Eurostar from London to Brussels

Рет қаралды 47,272

Күн бұрын

I'm off to the Czech Republic to ride some trains and to attend the Rock for People festival. But first, I need to get there. The first day on the train saw me travelling from Exeter to London and then taking this journey from St Pancras International over to Brussels.
I made sure I had plenty of time in St Pancras as any travel video originating at St Pancras must give the station the time it deserves. St Pancras can sit proudly alongside many of the truly great railway stations of the world. Time spent there is never time wasted.
Departure: London St Pancras International, UK
Destination: Brussels Midi, Belgium
Distance: 197 miles / 317km
Cost: £52.00 / €62.00 adult standard class single
Date of Travel: June 2022
Operator: Eurostar
Motive power: Eurostar e320 (2011-2013, Siemens)
London St Pancras International is featured in Simon Jenkin's book "Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations"
For advice on travel by train from the UK to Europe, ask "The Man in Seat 61" www.seat61.com

Пікірлер: 111

@eseopu 3 ай бұрын

i love how you not only talk about the train, but also some cool things about the stations! amazing channel

@JohnnyHooverTravels 3 ай бұрын

Thank you that is lovely of you to say. I really love architecture and so i always stop and look when I'm at a station. Thanks for watching and discovering the channel 👍

@BostonsRandJ Жыл бұрын

Oh, I LOVE St. Pancras!!!

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Me too! Thank you very much for watching 👍

@switzerlandch4986 Жыл бұрын

Another great video. So glad to have found this channel!

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much. I’m pleased you found it too! There will be a new one released every Friday. This Friday I’ll be riding out from Plymouth on the Tamar Valley Line, then walking back along the river to view the famous Calstock viaduct.

@switzerlandch4986 Жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Sounds great! Looking forward to watch it!

@Cheradanine 10 ай бұрын

Excellent video! Really well produced with lots of information and narrative...you deserve a larger following!

@JohnnyHooverTravels 10 ай бұрын

Thank, that is lovely of you to say. Well, keep watching my videos and who know, more people may catch on! I'm pretty happy with how the channel has grown this year, so I'm sure more will continue to discover it in the coming months 👍

@georgeantony9339 9 ай бұрын

An excellent video! So much information and a a truly wonderful video!

@JohnnyHooverTravels 9 ай бұрын

Thank you, it is very kind of you to say so. I hope the video was useful. Thank you so much for watching 👍

@haaji99 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant detail for those who want to travel by the eurostar Much appreciated Subscribed.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for saying so. I really appreciate the kind words. 👍

@wilfriedlechner6299 3 ай бұрын

I did exactly the same.. to Brussels by Eurostar! Next day by ICE TO FRANKFURT AND FROM THERE TO MUNICH AMD FINALLY TO BREGENZ MY HOME VILLAGE ! It was fantastic and I will do it again! But first I want to go to Sicily part of it on the highspeed freccarossa via Milano.. Roma and Napoli to Palermo! Thanks again!!

@JohnnyHooverTravels 3 ай бұрын

Great to hear about your trips. Eurostar is so often "just the start". Thanks for watching 👍

@daydays12 3 ай бұрын

An interesting and informative video, thank you!

@JohnnyHooverTravels 3 ай бұрын

You are most welcome. Thank you for watching and for the kind words 👍

@mightysun89 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant video. Yes I can't wait, as we are doing this trip in May.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

I hope you enjoyed it as much as me. Make sure you take a moment to just stand at St Pancras and look up. Thank you so much for watching and for the kind words 👍

@sallyoasispaintingsorigina3859 5 ай бұрын

Thank you 😊Excellent video.

@JohnnyHooverTravels 5 ай бұрын

No problem! You are very welcome indeed. Thank you so much for watching and I hope it was helpful 👍

@WINGSANDRAILS 6 ай бұрын

One of the better looking ' on train' cafes!

