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Buy Eurostar tickets to Brussels from £52 at www.eurostar.com
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London to Brussels 2h01, Bruges 3h25
Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi through the Channel Tunnel. taking just 2 hours from central London to central Brussels. It's faster than flying as well as more comfortable, more reliable, and with up to 90% lower CO2 emissions. Or you can travel overnight from London to Antwerp & Brussels via the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, sleeping in a cosy cabin. Change in Brussels for other destinations in Belgium.
London to Belgium by Eurostar - the fast way
London to
Belgium by train & ferry - the ferry alternative
London to Belgium via Lille - for
Tournai, Mons & Ypres
Other UK cities to Brussels & Belgium
Train travel within Belgium
Battle of
Waterloo - a day trip from Brussels
International trains to/from Belgium
Trains to Brussels from other European cities
Trains from
Brussels to other European cities
Trains from
Bruges to other European cities
Other useful information
London St Pancras
station guide
Brussels Midi station
& advice on changing trains
Short breaks to
Brussels or Bruges by train
Left luggage in
Brussels & other stations
General train travel to Europe
information
Insurance, mobile data packages & other
tips
Useful country information
Option 1, London to Belgium by Eurostar
This is the fastest and easiest way, London to Brussels by Eurostar in 2 hours. Change at Brussels Midi for Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp or anywhere else in Belgium.
Timetable outward 2025
Timetable inward 2025
Notes for timetable
How to read these timetables: It's easy, you read downwards, each column is a journey you can take. You change trains at the grey bar.
Times vary, check your date at www.eurostar.com. Check trains in Belgium at www.belgiantrain.be.
There are no Eurostar services on Christmas Day and a reduced service on Boxing Day. More about Eurostar.
London to Brussels by Eurostar is 373 km (232 miles). Eurostars won't call at Ashford or Ebbsfleet in 2025.
How much does it cost?
London to Brussels starts at £51 one-way or £78 return in standard, £98 one-way, £140 return in Plus class (1st class).
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sundays.
Children under 4 free, no ticket required. Children under 12 travel at the child rate on both Eurostar and Belgian trains.
Brussels to Bruges costs €17.50 each way in 2nd class, €27.00 in 1st class. Fixed price, good for any departure that day.
A Weekend return is €18.80.
Youth fare €7.70 for anyone under 26.
Senior fare €8.50 2nd class or €18.00 1st class for anyone over 65, good for any train at weekends, any train after 09:00 weekdays.
Up to 4 children under 12 travel free when accompanying a fare-paying passenger over 12, see www.belgiantrain.be.
Eurostar stopped selling tickets to Any Belgian Station from 31 March 2025 at the request of SNCB (Belgian Railways). You now need to buy a Eurostar ticket to Brussels and a separate ticket for any onward Belgian train. Eurostar say they may start selling through tickets to specific Belgian stations in due course.
How to buy tickets
Option 1, buy tickets from London to Brussels at www.eurostar.com.
Booking opens up to 11 months ahead, but bear in mind that data may not be 100% complete if you look more than a 3-4 months ahead.
Tip: You may find certain London-Brussels departures missing until 2 months or so before departure. Eurostar trains that go through to Amsterdam may be kept closed for sale for Brussels passengers and missing from the results if you search until 60 days before departure. This is Eurostar policy to give London-Amsterdam passengers first bite at the cherry.
You print your ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app & show on your phone.
Tip: After booking, go to www.eurostar.com and use Manage your booking to view & change your seats, see tips for choosing seats.
Option 2, buy tickets from London to Bruges or anywhere in Belgium at www.raileurope.com
www.raileurope.com can sell you the Eurostar ticket to Brussels and an onward ticket to anywhere in Belgium as one seamless transaction. It's easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee.
Option 3, another way to buy tickets
Alternatively, book your London-Brussels ticket at www.eurostar.com, then buy an onward Belgian ticket at the Belgian Railways website www.belgiantrain.be. The Belgian rail network operates like a big mass transit network, there's no need to book in advance, there are no seat reservations, fares are fixed-price and don't vary. Tickets can be used on any departure that day.
Travel tips
Going to Bruges?
When boarding a train for Bruges in Brussels, the departure indicators usually show Oostende, Knokke or Blankenberge as the destination of your train, Bruges is only a calling point so not always shown. Remember that Bruges is Brugge in Flemish, Bruges in French, it's the same place.
Tip: You want the Brussels-Bruges mainline trains through Ghent taking around 1 hour. Don't get on a stopping train to Bruges via Roesalere taking 2h16!
Going to Tournai, Mons & western Belgium?
Parts of western Belgium are better reached via Lille, including Kortrijk, Tournai, Mons & Ypres, see the Belgium via Lille section.
What are Eurostar trains like?
