People forget that Eurostar isn’t just a one-trick pony. You can change trains in Brussels and get to places like Antwerp or Ghent in under an hour. Ghent is like a medieval fairy tale where everyone rides bikes and eats the best French fries you’ve ever had, served with a side of mayo that makes sense.
Want to go to Lille? It’s only 90 minutes from London. Lille is charming, affordable, and feels like a secret that hasn’t been ruined by Instagram influencers yet. I went there last winter and spent an afternoon in a vintage bookshop—the owner didn’t speak much English, but we bonded over a shared love of old maps.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even go all the way to Marseille or Avignon in the south of France. It’s a longer ride—about four to five hours—but you step off into sunshine and lavender fields. Imagine skipping the airport altogether and trading it for a comfortable seat where you can watch the French countryside blur by.
Guide to the Eurostar - Lonely Planet
Why Should You Care? (The Fun Part)
Because life is short, and the weekend is precious. Eurostar turns a maybe someday trip into a right now possibility. You can wake up in London, have a croissant in Paris by lunch, and be back in time to binge your favorite show. No security pat-downs, no waiting for luggage, just pure, easy magic.
Think about your last long weekend. You probably spent it doing laundry and staring at your phone. Instead, you could be standing under the Eiffel Tower, pretending you’re in a movie, or wandering through a Dutch market buying cheese wheels bigger than your head. Eurostar makes that real.
There’s even a stop called Ashford International in the UK—yes, you can use it to visit the British countryside too. It’s not just for continent-hopping. Imagine hopping on to avoid traffic and arriving at a cozy pub in Kent for Sunday roast. That’s the kind of whim this train was made for.
