Eurostar

A number of companies are bidding to offer services under the Channel Tunnel, and one start-up is looking to offer direct services to a variety of European cities, as well as opening up a former Eurostar route

Since its launch in 1994, Eurostar has held a near-monopoly over the Channel Tunnel route as the only high-speed rail operator that could offer services from London to European cities.

But that is set to change, with a number of rival companies now planning to offer their own services connecting with Europe, and one provider could be offering a range of new direct routes from 2030.

Gemini Trains, a start-up operator, has planned a number of new routes that would run from the capital, which would see direct trains from the UK to Germany for the first time. Its plans also include convenient links from London to Paris, with introductory fares reportedly starting at £59.

Initial planned services would include London to Paris Nord, Disneyland Paris, and Charles de Gaulle Airport. It’s also reportedly considering offering links to Brussels-Midi and Cologne, and then expanding to Frankfurt and Düsseldorf.

While Eurostar previously offered a direct route to Disneyland Paris, this was discontinued in 2023 due to the company focusing on its city destinations after the pandemic. Offering services direct to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport would mean travellers could also avoid having to take taxis or public transport from Gare du Nord for connections, which can take around half an hour and can be complicated during rush hour.

Gemini claims a London to Cologne route would take around four hours directly. Currently, it can take six hours with at least one change.

However, the trains would not run from St Pancras, due to pressures on capacity, and instead Gemini plans to create a hub at Stratford International, offering stops at Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International, which used to have Eurostar services. Kent locals have long campaigned for a return of its continental services since they were suspended in March 2020 due to Covid-19, only to never resume.

Gemini’s plans include leasing eight Siemens Velaro Novo trains, each one capable of carrying 550 passengers, and promising “comfortable seats, good wifi and mood lighting.” There will also be a business class available with privacy screens.

The start-up is not the only challenger to emerge against Eurostar. Virgin Trains has ordered 12 Alstom trains and secured access to Temple Mills, a depot in East London that’s the only site that can house cross-channel trains. Gemini did not manage to secure access to Temple Mills, but is looking at a potential depot in Ashford, or may base it in Belgium or Germany.

Trenitalia, the Italian rail operator, and a Spanish start-up called Evolyn, are said to be mulling over plans to offer cross-channel services.

Adrian Quine, CEO of Gemini Trains, said: “The forecast growth through the Channel Tunnel is enormous, yet only 50 per cent of the slots on the track are currently used. Eurostar, a monopoly operator, has become lackluster and very expensive. We will shake things up by offering new routes, new stations, new trains, new interiors, new cheaper fares and encouraging people to shift from plane to train.

“For too long, there has been no choice but Eurostar, which in 32 years has opened up virtually no new routes and in fact has cut some.”

However, Eurostar is reportedly fighting back against its new raft of rivals, investing £1.7 billion into 50 new double-decker trains, and plans to launch direct services to Geneva and Frankfurt, via Cologne, with an estimated start date of 2031.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Ever wondered what it’s like travelling from the UK to Spain without any flying involved? One woman recently embarked on the journey and it surprised quite a few people

Travelling to another country is exciting, but not when you have a nervous fear of flying. Whether it’s the stress of airport security or even missing your flight, it can become a huge anxiety for many travellers.

One woman recently showed how you can travel from London to Spain – without any flight involved. The great thing is, once you’re in France, travelling across mainland Europe can be quite straight-forward. Although it’s a given travelling via plane is a lot more quicker than car or train, but you don’t get the sense of adventure as much as you would by train where you take in the sights.

Spending two days on her trip, Claire decided to embark on the journey from London St Pancras where she rode the Eurostar to Paris. She said on TikTok under the name Claire’s Footsteps: “You can travel overland from London to Malaga in two days and this is how much it costs.

“First take the Eurostar from London to Paris and there are trains available for around £49. You can either stay in Paris for a night or take the 2:42pm train to Barcelona, this costs around £89 and arrives into Barcelona at 9:32pm.”

She said hotels close to Barcelona Sants, which is the city’s largest and most important railway station, cost around £65, although this varies on time of year.

The traveller added: “You could stay for two nights and see more of Barcelona or stop off at any of these nearby cities – Figueres, Girona, Zaragoza and many more options – and see them too.”

As for the next day, Claire boarded a direct train to Malaga at around 11am, arriving just before 6pm – a journey that set her back £58.

In the clip, she revealed the total cost of the trip, including one night’s accommodation, came to £265. People in the comments section appeared amazed by the total cost, although someone said it was time-consuming.

Someone else said: “I would,” while a second added: “Yes absolutely.”

It’s worth bearing in mind the overall cost of the trip can differ depending on when you book as this is just a guideline.

Claire, who provided a thorough breakdown of the journey in her caption, claimed: “The schedule shown allows travel across two calendar days: Day 1 London to Paris (and optionally Paris to Barcelona), overnight in/near Barcelona Day 2 Barcelona to Malaga.

