knowledge germany & benelux
ttglive.com
Cologne will be accessible from London within four hours when direct trains start running in 2013
WITHIN TWO HOURS. Brussels
With a best journey time of 1h 51m by direct Eurostar train, rail travel now domi- nates short breaks to the Belgian capital from London. Cresta and Kirker offer Eurostar breaks, and agents can add their own hotel booking. Brussels is a great foodie city, from mussels to truffles. Attractions include galleries, art nouveau architecture, the Grand Place with famous “peeing statue” the Manneken Pis, and the European Parlia- ment. Eurostar fares start at £69 return. Shearings has introduced new Eurostar Go-As-You-Please breaks, and three nights with breakfast costs from £199.
WITHIN FOUR HOURS. Bruges
Travel on Eurostar to stations beyond Brussels costs very little, and the journey time from Brussels to Bruges is only about 40 minutes. It is possible to make it to Bruges in about three hours from London with an easy change at Brussels, but longer should be allowed. This lovely medieval city is famed for its canals, and is deservedly one of the top city-break destinations in Europe. The so-called “Venice of the north” offers boat trips, historic buildings, art galleries for the Flemish masters including Rubens, and lots of great food. Ffestiniog Travel fares start at £86 return. Three-night breaks with Kirker cost from £339.
WITHIN FIVE HOURS. Cologne
A simple change at Brussels will get you to this great city in a best time of 4h 15m, and a journey time of four hours will be standard
52 11.03.2011
Amsterdam: a top city break destination for Brits Bruges’ canals are only three hours from London
when direct trains start from London in 2013. Cologne was heavily damaged in the second world war, but some of the old town was reconstructed. The massive and highly impressive Dom Cathedral was spared, and is right outside the station. Also enjoy boat trips on the Rhine, and lots of historic attrac- tions including the Imhoff Chocolate Museum. Ffestiniog Travel quotes return fares from £115, and Rail Europe from £105. Dertour can arrange a two-night package with breakfast from £289.
Amsterdam
Completion of the NS Hispeed line from Brussels will speed up journeys, but it’s already possible to get there in 4h 15m if you make a fast connection, although around five hours is more typical. It rivals Paris as the top city break for Brits, with attractions ranging from canal tours to the Van Gogh and Anne Frank museums. Rail Europe fares start from £116 return.
Utrecht
Rail Europe quotes a best journey time of 4h 15m using the Thalys European high-speed network onward from Brussels. This small Dutch city is the joker in the pack: not an obvious short-break destination but a good example of somewhere easy to discover by rail. It’s brimming with museums, shops and cultural activities. Rail Europe fares start at £148 return, and Ffestiniog Travel fares from £97. Trainseurope has a £200 fare including three-day rail pass to discover Holland.
ABOUT SIX HOURS. Luxembourg
This little country doesn’t have a high-speed Luxembourg’s medieval buildings are Unesco protected CONTACTS
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bahn.com ■
dertour.co.uk/travel-agents ■
europeanrail.com ■
eurostar4agents.com ■
ffestiniogtravel.com ■
greatrail.com ■
internationalrail.com ■
raileuropetrade.co.uk ■
shearingsagent.com ■
trainseurope.co.uk ■
seat61.com
line, but you can reach it in little more than six hours via a simple change at Brussels, or slightly faster via Paris where you have to change stations. Luxembourg is one of the world’s smallest countries and its capital city – also called Luxembourg – is a Unesco World Heritage Site. It has many medieval buildings and cobbled streets with the Grand Ducal Palace the top attraction. Trainseurope quotes return fares from £95, Ffestiniog Travel from £105 and Rail Europe from £117.
Sally Shine
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