It’s been a long minute since we’ve last had one of these, but after years of mulling over the introduction of new destinations, Eurostar is finally getting fresh new ideas off the drawing board.
Starting in winter 2026, the popular company that oversees rail travel from Britain to mainland Europe will officially launch a brand-new direct train service from London to a hugely underrated medieval city in Central Europe.
No, this is not their long-promised nonstop to Switzerland… just yet.
For now, Antwerp, Belgium will have to do, and given the fact that it’s home to one of the most beautiful Old Town squares on the continent, and some insanely gorgeous architecture, we’re not exactly mad at it. Switzerland can wait.
London To Antwerp, Belgium… No Changing Trains
The new service will use trains that already operate on the London–Brussels corridor, which will then extend into Antwerp.
The route will therefore run through the existing Eurostar network, and that’s why it’s been able to get greenlit so quickly.
Currently, getting from London to Antwerp means taking the train from London St Pancras to either Brussels-Midi, or Amsterdam Centraal, then connecting onto an SNCB train to Antwerp. This usually takes roughly 3h15m, with the shortest transfer time possible.
The upcoming Eurostar service will cut that to approximately 2h41m.
Shaving 35 minutes off your travel time doesn’t sound like much, suuure, but the bigger advantage here is that you’re basically cutting out the hassle of changing trains in the Dutch or Belgian capitals.
When you’re short on time, and you have to sprint through endless corridors, only to emerge at the other end and jump onto another train seconds before it leaves—all while lugging your heavy suitcase around—you’ll be bloody glad you can just board in London and roll into Antwerp without all the faff.
The Route Basics
London St Pancras International to Antwerp-Central: city center to city center
- Launch date: December 14, 2026
- Operator: Eurostar
- Is it a direct route: Yes (inbound only)*
- Is it nonstop? No. The train has stops in Lille-Europe (France), Brussels-Midi (Belgium)
- Frequency: up to 4 trains per day
- Journey time: about 2h41m
*Don’t worry, we’ll expand on this further down.
If you’re traveling to Europe in the next few months, you should not assume simply bringing a valid passport to the airport is all that is required.
As of last year, Americans have been required to apply for a mandatory online travel permit traveling to the UK, and as of this year, they are also required to undergo mandatory fingerprinting upon arriving to the European Union. This includes Belgium.
If you’re unsure which entry and stay regulations, or even visa rules, apply at your destination, use our Entry Requirement Checker to avoid unpleasant surprises at the check-in desk.
Why Antwerp?
Belgium’s Second (But Best?) City
Antwerp is Belgium’s second-largest city, as well as its most important Dutch-speaking metropolis.
While Brussels gets all the fame for being a bland, somewhat faceless European capital that you can barely tell apart from other equally soulless international hubs like Frankfurt or Luxembourg, Antwerp feels distinctly Flemish.
The spectacular Antwerpen-Centraal station you’ll be arriving at is a spectacle all in its own, with marble, stone, iron and glass, and a gigantic dome that looks almost palatial. Built at the turn of the 20th century, it’s so ridiculously grand that it’s earned the nickname ‘Railway Cathedral‘.
Then there’s the historic Grote Markt:
One Of The Prettiest Old Town Squares On The Continent
Every Belgian city has a main square flanked by ornate guildhalls and historic buildings, but if I’m being honest, after visiting at least 5 Belgian cities, none took my breath away, or impressed me quite like Antwerp’s: the golden statues atop the guildhalls truly glow under the sun, and that ridiculously ornate fountain at the very centre?
It still blows my mind how human hands were even able to sculpt it in the first place.
Antwerp has a rich medieval history, as a major trading hub back in the Middle Ages, and the clearest reminder of that is the soaring Cathedral of Our Lady, a 123-metre Gothic stone spire raised over several centuries, with a vast, cavernous interior and stained-glass windows.
Shop For Jewelry In The Diamond District
In the vicinity of the cathedral, or to be exact, about a 15-minute walk away, the Diamond District is where you’d go if you’re scavenging for jewelry, and you’d rather purchase it from a reputable, polished European seller than in the chaotic, back-alley stalls of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.
