Travelling from Amsterdam to London is easy. These two capitals are not only close but are serviced by stacks of transport options. Would you prefer to travel from Amsterdam to London quickly? Cheaply? In comfort? All three?
We’ve hunted, gathered, and left no stone unturned in our quest to bring you the ultimate transport guide from Amsterdam to London. It’s time to switch toking on Amsterdam’s canals for tea and scones with the King. Ready to jump aboard?
Amsterdam to London by train
Hop onto a train, sit back in a comfy seat, and arrive in London at rail speed. Sounds great!
Is there a direct train from Amsterdam to London?
Yes! The Eurostar runs directly from Amsterdam to London, taking only four hours and also stops in Rotterdam and Brussels.
Be aware that because Britain is not part of the EU anymore, passengers are required to arrive an hour before their train departs to show tickets and their passports (ID is no longer sufficient!).
Let op: Due to station refurbishments, trains between Amsterdam and London might be affected for an extended period of time until 2028. Please consult Eurostar directly for up-to-date information.
How much does the direct train from Amsterdam to London cost?
It depends on the season. Prices start from around €50, but in the summer, prices can hit a whopping €300 — ouch! Book ahead to try to save money to spend at your destination instead.
Can I stop over in Brussels when going from Amsterdam to London by train?
If you would like to make a stopover in Brussels for a few hours or days, just book your ticket from Amsterdam to Brussels and Brussels to London separately.
READ MORE | 17 places you can get to by TRAIN from the Netherlands
Make sure to take the Eurostar train from Amsterdam, though — this is the high-speed option and will get you there in just under two hours, quicker than the Intercity trains. If you’re arriving at Schiphol or closer to Rotterdam, you can also take the Eurostar directly from either of those locations.
What about the direct train from London to Amsterdam?
We repeat: this is about the train leaving from London. If you’re in London and you want to get to Amsterdam, here’s what you need to know.
The service is operated by Eurostar and only takes 3 hours and 50 minutes. When you compare this to flying, don’t forget to factor in getting to the airport, checking into your flight, checking baggage, clearing security, boarding, flying, clearing immigration and customs, and getting from the airport into the city (whew!).
It’s actually pretty time-efficient to take the train — and there’s a lot less waiting in line.
Where does the direct train from London to Amsterdam leave from?
You’ll leave from St. Pancras in London, a huge station in the city centre right near Kings Cross. You’ll arrive in Amsterdam Central, which is within walking distance of most tourist attractions and hotels in Amsterdam.
When does the direct train from London to Amsterdam run?
The direct train from London to Amsterdam runs very often — up to five times a day during the summer. That gives you a good variety of choices!
The rest of the year looks a little different, so make sure to double-check the departures on the Eurostar website.
How much does the direct train from London to Amsterdam cost?
Eurostar advertises that you can get tickets for just €44 (one way). A quick scan of winter pricing showed that you can actually get a ticket for that price — amazing!
Obviously, in the summer, you can expect that price to jump up way into the hundreds and tickets to sell out quickly, so try to book early.
The best part? Every ticket includes two suitcases, and one piece of hand luggage, so you won’t get stung by those airline luggage fees or try and cram your bag into an oddly-shaped container.
READ MORE | Travelling by plane summer 2024? Here are 7 extra costs to watch out for
Amsterdam to London by air
If you’re the kind of person who prefers to travel in the clouds, you’re in luck: it’s very easy to get from Amsterdam to London by air.
Which airlines fly between Amsterdam and London?
While Amsterdam has just one major airport (Schiphol), London has six (London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted and London Southend).
Keep in mind that some of these airports are up to an hour away from the city centre by car, and even longer by public transport.
London City, Gatwick and Heathrow are all closest to the city centre but also typically service higher-cost airlines. Luton, Stansted, and Southend are further away, and most budget airlines fly through these.
Airlines with non-stop flights from Amsterdam to London by airport:
- Amsterdam to London City: KLM, British Airways
- Amsterdam to Gatwick: easyJet, British Airways
- Amsterdam to Heathrow: KLM, British Airways
- Amsterdam to Luton: EasyJet
- Amsterdam to Stansted: EasyJet
- Amsterdam to Southend: EasyJet
If you’re looking to save money, look at other Dutch airports like Eindhoven or Rotterdam. Most budget airlines fly between smaller airports.
For example, RyanAir flies exclusively from Eindhoven to London Stansted (for as cheap as €17!).
How much is a plane ticket from Amsterdam to London?
You can occasionally snatch up a ticket from Amsterdam to one of London’s outer airports for less than €40.
Keep in mind that if you’re travelling to one of these, you’ll have to pay for your travel into the city centre of London. The Stansted Express, for example, which connects Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street Station, can easily add another £20 to your total travel cost.
The average price is somewhere between €90 and €120, but tickets can end up costing a few hundred euros during peak times or if you book last minute.
How long is the flight between Amsterdam and London?
