This winter (2023) I travelled to London to visit a friend. As I had never travelled there by train, I decided to try it. So I took the Eurostar from Amsterdam Centraal to London St. Pancras International station. The journey takes a little over 4 hours and only stops in Rotterdam. I booked my ticket online through NSInternational in November for my journey in January.
Advantages of traveling by train
1. Easy to reach
The Eurostar train leaves from Amsterdam Centraal, which is only one metro stop from my house. It is therefore way more convenient than departing from Schiphol airport for me. Besides that, you don’t have to be there several hours in advance as they recommend to be there about 1 hour before departure. I arrived a little late so there was no queue at all, but with the amount of people there, I can’t imagine a long wait. Probably also because the security and immigration is only for that 1 train, instead of tens of different flights departing around the same time from Schiphol. Because of this, it’s even possible to catch a train after work.
2. Arrival in London
Another big plus for me was the fact that the train arrives in London city, whereas most airports of London are located outside the city. This means you don’t have to take a bus or metro for another hour or more. Of course this depends on where your accommodation is located, but my friend lived relatively close to the station, so it was just perfect.
3. Better for mother nature
This is pretty obvious, but I think it still needs to be mentioned that the train is just better for the environment. Especially considering the fact that London is so nearby, it’s basically just a take-off + touch down. In general, I am more conscious about my impact while traveling. I’m not ready to completely stop flying, but I definitely try to decrease the amount of flights I take per year.
4. Don’t stress about liquids or weight
When travelling by train, you’re not restricted in the amount of liquids or kilos you take with you. Moreover, you don’t need to stress about the size of your carry-on luggage. Almost every low-cost airline charges you extra to bring a regular carry-on trolley nowadays. And they are very specific with the size and weight. Besides that, there is often a chance that they check it in for you due to a lack of space.
Disadvantages of travelling by train
1. The journey might take longer
Although for me, the total journey from home to accommodation was shorter by train, the train ride (3,5 hrs) takes longer than the flight (45 min). I recommend calculating the full journey from your departing place to your final destination to see which one works best for you. But if you are not in a rush, take the train and enjoy the ride.
2. The price
A train ticket from Amsterdam to London can be a little more expensive than a flight ticket. I think this is something that has to change if we want to encourage people to travel more by train. The prices are fine if you book in advance, but not everyone is able to book in advance.
3. The comfort
To be honest, the seats are not extremely comfy to sit in for several hours. I was lucky enough to have 2 seats for myself both ways, but it might be a little uncomfortable to have 1 seat for the entire ride. Not that airplane seats are very comfortable, but still. It’s not unbearable, but I think there is some room for improvement. In addition to that, the wifi connection is not peccable, so if you plan to work on board, you might be disappointed. I used my phone as a hotspot, but because of the tunnels you don’t have internet throughout the journey.
At the same time this can be an advantage if you want to disconnect for a while and just read a book, listen to a podcast or take a nap.
Conclusion
I would definitely travel by train again, either to London or to other destinations. I love the fact that it’s less stressful, quite fast and obviously the more sustainable option.
Other tips for a train ride
- Bring snacks
- Wear layers
- Bring a sleeping mask and earplugs if you want to sleep
- Download music and/or movies in your Netflix app
There is a little kiosk on board the train, but the options are limited and pricy. So be smart and bring enough snacks with you. When I entered the train it was very warm, but later on and on the way back it was much colder. I would therefore recommend wearing different layers to be prepared for all. Since the lights stay on during the whole journey, it’s always good to bring some eyeshades with you.
If you prefer to book a complete trip, there are several organisations that offer the train + accommodation in one. Take a look at De Jong Intra or TUI for their deals.
Do you have questions or are you looking for tips for your next trip? Just send me a message or comment in the section below!
There are some affiliate links in this article. This means that I get a small commission if you decide to buy something through here. This does not affect the price you pay, it will just be a little reward for writing this blog. 🙂
Travelbecks 
Great tips!
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