@JohnnyHooverTravels 6 ай бұрын

And the coffee is good too! 😀

@barendnu Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice video!

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words. Please subscribe as I release new videos every Friday!

@paulsmyth497 Жыл бұрын

Nice one mate. I’ve reached retirement age, almost, and about to make this exact journey this afternoon. First ever Eurostar trip, and hardly ever use a train at all. Now I know what to expect and what to look for. Cheers

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! I hope you have (or have had) a great trip . Thank you for the kind comment.

@SilverSamurai12 Жыл бұрын

Awesome tip with the side entrance. I've been to St. Pancras (maybe 6-7yrs ago) when I took the train into Paris, but was so hungerover the second I got onto my train seat, I was out cold until we got to Paris. To be completely honest, I'm shocked I even made it onto the train and through customs in the state I was in. Oh the joys (stupidity) of youth! I"ll certainly have to go back to St. Pancras though and have more of a look around.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Haha! I think we can all forgive a youthful folly! And yes, I just love that space at the end of the trainshed. I’m just sorry there is nowhere like that to wait once you’ve actually checked in.

@shelaghjackson9577 10 ай бұрын

Thanks! Taking this same trip and back in December. Last time we took Eurostar was from Waterloo in 1998! My husband still has his tshirt from the Eurostar gift shop.😂

@JohnnyHooverTravels 10 ай бұрын

I hope you enjoy it as much as m I did. I also used to travel from Waterloo. I still kinda miss it as I used to always stay with my sister in Surbiton the night before and Waterloo was so easy to get to from there. Thanks for watching 👍

@AK_47_007. 6 ай бұрын

Your welcome sir tysm ❤

@JohnnyHooverTravels 6 ай бұрын

No problem 👍

@TheWorldofGood79 Жыл бұрын

Very enjoyable video, Eurostar is such a civilized way to travel. All being well I'm off to Brussels this Saturday evening. I haven't been on Eurostar for four years so I'm really looking forward to it. I used to travel from Ashford to Brussels which was very convenient for me but time permitting I will definitely have a good look around at St Pancras thanks to all your excellent tips. Sadly due to an ASLEF overtime ban & Brighton pride my train to St Pancras was cancelled! So I'm having to travel from little old West St Leonard's station to London Bridge. The only thing West St Leonard's has in common with St Pancras is the St bit! None the less it's a nice little station & I've never traveled from it before.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

I hope you enjoy the trip as much as I did. Sometimes it is cool to start an international journey like that at a small, almost insignificant station. Reminds us that every station is a doorway into a huge railway network that can take us to so many new places. Thank you for watching and for the kind words 👍

@astroboirap 11 ай бұрын

Haha

@LAMathome1 2 жыл бұрын

Oh boy has Set Pancras changed done I used to commute in the 1960s.

@JohnnyHooverTravels 2 жыл бұрын

Yes it certainly has. It was so sad in the 60s and 70s. It was always a lovely station back then, but it was so run down. Much better now! Go for a glass of champagne next time you're "in town" ;o) Thanks for subscribing too

@LAMathome1 2 жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels it was ... and very smelly because of the diesel locomotives.

@keithbessant 3 ай бұрын

That was beautiful account of St Pancras station with its statues. I was looking forward to seeing more about the security and passport checks, and whether it takes longer since Brexit, as that's what's been putting me off using Eurostar now. Thank you for the information at the end about how long to allow for check-in though. It seems it's quicker than at an airport.

@JohnnyHooverTravels 3 ай бұрын

Obviously it is not possible to video the security and passport section, but yes, I've not yet suffered any delays that caused me any stress with whether i would make my train. And you get all the stuff done at London so you can just walk off the train at your destination and enjoy Europe immediately... which is dead handy if you have an onward connection. Thanks for watching and for the kind words 👍

@babymerilljavier8330 12 күн бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravelswhat do they check on passport section?