Antwerp has been at the heart of Europe’s diamond trade for centuries, and though it’s arguably lost some of its luster since the advent of synthetic diamonds, nothing beats browsing jewelry along cobblestone streets and marveling at the glittering, old-school shops under softly lit lampposts.
The district remains one of the world’s major diamond-trading centers, with more than 1,600 traders and manufacturers.
The Heart Of Belgian Nightlife
Love Belgium for the beer gardens and youthful nightlife scene?
Then nothing you could have experienced in Brussels’ gentrified Saint-Géry neighborhood could prepare you for Antwerp’s Het Zuid. Saint-Géry is one of Brussels’ main nightlife districts, while Het Zuid is packed with bars, restaurants and clubs and has become one of Antwerp’s trendiest evening neighborhoods.
Delicious craft beer poured straight from the tap, gigantic smash burgers served with sides of Belgian fries fried in beef fat (that’s what usually does the trick), and to top off a wild night of pub-crawling and drinking with your mates around town, chocolate-drizzled waffles straight from a street stall.
This is one epic weekend destination, and I truly can’t fathom how it remains this overlooked.
How Safe Is Belgium In 2026?
Wondering how safe Belgium is to visit right now?
Due to a rise in street crime and the persistent threat of terrorism, Belgium is no longer the super-peaceful, sleepy Central European country it once was.
That’s not to say it’s exactly dangerous, but you’d be wise to watch out for pickpockets and keep a heightened sense of awareness in public areas, as advised by the U.S. Department of State.
Belgium is currently a Level 2 destination, with U.S. authorities advising travelers to ‘exercise increased caution’ due to crime, terrorism, and unrest.
Violent crime affecting tourists in cities like Brussels, Antwerp, and Bruges is still relatively uncommon.
As for what travelers are saying, the country scores 80 out of 100 on the Traveler Safety Index, a crowdsourced tool based on reports and perceptions from actual recent visitors:
Here’s The Caveat
Now here’s the weird part: there is NO direct return train from Antwerp to London.
- London → Antwerp: direct
- Antwerp → London: not direct
For the return journey, passengers will be required to take the usual SNCB train back to Brussels-Midi, then change onto the Eurostar for London. Why, you ask?
It’s a border control problem.
The United Kingdom is not part of Europe’s Schengen Zone, while Belgium is. If you’re travelling from Schengen into the UK, or vice versa, you’ll have to go through both UK immigration and security controls, as well as EU immigration and security controls, before boarding the train.
Currently, there are no UK immigration facilities, or international EU border control facilities, installed at Antwerp-Centraal.
Getting from London to Antwerp directly isn’t an issue because travellers already undergo UK exit controls and EU/Schengen entry formalities before boarding at St Pancras, so once they cross over to mainland Europe, they can hop off at whichever Eurostar stop along the way they want, be it Lille, Brussels, or Antwerp.
On the other hand, Antwerp is not part of Eurostar’s international departures infrastructure, so introducing a direct Antwerp → London service would require installing a full UK Border Force outpost and customs facilities at Antwerp-Centraal.
Currently, there are no plans to install them.
That is why the route is one-way direct.
How Much Will Tickets Cost?
Prices for Eurostar routes can vary considerably according to date and availability.
Some reports have cited introductory fares from around $58 one-way, although I wouldn’t treat that as the normal price.
Eurostar uses dynamic pricing, so booking early is the best way to get those truly-attractive low fares.
What About Luggage?
One of the nice things about traveling with Eurostar rather than flying is the luggage allowance.
Even if you’re only booked to travel in standard class, you’re allowed two pieces of luggage with no additional charge.
This makes this route particularly convenient for country-hopping when you’ve planned a longer European trip, and you don’t want to be restricted to a single carry-on item flying with those overly-strict low-cost carriers.
Oh, and obviously, you’re arriving directly at Antwerp-Centraal, rather than Brussels Airport hundreds of miles away.
That’s a rather compelling proposition for a short break on the Old Continent, if you ask me.
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