Eurostar from London to Brussels

[@kieronwillans4038]

Another excellent video Johnny. I noticed at the start of the video, you were stood outside the Betjeman Arms . Like most London pubs it's on the expensive side but it's a lovely place to catch up with friends like I did a few weeks ago. My last trips on Eurostar were in 2018. On that occasion we travelled to Bruges and the interchange between Eurostar and SNCB at Brussels Midi was quite straightforward. Looking forward to more of your trips.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@kieronwillans4038 the Betjeman also has that lovely view inside the trainshed.! When it is running well, Eurostar is so handy for Belgium. As you say, it is good that there's lots of onward destinations at Midi. Thanks for the kind words and, of course, thanks for watching the video 👍

[@eseopu]

i love how you not only talk about the train, but also some cool things about the stations! amazing channel

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you that is lovely of you to say. I really love architecture and so i always stop and look when I'm at a station. Thanks for watching and discovering the channel 👍

[@BostonsRandJ]

Oh, I LOVE St. Pancras!!!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Me too! Thank you very much for watching 👍

[@switzerlandch4986]

Another great video. So glad to have found this channel!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you so much. I’m pleased you found it too! There will be a new one released every Friday. This Friday I’ll be riding out from Plymouth on the Tamar Valley Line, then walking back along the river to view the famous Calstock viaduct.

[@switzerlandch4986]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Sounds great! Looking forward to watch it!

[@Cheradanine]

Excellent video! Really well produced with lots of information and narrative...you deserve a larger following!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank, that is lovely of you to say. Well, keep watching my videos and who know, more people may catch on! I'm pretty happy with how the channel has grown this year, so I'm sure more will continue to discover it in the coming months 👍

[@haaji99]

Brilliant detail for those who want to travel by the eurostar Much appreciated Subscribed.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you so much for saying so. I really appreciate the kind words. 👍

[@georgeantony9339]

An excellent video! So much information and a a truly wonderful video!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you, it is very kind of you to say so. I hope the video was useful. Thank you so much for watching 👍

[@paulsmyth497]

Nice one mate. I’ve reached retirement age, almost, and about to make this exact journey this afternoon. First ever Eurostar trip, and hardly ever use a train at all. Now I know what to expect and what to look for. Cheers

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You're welcome! I hope you have (or have had) a great trip . Thank you for the kind comment.

[@WINGSANDRAILS]

One of the better looking ' on train' cafes!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

And the coffee is good too! 😀

[@daydays12]

An interesting and informative video, thank you!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You are most welcome. Thank you for watching and for the kind words 👍

[@shelaghjackson9577]

Thanks! Taking this same trip and back in December. Last time we took Eurostar was from Waterloo in 1998! My husband still has his tshirt from the Eurostar gift shop.😂

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I hope you enjoy it as much as m I did. I also used to travel from Waterloo. I still kinda miss it as I used to always stay with my sister in Surbiton the night before and Waterloo was so easy to get to from there. Thanks for watching 👍

[@sallyoasispaintingsorigina3859]

Thank you 😊Excellent video.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

No problem! You are very welcome indeed. Thank you so much for watching and I hope it was helpful 👍

[@LAMathome1]

Oh boy has Set Pancras changed done I used to commute in the 1960s.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes it certainly has. It was so sad in the 60s and 70s. It was always a lovely station back then, but it was so run down. Much better now! Go for a glass of champagne next time you're "in town" ;o) Thanks for subscribing too

[@LAMathome1]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels it was ... and very smelly because of the diesel locomotives.

[@keithbessant]

That was beautiful account of St Pancras station with its statues. I was looking forward to seeing more about the security and passport checks, and whether it takes longer since Brexit, as that's what's been putting me off using Eurostar now. Thank you for the information at the end about how long to allow for check-in though. It seems it's quicker than at an airport.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Obviously it is not possible to video the security and passport section, but yes, I've not yet suffered any delays that caused me any stress with whether i would make my train. And you get all the stuff done at London so you can just walk off the train at your destination and enjoy Europe immediately... which is dead handy if you have an onward connection. Thanks for watching and for the kind words 👍

[@babymerilljavier8330]

@@JohnnyHooverTravelswhat do they check on passport section?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@babymerilljavier8330 usual stuff at a border. Valid passport and visa if required.

