdom in Marne-la-Vallée!

Eurostar Changes & New Train Routes to Disney

First, a quick overview of what changed: Eurostar no longer runs a direct train from London St Pancras to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy (Disneyland Paris). The route was suspended in June 2023 due to post-Brexit logistics and other challenges. However, Disneyland Paris is still very much accessible by train. Eurostar's own spokesperson confirmed that passengers can simply travel via Paris or Lille to reach Disneyland Paris on high-speed rail. In practical terms, this means your journey now involves one easy transfer en-route instead of a non-stop ride. Fortunately, the alternatives are straightforward:

• Via Lille: Take the Eurostar from London to Lille Europe, then connect to a French TGV high-speed train from Lille directly to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy, the station at Disneyland's gates. Lille Europe station is modern and compact, making transfers a breeze - you literally just change platforms for the TGV. Eurostar's booking system can sell you a through-ticket from London to Marne-la-Vallée, which is great for peace of mind. If your Eurostar runs late, the agreements between Eurostar and SNCF mean you can hop on the next available TGV without extra cost. This Lille route is often the fastest option: the Eurostar to Lille takes about 1 hour 22 minutes, and the TGV from Lille to Disneyland Paris takes just over an hour. With a well-timed connection, you can be at Disney in roughly 3 hours total from London - pretty amazing for travelling from one country to another! Another perk: you avoid the hustle of central Paris. Many families with young kids or lots of luggage prefer the Lille route since it's a more relaxing national rail-style journey right to Disney's doorstep.
• Via Paris: Take the Eurostar from London to Paris (Gare du Nord), then switch to the RER commuter train for the final leg to Disneyland Paris. This route tends to be the cheaper option, and it offers more flexibility with departure times. Eurostar runs dozens of services to Paris each day, so you can often find a good fare; once in Paris, the RER A regional train to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy runs about every 10 minutes and costs only a few euros. The RER trip is roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour, dropping you off right at Disneyland. The transfer in Paris isn't too difficult: after arriving at Gare du Nord, you follow signs for the Métro/RER and take an RER train (typically a quick hop via RER line D or B south one stop to Châtelet-Les Halles, then RER line A east to Marne-la-Vallée - or you can do a one-change connection on the Metro). In plain English: it's a short cross-Paris connection and then a direct train to Disney. Many travellers report this Paris transfer to be quite manageable - it's essentially like using the London Tube, but in Paris. That said, it is public transit (with potential crowds and stairs), so if you have lots of bags or small children in tow, it can be a bit of an adventure. Still, thousands of British Disney fans do this route every year. A bonus is that Eurostar tickets to Paris are often less expensive than tickets to Lille, and you're not tied to a specific onward train - if you fancy a spontaneous stop in Paris for a croissant, you have that freedom. Overall travel time via Paris is a bit longer than via Lille (allow around 3.5 to 4 hours total from London, factoring in the RER transfer), but it can save money. In fact, many UK visitors choose this option because fares are usually lower and there are far more Eurostar time slots to pick from when going through Paris.

Which to choose - Lille or Paris? It comes down to your priorities. If you want the absolute fastest, simplest journey and don't mind paying a bit more, connecting at Lille is fantastic. You'll be whisked from St Pancras to Disney with just one quick train change, and you'll arrive right at the park gates feeling fresh. On the other hand, if you're watching the budget or prefer a later/earlier departure time, the Paris route gives you flexibility and savings - just be ready to navigate the RER. Some Disneyland die-hards even make the journey one way via Lille and the other via Paris, to balance speed and cost. Either way, by mid-afternoon of your travel day you could be strolling down Main Street, U.S.A.!

Departing from London: All Aboard at St Pancras

For those starting in London, your journey kicks off at London St Pancras International - the home of Eurostar. Getting there is easy as it's a major central hub (right next to King's Cross; several Tube lines and buses stop at St Pancras). Plan to arrive with plenty of time to spare, as Eurostar has airport-style security and passport control. Aim to be at St Pancras at least 60-90 minutes before your train (especially during school holidays or weekends) so you can clear check-in and border checks without stress. The good news is once you're through, you can relax in the departure lounge with shops, cafes, and even a champagne bar - not a bad way to start a Disney trip.