Eurostar has 3 classes, Standard, Plus (1st class for leisure), and Premier (1st class for business).
Premier has flexible tickets, a hot meal served at your seat with alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks, access to business lounges in London & Brussels and a 10 minute minimum check-in.
Plus offers exactly the same 1st class seating, but with more affordable less flexible fares, a cold tray meal served at your seat with complimentary alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks, a 30-minute minimum check-in and no access to business lounges.
Eurostar trains are smooth & quiet even at 186 mph. There are two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar & check-in procedures.
Arriving at Brussels Midi
Eurostar arrives on platform 1 or 2 if it terminates in Brussels or on platform 3 or 4 if it continues to Amsterdam.
It's Bruxelles Midi in French, Brussel Zuid in Flemish, Brussels South in English, all the same place. Brussels Midi is a 25 minute walk from the Grand Place (Grote Markt) in the city centre or there are buses, taxis & a metro. Brussels Midi station guide.
To walk to the city centre, leave the station from the main doors on the Eurostar terminal (platform 1/2) side of the station, turn right, walk along the side of the station/tracks for a few minutes and then turn left along the Rue Stalingrad to central Brussels.
Or you can buy a ticket and hop on any Belgian domestic train to Brussels Central, 3 minutes walk from the Grand Place.
Left luggage lockers are available. When returning to London, remember the minimum 30 minute check-in. Map of Brussels. Bus, tram & metro info for Brussels.
Onwards to Ghent & Bruges
For Bruges or Ghent, look on the departure boards for a train going to Oostende, Knokke or Blankenberge, these trains stop at Ghent & Bruges. Remember that Bruges is Brugge in Flemish, Ghent is Gand in French. In Bruges, you want the main station shown as plain Bruges, not the local station called Bruges St Pieters. However, just to confuse you, the main station in Ghent is called Ghent St Pieters. Clear? Great!
Most Brussels-Bruges trains use modern double deck M7 trains as shown below. A few use an older single-deck type. There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink. The double-deck trains have power sockets, the older single-deck trains don't. There are no seat reservations, you sit where you like.
Tip: You can see which train type will operate your departure by running an enquiry at www.belgiantrain.be. In the search results, click on your departure and an image of the train will appear. Or download the SNCB/NMBS app and run an enquiry on your phone.
A double-deck Intercity train from Brussels arrived at Bruges station, final destination Oostende. Most departures use these double-deck M7 trains.
Above left, the entrance and stairs to upper & lower decks.
Above right, 2nd class upper deck seats on a Brussels-Luxembourg train.
Above left, the rather nice steampunk-style 1st class, on these trains all 1st class seats are on the upper deck.
Above right, Bruges station. At the time of writing, the classic main entrance and station hall are closed for renovation. You enter through an entrance to the left, directly into the passageway under all the tracks with escalators up to each platform.
Bruges railway station. Left luggage lockers are available, card-operated like the ones in Brussels.
Option 2, London to Belgium by train & ferry
For over a century, the traditional direct route from London to Brussels was via Dover & Oostende. However, there have been no ferries from Dover to Oostende since the 1990s. But there's still an alternative to Eurostar worth considering, especially if you live in East Anglia or have a phobia about the Channel Tunnel, with easy train-ferry connections at each end. It's overnight while you sleep in a cosy private cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV, so it's actually pretty time-effective, it's also punctual, all-weather-reliable and fun, too! This route is also pet-friendly & bike-friendly.
London ► Antwerp & Brussels
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Day 1, take the 19:36 train from London Liverpool Street to Harwich International, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details.
There's a direct train from Cambridge & Ipswich to Harwich International too, leaving Cambridge at 19:46.
At Harwich International the train arrives right at the ferry terminal. You walk off the train and into the ferry terminal, check in for the ferry and walk onto the ship. Unlike flying, it's totally painless. It's a breeze, even compared to queuing for Eurostar at St Pancras.
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Day 1, sail from Harwich to Hoek van Holland by Stena Line superferry, sailing at 23:00 and arriving Hoek van Holland 08:00 Dutch time.
You can board from around 21:00 in time for a late dinner in the restaurant or Stena Plus lounge. The ship is a floating hotel, all passengers have a private cabin with toilet, shower, satellite TV & free WiFi, an excellent experience. I recommend adding Stena Plus lounge access to your booking, this includes complimentary snacks & wine in the evening and a complimentary breakfast in the morning.
When the ship arrives at Hoek van Holland, the metro station is just across the road from the ferry terminal.
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Day 2, take the RET metro from Hoek van Holland Haven to Beurs, this runs every 20-30 minutes, journey time 30 minutes. At Beurs, change onto metro line D or E and go 2 stops to Rotterdam Centraal, see metro map.
