With relatives in Belgium, the Eurostar has always been my preferred mode of travel due to its direct trains from London to Brussels.

On a recent journey, I realised that I’ve accumulated over 50 trips on the Eurostar. It’s often more cost-effective than flying for me; there are frequent sales where you can grab £39 tickets if you’re willing to take the early morning or late-night trains, and occasionally there are enticing offers to upgrade to Eurostar Plus seats with benefits such as extra legroom and a light meal.

I believe I’ve nearly mastered the art of a smooth check-in (have your documents prepared, gadgets out before you reach security screening, coffee and snacks purchased to avoid the rush at the only Pret available once you pass through border control).

However, there’s one error that I consistently see travellers making – and it can actually result in them having to wait longer for their train. While airlines typically require you to arrive two to three hours prior to a flight, the window is much smaller for the Eurostar; and they won’t allow you to join the queue if you arrive too early.

When you reach the Eurostar departure queues, staff members usually hold signs displaying train numbers and departure times. If your train isn’t listed, it’s unlikely you’ll be allowed through. 

The hall typically accommodates two to three trains’ worth of passengers, which can lead to overcrowding during delays.

This often results in eager passengers having to awkwardly loiter outside the queues for the Eurostar terminal, leading to frustration as they’re essentially waiting to join another queue.

This system isn’t exclusive to London; Brussels also employs a similar method, meaning early arrivals won’t be granted access to the terminal until the check-in window opens for their specific train.

Eurostar provides rough guidelines on its website, although it’s always advisable to check your booking details as these can vary depending on the travel month or any potential delays.

Generally, Eurostar advises arriving 75 minutes prior to your departure time in London. In Paris, there’s a broader window of up to 90 minutes, while in Brussels, the recommended arrival time is up to an hour before departure.

Naturally, there’s a downside; the gates typically shut around 30 minutes prior to departure, so don’t assume you can arrive just 10 minutes before and bypass the security queues and border control (I’ve witnessed individuals looking extremely stressed as they hurry through security and sprint for their train).

Despite this, I still find it a more streamlined and simpler process than navigating an airport – particularly with Eurostar’s absence of 100ml liquid restrictions and a more laid-back attitude towards luggage!