“Staying two nights in Barcelona is an option if you prefer sightseeing or a more relaxed pace. What to consider before booking: Fares fluctuate with availability and sales; check Eurostar and rail operator sites for current prices.

“Connect times: allow buffer for delays between service if changing stations or transferring luggage. Accommodation near Barcelona Sants is convenient for the morning departure to Malaga.”

She also noted the overland journey from London to Malaga across two days is entirely doable and can amount to roughly £265 based on the example prices provided.

So will you be trying this trip? Let us know in the comments below…

JUMP into river swimming, bear-watching and space simulators on a family road trip to Belgium, says Acting Senior Designer Sasha Cunningham.

Sunlight bursts through the tree canopy as enormous furry paws pad silently across the forest floor.

Elevated safely on a viewing platform, my family and I quietly watch as two Eurasian brown bears climb trees, paddle in the stream and stalk through the lush landscape.

We’re at Forestia in Theux, Belgium, which has 44 hectares dedicated to the conservation of animals originally found wild in the area.

Later the kids get to hand-feed deer, too.

Tickets cost from £22 for adults, and £16 for children (Forestia.be).

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Lush Lodgings

This is just one of the highlights we find in our week spent in the wilds of Belgium’s Ardennes region.

We’re staying about four hours from Calais – a drive that takes us along winding roads and through luscious pine forests – kipping in a stylish six-person self-catering lodge at Landal Hillview Resort Grandvoir, near the town of Neufchâteau.

Nestled among wildflower meadows teaming with butterflies, our lodge feels super-private, with just the sound of the birds and the occasional cricket for company.

It’s decked out with hygge decor in earthy shades, plus has its own cosy infrared sauna.

My sons Oscar, eight, and Ben, five, splash around in the ankle-deep stream running alongside our pad, and there’s plenty of wildlife to spot.

Wild boar, deer, raccoons and beavers all frequent the site, and I’m excited to spy a badger scampering across the field as husband Grant and I settle down on our large deck for a sundowner.

Later, we try a game of boules by the resort’s Bois Des Bois restaurant, which serves up regional dishes for dinner and a buffet of delicious pastries, yoghurts, eggs, meats and cheeses if you’re feeling lazy one morning.

Breakfast costs £19 for adults, £16.50 for children.

There’s also a playground, on-site shop and bike hire, plus a boutique hotel if you want to splash out.

Water Find

Just 25 minutes’ drive away is L’Antrogne, a wild swimming spot popular with locals.

The river La Semois glistens in the sun, and after a pebble-skimming contest we paddle in the crystal-clear shallows, baby trout weaving around our legs.

The boys also delight in floating down the gentle rapids as dragonflies hover around them.

Another day, we hire top-of-the-range Bosch ebikes, £32 each per day, plus £13 for a kids’ trailer, to tackle the hilly terrain to Lake Neufchâteau.

Whizzing through the quaint village of Grandvoir and beautiful tree-lined tunnels is great fun, and we make it to the man-made reservoir in 40 minutes to find both a lido and sandy beach.

We jump into the water to cool off, as the boys eye up kayaks and pedal boats, from £7 for 30 minutes’ hire, before we picnic on cheese-filled croissants by the water’s edge.

Meanwhile, a worthy detour on our way back from bear-watching at Forestia proves to be Cascades de Coo, the highest natural waterfall in Belgium.

With a 15-metre drop down to the Amblève River, the thundering rapids are a must-see – but without doubt the kids’ favourite bit is Brasserie Au Vieux Moulin’s chocolate crêpes served with Nutella and fresh cream, £8.25, which we devour with a glorious view of the falls from the terrace (@Brasserieauvieuxmoulin).

Blast off

On our last day, a 25-minute drive transports us from our tranquil forest camp to the surface of Mars and the fascinating astronaut training camp at Euro Space Center.

We don orange spacesuits and test our minds and agility to see if we have what it takes to be astronauts.

As we are taken through computer logic tests, physical balance trials and even try on space pants to check whether we’d be able to correctly use a spaceship toilet, our family competitiveness is properly revealed.

Tickets cost from £30 for adults, £26 for children (Eurospacecenter.be).

We also get to wander through the Mars village to operate our very own rover, but the best bit is finding out what it feels like to walk on the moon and experiencing take-off in the space shuttle simulator.

The G force of the space rotor leaves our legs feeling pretty wobbly and, if I’m honest, I’m not sure any of us would cut it as real astronauts.

Still, the kids certainly think our trip across the channel was an out-of-this-world adventure.

Veurne rules

The medieval town of Veurne makes for an excellent pit stop when driving back to the UK, with its Flemish language and Dutch-style architecture reminiscent of Amsterdam.

