We (my husband and 3 kids and I)are flying in July to London, staying a couple nights and continuing our trip in Brugge where we have booked a hotel. Then on to Paris by train. We will not rent a car until after we go to Paris (a week later). What are our options for getting to Brugge from London? (Eurostar to Calais, then switch? Ferry to Oostende (this must take a long time).Are there any high speed ferries? Thanks.

Ryanair + train? BMI + train? I haven't priced those, but they are options.
http://www.nationalexpress.com - this is probably the longest and cheapest.

Hi lb,

If you go to www.eurostar.com you will be able to book the RT **one-day** fare from London Waterloo to Brussels Midi for $95 (adult).

From there it is one hour to Brugge.

You can travel
1) by Eurostar to Brussels - then train to Brugge
2) by ferry to Calais - then train to Brugge
3) fly to Brussels Airport - then train to Brussels/Brugge
4) fly Ryanair to Charleroi - then to Brussels/Brugge

The Eurostar would be the easiest solution, but probably the most expensive. SN Brussels Airlines (www.flysn.com) has good fares sometimes.
The ferry or the Hoverspeed might be nice for your children. Of course you will first have to get to Dover. From Calais it is about 2 hr 30 min. to Brugge.

It's been a while since I have done this - but there used to be a ferry between Dover and Zeebrugge (which is about a 15 minute train ride from Brugge). If this still exists it would be the fastest(and most direct) way to get there. Townsend-Thorsen used to operate this ferry. But I am some years out-of-date on this.

The line Dover-Zeebrugge doesn't exist any longer. Townsend Thoresen has been taken over by P&O, which in turn, has become P&O Stena. They do have a crossing from Hull to Zeebrugge, but not from Dover.

We did it IRA's way.No problem and probably fastest way door-door.

Ira (or anyone else that knows.I checked Eurostar website354 (U.S) to Brussels for whole family. It says something about free transfers to other train stations in Belgium. How does that work? Do I have to reserve that separately. How do I know what time the train to Brugge will leave? How do I get tickets for this part of the trip? Also, the Eurostar leaves from Waterloo. Where is that? We are staying in Kensington. Is that just a short cab ride? I am also considering another option: Eurostar to Calais- because it is 1 hour shorter trip (and $100 cheaper for the family), and then closer to Brugge, but I am not sure if there are then trains to Brugge from Calais. Any help with any of these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Ib

>It says something about free transfers to other train stations in Belgium. How does that work? Do I have to reserve that separately.<

The Eurostar goes to Brussels Midi. The train from Brugges leaves from the same station.

>How do I know what time the train to Brugge will leave?

Go to http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
for the schedules.

>How do I get tickets for this part of the trip? <

Buy them when you get to Brussels. It's a local train.

>Also, the Eurostar leaves from Waterloo. We are staying in Kensington. Is that just a short cab ride?<

Your hotel, or other folks here on the board can help you better than I. It is not a very expensive ride.

>I am also considering another option: Eurostar to Calais- because it is 1 hour shorter trip (and $100 cheaper for the family), ...

It will take you about 3 hr to train from Calais to Brugge with 2 changes.

See the above site for schedules.

<<It says something about free transfers to other train stations in Belgium. How does that work?>>
This means that your ticket will be valid to any railway station in Belgium. Your Eurostar will arrive at Brussels Midi and with the same ticket you can travel further to Brugge or Antwerp or wherever you want to go (only valid on the same journey, of course!).
From Brussels Midi there are frequent trains to Brugge (about every 10/20 min.). You don't need a reservation for these commuter trains. Travel time is about 1 hour. In Brussels Midi you will see panels showing the train schedules. Final destination of the trains going to Brugge will mostly be Oostende (Ostend) (just ask someone in the station).

<< I am also considering another option: Eurostar to Calais- because it is 1 hour shorter trip (and $100 cheaper for the family) ... >>
In the end you will have paid the same (or even more) since you will have to buy a separate train ticket from Calais to Brugge which may turn out to be expensive since there is a border crossing involved (the French/Belgian).

Hope this helps!

If you want some excitement for the kids, take the boat or the high speed train. The Dover-Oostende connection has been stopped. But it seems there's a bus going from the Calais Port to Oostende to compensate for that. Check http://www.hooverspeed.com. This is a high speed catamaran. From Oostende it's a 15 minute train ride to Brugge. From Calais itself it isn't that easy to reach Brugge by train. You'll probably have to switch trains in Lille and Kortrijk/Courtrai.

Ryanair also goes straight from London to Oostende, and has busses from the airport to Brugge.

Stardust, Ryanair recently stopped their activities on the London-Ostend line! They only fly to Brussels-Charleroi which is far from ideal if Brugge is your final destination.

MyriamC: didn't know that. I'm studying abroad this year, I guess I missed that news fact.