Planning to see Belgium beyond Brussels? Eurostar is launching its first direct London to Antwerp service this winter.
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From 14 December, the high-speed rail service will operate four scheduled direct services from London St. Pancras to the Belgian port city daily.
Eurostar already connects Londoners to Belgium via its Brussels-bound route, with travellers keen to explore beyond the capital into a city like Antwerp having to alight at Brussels-Midi/Zuid to catch a SNCB train to Antwerpen-Centraal.
This current journey takes around 3 hours and 15 minutes. The new direct service will cut travel time to just 2 hours and 41 minutes.
However, there are currently no plans to introduce direct return routes.
This is because there are no dedicated UK border and customs facilities at Antwerpen-Centraal, Eurostar told Head for Points.
Often overlooked in favour of Brussels or Bruges, Antwerp is known for two things: fashion and diamonds.
The former is thanks to the Antwerp Six, who soared to fame in the 1980s and 1990s. You can learn all about them at the ModeMuseum Antwerpen, but if you want to shop from the city’s up-and-coming designers, you can head to Nationalestraa or Kammenstraat.
As for the latter, Antwerp’s diamond district is the largest in the world, with some 50% of the globe’s rough diamonds passing through here for polishing, making it perfect for anyone looking to accessorise their new look with some bling.
Belgium in general is known for its fries, known locally as frîtes, and there’s no better place to grab them than Frituur LO. To get your fix, you’ll need to pass through Sint-Anna’s Tunnel, which in itself is an experience as it’s home to authentic wooden escalators.
As we all know, nothing quite beats Belgian chocolate, and no trip is complete without sampling and having the willpower to bring some back home, too. At Pierre Marcolini's Antwerp branch, the quaint store pays homage to the Belgian chocolatier while offering visitors a selection of chocolates, truffles, biscuits, macarons, ice cream, and other confectionery as far as the eye can see.
For a different perspective of the city, Visit Antwerp also recommends heading out after dark when landmarks such as Centraal Station, Operaplein and the lively Het Zuid district are illuminated. Not only is it a chance to see Antwerp with reduced crowds as the city sleeps, but it also offers a striking look once night falls.