A new direct Eurostar service from London St Pancras to Antwerp-Centraal is set to launch on 14 December. This new route will make it easier to reach Belgium's second-biggest city, with tickets already available for purchase.
The direct connection will reduce travel time by approximately 30 minutes, bringing the journey duration to around two hours and 45 minutes. Currently, travel to Antwerp by train involves a change at Brussels, taking about three hours and 15 minutes.
Eurostar announced earlier this year that Antwerp would be added as a direct stop on its London-Amsterdam services. However, direct travel to Antwerp from London is only available for the outward leg of the journey. Return trips to London will require passengers to take a Belgian SNCB train to Brussels-Midi for UK border and security checks before boarding the Eurostar.
One-way fares for the new direct service start from £51. Direct trains are scheduled to depart London St Pancras as early as 6:16 am, with morning and evening departures also available.