Nestled between St Walburga and St Nicholas churches is De Soetasse Brasserie, where you can tuck into rich croque monsieurs, £8, and croûte aux champignons with a curry twist, £10.50 (@Desoetasse).

BOOKING something to look forward to doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank.

In fact, you can jet off to trendy European capitals or unwind at a spa hotel in the British countryside for less than you’d think.

We’ve rounded up a selection of the best Wowcher travel deals on offer right now, starting from £89 with options both in the UK and abroad.

Whether you want to hop on the Eurostar to the canals of Amsterdam, pop over to Paris for a 4* getaway, or take the ultimate £99 gamble on a mystery holiday, we’ve got you covered.

Wowcher Mystery Holiday – £99

This famous travel gamble lands you return flights and a minimum 3-star hotel stay for £99pp, with 100+ worldwide destinations in the mix.

While you could bag a sunny beach escape to Ibiza or a chic city break to Rome, the real jackpot is landing a long-haul trip to New York, Bali or the Maldives.

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Other destinations where you could land a mystery holiday include Disneyland Paris, Thailand and Miami.

Book a £99 Wowcher Mystery Holiday

4* Peak District Countryside Spa Stay – £89

Escape to the spectacular hills of the Peak District with this four-star spa staycation for two.

Situated on the edge of Staffordshire, this bargain break at The Three Horseshoes Country Inn includes a cosy overnight stay, a cooked breakfast, and access to the spa.

Nearvy, explore rock formations at The Roaches, go paddle-boarding at Rudyard Lake, or visit Alton Towers Resort, which is a 20-minute drive away.

Book a 4* Peak District Countryside Spa Stay from £89pp

4* Paris Getaway with Hotel, Flights, and Breakfast – £119

Whisk yourself away to Paris on a stylish, four-star city break from £119pp which includes return flights from your pick of nine UK airports, plus a two night stay and a delicious daily breakfast to fuel your sightseeing.

Stay at the sleek 4* Best Western Plus Suitcase Paris – La Défense, which has beautifully-designed contemporary rooms and a relaxing lounge bar.

Ticking off landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre is totally effortless too, thanks to a metro station just 300 meters from the hotel door with direct routes straight into the city centre.

Book a two-night city break to Paris from £119

Northampton Stay at Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club – £104

Treat yourself to a countryside retreat with a stay at the Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club, starting from just £104 for two people which includes delicious two-course dinner or buffet access, a complimentary glass of wine each, and a full breakfast.

You’ll also enjoy unlimited access to the on-site gym and sauna, plus handy perks like a 2pm early check-in and an 11am late check-out to stretch your relaxation time.

Golf fans can even tee off on the PGA European-tour standard course, while the hotel sits just a short drive away from the beautiful Daventry Country Park and the iconic Silverstone Circuit.

Book a stay at Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club for £104

Amsterdam Eurostar Break with Hotel Stay – £139

Hop aboard the Eurostar for a seamless two-night city break to Amsterdam, with return Eurostar tickets plus a stay at the modern ibis Amsterdam City West, which places you close to the vibrant Westerpark.

Getting around the capital will be easy, too, with a metro station a five-minute stroll from the hotel door.

From there, a quick ride drops you right at Amsterdam Centraal, putting bucket-list attractions like the Van Gogh Museum and beautiful canal cruises within easy reach.

Book a two-night city break in Amsterdam for £139

*Prices correct at the time of publication.

UK airports will now allow younger passengers to use the eGates, in a huge boost for families travelling this summer holidays.

From today, passengers aged eight and nine will be able to use the faster eGates at airports across the country.

Previous rules only allowed kids who were the age of 10 or over to use the eGates, meaning families had to wait in much longer queues at passport control.

The only other rule is that kids must be at least 120cm tall, so they can still access the screens.

The new rules are predicted to affect 1.5million kids.

There are more than 290 eGates at UK airports and ports, plus juxtaposed ports (where UK border checks take place in Europe).

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This means borders like the Eurostar at London St Pancras and Eurotunnel in Folkestone.

Minister Alex Norris, Minister for Border Security and Asylum said:
 ”Today’s change will make journeys easier for families with small children and reduce the hassle of travelling home after a holiday.

“It will also free up more time for tourists to enjoy our fantastic country this summer and in the years ahead.” 

Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, the trade body for UK airports, added: “This is a welcome development as it will give more families the ability to take advantage of this technology, speeding up the border process and reducing waiting times for many.”

It’s not just Brits the new rules affect either.

Non-British residents including those from the US, Australia and Japan, along with non-Schengen countries in Europe will be able to use the eGates too.

EUROSTAR is warning of delays across Europe due to an incident on a track, with some services already cancelled.

Trains heading to and from Europe are experiencing delays and cancellations “due to emergency services attending an incident near the tracks in Lille Europe”.