@JohnnyHooverTravels 11 күн бұрын

@@babymerilljavier8330 usual stuff at a border. Valid passport and visa if required.

@leandrofloripa7859 5 ай бұрын

Dope👍

@JohnnyHooverTravels 5 ай бұрын

thanks👍

@AndrewG1989 Жыл бұрын

I have been on the Eurostar from London Waterloo to Paris but not from London St. Pancras International to Brussels. And I do like to go on the e320 trains that are so smooth and quiet.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Well I’d highly recommend it. Starting from St Pancras is a delight, and once at Brussels, Belgium and the whole of Europe is really accessible. The following day I went on from Brussels to Czechia (that journey is also available on my channel)

@AndrewG1989 Жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Nice 😊

@richs8754 Жыл бұрын

I've done Waterloo to Brussels a number of years ago, on my way to Maastricht and the Limburg Province of Netherlands. I can remember having to go through Passport Control on arrival in Brussels back then. My onward journey became interesting when I boarded the right train, but at the wrong end, as I discovered when it split en route and I ended up somewhere else. I did St Pancras to Paris just a couple of years ago, and onwards to the Ruhr Valley, having tried Victoria to Germany via Paris with Eurolines and Flixbus Coach Services a couple of years earlier. That was a very cheap but time consuming and uncomfortable journey, hence trying Eurostar this time around. Didn't get a chance to look around LSP as my train was very early in the morning, taking advantage of cheapest ticket prices, although I did end up with a long layover at Gare du Nord for my connection to Dusseldorf. Hoping to repeat later this year, this time onward to Rhineland-Palatinate, necessitating a brief walk round the corner from Gare du Nord to Gare de L'Est.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Haha, the right train wrong section thing happened to me recently at Shrewsbury - the announcement said I should be in rear section and I knew the train was reversing so I sat in the rear for departure. But they meant "the rear when it pulled in"... still it was sorted before departure. I love Eurostar as it is such a gateway to lots of other fab rides through Europe. Do check out my Brussel to Karlovy Vary vid for 4 trains the day after a Eurostar.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

I may do the coach just for the experience and it is a good comparison, although my gut feeling having watched others is that if you book far enough ahead you can get Eurostar cheap enough so as not to warrant all that hassle! Thanks for watching 👍

@tsachie4822 Жыл бұрын

very nice review. how long is the underwater journey?

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

The tunnel is 50km long and the train completes the crossing in 20 minutes. …and thank you for your kind words! Please subscribe if you’d like to see more trips as I post them.

@Watfordfc2030 Жыл бұрын

Great review and has convinced me to book a return trip to Brussels as a surprise for my wife in March . Nice detailed video and the handy thing is we live in Hemel Hempstead so a 20 min fast train to Euston and then we can walk to st Pancras only about 5 min walk very simple . One question if you don’t mind me asking is I didn’t see on the app that you could pick your seat so I guess as a couple pot luck ? Thanks again loved it 👍

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words! From memory, I think you can amend your booking and pick your seats at no charge after you’ve paid and been allocated seats. If you want the trip to be somewhere else in Belgium (like Ghent or Bruges), you can select “any Belgian station” as your destination rather than Brussels. It will add about a tenner to the Eurostar ticket each way. I’m very envious that you have such a short trip to St Pancras!

@GabrielsReviews Күн бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Yes, that's how seat selection worked after my booking to Paris . I swapped mine on both legs.

@kathlynterry8196 Жыл бұрын

This is the first time I’ve seen any train with a substantial number of riders.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure what you mean by "any train". If you mean any Eurostar, then they do not currently run at full capacity because they don't have the space/infrastructure at departure stations to handle the increased border processing required since the UK left the EU. If you mean trains in general, then I can assure you that I've recently been on some very busy trains. Like this one! Pendolino from Euston to Glasgow with Avanti West Coast in 1st Class kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rch4gJd_yciRmqs.html Thank you so much for watching and commenting 👍

@aimeejones-jq4oz Жыл бұрын

Hi! I will be making the same journey next week, and wondered if we have to scan our tickets when we got off of the train at Brussels? As I have another train to catch shortly after, and I know this can take some time! Thanks for any info!

