Short city breaks have never been as popular as they are now. Our world is so well connected that it is easy to get on a train after work on a Friday and leave for the weekend. Come back on a Sunday relaxed and with a bag full of lasting memories. But you don’t even have to invest a weekend when you can easily do a day trip with the Eurostar London to Brussels train link. This little escape is a welcome break from the mundane routine of a 9-5pm workweek.
Eurostar has excellent offers to do a day trip from London to Brussels by train. This is perfect, as there’s no need to book an overnight stay. You can wake up in your London home, spend the day in Brussels, and fall asleep back in the UK.
Said and done – I booked myself a ticket mid-week and was all excited for a day exploring in Brussels.
Updated: October 2025
Table of Contents
Eurostar London To Brussels: The Train Journey
The fastest way to get to Brussels from London is by Eurostar high-speed train which takes you to Europe in no time. I find Eurostar extremely enjoyable to travel with and if I have the chance to choose them, I will!
Eurostar can be pricey, but only if you have set dates in mind. It’s also not the best option for spontaneous travellers. Deals are best to snap up around November time (for Cyber Monday and Black Friday), as well as Christmas and the January sale. Therefore, I would suggest taking a flexible approach and checking out availability as far as three months in advance. Booking ahead can get you return tickets to Brussels for £45 each way.
The Eurostar website is neatly organised and offers you a good overview of pricing with a +/- a couple of days forecasting. You get options and seat availability and can browse for the best deal. Comparing prices and different times are worth it, as mid-week services tend to be cheaper than Monday or Friday.
My cheapest fare for a return for the Eurostar London to Brussels train link came £60 for a Tuesday in July 2016. Prices have ever since increased and in 2024, you’d be more likely to look at £100 for a day return.
Keep In Mind: Your one-day Brussels adventure will be an intense day. My alarm woke me up at 4:40am to catch the train to Brussels at 8am from St Pancras International. The overall travel time for the day is 4h plus your commute to St Pancras and back home. For me, this means an additional 2h. Therefore you want to spend about 6-8h exploring Brussels to make the trip time efficient.
The Eurostar has different fleets and this one came with a modern and clean design. The seats were spacious and super comfortable with generous legroom and a plug to charge my phone. The high-speed train can reach up to 330km per hour and it ran so smoothly that I fell asleep on the spot. The overall travel time on the Eurostar London to Brussels link is 2h.
Eurostar London to Brussels Insights
- Book early to secure the best deals. Ideally three months in advance. You can also book during Q1 with an approximate lead time of 6 weeks.
- Best to book a day trip for the summer so you can max out the daylight hours for exploring.
- Allow an 1h before departure for both trips (!) as the UK is no longer part of Schengen/EU so additional time for security checks is needed.
- The journey home from Brussels to London might be delayed. The train will run from Amsterdam and for the past two trips, the service was massively delayed due to issues in The Netherlands.
- The WIFI will be patchy as Eurostar uses the G network and for the most part of the journey, the train will run in tunnels.
- Journey breakdown Eurostar London to Brussels: 30 minutes to the channel tunnel, 30-40 minutes channel tunnel, 30 minutes to Lille, 30 minutes to Brussels. It goes very quick.
- Brussels Midi is a rough station, best to take the tram into town. Number 4 & 3, alight at Bourse or De Broukere. A single journey ticket costs 2.60€. You can also pay contactless on the train. Simply use the blue card reader. The red one is for the locals.
Travel Advice: I would pick up some sandwiches in St Pancras to consume on your Eurostar London to Brussels train journey. Since the morning logistics will take quite some time, you’ll want to ensure you can start exploring Brussels right away without worrying about getting food upon arrival and wasting more time.
Eurostar London to Brussels: Potential Brussels in One Day Itinerary
Eurostar London to Brussels: Morning Activities in Brussels
Time frame: 2 1/2h, the following Brussel highlights are all very close together. Of course, you can pick and choose which ones resonate the most for your interest. I’ve listed them to show you all the options available in the area.