Alternatively, if you feel like a morning stroll, get off at Eendrachtsplein and walk 850m 10-minutes to Rotterdam Centraal, see walking map.
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Day 2, travel from Rotterdam to Belgium by fast EuroCity Direct train, leaving Rotterdam Centraal 10:41 and arriving Antwerp Centraal 11:26, Brussels Midi 12:11.
Trains link Rotterdam Centraal with Antwerp & Brussels Midi twice per hour, check times at www.nsinternational.nl.
Brussels & Antwerp ► London
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Rotterdam by EuroCity Direct train, leaving Brussels Midi at 17:49 or Antwerp Centraal at 18:23, arriving Rotterdam Centraal 19:19.
By all means leave Brussels on the previous train at 16:49 or Antwerp at 17:23 to board the ferry earlier, trains link Rotterdam Centraal with Antwerp & Brussels Midi every hour, check times at www.nsinternational.nl.
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Day 1, now take the RET metro line D/E from Rotterdam Centraal to Beurs and change onto metro line B to Hoek van Holland, see metro map. Metro trains to Hoek van Holland run every 20-30 minutes, journey time from Beurs around 30 minutes.
Or you can walk walk from Rotterdam Centraal to Eendrachtsplein metro station, an easy 10 minutes 850m, see walking map, then take metro line B direct to Hoek van Holland Haven, it runs every 20-30 minutes, journey time 30 minutes.
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Day 1, sail overnight from Hoek van Holland to Harwich by Stena Line superferry, sailing at 22:00 and arriving in Harwich at 06:30 UK time.
You can board from around 20:00 onwards, in time for dinner in the restaurant before retiring to your private en suite cabin. All passengers get a private cabin with toilet, shower, satellite TV & free WiFi. I recommend adding Stena Plus lounge access to your booking, this includes complimentary snacks & wine in the evening and a complimentary breakfast in the morning.
At Harwich, you walk down the gangway, through passport control and onto the railway station platforms.
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Day 2, travel from Harwich to London by train, arriving London Liverpool Street at around 08:56.
There's also a direct train from Harwich to Ipswich & Cambridge, arriving Cambridge at 09:42 Mondays-Saturdays or 10:39 on Sundays.
See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details between Rotterdam & London or Cambridge.
How much does it cost?
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London to Hoek van Holland starts at £62 with a Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket covering train & ferry.
This covers train travel from London Liverpool Street or any Greater Anglia railway station (including Norwich, Cambridge, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford and so on) to Harwich and the ferry to Hoek van Holland.
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You need to add the cost of a cabin, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details.
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Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam by metro costs around €4.
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Rotterdam to Brussels by EuroCity Direct costs €50.90 full-flex even bought on the day, good for any EuroCity Direct train, or from €23 if you book a few days or weeks in advance, only good for the specific departure you choose.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, buy a Rail & Sail ticket from London or any Greater Anglia station to Hoek van Holland at www.stenaline.co.uk/rail-and-sail/to-holland. See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details & tips on how to buy tickets. You print your own ticket.
You pay for the metro between Hoek van Holland & Rotterdam simply by touching in & out with any contactless bank card, or buy as shown here.
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Step 2, buy an onward ticket from Rotterdam to Antwerp or Brussels www.nsinternational.nl. You print your own ticket.
What's the journey like?
Step 1, London to Hoek van Holland by train & ferry
An air-conditioned train whisks you from London Liverpool Street station direct to the ferry terminal at Harwich International. You walk off the train, into the terminal, get your boarding card at the Stena Line check-in desk and walk onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland, sleeping in a cosy private cabin. The superferries Stena Britannica & Stena Hollandica are the largest ferries of their kind in the world. The journey is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page. See the video.
The Stena Hollandica boarding at Harwich, a floating hotel with private cabins, restaurant, bar, lounges, shop & kennels.
Above left, a standard outside cabin. Larger photo. 360º photo. Above right, the Stena Plus lounge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee & snacks.
Above left, the bar on 9 deck. Above right, a Captain's Class cabin with complimentary minibar, toilet & shower.
Step 2, Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam by metro
Air-conditioned metro trains link Hoek van Holland with Eendrachtsplein & Beurs stations in downtown Rotterdam every 20-30 minutes, journey time around 30 minutes, either get off at Eendrachtsplein and stroll 10 minutes to Rotterdam Centraal, or change at Beurs onto metro line D/E and go 2 stops to Rotterdam Centraal.
Step 3, Rotterdam to Belgium by train.
Every hour, a fast EuroCity Direct train links Rotterdam Centraal with Antwerp Centraal & Brussels Midi. From 15 December 2024 these are operated new ICNG (Intercity New Generation) trains with power sockets, USB ports & free WiFi. There's a mix of seating types in both classes, luggage racks, bike spaces, wheelchair accessible toilets and easy level boarding.