Cancelled trains include:

• 3:31pm service from London to Paris
• 5:56pm service from Brussels to London, via Lille
• 6:04pm service from London to Amsterdam, stopping at Brussels, Rotterdam and Lille
• 6:40pm service from Amsterdam to London, stopping at Brussels, Rotterdam and Lille
• 7:01pm service from London to Paris
• 8:02pm service from Paris to London

There are also a number of delays to services including the 2:42pm, 3:12pm, 4:12pm, 4:40pm and 5:12pm services from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras.

A service from London St Pancras to Paris at 2:31pm was also delayed.

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Services from Brussels to London have also been impacted including the 2:52pm and 3:52pm services.

The Eurostar website currently states: “We expect our trains between London and Lille/Brussels/Rotterdam/Amsterdam to be subject to severe delays on 07/07/2026 due to emergency services attending an incident near the tracks in Lille Europe.”

The operator is advising that if passengers would prefer to rearrange their plans, then you can change your ticket for free.

It comes as services still face disruptions following from an incident in the Netherlands last week where there was a major fire at Rotterdam Centraal.

At the time, Eurostar commented: “We’re very sorry that, due to a fire near station Rotterdam Centraal, train services across the Netherlands are currently severely disrupted and extremely limited.

“As a result, our trains are subject to significant delays and cancellations, and we’re unfortunately unable to offer alternative travel options.

“This situation will continue until 3rd July 2026. We recommend that you do not attempt to travel to or from the Netherlands until 3rd July. Instead, please cancel your journey or postpone it to a later date.”

Sun Travel has contacted Eurostar for further comment.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office issued a travel warning on Monday following an incident in Rotterdam that has caused disruption for the past six days

Eurostar passengers heading to Europe had their trips disrupted by a fire.

Eurostar services between the UK and the Netherlands have been severely disrupted following a fire near Rotterdam Central station. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office issued a travel warning on Monday following last week’s blaze.

Last Monday, multiple London–Amsterdam services were canceled after a fire broke out in a cable duct near Rotterdam Stadion. It caused a major power failure that shut down rail traffic south of Rotterdam.

“Completely messed up my travel plans, ended up getting the ferry,” one unlucky customer who got caught up in the disruption wrote online. Another added: “We had to take the coach to Brussels. I hope we will get our refund.”

The outage disabled signaling and switch systems between Rotterdam Centraal and destinations, including Dordrecht and Breda

“Eurostar services between the UK and the Netherlands are severely disrupted following a fire near Rotterdam Central station,” the FCDO statement issued this morning read.

“Eurostar has advised that they expect trains to be disrupted until at least 6 July 2026. Travel times are expected to be significantly longer due to trains having to take alternative routes due to fire damage and trains between London and Amsterdam will not stop in Rotterdam.

“If you are planning to travel between the UK and the Netherlands, check the latest information with your travel operator before you travel and the latest updates on the Eurostar website.”

Passengers are warned to check with their booking operator before they travel between the UK and the Netherlands.

A statement from the rail firm reads: “Due to fire damage to the railway near Rotterdam, we expect our trains to be disrupted until at least 6 July 2026. Trains running between London and Amsterdam will not stop at Rotterdam and trains running between France/Belgium and Amsterdam will not stop at Schiphol or Rotterdam.

“As these trains need to take an alternative route around the damaged area, journey times will be significantly longer, and seat availability is very limited. We expect the disruption to last until at least 06 July 2026. We apologise for the inconvenience the situation has caused.”

The update comes after the Foreign Office has issued fresh travel advice for Brits heading to Greece. In the update on Thursday, July 2, the FCDO warned that “terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Greece.”

While there is no current advice against travel to Greece for British holidaymakers, the FCDO said that “attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals.”

The FCDO outlined: “There have been several attacks involving explosives and automatic weapons against Greek institutions, shopping malls, banks, media offices, diplomatic premises and the police.”

One tragic attack took place on Wednesday, July 1, which saw “three improvised incendiary device attacks against the residential properties of Greek political figures killed one person, with four others being injured.”

EUROSTAR has cancelled a number of its London services after a fire incident in Rotterdam.

A major power outage has halted lots of Eurostar journeys to the Netherlands until at least Friday.

The fire, near Rotterdam Station, has caused a power failure with huge disruption to all rail services in and around the city.

This includes journeys from London St Pancras to Amsterdam on the Eurostar which have been disrupted as a result.

Eurostar said on its website: “We’re very sorry that, due to a fire near station Rotterdam Centraal, train services across the Netherlands are currently severely disrupted and extremely limited.

“As a result, our trains are subject to significant delays and cancellations, and we’re unfortunately unable to offer alternative travel options.

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“This situation will continue until 3rd July 2026. We recommend that you do not attempt to travel to or from the Netherlands until 3rd July. Instead, please cancel your journey or postpone it to a later date.”