- Stock Exchange
- Art Nouveau Parthe Cinema
- Halles Saint Gery
- Grand Place & Manneken Pis
- Art Nouveau Galeries & Chocolate Shops
Aim for a morning arrival at Gare du Midi for around 10 or 11am. Gare du Midi is not a nice train station and I would advise you to keep moving as quickly as possible. The tram, not the metro, will take you to central in less than ten minutes. You can use the blue contactless card reader on the tram to pay for your ticket. A one-way journey will cost around 2.60€. Alight at Bourse and check out the first Brussels highlights: the Bourse area and Brussels first cinema, the Parthe.
Brussels is Europe’s cradle of art nouveau, so the architectural style of the city is reminiscent of 20th century grandeur. Have a look at the Stock Exchange (Bourse) and the cinema Parthe.
Stock Exchange: recently refurbished and free to visit. The interior is breath-taking. Inside are cafés as well as a beer museum, which you can visit, depending on your time and interest. In 2023, whilst refurbishing the building, the engineers found old remains from a former abbey, Bruxella 1238. These excavations are a huge thing for Brussels and are meant to be open to the public very soon.
Parthe Cinema: This former auction house was converted into a cinema with 2500 seats in 1913. Its design is inspired by the Viennese Secession. This gorgeous space is free to visit and the cinema still operates today. Make sure to let the staff at the ticket desk know you will explore the art nouveau space. You’ll find it upstairs.
Nearby is another interesting space, which has been one of my all-time favourites whilst I lived in Brussels. The Halles Saint-Gery from 1882. This area marks the birthplace of Brussels, with historical accounts tracing the city’s humble beginnings to this location. The primary reason is attributed to the presence of the river Zenne, which once flowed through here, along with numerous local beer breweries.
Today, a magnificent hall space, reminiscent of Covent Garden in London, stands as a testament to the city’s rich history. The hall is used as an events venue and bar. There are always free art nouveau exhibitions on display on the ground floor and upper mezzanine. At the end of the Hall, you’ll also find a Cultural Heritage desk. Ask specifically for “Brussels a la Carte” and receive a free tour guide of all the Brussels neighbourhoods. For central, ask specifically for Brussels a la carte Pentagone.
Move on from Saint-Gery to Grand Place, Brussels’s UNESCO certified main square.
You can’t come to Brussels on a first visit and not see Grand Place. Highlights include the iconic Town Hall, the 16th & 17th century guild houses, as well as the City Museum. The Town Hall with its gothic façade can be visited on a guided tour. English tours to visit Brussels Town Hall are regularly held throughout the day and cost around 13€. Unfortunately, you can’t climb the Belfry, but you’ll see some impressive state rooms and the ceremony hall, which Brussel residents are entitled to use for civil services and marriages.
Did You Know? Brussels Town Hall inspired the design for Vienna’s Town Hall when the majestic boulevard Ring Strasse was restructured at the end of the 19th century.
If you want to learn more about the UNESCO heritage in Brussels and also see the original Manneken Pis, head to the City Museum, opposite the Town Hall.
The City Museum has an extensive section on the UNESCO heritage, its preservation and history on the top floor. The second floor is home to Brussel’s most popular resident – the original Manneken Pis statue from the 15th century. The original has been vandalised and even stolen in the past, hence why the city decided to place the original under preservation in the City Museum. The replica is only a short walk away. Keep your eyes open for two more peeing statues, the Janneken Pis (near the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert) and Zienneke Pis (near Sainte Catherine).
TOP TIP: the City Museum is free to visit during the first Sunday of every month.
Another highlight not to be missed, is Europe’s oldest and best preserved shopping arcade, the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. This is one of the last out of the original six galleries in Brussels. At 210 metres long and 8 metres wide there’s enough space for flanering and checking out the various chocolate shops.
