Unfortunately, the options to reach the United Kingdom with an Interrail Pass are somewhat limited. The only train travelling between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe is the Eurostar, which has departures from Amsterdam (NL), Rotterdam (NL), Brussels (BE), Lille (FR) and Paris (FR). Seat reservations are needed for the Eurostar train between the UK and mainland Europe, and they come in at around €30-€38. Be aware that they do tend to sell out in advance. We therefore recommend to make these reservations as soon as possible.
Booking via Interrail Self-Service
With your DiscoverEU Interrail Pass, you can book a seat reservation for the Eurostar in the DiscoverEU App. You can also make these using the Interrail Self-Service. For more information on how to book seat reservations, check out this article.
- You can book through the Discover EU App up to 1 hour before departure.
- You will receive your reservation e-ticket via email.
- These reservations need to be printed. Alternatively, you can also download the Eurostar app and add your ticket there. To do this, you'll need to enter your surname as well as your ticket code (called PNR) which is mentioned on your e-ticket.
Please be aware that the number of seats allocated to Interrail on Eurostar trains is limited, therefore we recommend making your reservation way in advance.
Note: The United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union. Therefore, you will need a passport to access the country, and other entry requirements may apply as well. For more information, check the website of the UK Border Agency carefully.
Are there any alternatives in case seats have already sold out?
Unfortunately, there are no other train services to the United Kingdom. Should you not be able to secure a seat on the Eurostar though, but still want to visit the UK, there are two ferry lines allowing foot passengers which you could consider. Note that these are not included in your DiscoverEU Interrail Pass, so you will need to purchase these tickets at your own expense. With your Interrail Pass, you can however get a discount on the foot passenger fare of the Harwich - Hoek van Holland connection. We will explain more on this below.
- Harwich (United Kingdom) – Hoek van Holland (Rotterdam, the Netherlands): Stena Line operates one morning departure which arrives late in the afternoon of the same day, and one evening departure arriving the following morning. In Harwich, the ferry terminal is connected directly to a train station on which you can use your Pass. In Hoek van Holland, you can use the Rotterdam metro system (not included) to travel to/ from Schiedam Centrum station. From here, you can use your Interrail Pass to continue your trip. For more information and booking with a discount up to 30%, check out the instructions on the Benefits Portal.
- Newhaven(United Kingdom) – Dieppe(France): This ferry service is operated by DFDS Seaways. It operates 2-3 times a day (depending on the season), and takes approximately 4.5 hours to cross. In Newhaven, the ferry terminal is situated right next to a train station from where you can use your Interrail Pass. In Dieppe, the ferry terminal is approximately 30 minutes away from the central train station on foot. For more information and booking, check out the DFDS Seaways website.
Tip: Before taking the train in the UK, you need to make sure that your Pass is set up correctly and that you check which train services are included. Therefore, please check this article for further instructions.