On its scheduled journeys there are no direct trains from London St Pancras to Amsterdam today.

Only one journey is available for today which goes to Brussels then onto Amsterdam – and it takes six hours and 46 minutes.

Usually a direct train from London to Amsterdam takes just over four hours.

Eurostar has added alternative options for those due to travel to or from the Netherlands between today and Thursday.

Travellers can exchange their booking for a fee at a different time or date.

Another option is to cancel completely and claim an e-voucher which then has to be redeemed in 12 months from the date of the disrupted journey.

Or cancel the booking and get a refund for the value of the ticket.

Those experiencing disruption to their plans have “three months from the date you were due to travel to claim your preferred option”.

Power restoration in Rotterdam is expected during the evening on July 2, according to local media.

Eurostar told Sun Travel: “Eurostar services are experiencing disruption across the Netherlands due to an infrastructure issue near Rotterdam, where a fire at a substation caused a loss of power. 

“As a result, Eurostar trains are subject to significant delays and cancellations.”

This includes Netherlands-Brussels-Paris trains which are being diverted via Utrecht, leading to delays of up to one hour.

And passengers with a Amsterdam/Rotterdam – London reservation can be refunded at no cost.

It continued to urge passengers to “only if necessary and postpone their journey to a later date.”

“Eurostar would like to express its full support to the passengers affected by these disruptions. Aware of the difficulties encountered, our teams remain fully mobilized to assist each of them and ensure they reach their destination in the best possible conditions.”

EUROSTAR has cancelled a number of trains to and from the UK this week due to the hot weather.

The train operator cited “adverse weather conditions” as the reason for the cancellations.

The cancellations include two services a day between London St Pancras International and Paris‘ Gare du Nord.

The affected trains are:

• Monday – 10:07am from Paris to London
• Monday – 1:31pm from London to Paris
• Tuesday – 10:07am from Paris to London
• Tuesday – 1:31pm from London to Paris
• Wednesday – 1:31pm from London to Paris
• Wednesday – 6:08pm from Paris to London
• Thursday – 1:31pm from London to Paris
• Thursday – 8:08pm from Paris to London

No trains have been cancelled on Friday yet but this could change later in the week.

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Eurostar said in a statement: “Due to expected adverse weather on the Eurostar network, your train is cancelled.

“We’re so sorry for the disruption and any inconvenience caused.”

Passengers affected by the cancellations can move their booking to a later time and date.

Otherwise a full refund can be claimed, either with an e-voucher which can be used up to 12 months later, or a full refund (which doesn’t include booking fees).

The UK is set to high record temperatures for June this week, with highs up to 38C expected.

This would beat the previous hottest June temperature of 35.6C, which was in 1976 in Southampton.

AN Interrail adventure around Europe was once a rite of passage for many a British teen in the days before low-cost flights.

Now, a growing number of mid-lifers are taking to the rails to repeat the journeys of their youth, or even experience it for the first time.

But with age comes the need for a little comfort — picking a hotel instead of a hostel and a wheelie case over a rucksack.

The principle the same, though. Buy a rail pass, plot your route — and adios.

With the kids grown up, my husband and I joined the rail revolution to have our very own Interrail fun.

The beauty of a rail pass is that you can destination-hop for little or no extra cost, so we created a 12-day itinerary visiting several places we had never been to. First-class, too, as it’s only £90 more.

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We start with a ten-hour train journey from London to Milan, rattling towards the French Alps and Italy in plush, extra legroom seats.

An overnight stay is followed by a whizz round Milan’s hotspots — including its impressive Duomo and glitzy shopping gallerias — then we’re back on the rails, snaking through the valleys and vineyards of northern Italy’s Trentino region towards the town of Riva on Lake Garda.

Framed by Alpine foothills, this 32 mile- long lake (Italy’s biggest) is idyllic — as is our base, the family-run Garda Suite Hotel, where every room comes with a balcony. Ours overlooks the hotel’s heated swimming pool as well as the lake.

The next 72 hours are spent admiring Lake Garda from in it, on it and above it.

From the Ponale Path, a trail carved high into the mountainside, there’s a sheer drop to the water which shimmers below, a magical turquoise.

Less knee-trembling are the vistas from the colourful town of Riva’s Apponale Tower (mind your head as you climb its 165 steps) and Bastione funicular.

Entry to both, as well as local transport, is included in the Garda Guest Pass, free to hotel residents.

Other highlights include saffron risotto at La Capannina Pizza and Grill, wine-tasting at the local Comai vineyards (their Merlot’s superb) and a sunset sail-boat excursion.

Skipper Alesso explains how Lake Garda is 350m deep and home to freshwater sardines and giant pike.

“Any monsters?” I ask. “Yes, Bennie.”

