Travel to Belgium from the UK and Ireland

Traveling from the UK to Belgium is fast and easy. There are several means of transport offering quick and affordable connections between the UK and Belgium. In this guide I will try to give you an overview of all different travel methods and help you find out which one fits with your travel style and budget.

Entry Requirements (passport / visa)

Belgium is part of the Schengen-area, so you must follow the Schengen-area passport requirements.

Your passport must be:

• Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

Visa Requirements:

You can travel the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training. To stay longer, to work or study, for business or for other reasons, you will need to meet the Belgian government’s entry requirements. Check with the Belgian Embassy what type of visa and/or work permit, you may need.

Passport Stamping:

Make sure to get your passport stamped on entry and departure of the Schengen-zone. Border guards will use these stamps to check if you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.

Travel from England to Belgium

When traveling from England to Belgium you have several options to cross the channel. The Eurostar High speed train line is a huge competitor for cheap airline companies such as Ryanair. Make sure to check both options to find the best deal.

>> Read more about how to travel from London to Belgium

Direct flights between England and Belgium

Booking a direct flight from England to Belgium is possible from London Heathrow, Liverpool or Manchester. From my experience, the best way to compare rates and find the lowest fare is by using Kiwi.com

Brussels Airlines	London Heathrow	Brussels-Zaventem	1h10
British Airways	London Heathrow	Brussels-Zaventem	1h10
Suisse Air	London Heathrow	Brussels-Zaventem	1h10
Lufthansa	London Heathrow	Brussels-Zaventem	1h15
Ryanair	Liverpool	Brussels-Charleroi	1h20
Ryanair	Manchester	Brussels-Charleroi	1h15
Brussels Airlines	Manchester	Brussels-Zaventem	1h25

The Eurostar High Speed Train

The Eurostar train connects London and Brussels in 2 hours, with maximum speeds up to 300 km’s/hour.

Standard tickets for a single journey can cost as low as £36 when you book several weeks in advance, but can cost up to £184 for last-minute bookings. Since tickets tend to be in high demand, you need to book at least 2 months in advance to get the cheapest fare. To get a fare under £100 pounds you might need to book a week or two in advance.

For tickets & more info visit www.eurostar.com

The Eurotunnel / LeShuttle

When traveling with your own motorized vehicle, you can choose to take the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais. The shuttle will bring you there in 35min.

Ticket fares for a single journey range from £104 when you book in advance, up to £160 for last-minute bookings during rush-hour. However there are special deals on return tickets for day-trips and short stays, with prices as low as £54 for a single journey.

For tickets & more info visit https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/tickets-and-fares/

Ferries from England to Belgium

Another option for travelers with their own motorized vehicle is booking a ferry crossing from either Dover, Hull or Newcastle. Currently there is no direct ferry line between England and Belgium. However you can book a ferry crossing from England to France or The Netherlands and continue your journey from there.

DFDS Seaways	Dover	Dunkirk
DFDS Seaways	Dover	Calais
P&O Ferry Lines	Dover	Calais	2h30
Irish Ferries	Dover	Calais	2h30
P&O Ferry Lines	Hull	Rotterdam
DFDS Seaways	Newcastle	Amsterdam (Ijmuiden)

• From Duinkerkque or Calais, you can reach Flanders Fields, Bruges or the Belgian Coast in less then 1h30.
• The car travel from ferry port Rotterdam to Antwerp generally takes about 1h30 depending on traffic.
• The car travel from ferry port Ijmuiden to Antwerp generally takes about 2h10 depending on traffic.

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