The arcade attracts six million visitors annually and has ever since its opening in 1847 been popular. Built and designed by Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar and regarded as his masterpiece, modelled after the Parisian passageways, which impressed other major European cities, such as Leipzig and Milan. Cluysenaar’s gallery would consist of two parts to connect the districts La Monnaie with La Grand-Place.
If you want, you can do all of your chocolate shopping there. Most of the shops even allow you to try some samples before you buy. Below are the chocolatiers from which I have bought my chocolates in the past:
Corné Port-Royal was my favourite by a mile as their chocolate pralines were delicious. Every flavour combination ticked the box for me. I picked up a selection of assorted pralines as a gift set for my friends and family, as well as their own Florentines. Those have a wonderful crunch covered in the right amount of chocolate. They are not too sweet and just perfectly balanced.
Neuhaus is another favourite of mine. These are luxury chocolates and whatever you buy there, it will be high quality chocolate. Sign up to their newsletter and receive free samples every quarter. You can also fetch some Neuhaus goodies at St Pancras, next to the Eurostar security check.
Eurostar London to Brussels: Afternoon Activities in Brussels
Allocated time: 3h, again the following activities are optional and I let you choose which ones to check out
- Comic Strip Museum
- Brussel coffee culture
Comic Strip Museum: When visiting Brussels for a day, make sure to prioritise the comic strip museum. It showcases two of Belgium’s significant cultural assets: Art Nouveau and comics. Located in one of Victor Horta’s final semi-industrial structures, the Magasins Waucquez, this warehouse was originally utilised for trading clothing and fabrics. After its closure in 1970, the federal state purchased it in 1984. It was subsequently transformed into a museum dedicated to Belgian comic culture in 1989, revitalising the building with renewed purpose and vitality.
The Comic Strip museum can be found at Rue des Sables 20 in the city centre. An adult ticket costs 13€.
Brussels Coffee Culture: Whilst you’re exploring Brussels, make sure to relax in one of the many cafés. The city has a long and thriving coffee culture. There are plenty of old-skool coffee houses in town next to modern cafés which serve coffee of great quality. The average price for a cappuccino sits at around 4€.
Please note: Belgian “coffee culture” often refers to the Belgian’s love for beer and includes beer bars. I have, however, for this post included cafés for coffee and cake consumption.
READ MORE: My Places to get the Best Coffee in Brussels
Modern cafés in Brussels Central: Lloyds, Café Capitale & Izzy, Café Tiera
Traditional coffee houses: Falstaff, Le Grand Café, Café Metteko, À La Mort Subite
Did You Know? The first ever Le Pain Quotidien, founded by Alain Coumont, opened in October 1990. You’ll find it on a 5 minute walk from the stock exchange.
Eurostar London to Brussels: Late Afternoon Activities in Brussels
Allocated time: 2h. Prepare yourself for the up-coming train journey with the Eurostar back to London. Spend the time to dine out properly and make your way back to Gare du Midi.
- Belgian Food in Brussels
- Return to Gare du Midi
Belgian Food in Brussels: I dined once at the Belgian art nouveau restaurant Fin de Siècle, where I opted for a classic Flemish lamb stew. It was a filling and savoury choice. The restaurant has a changing menu, with signature dishes including pork, lamb shank, potatoes, as well as various meat and salad options. Given the generally substantial nature of Belgian cuisine, a brisk stroll back to the train station afterward might be a good idea.
If you are after traditional Belgian fries, I can recommend Fries Atelier or Friteria Tabora. Although everyone always makes a big fuss about Belgian fries, I have to admit, that I don’t really get the hype. However, I found Fries Atelier and Tabora solid choices with consistently good quality. Favourite sauces to add to your frites are Andalouse, and of course, mayonnaise.
Is The Eurostar London to Brussels by Train Worth Your Time?
Thanks to the connection from London to Brussels by train, a day trip is easily doable. 8hs were absolutely enough to get a first taste for Brussels. The city centre is small, walkable and offers enough points of interest to fill your time.
