Eurostar has reported a 30 per cent surge in bookings around the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, compared with the same period last year1 and an 18 per cent increase, compared to the Royal Wedding weekend in 2011.

Thousands of Brits are taking advantage of the double bank holiday to take an extended mini break, while thousands of our European cousins will visit London to enjoy the Jubilee celebrations, as royal fever spreads across the continent.

Friday June 1st, is set to be Eurostar’s busiest day with over 30,000 passengers expected to travel between the UK and mainland Europe on that day alone.

To meet this heightened demand Eurostar is adding ten extra services, but with tickets selling fast travellers are encouraged to book quickly.

As tens of thousands of people are set to visit London for the Jubilee celebrations, some Brits are taking advantage of the extended bank holiday and the recent strengthening of the pound against the euro to enjoy a long weekend away.

Eurostar has seen a 46 per cent surge in bookings for people leaving the UK over the bank holiday weekend, compared to the Royal Wedding bank holiday weekend last year2, with destinations like Avignon, Bruges and Amsterdam proving popular with travellers.

Nick Mercer, commercial director for Eurostar says: The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will start a once in a lifetime year of celebrations for the capital, with the London 2012 Festival and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.

“London is the hottest destination this year and it’s fantastic that so many people from across Europe are travelling with us to join both the Jubilee and Olympic celebrations.

“At the same time, for those Brits who want to take advantage of the Jubilee double bank holiday, there’s still time to book that trip to Paris, Avignon, Lyon, Bruges and many more destinations with the extra services we’re running.”

The Queen opened the Channel Tunnel and Waterloo International station in 1994 as well as St Pancras International station in 2007.

Her Majesty travelled with Eurostar in May 1994 and April 2004 to Paris and July 2007 to Brussels.