Day trip London to Belgium - Help!

Old May 22nd, 2015, 07:37 AM
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Day trip London to Belgium - Help!

My friends and I have gone to London every year for the last 9 years. We only have one day off. We have done the day tours in England and Wales and Paris. Want something different and was thinking of Belgium. Again, we only have one day off for this trip. Would love suggestions. I need help to plan for about 15-20 people. I would love a tour guide, transportation after we arrive (taking the Eurostar in) and suggestions of what to do. My group would like history, cathedrals, chocolate (and a little shopping) and points of interest. Someone said that Bruges was the best, but we would not have enough time to get there and tour. I don't want to wear the group out before we start anything....but want the best for them.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 07:46 AM
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A single day trip to Paris by Eurostar might be worthwhile, if that's all someone had time for.

A single day trip to Brussels by Eurostar seems like a waste of time to me. Brussels just isn't that exciting of a city. To Bruges? Maybe - but that's an extra 2-3 hours of train time.

I'd probably easyJet somewhere more exciting instead. Or try to overnight.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 07:47 AM
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It's a 4.5 RT Eurostar day trip (depending upon which trains you take plus pre-boarding arrival), and that's just getting to and from Brussels. Tack on another 2.5+ (55 minutes each way, transfer time) to get to Bruges and losing an hour due to time change when you cross the Channel. Consider that.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 07:59 AM
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I like Brussels. I know it's popular here to praise Bruges and put down Brussels, but there are plenty of things to see/do in Brussels in a day. I agree that Bruges is too far for a day trip from London.

I can't imagine what you would need a guide for in Brussels. But I do understand that the logistics of having a big group makes it hard to just all go to Brussels, go your own way, and meet up to return, but that is what I'd recommend. It might help to have a "mission." We assigned ourselves to find the "best" chocolate in Brussels on one trip, so it was a great excuse to visit lots of chocolate shops and sample. Your group might do something similar - have each person buy some of their favorite to share on the way back to London on the train.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 08:05 AM
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Katey, me dear:
If there's still a hydrafoil from Dover to Oostende (we did it quite a few years ago)...at Oostende you're only a few miles from Brugge. I don't recall the times invovled. Then again, there would have to be a late enough hydrafoil back to Dover to catch the London train. Stretch the one day to two and logically that makes more sense. All things considered, the EuroStar day trip to Paris may be your best bet.

I'm sure you agree that your biggest challenge is carting around the 15-20 people. Wish I could be more help and more encouraging. I ran out of sugar-coating.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 08:21 AM
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I wasn't necessarily "putting down" Brussels - I chose to spend a night there a few years ago even though I had already been there. It is definitely worth a stop if you are passing through. But to me, it isn't worth the big investment of time (and perhaps cost of a Eurostar return ticket) for a single day trip. The Grand Place in Brussels is beautiful at night when all lit up, but I imagine the OP would be back on the train before nightfall.

I suppose if you MUST "see Belgium" and can get a cheap Eurostar ticket, it might be worhwhile. For me personally, a rushed day trip like this would have to be for something really special.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 08:26 AM
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Since your group has already done a day trip to Paris you know the time involved . . . but for that large a group IMO Brussels will have a lot less bang for the very substantial buck than Paris did.

What day trips have you done in England -- I'm sure you haven't seen everything that is w/ easy reach of London . . .
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 08:29 AM
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You can do Brussels as a day trip - I've done it. I don't like it as much as other Belgian cities but it's still worth a look imho.

I'd maybe think about a walking tour of either the the art nouveau sites, or a foodie tour to maximise your time.

Check out Time Out for a guide to the best shops and restaurants - seafood for lunch possibly.

Btw a way to make these whistle stop tours work if you can afford it is to go first class on Eurostar, as you get brekkie and dinner on board meaning you won't be needing a ginormous meal out there and can spend more time exploring than sitting around waiting to be fed.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 08:29 AM
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Btw you could also consider Lille....
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 08:58 AM
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I have to agree with Andrew. Brussels is worth seeing if it is in your plan and then you can go to Antwerp and Brugge. However to stage a one day visit to see this city that I think is forgettable.