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

You should be fine. All the paperwork and checks are done at St Pancras. You just get herded straight off the train at Brussels. My wife and I have changes trains for Gent/Bruges and never had any problems. Have a lovely trip and thanks for watching 👍

@ellzy7713 Жыл бұрын

You missed the iconic Tracy Emin artwork! That’s one of the best things at St Pancras

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Ah the big pink letters! I'm back there today and will be sure to get a good shot of them.

@ayeshachoudhury5693 Жыл бұрын

Hello thank for this did u book tickets by euros tar or rail europe

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

I booked direct with Eurostar for this journey. ...and thank you for watching! 👍

@luxpursuits Жыл бұрын

Except for Paul's, Brussels Midi is a soulless concrete room

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

I agree, it’s not the nicest. The video of the trip the next day (Brussels to Karlovy Vary) doesn’t dwell on the departure station as much as this video does! My ICE the following morning also called at Brussels Nord, which I reckon would have made a far more photogenic departure station!

@BIGV710 6 ай бұрын

did you know that you can buy a any station ticket for eurostar and connections are free in belguim

@JohnnyHooverTravels 6 ай бұрын

Whilst you can buy an "Any Belgian Station" ticket, the price you will pay for it is higher than the ticket just to Brussels. Back in the day a Eurostar ticket allowed free onward travel into Belgium, but not now. Looking at a standard ticket that is quoted at £51 to Brussels, the "Any Belgian Station" option is £63.50. So, it's a good deal, as long as your onward train would have cost you more than £12.50. Thanks so much for raising this - I should have mentioned it in the video. And also, thanks for watching 👍

@missophelie3781 Жыл бұрын

Can you explain the customs of goods? How do they check you're on the right seat? When do you need to present your ticket in the train?

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

You cannot get through security without a valid ticket. At security they check your luggage for non allowed items (like knives). Then you pass through border control for the EU and get your passport checked. Finally there is a ticket check on the platform by Eurostar staff, but if you sit in the wrong seat, my guess is the actual passenger will ask you to move! Thank you for watching. I hope my video was helpful 👍

@farhaanilyas5846 Жыл бұрын

Did you stay in the B&B Gare Du Midi hotel? If so, I was wondering how it was!

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

It was absolutely fine. I slept very well and everything was as you would expect it. The Italian restaurant down at street level was also excellent.

@farhaanilyas5846 Жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Thanks! Great video also

@azeezahmeed9871 Жыл бұрын

aside from going thru security at st pancreas, do they check for COVID or is it just strictly security & bag check in?

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

I don't think there are currently any Covid checking requirements right now at St Pancras. But, of course, it may change so it is always worth checking before you travel. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. I really appreciate it 👍

@azeezahmeed9871 Жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels cheers for responding.... pretty much all u did was check in your bags & go through security?

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

@@azeezahmeed9871 there's no "check in" of bags like at an airport. You have your tickets and ID checked and you and all your bags go through security together. You keep all your bags with you at all times. Just like travelling on a regular train.

@azeezahmeed9871 Жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels thanks mate

@stephaniegelera78 Жыл бұрын

Hello. I will be in London in late June. Would you recommend taking the Eurostar from London to Brussels for just a day trip? Thanks

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Honestly, I'd say "No". There are many great places in the UK to visit by train from London and you won't have the problem of passports and security and needing to be at the station so long before departure.

@stephaniegelera78 Жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Thank you

@jadda193 Жыл бұрын

Is it necessary to book the tickets in advance even to Amsterdam. Sir?

