Back in the earlier postpartum days, a couple of my local NCT mum friends and I spotted Eurostar’s £35 each way sale and, in a haze of sleep-deprived optimism, decided to ‘pop’ over to Lille, France for lunch to celebrate our babies turning six months old when the time came. At just three months in, the half-year milestone felt like a distant dream – a time when our little ones would be snoozing peacefully in their big prams, sleeping through the night (ha!), and ready to explore the world with us.
Fast forward to the second week of July: four mums, four six-month-olds, and a very early start after a night of teething-related wake-ups. We found ourselves wondering if we were completely mad to attempt a cross-channel day trip with babies?
The good news? It was a brilliant day out. A bit long, but so rewarding, fun, and surprisingly smooth. While I know most people won’t attempt two Eurostar journeys in one day with a baby, I wanted to share our experience for anyone planning a more sensible family getaway by train. Whether you’re off to Paris, Amsterdam, or just popping over to Lille like we did, here’s everything you need to know about travelling on the Eurostar with kids.
Eurostar family routes at a glance
| Destination | Journey time | Best for | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lille | 1h 22min | Day trips, first train journey | Perfect for babies – short, sweet, manageable |
| Paris | 2h 16min | City breaks, Disneyland Paris | Ideal length for under 2s |
| Brussels | 2h 02min | Weekend breaks, chocolate lovers | Great first European city trip |
| Amsterdam | 3h 55min | Long weekends | Better for older toddlers who can handle longer journey |
Where to go on the Eurostar with kids
The Eurostar has a surprisingly decent route map from London’s St Pancras station, which is well placed an only 11 minutes on the Hammersmith or Circle line from Paddington, or round the corner from Kings Cross and Euston.
Lille is one of the shorter Eurostar routes, with Paris I’d assume the most popular. Here are the main family-friendly Eurostar routes from London, perfect for city breaks with kids:
- London to Lille: 1 hour 22 mins
- London to Brussels: 2 hours 2 min
- London to Paris: 2 hours 16 mins (plus access Disneyland Paris with a short transfer)
- London to Rotterdam: 3 hours 13 mins
- London to Amsterdam: 3 hours 55 mins
Eurostar with kids: what worked and what didn’t
What we liked:
- Children under 4 travel free if they sit on your lap – but you must add them to your booking.
- Flexibility to move tickets up to an hour before – not the route but date and time changes which is great for travelling with unpredictable babies! One of our party had an awful night the one before and ended up not coming, so we can use her ticket in the future.
- Breezy boarding and security – there’s no need to take liquids out of bags or collapse the pram for scanners – we walked straight through at St Pancras (although I’m not sure if this is typical – it was a 9am Wednesday departure).
- Comfy seats and table options – we pre-booked a table which gave us loads of space to spread out toys, snacks, bottles and all-essential caffeine.
- Clear check-in info – Eurostar was great at communicating. In Lille, we were told not to arrive more than 50 minutes before departure, which helped avoid unnecessary waiting around. And even then, we had about 30 minute of waiting (but only 3 minutes to get onto the train before it left the station).
- Big luggage racks – each of us had a pram and, on the return journey, a few cheeky shopping bags (including curtains and plates – don’t ask!). There was plenty of space to stash it all.
- Ample luggage allowance – each adult can take 2 pieces of luggage and 1 small item of hand luggage. Babies and toddlers (under 4s) do not get their own allowance, but you can bring baby essentials like a travel pram, carriers, and a small bag.
- Decent baby changing facilities – most toilets had fold-down changers, although from experience it’s best to do changes during calmer parts of the ride.
What could be better:
- It was relatively warm on board, so dress appropriately and bring layers if needed.
- Limited seating in departure lounges – both St Pancras and Lille departure areas filled up fast. In Lille especially, there were barely any seats, and not much to keep babies entertained – so be prepared to floor-sit on busy trips.
