Hop over to Luxembourg, by train...

Eurostar trains link London with Brussels throughout the day in just 2 hours.  InterCity trains run from Brussels to Luxembourg every hour, taking 3h18.  You can also take Eurostar to Paris then a 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV from Paris to Luxembourg, journey time is similar, but it's less frequent and less flexible, see here.

Train times, fares & tickets

  London to Luxembourg by Eurostar via Brussels

  London to Luxembourg by Eurostar via Paris

  Starting from other UK towns & cities

  City breaks to Luxembourg by train

  Trains from Luxembourg to other European cities

  Trains to Luxembourg from other European cities

  Luxembourg station guide

  Useful country information currency, dial code...

  Hotels & accommodation in Luxembourg

  General European train travel information

  Luggage   Taking bikes   Taking dogs

Useful country information

London to Luxembourg via Brussels

This is the most direct route, with one easy same-station change in Brussels, although an extra change at Arlon in southern Belgium has crept in on a few Brussels-Luxembourg services in the last few years.  There are regular Eurostar high-speed trains from London to Brussels throughout the day, taking 2 hours.  InterCity trains then run from Brussels to Luxembourg every hour or so, taking 3h18.  You can check these times for your own date of travel at www.thetrainline.com.  If you prefer to take Eurostar to Paris then a 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV from Paris to Luxembourg, journey time similar but less frequent and less flexible, see the section below.

Timetable outward 2023

Timetable inward 2023

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.

* = 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 in 2022 or 2023, possibly longer.

Times vary so always check times at www.thetrainline.com for your date of travel.

How much does it cost?

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.

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 www.thetrainline.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.thetrainline.com for around €23.80 each way (youth €9.60 each way if you're under 26 or over 65).  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 at St Pancras (45 minute minimum at Brussels Midi) 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, mostly direct, a few with a change at Arlon.  They are comfortable, spacious, smooth-riding and air-conditioned.  There's a toilet at one end of each car.

Tip:  There's no catering on these Brussels-Luxembourg IC trains, so bring your own food & drink.

Tip:  There are only two power sockets per car, one at each end of the passenger saloon above a window seat. Savvy laptop users usually nab these seats!

A Belgian intercity (IC) train from Brussels to Luxembourg route, at Luxembourg station platform 1.  The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class.

2nd class seats.  Larger photo.		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

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London to Luxembourg via Paris

You can travel to Luxembourg via Paris if you prefer, using Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord in 2h20, a 10 minute walk to Paris Gare de l'Est, then a high-speed TGV Duplex to Luxembourg taking just 2h12.  This route is less frequent as there are only 5 daily TGVs from Paris to Luxembourg compared to hourly InterCity trains from Brussels to Luxembourg.  It's less flexible, as TGVs are reservation compulsory like Eurostar and your ticket will only be valid on one specific train, whereas the InterCity trains from Brussels are walk up, hop on with flexible fares good for any departure that day.  It's also usually more expensive than going via Brussels, but if you book in advance you can get cheap advance-purchase fares for the TGV that make the price similar to going via Brussels.  The key advantage is that you can stop off in Paris if you like.  I recommend an upstairs seat for the best views, any seat number over 60 is upper deck.

To check train times & fares and book London-Luxembourg tickets via Paris, use www.raileurope.com.  Who are raileurope.com?

A TGV Duplex at Luxembourg...

2nd class seats on upper deck.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating. 360º photo.		Cafe-bar on upper deck car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwave-style hot dishes.

A TGV Duplex at Luxembourg.		1st class seats on upper deck. 360º photo.

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City breaks to Luxembourg

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 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 & other tips

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.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package for Europe

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for Europe and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  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.

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.

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 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 the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Always carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.

Touring cities & museums?  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!

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