From London, you'll board a Eurostar bound for either Paris Gare du Nord or Lille Europe, depending on which route you chose. If speed is your priority, you likely booked a Eurostar to Lille that neatly connects to a TGV. If so, sit back and enjoy the 1.5-hour zoom under the Channel to Lille. Eurostar will usually schedule a connection with enough buffer time at Lille - just double-check what platform your TGV departs from (monitors in Lille Europe station will list the Marne-la-Vallée train). The transfer is simply a matter of going up one level and back down to the correct platform. No additional ticket gates to pass; your through-ticket covers the whole ride. Before you know it, you'll be on the TGV for the final hour-ish sprint to Disney. This TGV drops you at Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy, which is literally a two-minute walk from Disneyland Park's entrance gates. You'll step off the train and immediately see signs for Disney - talk about door-to-door magic!

If instead your Eurostar goes to Paris, the journey from London to Gare du Nord is about 2 hours 15 minutes. Upon arriving in Paris, follow the signs (marked "RER" or "Metro") to make your way to the RER A line heading for Marne-la-Vallée. As mentioned, there are a few ways to navigate the transfer - the simplest is usually taking RER line D or B one stop from Gare du Nord to Châtelet-Les Halles, then hopping over to RER A (direction Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy) for about a 40-minute ride straight to Disney. You can buy an RER ticket on the spot (around €5-€10). If wrangling the Paris RER sounds daunting, an alternative is to catch a taxi or Uber from Gare du Nord to Disneyland Paris. It's pricier (~€60-€80), but could be worth it for a group with lots of bags - you'd be at Disney in 40 minutes with no transfers. Still, for most travellers the RER is absolutely fine - just keep an eye on your luggage and beware of pickpockets as you would on any city public transport. Soon enough, you'll arrive at Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station and step right into the Disneyland magic.

Tip: If you're staying at an official Disney Hotel, consider using the Disney Express Luggage Service. This add-on (bookable in advance or via certain packages) lets you drop your bags at a counter in Marne-la-Vallée station and head straight into the parks - Disney staff will deliver your luggage to your hotel separately. It's a lifesaver for maximising your park time on arrival day. You can even pick up your park tickets at the station counter if you've booked a package with Disney, so you're good to go!

Departing from Other UK Cities: Reaching the Eurostar

London is the only UK departure point for Eurostar, so if you're coming from elsewhere in Britain, the key is to connect to St Pancras International. The fastest approach is usually a domestic train to London, then a short hop to St Pancras. Here's a rundown for a few major cities:

• Birmingham: Take a direct train from Birmingham New Street to London Euston (Avanti West Coast runs this route typically in 1.5 hours to 2 hours). From London Euston, you can actually walk to St Pancras in about 10 minutes - it's just over the road (or a quick taxi if you prefer). In planning your timings, remember you need to be at St Pancras well before your Eurostar departure for check-in. As a rule of thumb, if your Eurostar is at (say) 12:00, taking a train that gets into Euston by 10:00-10:30 is wise. Overall, travelling from Birmingham to Disneyland Paris by train usually takes around 5½ to 6 hours including the London connection. It's a longer journey than from London, but still perfectly doable within half a day. There are no direct trains from Birmingham to Paris, so you will always be going via London (or occasionally, some creative travellers go Birmingham-Paris via a change at Manchester and the Eurostar from there, but that's usually not efficient).
• Manchester: There are direct trains from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston (mostly operated by Avanti, roughly 2 hours 10 minutes journey). As with Birmingham, you arrive at Euston and then head to St Pancras. Manchester to Disneyland Paris by train will typically take around 6 to 7 hours end-to-end. For example, you might catch a morning train from Manchester at 7am, arrive London about 9:20am, transfer to St Pancras, take a late-morning Eurostar, and be at Disneyland by mid-afternoon. It's a longish day, but if you're a keen Disney fan, the excitement will carry you through. (And yes, you can always treat yourself to a nap on the Eurostar or TGV!). As with all connections, build in some buffer time in London in case of any domestic train delays - missing your Eurostar would be a costly hiccup. If the schedule is tight, consider travelling down to London the night before and staying near St Pancras; that way you can start fresh in the morning for the Eurostar.
• Edinburgh (and Glasgow): From Scotland, the journey is more substantial. The quickest daytime option is a high-speed train from Edinburgh Waverley to London King's Cross (about 4½ hours on the LNER East Coast line). Conveniently, King's Cross station is adjacent to St Pancras, so you can walk from one to the other in under 5 minutes - they're literally next door. If you leave Edinburgh around 6am, you'd get into London by about 10:30am, then you could catch an early-afternoon Eurostar to Paris/Lille and reach Disney by early evening. All told, you're looking at roughly 8 hours travel time from Edinburgh to Disneyland Paris by rail. It's a trek, but still faster than driving, and you can enjoy the scenery or some Disney movies on your tablet along the way. Another idea for Scots is the Caledonian Sleeper train: you can board in Edinburgh or Glasgow in the late evening, get a night's sleep on the train, and wake up in London Euston around 7am - from there stroll over to St Pancras for a morning Eurostar. This split journey can make the long distance more comfortable (plus, arriving super early in London leaves time for breakfast at St Pancras's cafes before your Eurostar). As always, cushion your connection times; the Eurostar won't wait if your incoming train is late.