Brugge is just another hour or less by train. Night and day in scenery and people. I remember a writer once saying that you have to pass by Brussels to see Brugge otherwise there is no reason to see the city.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 09:17 AM
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Tower - I believe those Dover Eastern Docks to Oostende/zeebrugge hoverfoils were scrubbed long ago - I took them 2-3 times a year back in the day - a nice long crossing and trains awaiting to Bruges at either port but I think those are history - the hydrofoils that is.

Brussels may not be the most likable city in Europe but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater - it does have enough to thrill folks with in a half-day or so you will have there - te Grand' Place - one of Europe's most delightful and famous town squares - the Mannequin Pis - statue of a little boy pissing which has become tjhe iconic symbol of Brussels, along with the Atonium and some nice parks around the Royal Palace and of course some great museums.

From Midi (Zuid or South) station in Brussels take any of zillions of trains to the Gare Centraal or the Central Station, which is not a big station at all but a minor one that however is very central to the Grand' Place and Mannequin Pis and downtown Brussels.

Eurostar trains all terminate at Brussels-Midi.

Book those day returns ASAP to get deep discounts.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 09:26 AM
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It is Manneken pis (small boy taking a piss..) and Atomium (like in atom...).
I will not comment further, seems to waste time here and on other forums to say Bruxelles is beautiful. It is a habbit to bash Bruxelles, so ok, why not.
Beer, cathedrals, grand place, pl;ace du sablon, horta 'art nouveau' houses, restaurants...
Just open a guide book.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 10:00 AM
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Brussels is the type of city that takes time to ferret out its manay gems - hard to do on a day trip where a fleeting encounter yields a busy modern city in its center - not sure why so many old buildings were demolished in the town center - war was not the reason I believe but yes Brussels has many things of interest.

I have spent day in Brussels in the past - suave tree-lined boulevards with trams running down the middle to the south of the cnentrum - it's just that most tourists however never get beyond the yeh as European capital cities go at least rather ho-hum - the treasure lie elsewhere - along with the Grand' Place of course - like the Atomium and the old World's Exhibition area - even the quaint Amsterdamesque red-light district right by the train tracks by Gare du Nord is unqiue for Europe - if going out of Brussels by train towards Holland keep eyes peeled on right side of train and you will get an eyeful - neon-lit windows with gals in full view - I have not been to this part of Brussels in a while so not sure if it is still there but yes Brussels is multi-faceted and needs more than a half day to bring this neat part of it to light.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 11:56 AM
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Stu:

Would a hydrafoil have a bunch of different heads and bite at sailors but a hydrofoil skim quickly along the surface of the water being crossed?

;-).
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 12:02 PM
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In any case those Dover to Belgian Coast boats - even hydrofoils would take as long or longer to get to Brugge as via Eurostar. but a nicer way to go - but they are on the scrap heap of history I do believe - hyrofoils in general too with only a few running anywhere - the brand name - hyrdafoil - only in Greek mythology.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 12:41 PM
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RM - I thought of Lille too.

but nothing wrong with Brussels for a day, especially with a guide who could show you the best sights AND the best restaurant - the food is outstanding.

The Brussels tourist information office should be able to fix you up with a guide.

Talking of the late lamented hydrofoil, we had a great trip to Ostende on it once. The journey there was lovely and very quick but it was very choppy on the way back so much so that the pilot took it all the way down the french coast to the shortest point, and then made a mad dash across to Dover. We could hear the propeller screaming every time it came out of the water, and the chap in the seat in front of me had a panic attack and kept saying he was going to die.

I was sorry when it stopped.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 12:51 PM
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I was sorry when it stopped.>

masochist!
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 01:43 PM
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lol, Pal, I meant that I was sorry when they stopped the hydrofoil service, not that particular crossing which was a bit hairy.
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 02:00 PM
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touche' Big Russ...luckily I have the services of a keen editor for my books which my publisher insists on...wonder why?
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Old May 22nd, 2015, 02:29 PM
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I did a daytrip to Brussels from London. It was a pleasant ride and I was able to see most of the city centre. Loved the museum of musical instruments and the Brussels museum in the Gran Plaz. Also saw the oldest church. Of course I found my way to the numerous waffle booths and chocolate stores.

I want impressed with Brussels but am glad I went to see it. It's very doable.
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