[@mightysun89]

Brilliant video. Yes I can't wait, as we are doing this trip in May.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I hope you enjoyed it as much as me. Make sure you take a moment to just stand at St Pancras and look up. Thank you so much for watching and for the kind words 👍

[@SilverSamurai12]

Awesome tip with the side entrance. I've been to St. Pancras (maybe 6-7yrs ago) when I took the train into Paris, but was so hungerover the second I got onto my train seat, I was out cold until we got to Paris. To be completely honest, I'm shocked I even made it onto the train and through customs in the state I was in. Oh the joys (stupidity) of youth! I"ll certainly have to go back to St. Pancras though and have more of a look around.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Haha! I think we can all forgive a youthful folly! And yes, I just love that space at the end of the trainshed. I’m just sorry there is nowhere like that to wait once you’ve actually checked in.

[@TheWorldofGood79]

Very enjoyable video, Eurostar is such a civilized way to travel. All being well I'm off to Brussels this Saturday evening. I haven't been on Eurostar for four years so I'm really looking forward to it. I used to travel from Ashford to Brussels which was very convenient for me but time permitting I will definitely have a good look around at St Pancras thanks to all your excellent tips. Sadly due to an ASLEF overtime ban & Brighton pride my train to St Pancras was cancelled! So I'm having to travel from little old West St Leonard's station to London Bridge. The only thing West St Leonard's has in common with St Pancras is the St bit! None the less it's a nice little station & I've never traveled from it before.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I hope you enjoy the trip as much as I did. Sometimes it is cool to start an international journey like that at a small, almost insignificant station. Reminds us that every station is a doorway into a huge railway network that can take us to so many new places. Thank you for watching and for the kind words 👍

[@astroboirap]

Haha

[@barendnu]

Thank you for the nice video!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you for the kind words. Please subscribe as I release new videos every Friday!

[@Andrewjg_89]

I have been on the Eurostar from London Waterloo to Paris but not from London St. Pancras International to Brussels. And I do like to go on the e320 trains that are so smooth and quiet.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Well I’d highly recommend it. Starting from St Pancras is a delight, and once at Brussels, Belgium and the whole of Europe is really accessible. The following day I went on from Brussels to Czechia (that journey is also available on my channel)

[@Andrewjg_89]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Nice 😊

[@AK_47_007.]

Your welcome sir tysm ❤

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

No problem 👍

[@kathlynterry8196]

This is the first time I’ve seen any train with a substantial number of riders.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I'm not sure what you mean by "any train". If you mean any Eurostar, then they do not currently run at full capacity because they don't have the space/infrastructure at departure stations to handle the increased border processing required since the UK left the EU. If you mean trains in general, then I can assure you that I've recently been on some very busy trains. Like this one! Pendolino from Euston to Glasgow with Avanti West Coast in 1st Class kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZOrfmeEmcdgoNk Thank you so much for watching and commenting 👍

[@richs8754]

I've done Waterloo to Brussels a number of years ago, on my way to Maastricht and the Limburg Province of Netherlands. I can remember having to go through Passport Control on arrival in Brussels back then. My onward journey became interesting when I boarded the right train, but at the wrong end, as I discovered when it split en route and I ended up somewhere else. I did St Pancras to Paris just a couple of years ago, and onwards to the Ruhr Valley, having tried Victoria to Germany via Paris with Eurolines and Flixbus Coach Services a couple of years earlier. That was a very cheap but time consuming and uncomfortable journey, hence trying Eurostar this time around. Didn't get a chance to look around LSP as my train was very early in the morning, taking advantage of cheapest ticket prices, although I did end up with a long layover at Gare du Nord for my connection to Dusseldorf. Hoping to repeat later this year, this time onward to Rhineland-Palatinate, necessitating a brief walk round the corner from Gare du Nord to Gare de L'Est.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Haha, the right train wrong section thing happened to me recently at Shrewsbury - the announcement said I should be in rear section and I knew the train was reversing so I sat in the rear for departure. But they meant "the rear when it pulled in"... still it was sorted before departure. I love Eurostar as it is such a gateway to lots of other fab rides through Europe. Do check out my Brussel to Karlovy Vary vid for 4 trains the day after a Eurostar.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I may do the coach just for the experience and it is a good comparison, although my gut feeling having watched others is that if you book far enough ahead you can get Eurostar cheap enough so as not to warrant all that hassle! Thanks for watching 👍

[@ellzy7713]

You missed the iconic Tracy Emin artwork! That’s one of the best things at St Pancras

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah the big pink letters! I'm back there today and will be sure to get a good shot of them.