So to answer the question, if the Eurostar London to Brussels connection is worth a day trip, I can wholeheartedly say yes.
Overall Costs for a One Day Eurostar London to Brussels Train Adventure
Eurostar Return tickets: mid-week deal, approximately £100*
Food: £30pp, coffee £4
Chocolate/Souvenir shopping: £30+
Comic Strip Museum: £12
*Prices and costs are correct as of 2024
Want to come back and stay for longer? No Problem, I got a FREE Brussels Itinerary for you. A Complete Brussels 3 Day Itinerary For First Time Visitors
Making of “Eurostar London to Brussels”
- Made the train journey 4x on my own expense
- Tried and tested activities fit for a one day Brussels itinerary
- Lived and worked in Brussels for six months
- Revised and updated the post in 2024, originally posted in 2016
FAQs about Eurostar London to Brussels Train Link
I understand that this is quite a long post and you may have a few quick questions about the Eurostar London to Brussels train link. Of course, you can always consult any section of my post and read in more detail about what you need for your trip. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact me. I’m happy to help.
How much is a return ticket for the Eurostar London to Brussels train route?
When booked early in advance (about six weeks to three months) or with a January deal, you can get return tickets for the Eurostar train for around £100. Prices have risen since 2016, when I first was able to secure a deal for £60 return.
Can I see Brussels in one day?
Brussels is always dismissed as “boring” and I can understand why many travellers may overlook it. Whilst it is not a city with famous sights left, right and centre, Brussels does have its own culture and heritage that is worth exploring. On a one day trip, you’ll get a good taste for the city. However, there is much more to see and do if you are into art nouveau architecture, comic books and, of course, food.
Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed my Eurostar London to Brussels post and would like to support my blog & research you can do so via Buy Me a Coffee.
Till next time,
Carolin
Fallen in love with Brussels and want to come back for longer? Here are more solo travel stories from Brussels & Belgium
33 Comments
Ryan Maley
3 March 2021 at 5:15 pmLovely blog! I always consider doing these day trips from London until I factor in the price to get from Manchester to London 😆
Loved Brussels though last time I visited, and this blog just makes me want to go back for the wonderful waffles and choc!
Pam
28 February 2022 at 6:19 pmI didn’t even know you could go to Brussels from London by train! Haha I learned a lot in this post since I’ve wanted to visit Brussels for a while.
Paul (Paul Passing Through)
28 February 2022 at 7:45 pmThat’s great you’re able to do a trip like that in a day via train. It looks like it was a lot of fun, too, and busy but not too busy. Have you done any other trips like this?
Barry
1 March 2022 at 2:51 amI must do this! I was in Brussels when I was 15 years old and can still remeber some of the places we went by. I’d love to see how it has all chaged. I have a week free in a month;s time and was wondering what to do and this has given a great idea, so Brussels may well be revisited.Thanks for the restaurant tip, I’ll look it up if I get there. I’ve been on the Eurostar to Paris from London several times and loved the modern trains then – hope I can get an advance purchase deal ! Lovely photos too on your post.
Elizabeth
2 March 2022 at 5:32 amThis looks so fun! I’m in the states and wish I could do something g like this on the weekend! I love your pictures!
Kate
2 March 2022 at 8:40 pmThis is such a great idea! Being able to do trips like this is a huge perk of living somewhere as central as London.
Chalk and cheese travels
3 March 2022 at 7:46 amI always forget about the Eurostar and am yet to try it. Sounds like a great trip and we’ll worth considering next time I’m home in the UK.
