Most doable day trips
Day trips to Paris
At 2 hrs 16 mins from Saint Pancras station, Paris is very doable as a day trip. The 7:31 train will get you into Paris before 11 am so you'll have plenty of time to for a cup of coffee before heading off for a delicious lunch. Hop on the 39 bus from the Gare du Nord and head to Boulevard St Germain for your pick of traditional brasseries, upmarket art galleries and elegant stores. Or, take the number 65 to the historic Marais and visit the Picasso Museum, then explore the narrow streets of this super-trendy district.
Day trips to Brussels
At just under 2 hrs from London, you'll have plenty of time to explore the centre of Brussels in a day. The 08:19 train from St Pancras station will get you into Brussels Midi at 11:12 am, then it's a short walk or train ride into the centre of town. Head towards the main square - Grand Place - and explore the small streets leading off it. Chocoholics will be in heaven, with a museum dedicated to Cocoa and chocolate shops on every corner. If chocolate isn't your guilty pleasure, try the waffles.
Day trips to Lille
Lille really is the ideal destination for a day trip at just 1 hr 32 mins from St Pancras station in London. Take the 08:55 train and you'll be in Lille for 11:27, the perfect 14 minutes amount of time to do the short walk from Lille Europe station to the main Place du Général de Gaulle square.
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