Christmas markets by train from London

Which markets you can reach by train, and how long it takes

Eurostar runs from London St Pancras to Lille, Paris and Brussels, and every market in this guide is either at the end of one of those lines or one change beyond it. The times below are typical train times only. Add at least an hour at St Pancras for check-in and passport control, plus time to change trains.

Lille is the quickest market break you can take from London without flying: Eurostar quotes 1 hour 22 minutes city centre to city centre. Brussels takes about two hours, and from there the Belgian and German markets are short hops. Strasbourg and Colmar take longer because you change stations in Paris, but the second leg is fast.

The quick ones: Lille and Brussels

Lille's market sits on Place Rihour, a few minutes' walk from the stations. In 2025 it ran from 19 November to 30 December, open until 20:30 most days and until 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, closing early on Christmas Eve and shut on Christmas Day. The 2026 dates had not been announced when we checked, so treat those as a guide only. It is a compact market, so Lille works best as a day trip or a one-night stop on the way to Brussels or Paris, rather than a long weekend on its own.

Brussels has the bigger event, Winter Wonders, which takes over several squares in the centre; the official site lists 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. From Brussels-Midi you can walk to the Grand-Place in about 25 minutes, or take a short domestic train to Brussels-Central. Since March 2025 a Eurostar ticket to Brussels no longer covers onward Belgian trains, so you need a separate SNCB ticket for any connection, even a three-minute one.

One change at Brussels: Bruges, Ghent, Aachen and Cologne

Brussels-Midi is the hub for most rail-based market trips. Fast intercity trains to Bruges take just under an hour and run about every half hour, calling at Ghent (around 27 minutes from Brussels-Midi) on the way. Avoid the slower stopping trains via Roeselare. Eurostar's own site sells London to Bruges as one journey with the change in Brussels, at about 3 hours 20 minutes in total; otherwise buy the Belgian leg separately from SNCB.

Heading east, the high-speed line to Germany calls at Aachen and then Cologne. The fastest trains reach Aachen in a little over an hour from Brussels-Midi, and Cologne in about 1 hour 50 minutes. Aachen's market runs from 20 November to 23 December 2026, open 11:00 to 21:00 on most days. Cologne has several markets within walking distance of the main station, with the cathedral market running from 16 November to 23 December 2026.

The Eurostar to Brussels and the onward train to Germany are separate trains. Seat61 describes the roughly 20-minute connection at Brussels-Midi as a recognised one that is usually fine, but an earlier Eurostar gives you more slack in December, when trains are busier. Booking both legs together, through Eurostar or a retailer such as Rail Europe, means you should be moved to a later train if a delay makes you miss the connection.

One change in Paris: Strasbourg and Colmar

Strasbourg's market is spread across several squares in the old town, and the city's official site gives 27 November to 24 December 2026. To get there, take Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord (from about 2h 15m), walk roughly ten minutes to Gare de l'Est, then take a TGV INOUI to Strasbourg in about 1h 45m to 1h 50m. The cheaper OUIGO trains are slower and less frequent. Allow at least an hour in Paris to clear the station and find your platform.

Colmar is about 25 minutes further south by train, with frequent regional trains from Strasbourg through the day. Its six town-centre markets run from 23 November to 29 December 2026. From Colmar station, seasonal Christmas shuttle buses run to nearby wine villages such as Eguisheim, Kaysersberg and Riquewihr from 27 November to 20 December 2026. Tickets are sold online only, go on sale on 12 November, and are limited, so book early if you plan to use them.

How to plan a two or three city rail trip

The trick is to pick cities on the same line so each move is short, and to put the long leg at the start of the trip. Three combinations work well.

A few habits make a multi-city trip easier. Book hotels within walking distance of the main station in each city, so moving on is a matter of minutes rather than a taxi ride with luggage. Travel between cities in the morning, when markets are quiet anyway, and keep the late afternoons and evenings for the stalls and lights. Pack light: you will be carrying your bag on and off several trains, and many stations have stairs as well as lifts. Finally, plan the last leg back to Brussels or Paris with a generous gap before the Eurostar home, because a missed connection on the return day is the one that costs you most.

• Belgium in three or four nights: Eurostar to Brussels, two nights there, then a day or a night in Bruges with a stop in Ghent on the way. Every hop is under an hour.
• Belgium and the Rhineland in four or five nights: Eurostar to Brussels, then on to Aachen for a night and Cologne for two. Come back from Cologne to Brussels in about 1h 50m and pick up the Eurostar home.
• Alsace in four nights: Eurostar to Paris and TGV to Strasbourg, base yourself there or in Colmar, and use the 25-minute local trains to see both. Add a night in Paris on the way back if you have time.
• A short one: Eurostar to Lille for a day or a night, then continue to Brussels. Most Eurostar trains to Brussels call at Lille.

Tickets, fares and timings

Eurostar tickets usually go on sale about 11 months ahead. Fares are priced like airline seats, with limited availability at each price, so the cheapest Standard tickets (from about £51 one way or £78 return to Paris or Brussels when we checked) go first. December Friday and Saturday departures are among the busiest of the year, so book those as soon as your dates are fixed. Onward tickets in France, Belgium and Germany generally go on sale later, often three to six months ahead.

Eurostar asks passengers to arrive at St Pancras 60 to 90 minutes before departure, and check-in closes 30 minutes before. Factor that in when you compare door-to-door times with flying. For Cologne or Strasbourg, the total from central London is often similar to flying once you count the airport transfer at both ends, and you arrive in the city centre.

Downsides to weigh up

Rail is not always cheaper. Walk-up and late-booked Eurostar fares in December can cost far more than a budget flight, especially from outside London. If you live in the north or the Midlands, add the cost and time of getting to St Pancras.

Day trips are possible but tiring. Lille and Brussels work well as a long day out from London, but Cologne or Strasbourg in a day means around eight hours on trains plus check-in, which leaves only a few hours at the market. For anywhere beyond Brussels or Paris, one night at least is far more enjoyable.

Connections are the weak point. A late Eurostar can mean a missed TGV or ICE, so book through tickets where you can and avoid tight changes on your outbound day. Check the market's own website before you travel too: several markets close on certain days, such as Aachen's shortened hours on 22 November (a German remembrance Sunday) and Lille's early close on Christmas Eve.

Frequently asked questions

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