Explore Brussels
Take the train to London St Pancras International and catch the Eurostar to find Brussels; a city of laid-back charms, eccentric monuments, and some of the best beer and chocolate in the world, only two hours away.
The first place any visitor winds up is the Grand'Place. This huge, central market square is dominated by its Gothic town hall and rows of traditional guild houses, and is the perfect place to have a coffee, wander around the flower market and watch the world go by – before you take a stroll among the street hawkers of the Ilot Sacré, the warren of medieval streets around the square. Not far from here is the Manneken Pis, the statue of a urinating boy that has become a bizarre symbol of the city.
From the Grand'Place it's only a short stroll uphill to the Upper Town – home to the city's grand avenues and some of its best museums. The Fine and Modern Arts Museums are in the Upper Town; and you'll also find the Musical Instrument Museum.
Head down the hill to the upmarket Sablon district for something Brussels does best: chocolate. Two of the better known chocolatiers are Wittamer's and Marcolini's, both on Place du Grand Sablon; and there's also an antique market here on Sundays.
If you're here for the beer, the Gueuze Museum at the Cantillon Brewery near the Gare du Midi station is a great place to go on a brewery tour and try out gueuze, a blend of lambic beers – this sour beer is definitely an acquired taste, but surprisingly good with goat's cheese.
But whether it's beer or local food you want, head to the Sainte Catherine district in the north-west of town, where you'll find any number of unpretentious bars and restaurants to try out.
Finally, take a trip north to one of Europe's most eccentric buildings – the Atomium, in Ossegem Park. This futuristic 1950s structure, recently reopened and refurbished, takes the form of a molecule of iron, enlarged 165 billion times. It's weird, but it's wonderful – just like Brussels itself.
For more information about cheap train tickets into London St Pancras International visit our Ticket types page, or to find out how to book tickets to Paris, Lille or Brussels visit our connections to Europe page.