Eurostar is expanding its network with a new direct route from London St. Pancras to Antwerp, set to begin on 14 December. The high-speed service will run four times daily, offering travellers a faster and more convenient way to reach Belgium's second-largest city without the current mandatory transfer in Brussels.
Until now, passengers heading to Antwerp had to disembark at Brussels-Midi/Zuid and switch to a domestic SNCB train, making the total journey roughly 3 hours and 15 minutes. The new direct connection will reduce that to 2 hours and 41 minutes, a meaningful improvement for business and leisure travellers alike.
However, Eurostar has confirmed that there are no plans to introduce a direct return service from Antwerp to London. The reason, as reported by Head for Points, is the absence of dedicated UK border and customs facilities at Antwerpen-Centraal station. Passengers returning to the UK will still need to board at Brussels-Midi/Zuid, where such infrastructure exists.
What Antwerp Offers Visitors
Often overshadowed by Brussels and Bruges, Antwerp has carved out a distinct identity around fashion and diamonds. The city gained international recognition in the 1980s and 1990s thanks to the Antwerp Six, a group of avant-garde designers who reshaped contemporary fashion. Visitors can explore their legacy at the ModeMuseum Antwerpen or browse emerging talent on Nationalestraat and Kammenstraat.
The diamond district remains the world's largest hub for rough diamonds, handling roughly half of the global supply. It is a natural stop for anyone interested in the trade or looking to purchase polished stones.
Belgian culinary traditions are also on full display. The city's frites, known locally as frîtes, are best sampled at Frituur LO, which requires a trip through Sint-Anna's Tunnel—a pedestrian passage featuring original wooden escalators. For chocolate lovers, Pierre Marcolini's Antwerp branch offers a refined selection of chocolates, truffles, macarons, and ice cream.
The new service comes as Eurostar continues to adapt its offerings in a competitive rail market. Earlier this year, the company upgraded its Celestia trains to withstand extreme heat, a move linked to intensifying heatwaves across Europe. Meanwhile, rival operator Gemini has announced plans to launch a direct London–Cologne service by 2030, signalling growing demand for cross-Channel rail connections beyond the traditional Paris and Brussels corridors.
For travellers planning a broader European itinerary, Antwerp can serve as a convenient stop on a multi-city journey. The city's central location and rail links make it easy to combine with visits to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Cologne, offering a practical alternative to popular multi-city routes that often skip Belgium's second city.
While the lack of a direct return service may inconvenience some, the new outbound route represents a step forward in connecting London more directly with secondary European hubs. As rail networks evolve, such incremental improvements could reshape travel patterns across the continent.