Renee
4 March 2022 at 9:37 amI was in Brussels for a week, and was thinking of the reverse day trip to London, I did Paris instead, But I absolutely agree, Brussels is a city that can be experienced in a day. The grand square is such a central spot, and easy enough to explore what’s close by. Going to Brussels is a foodie’s delight – Belgian beer, chocolates, waffles and frites. I know that little chocolate shop you reference in the covered passage. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Emma
4 March 2022 at 6:02 pmI never would have thought of doing this as a day trip, but if it timed out right and was cheap enough I’d definitely consider it. I loved Brussels and while a day is not enough to see it, it would give you a great taster. Speaking of tasters, I’d go to Brussels for the day just to stock up on chocolate
Peggy Zipperer
12 March 2022 at 2:08 amGreat post! I’m still trying to figure out my options from London so this is so helpful! Definitely saving for later reference.
JoJo Hall
12 March 2022 at 3:24 pmLove doing day trips and a day trip from London to Brussels sounds amazing! I’m always jealous when you’re able to take a 3 hour train ride to another country to explore, which I could do that here in the states lol.
Gus
21 March 2022 at 8:07 pmWe love day trips so much! We actually did a day drip from Amsterdam to Bruge and it was so much fun!
Europe trains are some of my favorite because of this!
Tanith and Ben
11 August 2022 at 4:57 pmLove this post Carolin! We have actually been talking about doing this for a while and this might just persuade us to give it a go. Absolute bargain as well for just over 100 quid. Great read, loved your pics too.
Looking forward to the next post!
Tanith and Ben from WTD@TW x
THL
11 May 2023 at 11:29 amI agree wholeheartedly with your itinerary and if you live in London, it’s more than doable. One small suggestion would be a slightly later dinner/return train back as you can always catch some shut-eye on the train. Or a hop over to Antwerp with an overnight (such a great city). Nice job!
Mitch
11 May 2023 at 1:01 pmWhat a great itinerary for a day trip with a difference! We visited Brussels many years ago and would love to go back. We’re based outside London so would likely have to stay overnight there before catching the Eurostar but that wouldn’t be a hardship. (Actually, I’ve just checked train times and we could probably just about do it in a very long day assuming no hold-ups getting to London.) We’ve never travelled on Eurostar so that would be an experience in itself. The travel times are super-fast and the mid-week prices excellent! Very tempted to do this trip… Thanks for all the really useful info!
Angela
12 May 2023 at 3:51 pmI really have to try this next time I go to London! As a big fan of trains this is definitely a great alternative for a different trip and for spending a day in Brussels or in London! I have just been in Brussels and had no idea about this fantastic possibility.
I believe it is quite tiring, since it implies a very long day full of activities to do, but it must be worth it for sure.
As always your posts are very detailed, with very useful information and fabulous photos!
Kelly
15 May 2023 at 1:22 amYou are so lucky you’re able to just hope a train for a day trip. Trains aren’t overly popular in Canada. I would love visiting the comic museum. It would be fun being taken back to times of childhood, if only for awhile.
James Fahey
15 May 2023 at 9:31 amLooks like a good way to travel to Europe at a reasonable price. I have seen a few people talk of the city as a great place to visit and this post highlights some reasons why. The comic strip museum looks interesting to me and has some nice-looking food.
Pam
15 May 2023 at 5:36 pmThis post came at the perfect time. We’re debating about doing a long layover in Brussels for our next trip so its nice to see all the things we can do while we’re there if we do have the long layover. It’s pretty amazing that you can do this trip from London in one day! Thanks for sharing
Melanie
24 May 2023 at 8:12 pmEven the train travel sounds like fun to me, so I wouldn’t mind the length of travel. That soup dish looks delicious! I’m not hugely into comics but there are so many famous Belgian ones that it would be a cool cultural study, This is a long day but a fun day, for sure.