He shows me a picture. Not a patch on our Nessie.

Then, we’re back on the rails and watching four countries roll past the window — Italy, Germany, Austria and then our next destination: Slovenia’s Lake Bled.

Alpine Lake Bled differs from Garda. It’s much smaller and circled by a four-mile walking trail. There’s a fairytale island at its heart with a church.

You can hire a boat to explore (£26 for 90 minutes) although the rowing is tough on arms. Happily, the hot tub at our Bled Rose spa hotel (no hostels for us) eases aching limbs.

While Bled is prominent on the tourist and Interrail trail, Slovenians have been keeping neighbouring Lake Bohinj (11 miles away) to themselves.

Surrounded by the Julian Alps and Triglav National Park, signposts keep leading us — slightly alarmingly — towards a “slap”. But it’s a relief to learn that this word is Slovenian for waterfall.

We follow a two-hour trail toward thunderous Slap Mostnice before lazing on one of the lake’s empty beaches.

The real taste of Slovenia, however, comes when we move on to capital Ljubljana and try strukli — cottage-cheese filled steamed dumplings. They’re served warm, sweet or savoury and the sugary ones are delicious.

Afterward, we climb to the castle on a hill for a panorama over the city’s jumble of steeples and turrets.

Our trip includes three ten-hour journeys, seven travel days, 14 trains and one missed connection. No matter, we take the next one. Some trains require seat reservations costing extra, but most don’t.

Working it out is part of the Interrail experience. Free wifi is the norm and everything’s done on the Interrailing app — no physical tickets. My only complaint is that time passes far too quickly.

Soon, we’re circling back toward France and our penultimate destination of Strasbourg, whose location close to Germany’s border lends it a Germanic feel.

The street signs are bilingual and Riesling’s the local wine. We enjoy a glass over dinner at our boutique Leonor Hotel — an 18th-century former police station which has a grandiose internal courtyard.

Round the corner is Strasbourg’s gothic Cathedral de Notre Dame which, for 400 years, was the tallest building in Europe.

A lung-busting 350 steps lead up to its viewing platform, from where we enjoy grandstand views over the city’s half- timbered Alsatian houses on backstreets criss-crossed by waterways.

Our biggest high, however, comes in Paris, where our trip ends. The new 4H hotel (built for the 2024 Olympics) towers over the city and is close to the Stade de France stadium where footie fans can enjoy tours.

Our room on the 35th floor affords a jaw-dropping view of the River Seine and Eiffel Tower. And on floor 40 is the highest swimming pool in Paris.

On the Eurostar back to London we toast an Interrailing trip which covered 2,509 miles, averaged 20,000 steps a day and crossed six borders.

Every moment felt fresh, exciting and youthful. Best lesson learned? To roll back the years, you must head for the rails.

A 48-HOUR strike in Europe has already seen Eurostar trains cancelled – and more could follow.

Strikes across Italy and France today and tomorrow are impacting rail services including Eurostar trains to and from the UK.

Cancelled Eurostar trains include the 7:12am service from Paris to London and then the 3:31pm service from London to Paris, both today.

Tomorrow, the 7:12am service from Paris to London will also be cancelled.

A number of other Eurostar trains are facing delays as well including between Paris and Brussels, which will impact Brits changing trains at Paris.

According to the Eurostar website, the cancellations are due to “strike action on the French network” and that “local and national traffic in France will be heavily disrupted”.

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Passengers are being advised to keep an eye on Eurostar’s website and app for updates.

The Eurostar delays and cancellations aren’t the only trains impacted.

Across France and Italy there are nationwide strikes over the next 48 hours on rail services.

In France, strike action today is causing disruption across the entire country’s network including trains heading to Normandy, Brittany and Provence.

The action started at 7pm yesterday and will continue until 6am tomorrow.

According to Rail Europe, delays of between one-and-a-half hours and three hours can be expected on trains being run by TGV INOUI, OUIGO, and Eurostar.

On the other hand, in Italy, workers at state-owned rail companies such as Trenitalia, Trenord, and Trenitalia Tper will strike tomorrow from 3am until 2am on Friday.

Delays and cancellations are expected across the country including services to destinations such as Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice and Naples.

Though due to Italian laws, there will be services at peak times which include between 6am and 9am and between 6pm and 9pm.

According to RTL Today, train connections to Luxembourg are also being impacted.

For Brits on holiday in either Italy or France, if you are due to get on a train within the country or even on a Eurostar service, expect delays and cancellations, as well as busier train stations.

Sun Travel has contacted Eurostar for comment.

Situated in the south west of Germany, on the border of the iconic Black Forest mountain range, the city has jointly been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site

If you’re thinking about a trip to Europe, but want something a bit off the beaten track, one “hidden gem” with historic spas, Roman ruins, and incredible museums could be just the ticket. Situated in the south west of Germany, on the border of the iconic Black Forest mountain range, the city has, along with Bath in Somerset and nine other locations, jointly been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of ‘The Great Spa Towns of Europe’.