- Steep steps to board – the steps up into the train are quite steep when juggling a baby, a folded pram, and a bag. At Lille, staff were helpful and happy to put our prams on board when asked, so don’t hesitate to flag someone down for assistance.
- Limited time to board train – it wasn’t such a rush in London at the start of the line, but Lille was a stop on the Brussels to London train, so it felt quite rushed trying to get everything on and into seats before it left.
Things to do in Lille: Lille itinerary with babies
Four mums, four babies, and one very early Eurostar departure – what could possibly go wrong?
We chose Lille as our destination for several reasons but primarily that the journey time is just one hour and 20 mins from London, making it ideal for a day trip with little ones. The city itself is flat, walkable, and full of charm, and there’s plenty of baby-friendly appeal, from green parks around the citadel to pram-accessible sights. However, if we were going to do it again, I’d probably stay overnight to enjoy the full day.
👉 Check out top-rated places to stay in Lille.
One of my favourite moments was laying out a blanket in the Citadelle park after debating whether we could take them on the rides at Cita Parc, letting the babies kick and wriggle under the trees – a pause from the busy bustle of the old town. We also strolled past the ornate facades of Grand Place square, looked at Lille’s unusual-looking cathedral (although struggled to find a pram-friendly route inside), and soaked up the relaxed vibe of the city’s back streets.
When hunger hit, we tucked into a delicious local lunch at Estaminet Au Vieux De La Vieille (which I highly recommend), where we shared a taste of Lille platter – think comforting Northern French dishes like carbonnade and cheese-laden tarts, perfect for refuelling.
We finished the day with a rather average crepe at a cafe near the station, but with more time we’d have looked for somewhere better.
If you’re still wondering if Lille is a good destination for a day trip from London, it absolutely is!
Eurostar with kids: quick answers
Yes! Children under 4 travel free on Eurostar if they sit on your lap, but you must add them to your booking. Eurostar is very baby-friendly with changing facilities, no liquid restrictions, generous luggage allowance for prams and baby gear, and comfortable seats. Security is easier than airports – no need to collapse prams or remove liquids from bags.
Yes, Eurostar is excellent for toddlers. You can bring snacks and drinks with no restrictions, seats have tables perfect for activities and meals, there’s space to move around, and journey times to Paris, Brussels, and Lille are short enough to keep little ones entertained. Book table seats for extra space to spread out toys and snacks.
The best Eurostar destinations with kids are Lille (1 hour 22 mins – perfect for day trips), Paris (2 hours 16 mins – includes easy access to Disneyland Paris), Brussels (2 hours – great for chocolate and waffles), Amsterdam (3 hours 55 mins – canals and bikes), and Rotterdam (3 hours 13 mins). Shorter journeys work better for babies and toddle
Yes, prams are included in your luggage allowance. Each adult can take 2 pieces of luggage plus 1 small item. Fold your pram before boarding for easier boarding. There are large luggage racks at the end of each carriage with plenty of space. At smaller stations like Lille, ask staff for help getting prams on board as boarding time is limited.
Yes, seat reservations are included in your Eurostar ticket. We highly recommend booking table seats (in groups of 4) when travelling with babies and young children – this gives you space to spread out toys, snacks, bottles, and provides a surface for activities. Book early to secure table seats.
Top tips for travelling on the Eurostar with kids:
- Fold your pram before boarding as it’ll make getting on much smoother.
- Board early at St Pancras to get your prams into luggage racks and settle into your seats. In Lille, ask a staff member if you need help getting everything on board.
- There’s no trolley service, but there is a café carriage. We recommend bringing your own snacks, baby food and drinks to save money and keep everyone happy. Best of all, there are no liquid restrictions, unlike flying!
- Bring toys – all our babies enjoyed these suction spinners and they provided amole entertainment!
All in all, the Eurostar is a lovely way to travel with kids. Our Lille trip was admittedly a bit wild, driven by a determination to make the most of our new “mum era” adventures. But would we do it again? Absolutely – and maybe next time we’ll stay for dinner!
Allie, Jack & R x
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