[@wilfriedlechner6299]

I did exactly the same.. to Brussels by Eurostar! Next day by ICE TO FRANKFURT AND FROM THERE TO MUNICH AMD FINALLY TO BREGENZ MY HOME VILLAGE ! It was fantastic and I will do it again! But first I want to go to Sicily part of it on the highspeed freccarossa via Milano.. Roma and Napoli to Palermo! Thanks again!!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Great to hear about your trips. Eurostar is so often "just the start". Thanks for watching 👍

[@terranceparsons5185]

Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@terranceparsons5185 Make it so. 👍

[@BIGV710]

did you know that you can buy a any station ticket for eurostar and connections are free in belguim

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Whilst you can buy an "Any Belgian Station" ticket, the price you will pay for it is higher than the ticket just to Brussels. Back in the day a Eurostar ticket allowed free onward travel into Belgium, but not now. Looking at a standard ticket that is quoted at £51 to Brussels, the "Any Belgian Station" option is £63.50. So, it's a good deal, as long as your onward train would have cost you more than £12.50. Thanks so much for raising this - I should have mentioned it in the video. And also, thanks for watching 👍

[@luxpursuits]

Except for Paul's, Brussels Midi is a soulless concrete room

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I agree, it’s not the nicest. The video of the trip the next day (Brussels to Karlovy Vary) doesn’t dwell on the departure station as much as this video does! My ICE the following morning also called at Brussels Nord, which I reckon would have made a far more photogenic departure station!

[@leandrofloripa7859]

Dope👍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

thanks👍

[@Watfordfc2030]

Great review and has convinced me to book a return trip to Brussels as a surprise for my wife in March . Nice detailed video and the handy thing is we live in Hemel Hempstead so a 20 min fast train to Euston and then we can walk to st Pancras only about 5 min walk very simple . One question if you don’t mind me asking is I didn’t see on the app that you could pick your seat so I guess as a couple pot luck ? Thanks again loved it 👍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you for the kind words! From memory, I think you can amend your booking and pick your seats at no charge after you’ve paid and been allocated seats. If you want the trip to be somewhere else in Belgium (like Ghent or Bruges), you can select “any Belgian station” as your destination rather than Brussels. It will add about a tenner to the Eurostar ticket each way. I’m very envious that you have such a short trip to St Pancras!

[@GabrielsReviews]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Yes, that's how seat selection worked after my booking to Paris . I swapped mine on both legs.

[@tsachie4822]

very nice review. how long is the underwater journey?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

The tunnel is 50km long and the train completes the crossing in 20 minutes. …and thank you for your kind words! Please subscribe if you’d like to see more trips as I post them.

[@christolongers]

Is this completely direct from St Pancras to Brussels with no changes ?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Some trains call at Lille. So you would have to check. Thanks for watching 👍

[@christolongers]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels thanks , going to give it a go in August

[@aimeejones-jq4oz]

Hi! I will be making the same journey next week, and wondered if we have to scan our tickets when we got off of the train at Brussels? As I have another train to catch shortly after, and I know this can take some time! Thanks for any info!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You should be fine. All the paperwork and checks are done at St Pancras. You just get herded straight off the train at Brussels. My wife and I have changes trains for Gent/Bruges and never had any problems. Have a lovely trip and thanks for watching 👍

[@missophelie3781]

Can you explain the customs of goods? How do they check you're on the right seat? When do you need to present your ticket in the train?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You cannot get through security without a valid ticket. At security they check your luggage for non allowed items (like knives). Then you pass through border control for the EU and get your passport checked. Finally there is a ticket check on the platform by Eurostar staff, but if you sit in the wrong seat, my guess is the actual passenger will ask you to move! Thank you for watching. I hope my video was helpful 👍

[@camzrubiano4513]

Any train directly going to Bruges from London?Thanks

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

No. Change trains at Brussels. Very easy connection, I have done it many times. You can also add a little cost to your eurostar ticket for onward travel to any Belgian destination. Obviously if you are using Interrail/eurail then you would just use the pass for the onward travel. Read the website ' The Man in seat 61" for all the details Thanks for watching 👍

[@camzrubiano4513]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Thank you!🙂

[@stephaniegelera78]

Hello. I will be in London in late June. Would you recommend taking the Eurostar from London to Brussels for just a day trip? Thanks

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Honestly, I'd say "No". There are many great places in the UK to visit by train from London and you won't have the problem of passports and security and needing to be at the station so long before departure.