Ibti
12 June 2023 at 3:13 pmIt’s definitely worth it, particularly if you can grab a good deal (pre Brexit I used to find return tickets for less than £50, not so much nowadays) and in the summer when the days are long it can be a lovely day trip. Unlike Paris, Brussels is compact and you can do most of the sights in a day although looking at those chocolate shops (Easter is the best time to go if you want to be in chocolate heaven) and all the delicious food that doesn’t leave much time for sightseeing 🙂
Jan
11 April 2024 at 7:12 pmI have never been to both cities but I can certainly understand why this train trip would be a soothing balm to people who live in btoth sides. Brits will be able to get away from England, visit and enjoy Europe for less than 3 hours. Folks who live in Brussels and work in the UK can earn extra quid without having to spend and pay high rent for living in London. For tourists, this is an absolute treat. I see trains as conduits to great ideas #flyingbaguette
Jan – https://flyingbaguette.com/
Lyn (aka Jazz)
16 April 2024 at 8:14 pmI am envious of the closeness, affordability, and ease of travelling internationally in Europe, compared to North America!
I haven’t been to Brussels but this post reminds me that it would be easy to add on to my next UK/France trip. I will need to judge the chips/fries for myself and I would over-indulge in chocolate! I don’t think i would have considered aa comic strip museum but you make it appealing.
Lyn | http://www.ramblynjazz.com
Pam
10 May 2024 at 6:46 pmI don’t think I would have thought about a train from England to maintain Europe even though I know their trains are much better than ours in the USA. Sounds like a great option for a long distance easier than taking a plane or driving. Very informative
Dave
22 October 2024 at 3:04 pmI loved reading about your Eurostar journey! It’s inspiring to see how easy it is to travel solo between such amazing cities. Your tips on navigating the train station were especially helpful. Can’t wait to plan my own trip to Brussels!
Anonymous
6 December 2024 at 6:16 amI loved reading about your solo journey on the Eurostar! It’s inspiring to see how easy and enjoyable it can be to travel between these two vibrant cities. Your tips on exploring Brussels after arriving are super helpful. Can’t wait to plan my own trip!
A reader
10 January 2025 at 1:40 amI loved reading about your solo journey on the Eurostar! It’s amazing how convenient and quick it is to travel between London and Brussels. Your tips on what to see in Brussels are super helpful. I’m inspired to plan my own trip now!
A reader
11 January 2025 at 2:41 amI absolutely loved reading about your Eurostar journey! It sounds like such a convenient and enjoyable way to travel between these two amazing cities. I’m planning a solo trip soon, and your tips and insights have definitely inspired me to add Brussels to my itinerary. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Anonymous
20 January 2025 at 2:18 pmIt’s interesting to read about train travel in Europe and how different it is from America. We have Amtrak here, and it’s an afterthought at best for many travelers, mostly because it’s not the most reliable. One of my friends went to Brussels as part of their honeymoon, and your pictures definitely confirm why it’s a great place to visit. The architecture is gorgeous, especially the Galeries Royales Saint Hubert. I’d probably want to spend more than a day here just for the belgian beer alone, which is my favorite. Finally, the Comic Strip Museum looks fun, and as someone that grew up reading comic strips, i’d be fascinated to visit.
Anonymous
4 March 2025 at 8:03 amWhat a fantastic read! I love how you captured the essence of the Eurostar experience. Traveling solo can sometimes feel daunting, but your tips and insights made me excited to plan my own journey from London to Brussels. Can’t wait to explore the delicious food and vibrant culture you mentioned!
Anonymous
4 March 2025 at 11:40 amWhat a fantastic account of your journey from London to Brussels! I love how you captured the ease and convenience of traveling by Eurostar. Your tips on what to see in Brussels are super helpful too. I can’t wait to plan my own solo trip there!
Anonymous
5 March 2025 at 7:16 amWhat a fantastic read! I love how you captured the experience of traveling from London to Brussels on the Eurostar. It really highlights how effortless and enjoyable train travel can be, especially for solo travelers. Your tips on what to do in Brussels after arriving are super helpful too. Can’t wait to plan my own trip!
Anonymous
6 May 2025 at 6:31 pmI just loved reading about your Eurostar journey! It’s so inspiring to see how easy it is to travel between two vibrant capitals. The tips you shared will definitely make my solo trip to Brussels more enjoyable. Thanks for sharing your experience!