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

I would say "yes", unless you are prepared to pay very high prices indeed or be disappointed and there be no spare seats at all.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

I had a look on the Eurostar app. As an example there are NO available seats to Amsterdam today and tomorrow the lowest fare is £160. If you book one month in advance, the lowest fare is £50 right now.

@camzrubiano4513 Ай бұрын

Any train directly going to Bruges from London?Thanks

@JohnnyHooverTravels Ай бұрын

No. Change trains at Brussels. Very easy connection, I have done it many times. You can also add a little cost to your eurostar ticket for onward travel to any Belgian destination. Obviously if you are using Interrail/eurail then you would just use the pass for the onward travel. Read the website ' The Man in seat 61" for all the details Thanks for watching 👍

@camzrubiano4513 Ай бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Thank you!🙂

@christolongers 2 ай бұрын

Is this completely direct from St Pancras to Brussels with no changes ?

@JohnnyHooverTravels 2 ай бұрын

Some trains call at Lille. So you would have to check. Thanks for watching 👍

@christolongers 2 ай бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels thanks , going to give it a go in August

@missophelie3781 Жыл бұрын

That's weird because even if you book some months ahead of time, it's minimum 90€ now!

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

On the Eurostar app right now you can book one way tickets in June for £57 if you travel on certain days and in certain trains. Eurostar pricing is very like airline prices, but at least the app shows you what deals you can get.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Pricing may be different depending on what country Eurostar thinks you are accessing their system from.

@missophelie3781 Жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels trying to access from Brussels. That's crazy that they're making it more expensive when travelling from Belgium! Thank you very much! 😊👍

@missophelie3781 Жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels How about dimensions for the luggage? Do they check if your luggage is bigger than the the allowed standard luggage dimensions?

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

@@missophelie3781 well I've never taken much, but I have seen people with "a lot" of luggage. I suspect that if you exceed their limits by a little you would be ok, but as they say in the UK "don't take the piss" and think you can pack something huge!

@yoslinbarakat3177 Жыл бұрын

How soon in advance did you book

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

Looking back at my records, I booked my ticket 11 weeks in advance.

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

You can book a very long way ahead on Eurostar and doing that gives the best prices. In my case, I had to wait until I had booked onward trains from Brussels before I knew which Eurostar train I was going to catch.

@user-uv2ip3xx3y 8 ай бұрын

How much strong alcohol is allowed to be carried in a bag for one person?

@JohnnyHooverTravels 8 ай бұрын

I do not know. You will have to check with the Belgian/French customs website 🤷‍♂️

@zayntv2876 2 ай бұрын

Please! Does someone put me a msg could travel with travel document 1951 from London to Brussels with train with visa? It’s urgent😮

@JohnnyHooverTravels 2 ай бұрын

No idea what the question here is. You must check relevant government websites for what documents may be accepted to travel. Best wishes to you 👍

@jazzperez8244 7 ай бұрын

Did they ask you for your passport when entering EU?

@JohnnyHooverTravels 7 ай бұрын

Of course they did...

@colinriley123 Жыл бұрын

Like the video , but don't like St Pancras. We are divorced from he platforms and the Grand Terrace view is like a multi media presentation in a museum. Do not touch! Give me Darlington any day!

@JohnnyHooverTravels Жыл бұрын

I know what you mean. But I think, given the constraints of international travel and security barriers, there's probably not much more you can do. My main gripe is that the waiting area is subterranean. I much prefer the wait at Gare du Nord, where you can look down on the platforms. I also understand why it would be difficult to give passengers early access to the platforms, but I'd much rather wait for my train on the platform under the arc of the wonderful train shed. Darlington - on my list to start from there and do a video that gives the station the time it deserves.

@colinriley123 Жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyHooverTravels I look forward to the Darlington video. Perhaps it could include an update on the development plans for the station. Darlington is unusual because of its road access mid platforms, which I understand was taken from continental examples. What I can’t work out is how the porte corchere was meant to work, and presumably complement the central road access. The link between pc and platforms is far from grand.