[@stephaniegelera78]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Thank you

[@ayeshachoudhury5693]

Hello thank for this did u book tickets by euros tar or rail europe

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I booked direct with Eurostar for this journey. ...and thank you for watching! 👍

[@azeezahmeed9871]

aside from going thru security at st pancreas, do they check for COVID or is it just strictly security & bag check in?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I don't think there are currently any Covid checking requirements right now at St Pancras. But, of course, it may change so it is always worth checking before you travel. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. I really appreciate it 👍

[@azeezahmeed9871]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels cheers for responding.... pretty much all u did was check in your bags & go through security?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@azeezahmeed9871 there's no "check in" of bags like at an airport. You have your tickets and ID checked and you and all your bags go through security together. You keep all your bags with you at all times. Just like travelling on a regular train.

[@azeezahmeed9871]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels thanks mate

[@missophelie3781]

That's weird because even if you book some months ahead of time, it's minimum 90€ now!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

On the Eurostar app right now you can book one way tickets in June for £57 if you travel on certain days and in certain trains. Eurostar pricing is very like airline prices, but at least the app shows you what deals you can get.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Pricing may be different depending on what country Eurostar thinks you are accessing their system from.

[@missophelie3781]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels trying to access from Brussels. That's crazy that they're making it more expensive when travelling from Belgium! Thank you very much! 😊👍

[@missophelie3781]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels How about dimensions for the luggage? Do they check if your luggage is bigger than the the allowed standard luggage dimensions?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@missophelie3781 well I've never taken much, but I have seen people with "a lot" of luggage. I suspect that if you exceed their limits by a little you would be ok, but as they say in the UK "don't take the piss" and think you can pack something huge!

[@user-uv2ip3xx3y]

How much strong alcohol is allowed to be carried in a bag for one person?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I do not know. You will have to check with the Belgian/French customs website 🤷‍♂️

[@jadda193]

Is it necessary to book the tickets in advance even to Amsterdam. Sir?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I would say "yes", unless you are prepared to pay very high prices indeed or be disappointed and there be no spare seats at all.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I had a look on the Eurostar app. As an example there are NO available seats to Amsterdam today and tomorrow the lowest fare is £160. If you book one month in advance, the lowest fare is £50 right now.

[@farhaanilyas5846]

Did you stay in the B&B Gare Du Midi hotel? If so, I was wondering how it was!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

It was absolutely fine. I slept very well and everything was as you would expect it. The Italian restaurant down at street level was also excellent.

[@farhaanilyas5846]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Thanks! Great video also

[@jazzperez8244]

Did they ask you for your passport when entering EU?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Of course they did...

[@zayntv2876]

Please! Does someone put me a msg could travel with travel document 1951 from London to Brussels with train with visa? It’s urgent😮

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

No idea what the question here is. You must check relevant government websites for what documents may be accepted to travel. Best wishes to you 👍

[@yoslinbarakat3177]

How soon in advance did you book

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Looking back at my records, I booked my ticket 11 weeks in advance.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You can book a very long way ahead on Eurostar and doing that gives the best prices. In my case, I had to wait until I had booked onward trains from Brussels before I knew which Eurostar train I was going to catch.

[@colinriley123]

Like the video , but don't like St Pancras. We are divorced from he platforms and the Grand Terrace view is like a multi media presentation in a museum. Do not touch! Give me Darlington any day!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I know what you mean. But I think, given the constraints of international travel and security barriers, there's probably not much more you can do. My main gripe is that the waiting area is subterranean. I much prefer the wait at Gare du Nord, where you can look down on the platforms. I also understand why it would be difficult to give passengers early access to the platforms, but I'd much rather wait for my train on the platform under the arc of the wonderful train shed. Darlington - on my list to start from there and do a video that gives the station the time it deserves.

[@colinriley123]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels I look forward to the Darlington video. Perhaps it could include an update on the development plans for the station. Darlington is unusual because of its road access mid platforms, which I understand was taken from continental examples. What I can’t work out is how the porte corchere was meant to work, and presumably complement the central road access. The link between pc and platforms is far from grand.