Board the train at London St Pancras and later that day you could be sipping a Trappist beer in Belgium as you wander the grounds of a fairy tale castle, or cycling through the Loire Valley. All these experiences are within reach, without the hassle of air travel: a journey without long queues at passport control, turbulence or baggage problems.
When you travel by train, you can watch the landscape evolve as you drive, perhaps even stopping for lunch along the way - all the while feeling a little smug about your less cumbersome carbon footprint. But if you plan to travel via Amsterdam in 2024, be warned about track closures during renovation work.
The Eurostar connects dozens of cities via continental connections that can be reached within a day from London. Options with journey times of six hours or less include capital cities, quaint villages and scenic stretches of countryside: here we've selected a few for you to consider.
Zaanse Schans, Netherlands
Fight the hustle and bustle of central London in the morning and by the end of the afternoon you will feel like you are in 18th and 19th century Holland. Of course, the more practical plan would be to enjoy an evening in Amsterdam and a relaxing morning before boarding a 20-minute train.
The Zaanse Schans is a kind of living museum and is both a residential area and an area where the traditions of baking, cheese making and metal casting (in the pewter foundry) are still in operation.
Take a long walk past stately windmills on flat fields with football fields, wooden houses and picturesque workshops, and get in the mood for pancakes with apricot jam at Restaurant De Kraai.
Travel time: approx. 5 hours (one transfer: Amsterdam).
Namur, Belgium
The city of Namur, capital of the Belgian region of Wallonia, has a complicated backstory. It is located at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre, making it a strategic base for former rulers.
The medieval citadel towers high above the city and maps some 2,000 years of European history within its walls and underground passages. You can even taste some local beers in the underground chambers.
The story continues
Wallonia is known for its Trappist breweries and there are plenty of local varieties to sample, such as Blanche de Namur, Gauloise Blonde and Chimay Gold. Take the Eurostar to Brussels South and from there take the train for about an hour to Namur.
Travel time: about 3 hours and 20 minutes (one transfer: Brussels)
Gouda, Netherlands
Maybe you love the cheese of the same name, or are you simply intrigued by the cheese-making process? If you travel to Gouda, you will actually end up in the "cheese valley" - an area that consists of four regions: Gouda, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, Woerden and Krimpenerwaard.
Start at the Gouda Cheese Experience, before sampling the Gouda Cheese Market, where wheels of the product are delivered by horse and cart before being stacked in front of the old town hall.
Once you've had your cheap drink, circle around St. John's Church, which rises high above the city, and admire the vibrant stained glass windows. A Eurostar to Rotterdam Central Station is followed by a short connection to Gouda.
Travel time: approx. 4 hours (one transfer: Rotterdam)
Strasbourg, France
'Tis the season for mulled wine, gingerbread and brightly lit town squares. Strasbourg's Christmas market is the oldest and largest in France: the stalls stretch in front of the cathedral, which dominates the city, but also between the traditional half-timbered houses of Petite and through the cobbled streets.
To escape the crowds, layer up and join a city boat tour on the River I, then retreat to the bars of Marché-Gayot. To reach Strasbourg, board the Eurostar to Paris and change at Gare de L'Est for a train to Strasbourg.
Travel time: about 5 hours
The Loire Valley, France
Plan a spring tour of major castles so you'll have something to look forward to in 2024. The delights of the Loire Valley are about an hour from Paris, which (on the fastest Eurostar service) is about two and a quarter minutes from London St Pancras Internationale.
Take the metro to Paris Montparnasse, where you can connect to the city of Chartres. Make a stop at the medieval Cathédrale Notre Dame, where you may explore the crypt, before catching a bus to the vineyards.
Castles, vineyards and villages await outside the city. Local buses are one way to hop between castles, without being dependent on a car. Plus, of course, there are more than 1,000 vineyards open to the public - wait for spring or summer and plan longer days to sample and purchase your favorite vintages. Rent a bike and cycle between a number of carefully selected bikes so you can reduce your CO2 emissions even further.
Travel time: about 3 hours and 45 minutes (one transfer: Paris)
Schloss Drachenburg, Germany
Winter is an opportune time to explore Germany's grand villas, palaces and castles: the cold, with the not-too-distant prospect of a little snow, only adds to the atmosphere.
Perched above a valley with round spiers and a pink-hued exterior, Schloss Dracnehburg could be lifted from the pages of an 18th-century fairy tale - and can be reached from London in about half a day, with the journey to Königswinter station.
The story of the schloss began with Stephan Sarter (born 1833), the youngest son of an innkeeper in the city of Bonn. He became duke in 1882 and soon had the foundation stone of his dream house laid: a concoction that combined villa, country house and castle.
Sarter would never live there, but it has gone through different eras, including as a summer residence and as a boarding school. The park, terraces and towers are now open to visitors.
Travel time: about 5 hours (two transfers: Brussels and Cologne)
