BelgiumBrusselsChristmas marketsChecked Oct 2026

London to Brussels Christmas Market

Brussels is the easiest big Christmas market to reach from London: the Eurostar gets you from St Pancras to the city centre in about two hours, with no airport in sight. This guide covers the train, coach and driving options, rough costs and when Winter Wonders runs in 2026.

27 Nov – 3 JanWinter Wonders 2026/27
EurostarBest way from London
~2hSt Pancras to Brussels-Midi

The short answer

For almost everyone, the Eurostar is the answer. Trains from London St Pancras reach Brussels-Midi in about 2 hours. From Midi, walk to the Grand-Place in about 25 minutes, or buy a separate Belgian train ticket for the 3-minute hop to Brussels-Central, a short walk from the markets.

Market essentials

Winter Wonders (Plaisirs d'Hiver / Winterpret) spreads across the old centre, from the Grand-Place to Place Sainte-Catherine.

Dates

The official site says Winter Wonders runs from Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. The full programme is due in November, so check plaisirsdhiver.be before you book.

Opening hours

In recent years the chalets have opened daily from about 12:00 to 22:00, closing early (around 18:00) on 24 and 31 December and on the last day. 2026 hours hadn't been published when we checked.

Where

Around 230 chalets line Place Sainte-Catherine, the Vismet (Marché aux Poissons), Place de la Bourse, Place de Brouckère, Place de la Monnaie and Rue de la Madeleine. The Grand-Place has the big Christmas tree and an evening sound-and-light show. The nearest metro stations are Gare Centrale, Bourse and De Brouckère.

Good to know

Entry is free. Expect an ice rink, a big wheel and fairground rides as well as food stalls. Weekday afternoons are much quieter than Friday and Saturday evenings.

Every way to get there

From London to Brussels, best options first. Times are typical door to door; check live schedules for your dates.

1

Eurostar from St Pancras to Brussels-Midi

Best for most
Door to door3–3h 30m
£ Cost££
Best forMost trips, day trips and weekends
  1. Eurostar: London St Pancras to Brussels-MidiAbout 2 hours, with around 10 departures on a typical weekday. Arrive at St Pancras at least an hour early for security and passport checks.
  2. Brussels-Midi to the Grand-PlaceWalk in about 25 minutes, or take any domestic train to Brussels-Central (about 3 minutes), then walk 3 minutes to the Grand-Place. Since March 2025, Eurostar tickets no longer include onward travel to other Belgian stations, so buy a separate SNCB ticket. The metro and trams also run from Midi.
Train tickets on KlookTrain times: London → BrusselsTrain tickets on KlookTrain times: Brussels-Midi → Brussels-Central

Advance Standard fares start at around £78 return. Fridays, Sundays and December weekends sell out and cost the most, so book early.

2

Coach from London Victoria

Cheapest
Door to door8–10h
£ Cost£
Best forTight budgets, overnight travel
  1. FlixBus: London to BrusselsAbout 8h 30m, crossing the Channel by ferry or tunnel. There are around five departures a day, including overnight coaches, from London Victoria Coach Station and other London stops. Fares start from about £38 one way.
  2. Into the centreCoaches stop at Brussels-Nord and Brussels-Midi stations. Both are on the metro and tram network, and Brussels-Central is a few minutes away by train.
Coach options: London Victoria → Brussels

An overnight coach saves a hotel night, but you'll arrive tired and early. Check your ticket for the exact stop.

3

Drive via Le Shuttle

Door to door5–6h
£ Cost££
Best forFamilies, groups, and adding Bruges or Ghent
  1. Folkestone to Calais on Le Shuttle35 minutes under the Channel, and you stay with your car. Allow time for check-in and border checks.
  2. Calais to BrusselsAbout 125 miles (201km), or around 2h 15m via Dunkirk. There are no general road tolls in Belgium.
Le Shuttle crossingsHire a carPlan the drive

The whole Brussels region is a low-emission zone. Diesel cars need to be at least Euro 6. Check lez.brussels before you go, or park outside and take the metro in.

Where to stay in Brussels

Compare hotels and apartments, many with free cancellation. Book early for December weekends.

See hotels in Brussels Expedia KKday

Plan the rest of your trip

🎟️ Tours & tickets 📶 Travel eSIM 🚗 Car hire 🎫 City passes 🧳 Luggage storage ⏱️ Flight delay claim

All options compared

Typical times and relative costs. £ is cheapest, £££ is priciest.

OptionDoor to doorCostBest for
Eurostar from St Pancras to Brussels-Midi3–3h 30m££Most trips, day trips and weekends
Coach from London Victoria8–10h£Tight budgets, overnight travel
Drive via Le Shuttle5–6h££Families, groups, and adding Bruges or Ghent

Add more markets by train

Belgium is small, and fast, frequent trains link Brussels with several other Christmas market towns.

Your base

Brussels

Stay around the Grand-Place, Sainte-Catherine or near Brussels-Central to walk to the markets. Hotels by Brussels-Midi are often cheaper and handy for the Eurostar.

Hotels in Brussels Expedia
About 30–40 min by train

Ghent

Ghent's Winter Festival usually fills the squares around St Bavo's Cathedral and the medieval centre from late November. It's an easy afternoon or evening trip.

Hotels in Ghent Expedia
About 1h by train

Bruges

Bruges' market is usually on the Markt and Simon Stevinplein, with an ice rink. It gets very busy at weekends, so go on a weekday if you can. Check dates on the Visit Bruges site.

Hotels in Bruges Expedia
About 45 min by train

Antwerp

Antwerp's market usually runs around the Groenplaats and the cathedral. The grand Antwerp-Central station is worth a look in itself.

Hotels in Antwerp Expedia

Local tip: Belgian train tickets cost the same whenever you buy them, so you can pick them up on the day from the SNCB app or station machines.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to what people ask most about this trip.

When is the Brussels Christmas market in 2026?

Winter Wonders runs from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, according to the official site. The detailed programme and opening hours are usually published in November.

How long does the Eurostar take from London to Brussels?

About 2 hours from St Pancras to Brussels-Midi. Add an hour at St Pancras for check-in and passport control.

Does my Eurostar ticket cover the train to Brussels-Central?

No. Since 31 March 2025, Eurostar no longer sells tickets to 'any Belgian station', so you need a separate SNCB ticket for onward trains. Or walk: the Grand-Place is about 25 minutes from Midi.

Can I do Brussels Christmas market as a day trip from London?

Yes. With an early Eurostar out and an evening train back, you get around 7–8 hours in Brussels. Book early, because the cheapest fares on December weekends go fast.

Can I drive to Brussels from London?

Yes. Take Le Shuttle from Folkestone to Calais (35 minutes), then drive about 2h 15m. Check the Brussels low-emission zone rules first, and park outside the centre if you can.

Is there a coach from London to Brussels?

Yes. FlixBus runs several coaches a day, including overnight services, taking about 8h 30m. Fares start from around £38 one way.

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Times and prices are typical estimates, checked Oct 2026. Always confirm with the operator before booking. Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.