A flight from Amsterdam to London can take anywhere from one to one-and-a-half hours, depending on which airport you’re flying into.
Remember to take into account the time spent checking in, getting through security and border control (the United Kingdom was never Schengen, even before Brexit!), and then clearing customs and immigration in London.
Amsterdam to London by bus
If you’re not fond of flying and trains, or maybe you just really like seeing the inside of a bus for up to 19 hours, then the bus from Amsterdam to London is for you!
You’ll have a few opportunities throughout the bus journey to hop off, use the bathroom, and grab some food. Regardless, 10 hours minimum on a bus is a long time, so this journey is only for the brave-hearted.
However, there are some benefits to taking the bus. It can be cheaper if you have some heavy luggage to bring, you have the option of bringing a bike, and you can catch up on all those podcasts you swore you’d listen to. Also, some of the buses do make it in just 10.5 hours.
What bus companies go from Amsterdam to London?
Flixbus
If you’re really keen to do this by road, the most well-known company is Flixbus. This German company has routes all over Europe, pretty comfortable, new buses, and sometimes the WiFi even works.
Flixbus have four different departure points in Amsterdam, so check yours carefully and arrive relatively centrally at Victoria Coach Station. They advertise tickets from €31, but they can cost you over €100 depending on when you travel.
BlaBlaBus
BlaBlaBus, an offshoot of ride-sharing service BlaBlaCar and formerly called OuiBus, also makes the arduous journey across the channel.
Their tickets range from €30 to over €100, leaving from Amsterdam Sloterdijk and also arriving at Victoria Coach Station. And if you’re down for a different type of adventure, BlaBlaBus also offers carpooling options!
Amsterdam to London — by ferry & train
Are you keen to hit the high seas — or, in this case, the English Channel? It is possible to buy a combined train and ferry ticket to get from Amsterdam to London — the so-called Rail and Sail system.
Stena Line, a UK Company, teamed up with the UK’s Greater Anglia Rail, NS and RET (Rotterdam Public Transport) to create this special offer.
To get from Amsterdam to London by train and ferry, you would leave any Amsterdam train station (or from any other train station in the Netherlands) and make your way to Rotterdam.
Once in Rotterdam, hop on the metro line to Schiedam Centrum and then onto the ferry at Hoek van Holland (Hook of Holland). You’ll arrive in Harwich, United Kingdom, and then take the train up to London.
How long does the ferry and rail journey from the Netherlands to London take?
Let’s break this down into the various legs of the journey:
- Amsterdam to Rotterdam Centraal by train takes around 45 minutes.
- Rotterdam Centraal to Hook of Holland by subway takes around 50 minutes.
- Hook of Holland to Harwich by ferry takes six-and-a-half hours (with the option of travelling overnight).
- Harwich to London by train takes between one-and-a-half and three hours, depending on the day.
In total, expect the journey to take a minimum of 12 hours when taking into account waiting times.
Can I take luggage, a bike, or pets?
You can take up to two suitcases on the ferry, a bike during certain times, and pets. You’ll need to check on individual rail services if you can take bikes and furry friends.
How much does the ferry and train between Amsterdam and London cost?
Stena Line offers the combined rail and ferry ticket for just €69 per person. This includes rail travel from any city in the Netherlands to the port, the ferry, and then rail service to any Greater Anglia Rail station in England.
How can I book a ticket for the rail and ferry from Amsterdam to London?
Ready to hop on board me hearty? Head on over to Stena Line’s Dutch website to book your combined ticket.
Keep the language in Dutch and just use Google Translate, or you won’t be able to include your rail ticket inside the Netherlands.
Amsterdam to London by car
None of the options above take your fancy? It is possible to drive from Amsterdam to London by car if you’re more of a rev-head or transporting a bunch of stuff. The route takes you down through Belgium and into France.
In France, you’ll find the Channel Tunnel — the tunnel with the longest underwater section in the world. It also has an adorable nickname: The Chunnel.
You don’t actually drive through the Channel Tunnel. Instead, you load your car onto a specially designed train called the Eurotunnel Shuttle and sit in your car while the train shuttles you underwater to the UK. This part of the trip is only 35 minutes.
You can take pets on the shuttle, or if you’re cycling around, you can put your bike on and travel in a special minibus.
How much does the Eurotunnel Shuttle cost?
The shuttle charges by car (not by passenger), and prices start from just €72. If you’re travelling with a big family or a group of friends, this can be cost-effective. Remember to factor in gas and tolls for your journey too!
How long does it take to travel from Amsterdam to London by car?
The trip from Amsterdam to London by car will take you around 6.5 hours, depending on traffic and waiting time for the ferry.
Have you travelled from Amsterdam to London? What route did you take? Tell us in the comments below!
Am living in Spain Valencia but I want to go to London from Holland,by train.
Please how can I start my journey.
Thank you very much, waiting for my reply.
Here some tips:
1. Read the article.
2. Re-read the article.
3. Have you read the article?
I prefered by car through tunnel.