You are not able to travel as a foot passenger on LeShuttle. You can only use LeShuttle if you are in a vehicle or are riding a motorcycle. The only exception is if you are intending to take your bicycle to mainland Europe from the UK.
Yes, it is possible to use the Channel Tunnel without a car. You can do this by taking a Eurostar service. The service operates between London and Paris. It is a fast and convenient way to cross the English Channel without having to take a ferry.
The Eurotunnel carries cars and other vehicles, no foot passengers, under the English Channel. It spans from Folkestone in Kent, just off the M20 and about two hours from London, to Coquelles near Calais in France.
The cheapest way to get to France depends on the route, season, ferry company and whether you are travelling with a vehicle or as a foot passenger. Prices are generally cheaper for foot passengers. Cheap ferries to France are usually during low season, outside of summer months.
Things I Wish I Had Known: Eurostar London to Paris
Does the Eurotunnel take foot passengers?
You cannot travel as a foot passenger on Eurotunnel, but you are able to take a bicycle. Only assistance dogs are allowed on Eurostar trains. Eurotunnel allows you to travel with a pet for an additional cost of £22 each way (assistance dogs are exempt), providing you have the necessary paperwork.
The Eurotunnel Le Shuttle is the fastest way to cross the Channel by vehicle. It's ideal if you're driving a car, motorhome, van or motorbike between the UK and France. Le Shuttle is great if you're in a hurry or have your own transport. Eurostar is ideal for city breaks.
Our current live pricing estimates for the Eurostar train from London to Brussels are as follows: Cheapest ticket on the route: £31.67. Average cost of a ticket on this route if you book 30 days in advance: £66. Average cost of a ticket on this route if you book 7 days in advance: £191.
In most cases, yes—you can buy a ticket upon arrival. However, during peak travel times, service disruptions, or periods of degraded service, we may need to restrict ticket purchases at check-in. To avoid disappointment, we strongly recommend booking your ticket in advance.
The average ticket from Calais to Paris will cost around £58 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £33. Of the 12 trains that leave Calais for Paris every day 6 travel direct so it's quite easy to avoid journeys where you'll have to change along the way.
If you are travelling on LeShuttle, which uses the Channel Tunnel, you stay in your car during the 35 minute journey from Calais to Folkestone. Once your car is loaded onto the deck of its shuttle and your crossing starts, you can leave your car to stretch your legs or use the on board toilets.
Do I need a passport to go through the Eurotunnel?
This is a UK Home Office requirement for anyone entering or leaving the UK. You must submit passport details for all travelers before your journey. You can provide this information online at any time through your LeShuttle account or by adding it to your booking details.
Do you really need to be 90 minutes early for Eurostar?
Do you really need to get there 90 minutes before your Eurostar train departs? Yes, you really do. Cutting it close can work out, but since there are sometimes multiple departures boarding at once, queues can build quickly.
Water would seep in little by little until the pressure is too great to withstand in the structure. The structure would then collapse/explode and ruin the underground connection between Britain and France. Another disaster that could ruin the Chunnel is a Tsunami.
Unless you're flying first or business class to the UK, you'll be in a far more claustrophobic environment on the plane than on the Eurostar, and for much longer. The tunnel is about 20 miles and the train travels through it at 90mph, so that bit will last about 15 minutes.
Eurostar tends to be very expensive at weekends and bank holidays. This is because it uses a dynamic pricing model, where prices rise and fall in relation to demand. This is why prices rise on weekends, as these are popular times for people to travel.
How long does it take to go through the Eurotunnel? LeShuttle trains are designed to carry you and your vehicle, regardless of type, through the Channel Tunnel to France in just 35 minutes.
Anything that's inherently dangerous or that could be used to commit an act of violence or threat will not be allowed. If our security teams have any concerns about an item that they believe might represent a risk, Eurostar reserves the right to remove or refuse that item. Please check before you travel: UK customs.
What happens if I miss my ferry from Calais to Dover?
If you miss your sailing we will do everything possible to transfer you to the next available Irish Ferries sailing. You will be charged an amendment fee plus any difference in fare. There is no refund due for unused tickets.
Generally, Eurotunnel tends to be more expensive than ferry tickets, however, prices depend on the number of passengers travelling, the time of day and year you're travelling, the type of vehicle you're taking across and any extras you may wish to add to make your journey that little bit more luxurious.