For other UK cities like Leeds, York, Newcastle, Bristol, Cardiff, etc., the strategy is similar: take the fastest train to London (to either Euston, King's Cross, or Paddington depending on the line) and then make your way to St Pancras. If you're in the Southeast (say, Kent or East Sussex), note that Eurostar isn't currently stopping at Ebbsfleet or Ashford (those stations have been out of service for Eurostar since 2020 and won't reopen until at least 2025). So even folks in Kent now have to go up to London St Pancras to catch the train to France. One upside: domestic rail tickets can sometimes be combined with Eurostar as a "London International CIV" ticket, which offers protected connections - ask about this at the ticket office or refer to Eurostar's connection policy. Otherwise, treat it as two separate trips: domestic UK rail and then international Eurostar.

Rail-Only vs. Package Deals

When planning, you have two main approaches: book everything yourself (train tickets and hotel separately) or book a package that bundles the train and Disney accommodation (and park tickets). Both have their merits.

Rail-only (DIY bookings): If you're comfortable playing travel agent, you can often snag the best deals by purchasing your train travel and hotel stay independently. For example, you might book Eurostar tickets when they're on sale and reserve a Disney hotel (or a nearby off-site hotel) separately. Eurostar tickets usually go on sale up to 6 months in advance, and the cheapest fares to Paris/Lille can be around £39-£89 each way if you book early and travel at off-peak times. Websites like Eurostar's official site, Trainline, Omio, or Rail Europe are great for checking schedules and prices. Eurostar's site will let you book the London-Disneyland Paris journey as one transaction (via Lille), which is very handy and gives you a single ticket. Trainline and Omio are popular third-party platforms that let you compare options - both are user-friendly and even have mobile apps to keep your tickets handy. The advantage of DIY is flexibility: you can mix and match travel times, maybe even add a stop in Paris for a day, or choose a non-Disney hotel if you're on a tight budget. Just remember to factor in all the components: Eurostar, possible TGV or RER, hotel, park tickets, and travel insurance. And allow generous connection times - if you book separate tickets (like Eurostar and a separate TGV not on the same booking), you carry the risk if a delay causes a misconnection. But if it's all one booking (or if you're just doing Eurostar + RER which is a turn-up-and-go service), it's pretty straightforward.

Package bookings (train + hotel): For convenience and peace of mind, a package can be a fantastic option - especially for a Disney trip. Disneyland Paris officially offers Eurostar-inclusive packages via their UK website (DisneylandParis.com or Disneyholidays.co.uk). With these, you pay one price that covers your Eurostar travel (from London, or technically any Eurostar station, though it's just London now), your hotel stay at a Disney hotel, and your park tickets for the length of your stay. The official packages require a 15% deposit at booking and allow you to pay the rest in instalments, which can be helpful for budgeting. Many UK Disney fans like booking through the official channel for the trust factor and perks like Extra Magic Time (early park entry for Disney hotel guests). If you add the Disney Express luggage service to an official package, that's even more convenience on arrival. Another perk: if any special Disney promotions (like free meal plans or kids-go-free) are running, official packages will include those.

