Trains from London to Bruges (Brugge)

I was surprised for my birthday with a trip to Bruges and the very next day headed to London St. Pancras International from Chelmsford. Our tickets were for the 8.55 am Eurostar train to Brussels-Midi where you make a simple change to a local SNCB train to Bruges.

As always with Eurostar check-in, we arrived around 45 minutes before departure time to pass through security and grab breakfast before boarding. With the train announced 20 minutes before departure, there was plenty of time to not feel rushed.

Booking well in advance we were able to secure some window seats on the left-hand side of the train and settled down to enjoy the view and the 1-hour 56-minute journey to Brussels. I have to say, shooting through the Kent countryside is one of my favourites, and crossing the River Medway there’s always something to look at, including Rochester Castle, perched up high watching you fly by at up to 300 kph.

There are only a few stops on the way with Eurostar, calling at Ebbsfleet International, Calais, and Lille Europe. Both lasting a few minutes and barely noticeable.

In what feels like no time at all you arrive in Brussels-Midi. It’s worth noting that the signage welcomes you to Bruxelles-Midi and then Bruxelles-Zuid, don’t fear you are in the right place. All Eurostar trains call at platforms 1 or 2 and on arrival, you’ll need to head down the escalators to the main concourse and head towards the Thalys and SNCB ticket offices – head towards platforms 7 and 8 if you need a visual steer. But don’t take that as a platform prompt – check the departure board first.

From here you’ll be able to find your connecting SNCB train to Bruges. The logo on the train is a rather large, blue ‘B’ on a white locomotive. For anyone keen on trains, Brussels Midi/Zuid is a hub of train operators with DB, Thalys, SNCF, SNCB, and Eurostar trains gracing the platforms daily.

There are no seat reservations for SNCB, but we found ample seating on the train and grabbed a window seat with a table. If you decide to go for First Class, the carriages are numbered on the outside to help guide you.

The Belgian countryside is lovely, dotted with villages, farms, and windmills once you leave the city. The train only stops once at Ghent and it then quickly continues to Bruges.

Just outside Bruges station is Minnewater Park – also known as the Lake of Love and is the perfect place to start your Bruges adventure. It is picture perfect! The old town and centre of Bruges is a ten-minute walk from the station and already you get a sense of the place, the history and what’s ahead.

As a UNESCO World Heritage City, you really feel like you’ve gone back in time.  There is something for everyone from the towering Belfry, which you can climb for great views, to the bustlingly Markt. You can also walk along the outer canal and find four windmills. We found several small, local bars and cafes such as De Windmolen, which serve a wide range of local beers, and sat European style, and watched the world go by. We had an incredible time in Bruges, and I would visit again without hesitation.

 

About Richard

Richard, a Trainline employee, chose to share their experience of the journey between London and Bruges.