A London to Paris chauffeur service takes you door to door in one car: M20 to Folkestone, 35 minutes through the Channel Tunnel on LeShuttle with the car, then the A26 and A1 into Paris. Allow around seven hours. Excel Chauffeurs quotes the journey as a bespoke fixed price with LeShuttle fares and French tolls itemised.
Route and timing: M20, LeShuttle, A26/A1, Paris
The journey has three legs. From central London your chauffeur joins the M20 towards Folkestone, roughly 70 miles depending on your pick-up point. At the LeShuttle terminal the car drives straight onto the shuttle train and you stay in the vehicle for the crossing; LeShuttle’s planned platform-to-platform time is 35 minutes, and its published average between November 2024 and October 2025 was 35 minutes 17 seconds. Shuttles run 24 hours a day, with up to four departures an hour at busy times. From the Calais terminal the fastest route is the A26 and A1 via Arras and Compiègne, which LeShuttle puts at around 293 km and 3 hours 30 minutes. LeShuttle’s own guidance gives London to Paris as 288 miles (464 km) and about 6 hours 55 minutes including the crossing. In practice, a comfortable plan is: depart London 07:00, board around 08:50, arrive Paris mid-afternoon with a short stop en route. Your chauffeur will time the departure around your booked shuttle and the Boulevard Périphérique’s peak hours.Door to door vs Eurostar
Eurostar is faster between the two city centres: the quickest London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord services take about 2 hours 16 minutes. If you are travelling light and both ends of your trip are near the stations, it is hard to beat. A chauffeur is not competing on speed. It is door to door with no check-in, no luggage limits, no platform, and no second transfer at either end. For a family with cases and a pushchair, a party with equipment or samples, a passenger who prefers privacy, or anyone travelling with a dog, one car from your London front door to your Paris hotel is the simpler day. It also works as a moving office: Wi-Fi, chargers and water are standard in every Excel vehicle.What is included and what is quoted separately
Your fixed quote from Excel covers the chauffeur, the vehicle, fuel, and the chauffeur’s return to London (or accommodation, if you keep the car in Paris). The following are itemised in your quote so you can see exactly what you are paying for:- LeShuttle fare for the vehicle and passengers, at the fare for your travel date and time
- French motorway tolls on the A26/A1 (LeShuttle indicates roughly €25 each way for a car)
- Parking in Paris and any waiting beyond the included allowance
- Overnight costs for the chauffeur on multi-day bookings
How much does a London to Paris chauffeur cost?
Excel quotes London to Paris as a bespoke fixed price, because the shuttle fare, tolls and your exact addresses all affect it. For a realistic sense of scale, start from our out-of-town rate: an eight-hour minimum with 150 miles included, from £768 in a Mercedes E-Class, £960 in a Mercedes S-Class or V-Class, and £1,248 in a Range Rover, all VAT inclusive. A one-way run to Paris is around 288 miles and about seven hours, so the mileage above 150 miles is added, plus the itemised shuttle and tolls. Returns and multi-day trips are priced on the same basis. The right move is to request a fixed quote with your dates, addresses and passenger count. You will have the full price, itemised, before you commit. Business accounts receive invoicing and ex-VAT pricing; see business chauffeur services.Documents and the border
You will pass French border control at the Folkestone terminal before boarding (juxtaposed controls), so have passports ready in the car. Two things have changed for UK passport holders:- EES (Entry/Exit System): the EU’s digital border system began on 12 October 2025 and, according to GOV.UK, became fully operational at all external Schengen border points on 10 April 2026. UK travellers on a short stay may need to register biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) on arrival. There is no form and no fee; it happens at the border.
- ETIAS: the EU’s travel authorisation is not yet in operation as of September 2026. The EU has said it will announce the start date in advance, and GOV.UK warns that any site selling ETIAS now is fraudulent. Check the official EU travel site shortly before you go.
Luggage, pets and passengers
Luggage is limited only by the car. A Mercedes S-Class comfortably takes two large cases; a Mercedes V-Class carries up to six passengers with generous boot space and is the usual choice for families or groups; a Range Rover seats four with room for skis or golf bags. Dogs, cats and ferrets can travel with you, but the rules are strict. Per GOV.UK, a pet travelling from Great Britain to an EU country needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel, and an Animal Health Certificate issued by an official vet within 10 days of entry to the EU. Pet passports issued in Great Britain are not valid for EU entry. A tapeworm treatment may be required for dogs depending on the country. Tell us when you book so we can allocate a suitable vehicle and add the pet to the LeShuttle booking.One-way, return and multi-day
One-way: we drive you to Paris and the chauffeur returns to London the same day. Return: either the same chauffeur waits in Paris (for a short stay) or returns to collect you on a later date; both are quoted as one fixed price. Multi-day: keep the car and chauffeur with you in Paris or continue to Reims, Deauville or the Loire, with daily rates and overnight costs itemised. For journeys that mix a chauffeur with Eurostar or a flight, see our one-way and airport services. Our On-Time Guarantee applies to your London pick-up.Frequently asked questions
How long does a chauffeur take from London to Paris?
About seven hours door to door. LeShuttle gives London to Paris as 288 miles and roughly 6 hours 55 minutes including the 35-minute crossing; central London to Folkestone is about 1 hour 30, and Calais to Paris around 3 hours 30 on the A26/A1. Check-in, border control and a comfort stop make up the balance.How much does a London to Paris chauffeur cost?
It is quoted as a bespoke fixed price. As a guide, Excel’s out-of-town rate is an eight-hour minimum with 150 miles included, from £768 in a Mercedes E-Class or £960 in an S-Class or V-Class, VAT included, with mileage beyond 150 miles, the LeShuttle fare and French tolls itemised in the quote.Will I have the same chauffeur both ways?
Usually, yes. For a short stay the same chauffeur stays in Paris and brings you home; for longer stays we can send the same chauffeur back to collect you, subject to availability. Tell us your preference when booking and we will confirm it in writing on the quote.Can we stop overnight on the way?
Yes. Arras, Amiens and Chantilly are popular overnight stops between Calais and Paris. An overnight simply becomes a multi-day booking, priced on the daily rate with the chauffeur’s accommodation itemised. Tell us where you would like to stay and we will plan the timings around it.Can I bring my dog?
Yes, with the right paperwork. Per GOV.UK your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an Animal Health Certificate issued within 10 days of entering the EU; a GB pet passport is not valid. Let us know at booking so we allocate a suitable car and add the pet to the shuttle reservation. To plan your London to Paris journey, call 0204 515 4441, message +44 7383 009 099 on WhatsApp, or request a fixed quote online. We will confirm the price, itemised, before you commit.Book with Excel Chauffeurs: chauffeur by the hour from £72 · chauffeur for the day · Heathrow transfers from £144 · private chauffeur · wedding chauffeur · corporate accounts · areas we cover · prices. Call 0204 515 4441, 24/7.