There is also a much slower service every hour branded EuroCity using older trains, but tickets for EuroCity Direct are not valid on the (plain) EuroCity trains.
Rotterdam Centraal was rebuilt in 2014, and is now one of Europe's most impressive modern stations - it's worth wandering into the main hall and onto the forecourt to admire it. The lovely Centraal Station lettering and clock on the front is taken from the previous 1957 building.
An ICNG (InterCity New Generation) train at Brussels Midi. These will operate the EuroCity Direct services from December 2024.
Option 3, London to Belgium via Lille
A few destinations in western Belgium are best reached by taking Eurostar to Lille Europe, walking 500m to Lille Flandres station, then taking a local train. This includes Kortrijk, Mons, Tournai and Ypres, the place WW1 British soldiers knew as 'Wipers'.
Book Eurostar to Lille at www.eurostar.com. Then check onward times from Lille Flandres at the Belgian railways website, www.belgiantrain.be.
For example, an hourly regional train runs from Lille to Kortrijk (the final destination of this train is usually Antwerp/Anvers), change at Kortrijk for the branch line to Ypres (Ieper) and Poperinge.
You don't need a reservation for Lille-Belgium regional trains so can easily buy the Lille-Belgium ticket at the station in Lille when you get there.
Short breaks to Brussels or Bruges
The historic city of Bruges makes a truly excellent short break destination from the UK - better in my opinion than Brussels, although both cities are worth the trip. You can find short breaks to Bruges or Brussels combining Eurostar and hotel at:
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www.railbookers.co.uk, call 0207 864 4600. Railbookers also offer Christmas Market breaks by train.
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Byway.travel, a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating. To see preconfigured packages to Ghent or Brussels, use the journey planner on their website. Or they can build a trip to your requirements, call 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +44 300 131 7173) or email them or use this contact form. Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.
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www.lastminute.com, a well-known online travel agency.
The old city of Bruges. My favourite hotel, the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, is in the centre of this photo.
The Grote Markt, Bruges
There are special tickets to London International CIV from most UK stations which have better terms and conditions specially designed for connecting with Eurostar: Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras).
East Anglia to Brussels by train & ferry
If you live in East Anglia, a convenient, affordable, time-effective option is to use the Harwich to Hoek van Holland ferry, see the section above.
Devon & Cornwall to Brussels by sleeper & Eurostar
You can take the overnight Night Riviera sleeper train from Cornwall, Plymouth, Newton Abbott or Exeter to London Paddington, take the Underground to St Pancras, then hop on a Eurostar to Brussels, see the Sleeper to Cornwall page.
Scotland to Brussels by sleeper & Eurostar
You can take the overnight Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and many other Scottish town and cities to London Euston, walk to St Pancras, then hop on a Eurostar to Brussels, see the Caledonian Sleeper page.
Take a good guidebook, even in the age of the internet! For the independent traveller, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide. I personally prefer the layout of the Lonely Planet, but others prefer the Rough Guide. Both guidebooks provide the same excellent level of practical information and historical background. You won't regret buying one!
Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk
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European Rail Timetable & maps
The
European Rail Timetable
(formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable)
has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus
currency & climate information. It is essential
for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair
travellers. Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of
publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing
department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and
resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014.
You can buy it online at
www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses) or
www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide).
More information
on what the European Rail Timetable contains.
Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south. Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted. See an extract from the map. Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).
Hotels in Belgium
Hotels near Brussels Midi
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If you need a decent inexpensive hotel close to Brussels Midi station where Eurostar arrives, go for the dependable Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road or for something a little more upmarket the Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi is part of the station complex itself. I have stayed at both, and can recommend.
Hotels in the centre of Brussels
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How about staying on the famous Grand Place itself? In the mid-range, the Résidence Le Quinze Grand Place gets rave reviews and overlooks Brussels' famous central square.
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If you really want to push the boat out, the Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo is top end and scores 9/10, right near the Grand Place.
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You can stay next to the Grand Place relatively cheaply, too, at the Hotel Agora Grand Place also with great reviews.
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All these hotels near the Grand Place are just a few minutes walk from Brussels Central station.
In Bruges: Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
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If you can afford it and for somewhere really special, go for the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, a luxurious and romantic boutique-style hotel in a fabulous location on the canal and within easy walking distance of all the sights. My own stay here was a delight, and Mrs 61 was particularly impressed to be sharing the breakfast room with the lead guitarist from Pink Floyd.
Backpacker hostels:
www.hostelworld.com
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.
Travel insurance & other tips
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Always take out travel insurance
You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer. It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit. These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here. Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. There's no need to buy a physical SIM card! Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
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Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards. And you can get a Curve card for free.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I also get some commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone. You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or buy from Amazon.com.
Touring cities? Use hill walking shoes!
One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa. They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities. My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!