7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Taking the Train from London to Brussels

The high-speed train ride across the English Channel from London to mainland Europe is one of the most iconic journeys on the continent. The train, operating at speeds over 100 mph, zooms beneath the surface for 31 miles (50 km) in what’s known as the “Chunnel” before entering rural France and upping its speed to 180 mph.

Also known as the “Chunnel,” this train is operated by EuroStar and is the longest underwater tunnel in Europe. Looking out the window and seeing the British, French, and Belgian countryside offers travelers a much more rewarding experience than a flight can offer.

The EuroStar most commonly takes passengers from London’s St. Pancras Station to Brussels Midi Station. It also has direct trains in between Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Paris, and Cologne. I went from London to Brussels, which is a 2-hour ride in total.

Though from start-to-finish, this trip is not as simple as your typical train ride. You can’t just walk up to your platform and find an open seat before popping in your AirPods.

I regret not researching more beforehand regarding what the train from London to Brussels is like, as it would’ve prevented a lot of added stress. Particularly when it came to logistics surrounding pre-boarding procedures.

To help you avoid making the same mistakes or having the same misconceptions as myself, here are seven things I learned after taking the train from England to Belgium.

1. Arrive 60 Minutes Prior to Departure or Risk Missing the Train

This is by far the most important thing to know if you’re taking the chunnel.

The security checkpoint for each departing train, regardless of whether you’re at Brussels Midi or London St. Pancras, closes anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes prior to departure. This leaves numerous uninformed tourists in the terrible and costly situation of having missed their train and scrambling to find the next one with an open seat. Therefore, it’s imperative to plan to arrive at St. Pancras International one hour before your train’s departure. The station is quite large and is conjoined with a tube station and national railway station, so it’s easy to get lost looking for where you’re supposed to go, too.

We’ve all had the experience of purchasing tickets and receiving the notice to arrive well before your scheduled departure time and brushing it aside, thinking it’s probably just a precautionary warning to not cut it too close.

But with the chunnel, heed the warnings. They’re strict.

And re-booking can be a nightmare, as customer service representatives are usually flooded with people who either disregarded or failed to notice the instructions.

2. St. Pancras International Station Can Feel Like a Maze

St. Pancras is a massive complex. You have the national trains, international EuroStar trains, and underneath it all you have the tube.

Don’t be intimidated, but make sure you’re continuously looking up and following signage for the EuroStar wing of the station. It can take 5 minutes or more to figure out where exactly you’re going. Especially if you’re cutting it close to that 30-minute window, don’t hesitate to ask people for help. There are customer service representatives throughout the station.

3. Expect Significant Standing and Waiting Times Once Past Security

Once past security, you could experience a bottleneck where hundreds of people are crammed into a small terminal awaiting platform announcements. There’s not much seating in this area either (despite the picture shown above), making for a fairly unpleasant waiting period.

I narrowly avoided missing my train and still waited 20+ minutes to find out which platform our train was going to be at. The people who were admittedly more well-prepared than me likely waited closer to 45 minutes. So don’t expect to waltz right onto your train when you get to St. Pancras or Brussels Midi—it’s pretty similar to an airport experience.

4. Check Your Ticket for a Potential Last-Minute Seat Change

I had an embarrassing moment where I walked back and forth between cars for 10 minutes trying to find my seat. I wasn’t aware that my seat had changed when it was scanned at security.

The attendant asked if I’d double-checked the new ticket they gave me at security for a seat change, and that’s finally when I noticed it had indeed changed and they’d handed me a new ticket earlier.

This might not happen to you, but keep it in mind. Additionally, they’re strict about seating, so don’t expect to be able to move to another seat, even if it’s open. There’s a good chance someone getting on in Lille occupies an open seat.

5. Trains Are Clean and Modern, But Don’t Count on Reliable WiFi

Sadly, the WiFi on my EuroStar train was poor-to-nonexistent. I don’t think I was able to get any work done or connect to a webpage in less than 30 seconds once throughout the journey.

This might not be the case for all trains. Just don’t count on speedy internet. If you have a hotspot on a plan that doesn’t charge absorbent fees, you’ll have to use that. Though my hotspot wasn’t even working for half the ride while we were under the English Channel.

6. Consider Spending Time in Lille, France, On the Way

I was actually unaware that our train had one stop in Lille before reaching Brussels. A lot of riders boarded in Lille.

I’ve never spent time in Lille, but the city looked quite nice from my perspective, and many people have good things to say about it. So if you’re up for an adventure and have never been to France, consider booking a London-to-Lille ticket, spending some time there, and having a Lille-to-Brussels ticket set for a day or two later. The overall cost of the two tickets shouldn’t be much more than the one-leg ticket.

7. Don’t Spend Too Much Time in Brussels

I hate discouraging a visit to any city because every place has sights worth seeing. But Brussels isn’t at the top of my list of the most beautiful places in Belgium to visit.

The Grand-Markt in Brussels lives up to its name. It’s one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. And being home to the EU headquarters, it’s a fantastic place if you’re into politics.

Otherwise, smaller cities such as Bruges and Ghent are more memorable than Brussels, are more walkable, and have a higher concentration of medieval architecture. I’d personally recommend spending at least one day in Bruges.

In-Summary: Is Taking the Train from London to Brussels Worth It?

Frankly, taking the EuroStar from London to Brussels is only worth it if your itinerary already includes a combination of the two cities and countries. If you’re thinking of taking a day trip from London to Brussels or vice versa, know that the train can be quite expensive (more than $100 one-way) if you don’t book in advance or are traveling during peak hours or days.

Plus, while a train journey from London St. Pancras to Brussels Midi station is easier than going through security at an airport, there are still some time-consuming logistics as part of the trip. For instance, you need to plan on arriving at either station 45 minutes to one hour prior to departure. You’ll also still need to go through security and customs and declare any goods just as you would at an airport.

The Channel Tunnel is the longest underwater tunnel in Europe. So if you’re visiting Brussels and London on the same trip, I’d recommend taking advantage of this architectural wonder, as it’s a fairly one-of-a-kind experience. The London airports are pretty far from the city center, so leaving from St. Pancras instead is very convenient. However, if you’re thinking about taking the EuroStar across the channel just for the thrill, you could be a little disappointed.

London to Brussels EuroStar Train FAQs

Can you take a train from London to Brussels?

Yes! You can take a train from London to Brussels. The high-speed train operates through EuroStar, connecting London St. Pancras International Station to Brussels Midi Station.

How long is London to Brussels by train?

The train ride from London to Brussels takes about two hours, typically with one stop in Lille, France.

Can you take a day trip from London to Brussels?

The EuroStar high-speed train makes a day trip from London to Brussels (or Brussels to London) quite doable. The 2-hour train each way means that if you leave one city in the morning, you can spend a full day in the other city before either returning that same evening or the next morning.

How much are train tickets from London to Brussels?

Tickets for the EuroStar train from London to Brussels can range anywhere from $50 to $200 for a one-way trip, with peak afternoon hours and weekends being the most expensive. Round-trip tickets are less expensive. If you book well in advance, you can likely get a one-way ticket for less than $75 or a round-trip ticket for less than $125 as long as you’re OK with leaving before midday rush hour or in the evening.