carolebrock

janisj

>> Is it direct or do you change trains? <<

You would take a local Belgian train to Brussels and change to the Eurostar there. You can book a Eurostar ticket that includes the Bruges > Brussels Midi but you will definitely have to change trains

carolebrock

janisj

Oh -- I goofed -- I was thinking you were going the opposite direction (Bruges to London) . . . so scratch that . . .

But it looks like you figured that out . . . You will take the Eurostar from London to Brussels midi, then switch to another train to Bruges. Yes - from the same station -- it is a large station with a lot of platforms but staff are very helpful there. And there is an info office if you need directions/help.

PalenQ

The quickest way would probably to change at Lille to regional trains to Bruges but it may be cheaper to go via Brussels as there is the special ABS - All or Any? Belgian Station fare that lets you hop any train Brussels to Bruges with 24 hours of arrival -meaning you could look around Brussels too -Belgian stations typically have luggage lockers. Yes same station and all easy to do. Lille may be the more expensive way because the ABS fare doesn't apply there since it's in France. For lots on trains www.eurostar.com for booking own trains - at a discount if early enough. www.seat61.com has loads on doing this yourselves online - general info rains - BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

KayF

The Eurostar will take you from St Pancras in London to Brussels Midi station. From the same station (Midi), you get another local train to Bruges, which takes about 30 mins. The cost of the train to Bruges is included in the Eurostar ticket, I think you have to travel on the same day though. You don't need to book the local train ahead of time and they run pretty often.

Brussels Midi station can seem a bit confusing, especially if you are not used to public transport. You'll need to find the platforms with local trains and find the train heading towards Bruges. The train will probably say another town at the end of the line, Bruges may be a stop along the way. There is a customer service office where you can ask, we had to go in to check on our first visit and they are used to foreign visitors being a bit clueless. (We didn't even get to open our mouths, the guy looked at us and said "Bruges?" in a bored tone.) If you can find an online map of Midi station that would be useful. There are also places to get food and pay toilets in the main part of the station, where you arrive.

Kay

Scootoir

We received incorrect information about the train to Bruges from an info booth employee at Brussels Midi when we changed from the EuroStar. Fortunately the conductor on our train put us off at a stop and told us which train to reboard. We have taken a number of trains in France, Italy and the UK and found Midi to be confusing so allow time to sort it out.

Tulips

As PalenQ says, make sure you buy a Eurostar ticket to 'ANY BELGIAN STATION'. This allows you to take the train to Brugge on the same ticket the same day.
You can check which platform to go to at Brussels Midi on www.nmbs.be
If you get off the Eurostar, look for the exit towards connections, roughly midway on the arrivals platform.

PalenQ

And again that ABS fare to Bruges allows you to take any train anytime for up to 24 hours. No need to rush and spend a few hours or the night in Brussels if you want-but not dashing to catch the hourly at least Brussels-Bruges trains. No need to go to ticket window -just hop on next train.