Two rail changes make weekend trips easier this winter: a direct Eurostar from London to Antwerp, and a night train from Brussels to Milan.
What’s happening
Eurostar to Antwerp. From 14 December 2026, Eurostar’s London–Amsterdam trains will also stop at Antwerp Central. Eurostar runs up to four of those services a day. Until now you had to change in Brussels. The direct trip will take about 2 hours 41 minutes, against roughly three and a half hours with a change. Belgian broadcaster VRT reports that the stop applies only in one direction. Antwerp Central has no UK border checks, so trains to London won’t pick up there. On the way back, you take a train to Brussels-Midi and connect to Eurostar there.
European Sleeper to Milan. European Sleeper’s third route, Brussels to Milan, launched on 9 September 2026 after a delay from June. Trains leave Brussels on Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings. They call at Aachen, Cologne, Zurich and Lugano, among other stops, and arrive at Milano Porta Garibaldi. Return trains leave Milan on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights. The company also runs Brussels–Prague and Paris–Berlin, and its website takes bookings with connections from London.
What it means for your weekend
Antwerp becomes a realistic Friday-evening getaway from London, with no change of train on the way out. Fashion, diamonds, Rubens and some of Belgium’s best beer bars are all within walking distance of Antwerp Central’s grand station hall.
The night train suits a long weekend. Leave Brussels on Thursday evening, wake up near the Italian lakes and spend Friday to Sunday in Milan or Como. Then take the Sunday-night train back. With the Saturday departure you can try a slower Swiss-Italian trip instead.
What to do
- Book Antwerp trips for 14 December onwards on Eurostar’s website, and plan the return via Brussels-Midi.
- Check European Sleeper’s timetable page for running days, as it doesn’t run every night.
- Allow extra time at St Pancras for the EU’s new Entry/Exit System checks.
For ideas on where to go, see our Milan guide, Amsterdam guide and best city breaks in Europe.
