Eurostar London-Cologne: A Quick Trip Across Europe

Taking the Eurostar from London to Cologne involves a quick change at Brussels-Midi/Zuid, with the journey from London to Brussels taking 1 hour and 52 minutes. The Eurostar offers a simple, smart, and speedy way to travel between the two cities. The total journey time is around 12 hours and 38 minutes, with 15 trains running daily. The Eurostar provides a comfortable journey with modern facilities, ample legroom, and food and beverage options. Passengers can bring two bags and one piece of hand luggage, with no weight restrictions. The Eurostar also offers fantastic views of the countryside as you travel between cities.

London to Brussels leg

The London to Brussels leg of the Eurostar journey from London to Cologne is a quick and easy trip. The journey from London St Pancras International to Brussels takes approximately 2 hours. The Eurostar train travels at speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph) and there is a minimum check-in time of 30 minutes for this route.

London St Pancras International is conveniently located in the heart of London and is well-connected by underground lines and buses. Before boarding, passengers can enjoy boutique shopping, fine dining, and the longest champagne bar in Europe. Onboard the Eurostar, there are two cafe-bars, power sockets at every seat, and free WiFi. Standard Premier and Business Premier tickets include a light meal and drinks. Passengers can bring two bags and one piece of hand luggage at no extra charge and without weight limits, but all luggage must be carried safely by the passenger.

Upon arrival in Brussels, passengers will need to transfer to the Brussels to Cologne train for the remainder of the journey. The transfer process is simple, as both trains use the same station, Brussels-Midi/Zuid. The recommended arrival time in Brussels is at least 60 minutes before departure to allow enough time to get through border controls and security. The station has plenty of shops and restaurants to keep passengers occupied during the wait.

Brussels to Cologne leg

The Brussels to Cologne leg of the journey from London to Cologne involves changing from the Eurostar to another train service. The Eurostar from London will arrive at Brussels-Midi/Zuid station, where passengers will need to disembark and find their connecting train to Cologne. The journey from London to Brussels takes approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, and the platform change in Brussels is estimated to take around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Brussels-Midi/Zuid station offers a range of shops, restaurants, and other amenities for passengers to enjoy during their platform change. There is also the option to briefly leave the station and explore the local area. However, it is recommended that passengers allow enough time to pass through border controls and security before boarding their connecting train.

The connecting train from Brussels to Cologne is a high-speed ICE train, which takes approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. This train features a restaurant car, power sockets at every seat, and free WiFi. First-class passengers will be served a meal at their seat.

Overall, the Brussels to Cologne leg of the journey is a quick and straightforward process, and passengers can expect to travel in comfort and style.

Total journey time

The total journey time for the Eurostar from London to Cologne depends on several factors, including the day and time of travel, the number of stopovers, and the class of travel. On average, the journey from London to Cologne takes around 18 hours and 28 minutes, with 15 trains running daily. However, the fastest possible journey time is 12 hours and 38 minutes.

The Eurostar from London to Cologne is not a direct train, and passengers will need to make at least three changes along the way. The first leg of the journey involves taking the Eurostar from London St. Pancras International to Brussels-Midi/Zuid, which takes approximately 2 hours. At Brussels, passengers will need to change platforms and may have a waiting period of around 20 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes. This waiting time can be used to explore the shops and restaurants within the station or to take a brief walk around Brussels.

After the stopover in Brussels, passengers will take the Eurostar train from Brussels to Cologne, which is the second leg of the journey. This leg of the trip takes around 1 hour and 50 minutes. Upon arrival at Cologne Station, passengers will be greeted by the city's impressive cathedral, which is located next to the station. The city's main museums, breweries, and shopping streets are also within walking distance.

The total journey time for the Eurostar from London to Cologne, including the stopover in Brussels, can be as little as 12 hours and 38 minutes on the fastest services. However, it is important to plan ahead and check the latest timetables, as journey times may vary depending on the day and time of travel. Additionally, it is recommended to arrive at the departure station at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time to allow for border controls and security checks.

Luggage allowance

When travelling from London to Cologne on the Eurostar, there is no weight limit on your luggage. However, you must be able to carry and store your own luggage safely and easily. This means that you should be able to transport your bags on and off the train and store them in the dedicated luggage areas.

On the Eurostar from London to Cologne, you're allowed to bring one item of hand luggage and up to two additional items, with a maximum dimension of 85cm for each item. 'Hand luggage' refers to items such as backpacks, handbags, briefcases, and laptop bags. There are no extra fees for bringing luggage on board.

Each passenger travelling in Standard or Standard Premier can bring two pieces of luggage and one piece of hand luggage. In Business Premier, you can bring three pieces of luggage and one piece of hand luggage. Children can bring one piece of luggage and one piece of hand luggage in all travel classes.

There are no restrictions on liquids, so you can bring all your favourite toiletries. However, there are some restrictions on alcohol.

If you need to bring more luggage or oversized items, such as sports equipment or musical instruments, you can use the Registered Luggage service or a delivery service. The Registered Luggage service is available on specific routes and costs £30 per item. To use this service, contact the Eurostar Customer Service Centre for more information.

Cologne station location

Cologne Central Station, or Cologne Hauptbahnhof (Köln Hbf), is located in the heart of the city, next to the city's historic cathedral and a short walk from the banks of the River Rhine. The station is Cologne's main transport hub, with high-speed trains, metros, local and long-distance Deutsche Bahn trains, and tram rail lines 5, 16, and 18 stopping there.

The station is easy to navigate, with an obvious main entrance on the main plaza. Upon entering, there is an information booth directly in front, and a Deutsche Bahn (DB) office to the left, where multilingual staff can assist with purchasing tickets from the machines or counters. There are also many self-service DB ticket machines located throughout the station. To validate your ticket, use the orange-coloured machines typically located by the ticket machines or at the beginning of platforms.

Cologne Central Station has a range of facilities, including luggage lockers, ATMs, and WiFi (free for the first 30 minutes). There are also various shops, cafes, and restaurants, including typical German sausage vendors and fast-food outlets such as McDonald's. The station is connected to the Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom, which offers rooms with views of the cathedral.

The station is just a short walk from Cologne's top attractions, including the cathedral, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne, and the Rhine river with its row of beer houses. It is also well-connected to other parts of the city, with urban transport information available at www.kvb-koeln.de.

Frequently asked questions