Important:  The Eurostar times shown below are the normal pre-Covid ones.  Eurostar is running a reduced service at the moment, so check what Eurostar departures are available on your date of travel at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Beyond Brussels, trains are running almost normally.

Timetable outward

Timetable inward

Notes...

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.

* = change at Arlon.  | = direct train between Brussels & Luxembourg.

No service on 25 December.    Brussels Midi station guide & advice on changing trains     London St Pancras station guide     Hotels in Luxembourg

Eurostars will not call at either Ashford or Ebbsfleet until 2022.

Times vary so always check Eurostar times at www.eurostar.com & Brussels-Luxembourg times at www.b-europe.com for your date of travel.

Fares...

Reservation is compulsory for Eurostar, and you need to book Eurostar in advance to get affordable fares.  But the hourly InterCity train from Brussels to Luxembourg is of the turn up, hop on variety, with no seat reservation necessary or even possible.

You can buy a Eurostar ticket from London to Any Belgian Station, which is valid to any rail station in Belgium including Arlon, which is the last stop in Belgium before Luxembourg.  So to reach Luxembourg you only need a Eurostar ticket to Any Belgian Station plus a ticket from Arlon to Luxembourg.  You can buy the Arlon-Luxembourg ticket in advance either at the station in Brussels or online and travel from Brussels to Luxembourg on the direct train using this combination of tickets, there's no need to get off the train in Arlon.  Read on...

How to buy tickets...

Before you rush out and buy a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels and a separate Brussels-Luxembourg ticket, here's a cheaper way of doing it:  Buy a Eurostar ticket to a Any Belgian station, which covers you for both the Eurostar and for the Brussels-Arlon section of the Brussels-Luxembourg journey, Arlon being the last stop in Belgium.  Add a print-at-home ticket from Arlon to Luxembourg, and you're all set.  Here's how to do it:

• Step 1, go to www.eurostar.com and buy a Eurostar ticket to the destination listed under Belgium as Any Belgian Station.  This is valid to any station in Belgium using any suitable connecting train within 24 hours of your arrival in Brussels, and (on your return journey) in the 24 hours before your Eurostar departure from Brussels back to London.  So it's valid to the last station In Belgium before Luxembourg, which is Arlon.  Now all you need is a ticket for the Arlon-Luxembourg bit.

• Step 2, buy your Arlon-Luxembourg ticket online at the Belgian Railways website, www.b-europe.com, any time within 30 days of travel.  Using the online booking system, simply type 'Arlon' and 'Luxembourg', and enter your dates of travel. In the search results, pick any train departure, it doesn't matter which train as the ticket will be an open ticket valid on any train on that date, no reservation necessary or possible.  You pay by credit card and print out your own ticket in .PDF format, easy!  Once bought the ticket is non-refundable, only valid on the date chosen, and the date cannot be changed  There's no need to get off the train in Arlon, you can simply travel from Brussels to Luxembourg on the direct hourly InterCity train using the combination of your Eurostar ticket to Any Belgian Station and your Arlon-Luxembourg ticket.  Simples!

• If you want to stop off in Brussels for more than 24 hours even just in one direction, then you must buy a London-Brussels ticket at www.eurostar.com and a separate Brussels-Luxembourg ticket at www.b-europe.com for around €28.20 each way (youth around €10.10 each way if you're under 26, although no senior fares).  You print your own ticket and it's valid for any train on the date it's booked for.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar...

Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in (10-minutes for business premier) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.

A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Brussels to Luxembourg by InterCity train...

The Brussels-Luxembourg InterCity trains run hourly throughout the day.  Important tip:  There's no catering on these Brussels-Luxembourg trains, so bring your own food & drink for the journey, there are plenty of places to buy food and drink inside Brussels Midi, including a minimarket.

A Belgian intercity (IC) train on the Brussels-Luxembourg route...

2nd class seats...		1st class seats...

A TGV from Paris arrived at Luxembourg.  There's no check-in, you just walk up to it & get on.		The cafe-bar, serving tea, coffee, beer, wine, cold snacks & microwaved hot dishes.  Larger photo.

2nd class (standard class) with a mix or unidirectional seats & tables for 4.  Seats are 2+2 across car width.  360 degree photo.		1st class seats, used for standard première and business première. Seats are arranged 2+1 across the car width.  360 degree photo.

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City breaks to Luxembourg

Railbookers, www.railbookers.co.uk....

Railbookers is a train travel specialist who can arrange short breaks from the UK to Luxembourg by train.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk. 

  US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com.

  Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.ca.

  Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au. 

  New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

Tailor Made Rail...

Tailor Made Rail can also arrange short breaks to Luxembourg by train, or tours by train which include Luxembourg.  They're TTA-protected - like ATOL, but not only for agencies that sell air travel.

Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  www.tailormaderail.com.

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European Rail Timetable & map

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 for £9.67 at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

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Take a good guidebook.  For the independent traveller, I think this usually means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  I personally prefer the Lonely Planet, others prefer the Rough Guide.  Both guidebooks provide the same excellent level of practical information and historical background.  However, for Luxembourg the Bradt guide is also worth considering as it covers Luxembourg in depth, not just as an adjunct to Belgium.  Whichever you buy, you won't regret buying one!

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Hotels in Luxembourg

Other hotel sites worth trying...

www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

Backpacker hostels...

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.

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Travel insurance & VPN

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 use an annual policy 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 & covers you even if the FCDO advises against non-essential travel.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see www.JustTravelCover.com - 10% discount with code seat61.

You can use www.confused.com to compare prices & policy features across major insurance companies.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get a Curve card to save on foreign transaction fees...

Banks often give a poor exchange rate, then charge a currency conversion fee as well.  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 balance 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 app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I use a Curve Blue card myself - I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending 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, too.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  VPNs & why you need one explained...

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.

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