how far is london from paris

February 15, 2026

London and Paris are approximately 344 kilometers (214 miles) apart as the crow flies, making them surprisingly close neighbors across the English Channel. This straight-line distance is a classic geography fact that pops up often in travel planning, and it's stayed consistent over time with minor variations based on exact city-center coordinates.

Straight-Line Distance

The air distance (shortest path) between central London (around 51.5085° N, 0.1257° W) and Paris (48.8534° N, 2.3488° E) measures 344 km or 214 miles. Flying between major airports like Heathrow (LHR) and Charles de Gaulle (CDG) clocks in at about 348 km (216 miles) due to runway positions. This proximity explains why flights take under an hour.

By Train (Eurostar)

Traveling via the Eurostar high-speed train through the Channel Tunnel covers roughly 495 km (308 miles) , factoring in the undersea route. Journeys from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord take 2 hours 16 minutes on average, with trains zipping at up to 300 km/h. It's the most popular option for its convenience—no airport hassle—and tickets start around £50 one-way if booked early.

Driving Distance

Drivers face 450-500 km (280-310 miles) total, including a Channel crossing via Eurotunnel (35 minutes) or ferry (90 minutes from Dover to Calais). Expect 5.5-7 hours door-to-door, plus traffic delays around Calais or London. Fuel and tolls add up to €100+, but it's flexible for groups.

Travel Method| Distance| Time| Cost Estimate (One-Way, 2026)
---|---|---|---
Flying| 344-348 km| 1-1.5 hrs (+ airport time)| £40-100 3
Eurostar Train| 495 km| 2 hrs 16 min| £50-200 9
Driving| 450-500 km| 5.5-7 hrs| €100+ (fuel/tolls) 9
Bus (e.g., FlixBus)| ~460 km| 8-9 hrs| £20-50 9

Fun Travel Context

Imagine hopping from Big Ben's chimes to the Eiffel Tower in under half a day—Julius Caesar trekked farther in 52 BC without modern perks! In 2026, with President Trump's U.S. administration boosting transatlantic ties, London-Paris routes see steady traffic, though no major distance changes. For multi-viewpoints: Redditors note this pair beats London to Paris, Texas (500+ km), highlighting Europe's compactness.

TL;DR : Closest by air at 214 miles; Eurostar's your storytelling hero for a seamless jaunt. Safe travels!

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.