Is Eurostar Plus Worth It? My 6-Hour Journey from London to Cologne
Is Eurostar Plus worth paying for? Six hours from London to Cologne, what the fare includes, and whether the extra beats standard.
It's 5:10am on a cold, wintry morning in London, and I'm standing outside St Pancras International like a bit of a fool. My train doesn't leave until 7:04am, but here I am, nearly two hours early, rolling my suitcase through an almost empty concourse because apparently I'm massively overenthusiastic about arriving early for a train check-in.
Eurostar wants you here max 90 minutes before departure. I've arrived about 20 minutes before that. The security gate agents turn me back to stand in a corner of the concourse. Not even M&S is open yet.
This is my first time trying Eurostar Plus, the middle child of train classes that promises more space and a proper breakfast without the full Premier price tag. But here's the thing nobody tells you: when you're going beyond Brussels, my first stop on today's trip, you're essentially buying two different train experiences for the price of one upgrade.
The Tale of Two Trains (And Why It Matters)
Eurostar check-in at St Pancras International, London
The good news is that they start letting us through at 5.30am. The bad news is I've learned that Eurostar Plus doesn't buy you fast-track security, that's a Premier-only perk. I passed through security and then passport control, into the surprisingly busy departure lounge.
My journey breaks down like this:
- Leg 1: Eurostar 9110, London to Brussels (07:04-10:11) - Coach 8, Seat 71, Eurostar Plus
- Leg 2: Eurostar 9423, Brussels to Cologne (11:25-13:15) - Coach 23, Seat 71, Eurostar Plus ("comfort class")
That second bit is crucial. While Eurostar now operates the old Thalys routes (they merged in 2022, rebranded in 2023), they haven't unified the service standards. Your Plus benefits essentially evaporate at Brussels.
London to Brussels: The Good Stuff
Space to Think (And Work)
Plenty of room in the 4-seater on Eurostar Plus Coach 8
Settling into Coach 8, the first thing you notice is the breathing room. In fact, the Plus coach is light on passengers, despite the platform positively heaving with people. The 2+1 layout means solo passengers can get a single seat. Strangely, I've been seated opposite someone at a small table, despite the emptiness of the train. I moved to a nearby 4-seater for extra space.
The seat is perfectly comfortable for the 2h15m journey to Brussels, with a sturdy table that extends to make it easy to work or eat. There's a power outlet, USB port, and enough legroom for this 6 footer.
Breakfast: Style Over Substance
Let's call this a light breakfast!
Twenty minutes out of London, breakfast arrives. Picture this: a small glass pot of yoghurt topped with caramelised apples and pecans, a triangular sandwich of spinach cake with salmon cream cheese, orange juice, and coffee.
It's Instagram-ready, I'll give them that. But if you're expecting something that'll fuel you until lunch, think again. The portions are… dainty. And there's no second round on offer from the breakfast trolley! You can always go buy something from the Eurostar Café.
Pro tip: Eat something substantial before boarding, or pack snacks. This breakfast is an appetizer, not a meal.
Digital Nomad Reality Check
The Wi-Fi works fine for emails and social media, but forget about video calls or large uploads. Power outlets are standard throughout Plus, with one European and one UK-style socket between seats.
The Brussels Connection: No Panic Required
The red theme starts on the outside of these former Thalys trains.
Arriving at Brussels-Midi right on time at 10:11, I had a comfortable 1 hour 14 minutes to find my connection, which is quite generous.
The platform for my Cologne train was already showing on the departure boards: Platform 3A for the 11:25 departure. With over an hour to spare, I had time to explore the station and pick up a sandwich at the station Carrefour Express.
No passport control within Schengen helps, and there's a helpful Relations Internationale desk if you need directions (I did). But with over an hour between trains, even if your inbound service is delayed, you're unlikely to miss your connection.
Brussels to Cologne: Reality Bites
It reads Eurostar Plus, but it's really Comfort Class with few perks.
Boarding the 11:25 to Cologne feels like stepping into a different company - because, until recently, it was. This is old Thalys rolling stock with fresh Eurostar branding, and you can tell (not just from the bright red upholstery).
The Service Drop-Off
A plug socket (and a need for a vacuum cleaner).
Memories of the breakfast service and attentive crew leaving London? Gone. It's replaced here by a more hands-off approach. This is "comfort class" rebadged as Eurostar Plus, which sounds premium, but features no food, no drinks, just your seat.
The seat itself is spacious enough for the 1 hour 50 minute journey, and the red-themed interior is striking, but it wasn't particularly clean. The shift in service vs Chunnel Eurostar is jarring. It's essentially a different product with the same brand name.
The Eurostar Class System
Here's what you're actually buying from Eurostar:
Standard Class
- Cheapest option
- 2+2 seating
- No food service (café available for purchases)
- Basic amenities (wifi and power)
Eurostar Plus (The Sweet Spot?)
- 2+1 seating layout
- Light meal service London routes only
- Flexible ticket changes
- More legroom
- Key point: Benefits only apply to London-Brussels segment
Premier Class
- Lounge access
- Substantial meals
- Fast-track check-in
- Full flexibility
- Worth it for business travelers or special occasions
The Verdict: Who Should Book Plus?
Book Eurostar Plus if you:
- Value personal space and quieter carriages (in/out of London)
- Want flexible tickets without Premier pricing
- Don't mind paying extra for a light breakfast
- Are traveling solo and want to avoid being trapped in window seats
Skip it if you:
- Primarily care about the continental leg of your journey
- Want substantial food service throughout
- Are budget-conscious and happy with Standard
Definitely go Premier if you:
- Travel regularly for business
- Want lounge access and substantial meals
- Need maximum flexibility
Where to Stay: Strategic Hotel Picks
A view of Cologne Cathedral (copyright: Patrick Hughes)
London
Check out the 4-star Pullman St Pancras, just five minutes from the departure gates (roll out of bed and onto the train!). The breakfast here is better than what you'll get onboard, if that influences your timing.
Cologne
Look at the Lindner Hotel City Plaza (Hyatt), within a short walk of the Hauptbahnhof and the cathedral. After 6 hours of travel, you'll appreciate not having to navigate public transport with luggage.
The Bottom Line
Would I book Eurostar Plus again for this route? I paid £161.50 for my one way ticket. You know, it was certainly roomy and comfortable, but I don't know that it was worth £70+ more than Standard class on my date of travel (prices vary). Buy a breakfast at the station and go Standard, or really splash out and go for Premium!
Really, you're really paying for a better experience on the London-Brussels segment.
But let's be clear about what you're getting: a light meal that won't sustain you, more legroom that I definitely appreciated, and flexible tickets that might save you money if plans change. The breakfast situation needs serious work, and Eurostar needs to figure out how to deliver consistent service across their expanded network.
For the space, flexibility, and relative peace, the upgrade is reasonable only if you get it for a decent price. Don't expect anything beyond Brussels, and definitely pack snacks!
Total journey time: 5 hours 11 minutes My early arrival lesson: Don't show up nearly 2 hours early Would I do it again: Would probably buy snacks and book Standard, unless there was a sale!