by Catch a train at London St Pancras and later that day you could be sipping a Belgian trap beer, wandering through fairytale lands schloss, or cycling through the Loire Valley. All these experiences can be achieved without the hassles of air travel: a journey unhindered by long passport control queues, turbulence or baggage woes.
When you travel by rail, you can watch the landscape unfold as you ride, and maybe even stop for lunch along the way – while feeling a little smug about your zero carbon footprint. so heavy. But if you plan to travel through Amsterdam in 2024, be warned about track closures during renovations.
The Eurostar, through continental connections, opens up thousands of cities that can be reached from London within a day. Options with journey times of six hours or less include capital cities, pretty villages and scenic countryside: here, we’ve picked a few to consider.
Zaanse Schans, Netherlands
Battle the crowds in central London in the morning and by the end of the afternoon you’ll be transported to Holland in the 18th and 19th centuries. Of course, the more practical plan is to enjoy an evening in Amsterdam and a relaxing morning, before boarding a 20 minute train.
A kind of living museum, Zaanse Schans is a residential neighborhood as well as an area where the traditions of baking, cheese making and metal casting (at the pewter foundry) are still in action.
Take a long stroll past sculptural windmills on flat football pitches, wooden houses and charming workshops, whetting your appetite with apricot jam pancakes at Restaurant De Kraai.
Journey time: about 5 hours (one change: Amsterdam).
Namur, Belgium
The city of Namur, capital of the Wallonia region of Belgium, has a complicated backstory. It is located at the confluence of the Meuse and the Sambre, which provided a strategic base for rulers in the past.
The Medieval citadel sits above the city, and within its walls and underground passages it traces 2,000 years of European history. You can even taste some of the local brews in their underground rooms.
Ballon is famous for its trappist brews, and there are plenty of local varieties to sample – such as Blanche de Namur, Gauloise Blonde and Chimay Gold. Hop on Eurostar to Brussels-Midi, and from there take a train of about an hour to Namur.
Journey time: approx 3 hrs, 20 mins (one change: Brussels)
Gouda, The Netherlands
Perhaps you are involved with its namesake cheese, or have inspired the cheese-making process? Travel to Gouda and you will, indeed, have entered a “cheese valley” – an area made up of four regions: Gouda, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, Woerden and Krimpenerwaard.
Start at the Gouda Cheese Experience, before sampling the Gouda Cheese Market where wheels of the product are delivered by horse and cart before being carted off in front of the old city hall.
When you’ve had your cheese fix, turn around the church of St. January, which reaches high above the city and admits its vibrant stained glass windows. After Eurostar to Rotterdam Central there is a short connection to Gouda.
Journey time: around 4 hours (one change: Rotterdam)
Strasbourg, France
‘Tis the season of top wine, ginger season and brightly lit city squares. The Christmas market of Strasbourg is the oldest and largest market in France: its stalls stretch out in front of the cathedral, which dominates the city, as well as grow among the traditional Petite half-timbered houses and throughout its cobbled streets.
To escape the crowds, set out and join a boat tour around the city on the Ill, then retreat to the bars of Marché-Gayot. To reach Strasbourg, board the Eurostar to Paris, transferring to Gare de L’Est for a train to Strasbourg.
Journey time: about 5 hours
Loire Valley, France
Plan a spring tour of Grand Chateaux for something to look forward to in 2024. The delights of the Loire Valley are around an hour from Paris, which (on the fastest Eurostar service), around two and a quarter hours from London St Pancras. International.
Take the Metro to Paris Montparnasse where you can pick up a connection to the city of Chartres. Include a stop at the Medieval City of Notre Dame, perhaps exploring its critique, before taking a bus into the vineyards.
Beyond the city, castles, vineyards and villages await. One way is to hop between local buses castles, without having to rely on a car. Plus, of course, more than 1,000 vineyards are open to the public – wait for spring or summer, and fit in longer days to try and buy your favorite vintages. Rent a bike and cycle between a carefully selected few, further limiting your carbon count.
Journey time: approximately 3 hours 45 minutes (one change: Paris)
Schloss Drachenburg, Germany
Winter is an ideal time to explore Germany’s great villas, palaces and castles: the chill, and the not-too-distant prospect of snow, only adds to the atmosphere.
Schloss Dracnehburg, perched above a valley with round spiers and a pink-pinched exterior, could be taken from the pages of an 18th-century fairy tale – and can be reached from London in half a day, traveling to Königswinter station .
The story of the schloss began with Stephan Sarter (born 1833), the youngest son of an innkeeper in the city of Bonn. He became a duke in 1882 and soon laid the foundation stone for his dream residence – a concoction combining villa, mansion and castle.
Sarter was never to live there, but it went through a variety of periods, including as a summer resort and boarding school. Its park, terraces and towers are now open to visitors.
Journey time: around 5 hours (two changes: Brussels and Cologne)
