European Train Travel
There's no need to fly from the UK to anywhere in Europe. It's surprisingly easy, quick and comfortable to travel overland by train from London to just about anywhere: Spain, Italy, Greece, Prague, Helsinki, Moscow...
Kick start with Eurostar
Eurostar is the excellent high-speed passenger train from London's St Pancras station to Paris & Brussels through the Channel Tunnel. Most journeys to Europe now start with a trip on Eurostar to Paris or Brussels. All 1st class fares include complimentary drinks and a meal, and all passengers have access to a bar car serving drinks and snacks.
Remember that you need to check-in for Eurostar trains at least 30 minutes before departure (10 minutes for passengers with certain types of premium 1st class ticket, 60 minutes for Eurostars to Avignon or the French Alps) to allow for an airline-style security check.
Eurostar does not run on Christmas Day.
Changing trains in Paris:
Train journeys from the UK into Europe often involve a change of train and station in Paris. Eurostar arrives at the Gare du Nord, which is a short walk from the Gare de l'Est but a metro or taxi ride from the other Paris stations. The Paris metro website is
www.ratp.fr.
If you want to spend some time in Paris, by all means take an earlier
Eurostar on the outward journey or a later one on your return. There are left luggage lockers at several Paris rail stations if you need to leave your luggage somewhere. You can avoid the hassle of crossing Paris when travelling to many French destinations, by changing at Lille.
Changing trains in Brussels:
Eurostar arrives at the main Brussels station, Bruxelles Midi in French, Brussel Zuid in Flemish, Brussels South Stn in English, it's all the same place. After stepping off the Eurostar, you walk past the front of the train off the end of the platforms and down the escalators, exiting the Eurostar terminal onto the main station concourse. All long-distance trains use Brussels Midi station, including trains to Amsterdam, Cologne, Paris and all other destinations in Belgium, so changing trains is easy and only takes a few minutes.
Once your butler has shown you to your room, you’ll be treated to a welcoming letter, perfectly chilled Simonsig Rosé champagne, and a fresh fruit platter. During the day, your suite has a couch, chair and writing desk, and more than enough space to move around in. At night, the couch is converted into a double bed with fine linen, and space becomes a lot… cosier. Still, with high ceilings and a large panoramic window through which to watch the world go by, it doesn’t feel cramped. In fact, it feels delightfully luxurious, a cocoon of comfort with giant windows to let the outside in, and the reassuring rumble of the train constantly in the background. 