Travel influencer Katherine McQueen, who has 685,000 followers on Instagram, where she is known as vineyardsandvoyages, posted a look into everything the city has to offer. She said: “This is one of Europe’s most elegant hidden gems… and most people skip it.”

Describing the city as “polished, romantic, and completely different from the bigger stops most travellers add to their itineraries”, she hailed its “pastel streets, grand architecture, thermal baths, elegant cafés, beautiful gardens, and old-world glamour around every corner”. But it was the history which she hailed as its most important element.

“People have been coming here for the thermal waters since Roman times, and wellness is still one of the biggest reasons to visit today,” she said. “You can soak in mineral-rich baths, wander through historic spa buildings, and experience a side of Germany that feels slow, refined, and deeply relaxing.”

Katherine also praised the city’s glittering casino, food – including, of course, the iconic Black Forest gateau – and location, calling it “one of the most unexpectedly charming places I’ve visited in Germany”.

The city in question is Baden-Baden, located around 15 miles east of the French border, and 42 miles west of Stuttgart.

In the post Katherine explained more about what the city has to offer. “Some of the bathhouses here feel more like palaces than spas, with mineral pools, grand domes, and centuries of wellness history,” she said. “But it’s not just a spa town. It’s also filled with elegant architecture, gardens, colonnades, and beautiful places to wander.”

She added: “The whole city has this refined, romantic atmosphere. Long covered walkways, grand buildings, art, gardens, and peaceful corners everywhere.”

Concluding, she said: “It has that rare mix of history, wellness, food, architecture, and nature, all in one very walkable little city. Everywhere you look, there are details that make it feel grand without feeling overwhelming. This town rewards slow wandering. Hidden side streets, stairways, dreamy corners, and beautiful views around every turn.”

The city’s official tourism website says: “Baden-Baden was founded 2,000 years ago to do people good. Thermal water at temperatures of up to 68 degrees gushes out of the earth from 12 thermal springs in Baden-Baden. Even today, our spa town at the foot of the Black Forest is the perfect place to enjoy spa tradition – whether in the Caracalla Spa or in the historic Friedrichsbad Spa.”

How can I get to Baden-Baden?

By air: Direct flights to Baden-Baden are available from London Stansted Airport. Indirect flights are also available from most other UK airports.

By train: You can take the Eurostar to Paris or Brussels, with various connecting routes available.

By car: You can drive by taking the Eurostar and then heading south east through France, or east into Belgium before crossing, into Germany. Once arriving in France, the route is between 400 and 450 miles, taking between six and seven hours.

Travellers to the continent may soon be able to board a new direct route to Europe on Eurostar, removing the need to change trains and cutting the journey time by around two hours overall

Eurostar could soon offer a new direct route from London St Pancras to three European cities, offering a faster and easier way to get to central Europe.

The plans were unveiled in a press release by Eurostar, confirming that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed between Eurostar, SBB (Swiss Federal Railways), and French-operator SNCF Voyageurs to potentially offer a direct connection between London and Switzerland.

The move was described as “an important milestone” in the planning of the new route, which could see services from London to Zurich offered direct with a six hour travel time, direct trains to Basel taking five hours, and a route to Geneva which would take around five-and-a-half hours.

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Currently, passengers can book London to Switzerland trains with Eurostar, although this currently necessitates a change at Paris Gare du Nord, and means travelling across the city to Paris Gare De Lyon to get a connecting TGV train. Not only is this less convenient, as it means taking your luggage on the metro, it also adds an hour or more to most journey times between London and Switzerland.

Eurostar’s press release explained: “The signed MoU is an important milestone. The next step is to analyse potential timetables and operational concepts. Based on this, the key steps and milestones for the potential introduction of such a direct connection from London to Switzerland.

“The three partners aim to offer the potential direct connection to London as soon as possible and are continuously driving the project forward.”, adding: “Implementation would be feasible at the earliest sometime in the course of the 2030s.”

Eurostar currently offers direct trains from London St. Pancras to five destinations: Paris, Brussels, Lille, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. However, passengers can book connecting trains to more than 20 destinations, including cities in Germany, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.

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Eurostar has previously raised the possibility of running longer direct routes from London, with Marseille in the south of France and Milan in Italy mentioned among potential expansions of its rail routes.

It’s also announced that it has ordered up to 50 Celestia double-decker trains, which will be introduced onto its routes from May 2031, allowing it to offer increased capacity along popular routes. Eurostar also unveiled ambitious expansion plans last year for St Pancras International. The plans could allow the station to handle 5,000 passengers per hour by 2028.

