Europe’s ‘diamond capital’ often overlooked as a city break to get first direct UK trains

EUROSTAR is launching new trains to a European city for the first time ever. Often overlooked in favour of other Belgian destinations like Brussels and Bruges, the new train route will connect London to Antwerp. Eurostar is introducing direct trains from London St Pancras this year Credit: Alamy The city has trendy cafes, high-end restaurants and its own urban beach Credit: Alamy Antwerp handles around 80 per cent of the world’s rough diamonds – and the diamond district itself is a popular tourist spot with cafes and bars. There are even diamond history tours and cutting workshops for those who really want to delve into it. Sign up for the Travel newsletter Thank you! Antwerp’s Borgerhout neighbourhood east of the city centre was voted one of the ‘coolest in the world‘ by Time Out last year. Some of the most popular spots in the area include the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp which holds live events like DJ and music evenings during the summer. Just up the road is the MoMu Fashion Museum and De Roma is a restored 1920 art deco cinema which holds concerts and film screenings. There’s also plenty of bakeries, cafes and pubs to pop into like Café Mombasa which is bicycle-themed and has around 90 types of beer on offer. When Sun Reporter Harry Corton visited the city, he discovered another spot for taste testing. He said: “There are tons of places to sample the dizzying local delights. The best is Bier Central (De Keyserlei 25), where the 120-page ‘BeerCyclopediaa’ offers over 100 different concoctions. Most read in Travel “Following a local’s tip, I opt for a “Trappist” drink, meaning it was brewed by monks . . . in a monastery. It’s generally a mark of higher ethical and quality standards.” And if you’re a foodie, then Antwerp will be right up your street as it has 17 Michelin-starred restaurants. Those heading to Antwerp will be able to get there in under 3 hours on the Eurostar Credit: Alamy Antwerp sits on the banks of the Scheldt River and it even has its own urban beach. Currently those wanting to visit Antwerp can head to Brussels where they need to hop on a connecting train. But from December 14, the high-speed rail service will operate four direct services from London St Pancras each day. These will take just two hours and 41 minutes. The Eurostar will stop at Antwerp-Centraal station which often takes the crown for the world’s most beautiful railway terminal. Royal Museum of Fine Arts often holds live music events outside during the summer Credit: Alamy Antwerp Train Station is considered one of the most beautiful in the world Credit: Alamy So it’ll be a good excuse to take a look around its beautiful marble interior before heading into the city. The only small hiccup is there are no direct return trains from Antwerp to London, so you will have to change. Talking to Head for Points, Eurostar said: “Customers travelling from Antwerp to London can book a combined SNCB and Eurostar ticket on eurostar.com, connecting via Brussels-Midi where UK border and security checks take place. “There are currently no plans to introduce direct services from Antwerp to London, as this would require dedicated UK border and customs facilities at Antwerp-Centraal.” Comment now