Aside from Disney itself, there are also specialist travel agencies and tour operators that bundle train travel with Disneyland Paris hotels. One well-known example is MagicBreaks, a UK-based Disney specialist. In fact, Eurostar has a partnership with MagicBreaks - the Eurostar website even says "Our friends at MagicBreaks can book your park tickets and hotel in one neat package." MagicBreaks can arrange your Eurostar (or Eurostar+TGV via Lille) and a Disney hotel stay with tickets, often at competitive rates. They're ABTA/ATOL protected and have UK customer support, which is reassuring. Other companies like TUI (a big UK tour operator) also offer Disneyland Paris packages - you can sometimes find deals on their sites that include transport by Eurostar or an option to add it. Packages can sometimes be a touch pricier than a DIY approach, but you're paying for ease and support. Everything is confirmed in one go, and if something changes (like Eurostar timings), your package provider usually helps sort it out.

Booking Tips

When to book: Eurostar tickets become available about 6 months out, and Disney hotel packages can be booked even a year or more in advance (Disney often releases rates for the next year's dates well early). For peak times like school holidays, try to secure your train seats as soon as they're released - those £80 round-trip deals go fast. If you're booking a package, consider travelling in the off-season (e.g. January or mid-September) when both train and hotel prices drop and the parks are quieter.

Where to book: To recap the useful booking platforms - for train tickets alone, check Eurostar.com (especially if you want the London-Disney one-click booking via Lille), Trainline (which can book Eurostar and onward French trains in English, and often accepts UK railcards for domestic legs), Omio (another aggregator with a slick interface), or Rail Europe (which sells European rail tickets in GBP and has decent customer service). All of these have websites and apps. For packages, the official Disneyland Paris website or phone line will get you Disney's own packages (with the option to add Eurostar travel). MagicBreaks is a top pick for UK Disney packages and often has exclusive promos; they even offer to arrange private transfers from Paris if you'd rather not take the RER. Large travel agencies like TUI or Virgin Holidays sometimes feature Disneyland Paris, so they're worth a look if you have loyalty points or vouchers with them. And don't forget to sign up for newsletters - both Disney and Eurostar run occasional sales (for example, Eurostar has been known to do flash sales with fares as low as £39 each way, and Disney often has seasonal hotel discounts).

Travel tips: As you prepare to travel, double-check the latest travel requirements. Post-Brexit, UK passports must be valid for at least 3 months after your trip and stamped on entry/exit. Eurostar will handle French immigration checks in London (and UK border checks on the return in Paris/Lille), so keep your passport handy during the journey. Currently (as of 2026), there's talk of new EU biometric entry systems, but these are handled at the station - just be aware in case of slightly longer checks. In France, the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station at Disneyland has luggage storage lockers and a Disney Express counter (for those using that service). If you arrive early and your hotel room isn't ready, you can leave bags at the station or the hotel's luggage room and dive into the parks right away. For the return trip, if you're coming back via Paris, remember to arrive at Gare du Nord at least 90 minutes before your Eurostar departure to clear security and passport control. The last thing you want is a mad Home Alone-style dash through the station!

Travelling by train to Disneyland Paris is not only doable, it's actually part of the fun. You get to avoid airports and keep the adventure going from the moment you board. Kids often love the novelty of the Eurostar (bring some colouring books or download Disney+ on a tablet to keep them entertained in the tunnel), and there's something magical about arriving by train literally at Mickey's front door. So whether you choose the speedy Lille connection or the budget-friendly Paris route, you're set for a rail journey straight to the magic. All aboard for Disneyland Paris - next stop: magic! Enjoy your trip, and as they say in Disney, bon voyage et have a magical day!

Guide Updated: 23 January 2026