By 2030, it’s expected that arrivals will be moved upstairs to increase capacity. At the time, Richard Thorp, chief operating officer at London St. Pancras Highspeed, said the station was ‘delighted’ to be joining forces with Eurostar to expand its capacity. “With growing passenger demand for international train travel, it is important that St. Pancras International station is future-proofed and optimised to accommodate this.”

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EUROSTAR has taken the next step to launch trains to a new European country – for the first time ever.

A new agreement has been signed between the international train operator as well as Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and French SNCF Voyageurs.

The agreement would allow direct trains between London and Switzerland, with “significant potential” for the route.

The journey would take about five hours from London to the city of Basel, with other cities slightly longer such as Geneva (5.5 hours) and Zurich (six hours).

London is currently the ‘no.1 flight destination’ for Switzerland, with airlines such as Swiss, British Airways and easyJet operating direct flights.

If the new direct trains go ahead, they are likely to launch by the 2030s, although a confirmed date is yet to be revealed.

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The current train route from the UK requires a change in Paris, with the whole journey taking around 7hr30.

It isn’t the only new route Eurostar is planning with other cities such as Frankfurt and Cologne in Germany.

Routes could even go as far as Milan in Italy.

Currently Eurostar operates trains to France (Paris and Lille) along with the Netherlands (Amsterdam and Rotterdam) and Brussels.

Virgin also confirmed last year that they would be launching rival trains to Europe, the first to do so alongside Eurostar.

Along with routes to the same destinations, they could also launch trains from Manchester and Birmingham, as well as restore routes from Ashford and Ebbsfleet.

The warning comes at a time of global turmoil

Ryanair has issued a warning to passengers hoping to fly in the days ahead. The budget airline has sent emails to travellers flying from the UK to large parts of Europe.

It cautions of ‘longer queues, particularly at busy airports’. The reason is the new Entry and Exit System (EES), which has been rolled out by the European Union (EU). It requires all travellers from the UK and other non-EU nations to be photographed and fingerprinted at EU airports and border crossings.

The objective is for the new system to replace manual passport stamping and more efficiently track the 90-day visa-free limit, but there have been accounts of it causing delays stretching to several hours at busy airports. It has even been temporarily suspended at times to clear the backlog.

In a message to customers titled ‘Important: Changes to Passport Control’, Ryanair says: “From 10 April 2026, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is in place at all Schengen Area external borders. As a result, passport control may take longer for some passengers.

“You are affected if you hold a non‐EU / non‐EEA / non‐Swiss passport (e.g. UK, USA, Canada, Australia), and are flying into or out of the Schengen Area.

“Commonly affected routes include flights between the Schengen Area and countries such as: UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Türkiye, Egypt, Israel and others.

“At passport control you may need to:

• Scan your passport
• Provide fingerprints
• Have a facial image taken

These checks may cause longer queues, particularly at busy airports. Queues may form before security.

If affected, please:

• Arrive at the airport early to allow for queues
• Have your travel documents ready
• Follow signs marked EES / Passport Control

Those who are not affected:

• EU, EEA and Swiss passport holders
• Flights within the Schengen Area (e.g. Spain–Italy, France–Germany)

“If you are denied entry, this will be due to EU policy, not Ryanair’s rules.”

Greece has reportedly opted to pause the EES rollout following considerable delays. A statement on the Greek Embassy website and posts across official social media channels said: “In the framework of the implementation of the Entry/Exit System, as of 10 April 2026, British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.”

Airport representatives and the European Commission convened a meeting on Tuesday to address issues surrounding the system. Approximately 122 passengers were left stranded and unable to board their flight from Milan Linate to Manchester on Sunday, following severe hold-ups at passport control linked to the introduction of the EES.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed that your details will need to be re-registered every three years. A statement also warned that travellers may face longer waiting times when entering or departing a country. It states: “The European Union’s (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) started on 12 October 2025 This is a new digital border system that has changed requirements for British citizens travelling to the Schengen area.

The countries in the Schengen area are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

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The Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not within the Schengen area, and therefore EES is not applicable when travelling to either of these countries. If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you may be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.

EES registration is replacing the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU. EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.

“On your first visit to the Schengen area, you may be asked to create a digital record at the port or airport on arrival. You may be asked to submit your fingerprints and have your photo taken at dedicated booths. You don’t need to provide any information before travelling to a Schengen area country. The checks may take slightly longer than previously, so be prepared to wait during busy times.”

“If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle at Folkestone or Eurostar, St Pancras International, any EES checks will be completed at the border, before you leave the UK. You may also be asked to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you exit the Schengen area.”

“If you frequently travel to the Schengen area for work and/or leisure purposes, you must ensure that your total stay in the Schengen area is no more than 90 days in every 180 days. You must be aware of the penalty and enforcement approach for exceeding the immigration limit in any individual Member State you plan to travel to, or through.”