Antwerp is just one train ride away (Picture: Getty Images) We know it’s the middle of summer, so don’t hate on us. We’re just giving you a heads-up on a new European train journey that’s perfect for a pre-Christmas break. From December 14, Eurostar will launch a new high-speed rail service direct from London St. Pancras to Antwerp, Belgium’s ancient port city on the River Scheldt. Currently, Eurostar connects Londoners to Brussels. To get to Antwerp, travellers must alight in the Belgian capital and jump on another service — a train-hopping journey that takes around 3 hours and 15 minutes. With the new service, that time will be just over 2 and a half hours. @ordatwins Things to do and see in Antwerp, Belgium 💗 weekend edition🇧🇪 #thingstodoinantwerp #antwerp #antwerpmustsee #antwerpfood #antwerpitinerary ♬ So Easy (To Fall In Love) – Olivia Dean But, there’s a catch. While the outbound journey will be direct to Antwerp, the same can’t be said for the inbound one. This is because Antwerpen-Centraal has no dedicated UK border and customs facilities — and there’s no plan for one in the near future. Therefore, a direct return route isn’t possible right now. Instead, customers travelling from Antwerp to London can book a combined SNCB and Eurostar ticket on eurostar.com, connecting via Brussels-Midi where UK border and security checks take place. Eurostar is launching the route in December (Picture: Shutterstock/Sergii Figurnyi) How many London to Antwerp services will there be and how much will they cost? Still interested in hitting the tracks straight to Antwerp? The return journey is an excuse to do some Christmas shopping in Brussels on the way home, after all. If so, Eurostar will operate four scheduled direct services from St. Pancras to the Flemish city. Daily timings look like this: 06:16 – 09:57 08:16 – 11:57 11:04 – 14:57 18:04 – 21:57 Tickets are already on sale and are available for as little as £51. Things to do in Antwerp Antwerp dates back to the Middle Ages, but is often overlooked in favour of Brussels and Bruges. While the city received a record 3.18 million overnight stays in 2025, that pales in comparison to Brussels’ 9.8 million and Bruges’ 8 million day-and overnight tourists in 2024. Discover your new favourite European city (Picture: Getty Images) Still, Antwerp is fast gaining traction, and for good reason. From its quirky blend of Flemish-Renaissance architecture and charming Old Town, to a reputation as the ‘world’s diamond capital,’ it’s got all the ingredients for a cultured weekend away. The 19th-century central train station is an attraction in itself. But once you’ve left the railway cathedral — and marvelled at the marble, gold, and dramatic dome — there’s more to see. The Plantin-Moretus Museum is dedicated to 16th-century printers Christophe Plantin and Jan Moretus. It’s also got UNESCO status. Then there’s the MoMu fashion museum, home to quirky and elegant fashion couture. If you didn’t know, Antwerp is actually a major international fashion city, also known for the Antwerp Six, a group of avant-garde graduates, and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. @leahsinelnikov My Antwerp shopping guide #ashoppingguide #travel #antwerp #shopping #europe ♬ original sound – leahsinelnikov Elsewhere, head to Grote Markt, the city square, filled with restaurants and cafés. It’s also home to the Renaissance City Hall, plus the eclectic Brabo Fountain. In winter, the old city quarter features a Christmas market and ice rink. Don’t forget to make a pit stop at the Cathedral of Our Lady, Belgium’s largest Gothic church. Go ice skating in Antwerp this winter (Picture: Getty Images) Borgerhout, the world's second coolest neighbourhood If you can peel yourself from the centre, head to Borgerhout, a trendy creative hub in northeast Antwerp, and one of the coolest places in the world. Locals call Borgerhout ‘BoHo’, and the vibe is laidback and multicultural. With special shout-outs to its vegan coffee bars, leafy terraces, and unpretentious DIY spirit, it’s a pretty impressive title for the city’s smallest district. All of which can be experienced by renting a bike through Antwerp’s bike-sharing system, Velo Antwerpen. Read Metro’s full guide to Borgerhout here