6 festive European destinations you can reach by train in under 6 hours
You can reach dozens of European cities in less than half a day from London St Pancras International.
As it turns out, going to your destination by train doesn’t take much longer than flying, once you factor in the time it takes to get through the airport, retrieve your luggage at the other end, and get to the city centre. You’ll be reducing your carbon footprint by far, too.
For example, did you know Lille is an easy day trip from London? And that Bordeaux and its infamous wines are only a two-hour train ride from Paris?
The destinations we’ve shared below are especially enchanting at Christmas. Jump on a Eurostar, and shop for festive gifts in twinkling markets, glide around open-air ice rinks and hole up in snug cafés.
What stations does Eurostar go to?
From London St Pancras, you can travel directly to Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
From these stations you can catch a connecting Eurostar train to a range of destinations, or travel further afield to other destinations on popular high-speed connections on alternative carriers. Find out more via the Eurostar route map.
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London to Lille by train
Time from London: 1hr 30 mins
Changes: 0
Lille’s Beaux Arts streets are a mere 10-minute stroll from its international train station. Top sights include the Palais des Beaux Arts, which houses a vast collection of fine art, and a grand 17th-century stock exchange, La Vieille Bourse. For views over the city, head to the top of the town hall’s 104-metre belfry.
Independent boutiques line the colourful Flemish streets around the ornate clocktower, while the main square has dozens of fairylit stalls selling gingerbread, nativity figurines and regional wares at Christmas (the 2024 edition runs from 20 November to 29 December). Refuel in cosy brasseries and chic candelit restaurants.
How to get there: The Eurostar goes direct from St Pancras to Lille-Europe.
Looking for cheap Eurostar tickets? Read our guide to finding the best price when booking your train trip.
London to Brussels by train
Time from London: 2hrs
Changes: 0
With its gilded buildings and grotesque gargoyles, Brussels’ baroque Grand Place is one of the most spectacular in Europe. It’s surrounded by medieval lanes lined with chocolate shops, bars, restaurants and chic galleries. A steep stroll uphill via the iconic Manneken-Pis brings you to the Upper Town’s historic churches and museums.
Belgium’s capital goes all out at Christmas. As well as snow-dusted chalets selling handmade decorations and sweet treats, you can expect illuminations, fairground rides, ice skating, a curling rink and pop-up restaurants and bars. This year, Brussels’ Winter Wonders festivities run from 29 November to 05 January 2025.
How to get there: The Eurostar goes direct from St Pancras to Brussels (Bruxelles-Midi), which is a 25-minute walk from the Grand Place.
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London to Bruges by train
Time from London: 3hrs 25mins
Changes: 1
Canals, cobbled streets lined with gable-topped townhouses and beer bars galore await in Bruges – king of the Golden Age towns. With a morning departure and a swift change in Brussels, you could be sipping on a Brugse Zot – the city’s signature blonde beer – by lunchtime. A must-see is the Groeningemuseum, where six centuries of Flemish art grace the walls of a medieval manor.
Bruges’ Christmas market rivals the one in Brussels. The aroma of waffles and hot chocolate wafts through Grote Markt, where ice skaters whizz around an open-air rink under its 83-metre-high belfry and shoppers browse fairylit chalets (22 November to 5 January).
How to get there: Take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Bruxelles-Midi, then the SNCB (Belgian national railway) to Bruges. If you buy Eurostar’s ‘Brussels + any Belgian station’ ticket, it allows you to continue your journey from Brussels to Bruges (or anywhere in Belgium) for around an extra £12 – you just have to get to your final destination within 24 hours.
London to Amsterdam by train
Time from London: 4hrs 10mins
Changes: 0
Bypass Schiphol Airport and step straight into the heart of Amsterdam. The Anne Frank House, the Royal Palace and the Rembrandt House Museum are all within ambling distance of Amsterdam Central station – itself a Gothic masterpiece.
You can walk Amsterdam’s 7.5km illuminated winter art trail for free or enjoy it from a heated canal boat. Ice skate, cross-country ski, sledge and ride on a giant Ferris wheel, then warm up with a mulled wine and oliebollen (raisin-filled doughnut) at Winter Paradise, Amsterdam’s exhibition centre, RAI’s answer to Winter Wonderland (from 18 December to 4 January).
How to get there: Up to four direct Eurostar trains run each way between St Pancras and Amsterdam Central. It’s worth factoring an extra hour into your return journey home —until early 2025 there won't be any direct trains from Amsterdam to London because of renovations at Amsterdam Centraal station. Instead, trips will operate via Brussels.
London to Bordeaux by train
Time from London: 6hrs
Changes: 1
Just six hours after leaving London, you could be quaffing claret in France’s capital of wine – in a riverside café, on a tasting cruise along the Garonne, or at the rooftop bar of Bordeaux’s £63m Cité du Vin. Leave room to drink in Bordeaux’s monumental architecture, such as the 11th-century cathedral or palatial Place de la Bourse.
Bordeaux’s main Christmas market at Place des Quinconces runs from 29 November to 29 December.
How to get there: Take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Gare du Nord, then the metro to Paris Montparnasse where you’ll pick up a TGV (France’s high-speed trains) to Bordeaux St Jean.
You can buy a London-to-Bordeaux ticket from Eurostar.com (no booking fee), Trainline.com (3% booking fee), Rail Europe.com (£6.45 fee) or sncf-connect.com (France’s national railway – no booking fee but remember to use a debit or credit card that doesn’t charge for foreign transactions).
London to Cologne by train
Time from London: 5hrs 30mins
Changes: 1
The biggest city on the Rhine is home to Germany’s top attraction, which looms over you as soon as you step out of the railway station: a Gothic cathedral with gargantuan twin spires and dazzling stained glass window. Admire German Expressionists, Picassos and Pop Art in neighbouring Museum Ludwig, then order a kölsch – Cologne’s famous beer – at one of the terrace cafés on the riverfront. On the other side, car-free Rheinboulevard is a lovely spot to amble and watch the sunset.
In December, an enormous Christmas tree attempts to upstage the cathedral and festive markets spring up across the city. The bohemian Belgium Quarter has boutiques and quirky shops where you can pick up unique gifts.
How to get there: Take the Eurostar to Bruxelles-Midi, then Deutsche Bahn’s (Germany railways) intercity or high-speed ICE train to Cologne.
