Train Travel

London to Belgium

The main train operator in Belgium is SNCB (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges) Check out www.b-rail.be for fares and timetables.

The tourist information website can be found at www.visitbelgium.com and for bus, tram and metro information check out www.stib.irisnet.be

London to Brussels by Eurostar

Introducing Eurostar - Travel from London (Waterloo) to Brussels (Midi/Zuid) on Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel. Various departures through the day and now the first section of the UK high speed line is open it takes just 2 hours 15 minutes. Eurostar trains can travel up to 186mph (300km/h) on these high speed lines. From centre to centre its much faster than flying and more comfortable, convenient and much more reliable.

Train times & fares - www.eurostar.com

Visit www.eurostar.com for Eurostar times and fares and to book online. Fares start at £59 return 2nd class or £139 return 1st class (non-refundable, non-changeable, Saturday night away required). This price is valid to any Belgian station, not just Brussels. There are no one-way leisure fares, and official one-way fares start at £149, so for a one-way leisure trip, book a cheap leisure return and throw away the return half after using the outward portion - remember to allow a Saturday night away before your dummy return journey. It is common practice to do so.

London to Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Liège, Namur, Dinant

Eurostar tickets are valid to any station in Belgium not just to Brussels - make sure your connecting train service to your final destination is completed within 24 hours of you arriving in Brussels. Check out the online timetable at http://bahn.hafas.de for train times. Its best to allow 30 minutes before your connecting outward journey and at least 45 minutes, preferably more as you need to allow 30 minutes for the Eurostar check in, for your return journey. Equally your ticket is valid in Brussels within 24 hours of departure from your destination and for your trip back to London. Your Eurostar ticket is not valid on Thalys trains.

How to buy tickets - www.eurostar.com. Check out the Eurostar website if you are only going from London to Brussels or any other station in Belgium. It's the best way and you will get the cheapest tickets with them direct. You can select for your tickets to be posted to your UK address or you can pick them up at the station if you prefer - this is useful if you are booking from outside of Europe. You can also book by calling Eurostar on 0870 5 186 186.

On board Eurostar - Even at its highest speed, Eurostar trains are very smooth and quiet. If you are travelling 1st class you will be provided an airline style meal and complimentary drinks. All passengers are able to visit the two buffet cars which serve drinks and snack. There is no smoking on the whole of the Eurostar train. There are now two types of 1st class ticket - one is for business and the other leisure. Business 1st class entitles you to flexible tickets, ability to relax in the executive lounges in London, Paris and Brussels and a 15 minute minimum check in facility. Leisure 1st class gives you cheaper fares but without any flexibility or access to executive lounges and a minimum 30 minute check in.

You can also find short breaks combining Eurostar and a hotel stay at www.eurostar.com.

London to Brussels by train + ferry

Due to the rise in Eurostars popularity the ferry companies have stopped sending passenger ferries from Dover to Oostende and now the Dover to Calais Hoverspeed has been stopped this route is now not possible either.

Scotland & the North to Belgium

Tickets can be purchased from any UK station to London International to use with a Eurostar ticket. You can travel on a Caledonian Sleeper and then by Eurostar but don't forget that you can still travel to Belgium direct from Edinburgh or Hull.

Ferry from Scotland to Belgium - 3 times a week a new overnight ferry service travels from Edinburgh to Zebrugge using Superfast Ferries. Check out www.superfast.com for more details. You can then carry on your journey to Brussels, Cologne or Paris with the journey to Brussels taking under 2 hours by train. Visit http://bahn.hafas.de for timetables and fares.

Ferry from Hull to Belgium - A daily overnight ship travels from Hull to Zeebrugge - visit www.poferries.com for more details or call 0870 2424 999. For further train connections from Zeebrugge visit http://bahn.hafas.de for timetables and fares.

The Thomas Cook European Timetable

The Thomas Cook European timetable has train, bus and ferry times for every country in Europe, plus currency and climate information. It's essential for any independent traveller. It costs around £11.50 from the bureau de change in any UK branch of Thomas Cook, or you can buy online at www.thomascooktimetables.com.

Recommended guidebooks

Never travel, independently or in a group without a good guidebook. The best guides are the the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. Both guidebooks have the same excellent level of practical information and cultural and historical background.

Hotels in Belgium

A good website to start at for hotels and guesthouses in Brussels and other Belgian cities, both inexpensive ones and upmarket options, is www.venere.com. Alternatively a general search on the internet is also a good idea.

Backpacker hostels

If you're on a very tight budget you may find a room or a bed in a dorm at a backpacker hostel. Take a look at www.hostelbookers.com.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance isn't a luxury - it's a necessity. Ensure its included in your holiday budget. There are many providers these days so shop around to get the best deal but always make sure you have adequate cover and that it is underwritten by a reliable insurer. Sometimes an annual multi trip is cheaper than separate policies for each trip.

EU health card

UK citizens travelling in Europe should carry a European Health Insurance Card. This replaces the old E111 forms as from January 2006. The EHIC card is available free from www.ehic.org.uk and entitles you to free or reduced rate health care if you become ill or get injured in many European countries, under a reciprocal arrangement with the UK's NHS.