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London to Antwerpen / Antwerp / Anvers by train
How to take a rail journey from London to Antwerp/Antwerpen
The Eurostar train(s) from London to Amsterdam pass through the station in Antwerp without calling there, so when taking this rail journey a connection in Bruxelles is required.
Though what makes things less complicated than the norm are:
- Eurostar sells any 'Any Belgian station' tickets
- Which can be used on any onward train that day, so you won't need to be concerned about connecting into a particular departure
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Routes
From London St Pancras International to Antwerpen-Centraal
Journey Summary
3hr 15min - 3hr 45min (approx)
Daily
Travel Information
Antwerp/Antwerpen is one of the easiest locations to access when travelling from London to Europe by train.
Simply take the Eurostar to Bruxelles and then hop on one of the frequent trains from Bruxelles to Antwerpen.
(The journey time on the Eurostar website does not include the Bruxelles/Brussels to Antwerpen/Antwerp journey).
The variations in journey time on the other websites partially depend on the connecting time between the trains at Bruxelles Midi/Zuid station.
The quicker journey times are indicative of a connecting time between trains of around 20 minutes.
More information is available on the changing trains at Bruxelles-Midi station guide.
But tickets will be valid on any train between Bruxelles and Antwerpen; and there are a minimum of 4 x IC trains on from Bruxelles per hour.
Current timetable:
Mon - Friday = 3 x connections per day
Saturday = 2 x connections
Sunday = 3 x connections
Usual timetable, pre-pandemic:
Mon -Thurs= 8 x connections per day
Friday = 9 x connections
Sat/Sun = 7 x connections per day
Changing trains in: Bruxelles/Brussels
Tickets
Book Early And Save: Yes
Bookings Open: 180 days ahead of the travel date
Eurostar sells 'Any Belgian Station' tickets that are valid for the Eurostar between London and Brussels/Bruxelles + the IC (Intercity) train from Brussels to Antwerpen.
When you begin to enter Antwerp as a destination on the Eurostar website, it will default to offering these tickets.
A big plus of the 'Any Belgian Station' ticket, is that you can break up the journey and explore Brussels/Bruxelles between trains, without incurring additional charges.
You only have to take the Brussels/Bruxelles to Antwerpen train within 24 hours of arriving in Brussels.
The price shown below is the standard, most heavily discounted, one way Standard Class price.
Eurostar frequently offers special fare/deals promotions, so the price you see on the home page of the Eurostar website MAY be cheaper.
But check the terms and conditions of any special deal BEFORE making a booking. The special price MAY depend on additional factors, such as the need to book a return trip and/or MAY not be available when making day trips.
Eurostar's full ticket terms and conditions are here
Another big plus of booking the Eurostar direct on Eurostar.com is that you can access a 'Manage Your Booking' facility - which enables you to change the seat on the Eurostar, that you will have been automatically assigned when making a booking.
Click on the Eurostar 'train guides for more information on how to do this
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Eurostar | from £51 | |
| Omio | from £51 | |
| Trainline | from £51 | |
| B-Europe | from €51 |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
As a consequence of the Covid-19 crisis Eurostar is operating a particularly limited timetable for the time being - further information is available on Eurostar.com
Final Destination: Bruxelles-Midi or Amsterdam
Note that London is in a different time zone to mainland Europe, it is one hour behind - so when looking at a timetable the journey will look as though it's an hour longer.
Most of the departures between London and Bruxelles will be by the e320 trains, but the e3300 trains are usually used on some departures.
The usual calls at either Ebbsfleet or Ashford International stations, have been been temporarily suspended until further notice.
However as the trains only call at these stations to pick up passengers. these station calls are not included on the departure boards at St Pancras International, or usually announced on the train.
Eurostar requests that holders of Standard Class And Standard Premier tickets check-in a minimum of 30mins before departure; though this time increases to 45mins before departure on weekends and holidays.
If you have a Business Premier ticket, Eurostar recommends that you only have to check-in 10 mins before departure
It's not a scenic journey, but it is a journey with six distinct phases and highlights:
1: For most of the first 8 mins of the journey the trains use tunnels to exit London (Stratford International station is located between the tunnels).
2: Then from the right of the train, there are views of the River Thames marshes and of the Queen Elizabeth II road bridge.
3: The third tunnel that the train will pass through is the tunnel under the River Thames.
4: Shortly after Ebbsfleet International station (can only be seen from the right of the train) is the scenic highlight of the journey - the crossing of the River Medway.
5: The train will slow down as it approaches The Channel Tunnel.
Announcements are no longer made that the train is about to enter the tunnel.
The journey through the tunnel will take around 22 mins.
6: There is little of note to be seen from the high speed lines in France and Belgium.
Train 2
Travelling On
Good to Know
Final Destination: Antwerpen/Essen/Amsterdam
If you see 'Anvers' on the electronic departure display at a station, the train will be heading to Antwerpen/Antwerp.
All trains also depart from: Bruxelles-Midi and Bruxelles-Nord
All trains also call at: Mechelen and [Antwerpen-Berchem]https://goo.gl/maps/9P3q3Rib5sYepUYMA)*
*The trains will call at this station, before they arrive at Antwerpen-Centraal, so don't leave the train here, if you are heading to the city centre.
However, it can be worth looking up the location of your final destination in the city, as Antwerpen-Berchem is a public transport interchange for the south side of the city centre.
So it has alternative bus and tram connections to those available at Antwerpen Centraal.
If your final destination in Antwerpen is in the Diamant, Theaterbuurt or Sint-Andries areas of the city it’s usually a quicker journey to leave a train at Antwerpen Berchem and take a tram from its tram station.
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