Est. 2006
Shining a light on the green and gorgeous
Produced by Green Traveller Media
What is green travel?
Flight-free from the UK to Europe
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in UK
Train travel to Europe:
Eurostar Route Map
Under 5 hours
by train from London:
Amsterdam
Brussels
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Ghent
Lille
Paris
Utrecht
Arrive same day by train from London:
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Winter Trains to French Alps
Require overnight stopover from London:
Florence
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Train + Ferry:
How to travel by train from London to Utrecht, The Netherlands
Travel by train from London to Utrecht in less than four hours by taking the Eurostar from London St Pancras direct to Rotterdam where you change trains for the short journey to Utrecht.
Home to the Netherlands' top university, Utrecht is primarily a student city, oozing with youthful energy and enthusiasm. It's the perfect destination for a city break, with some great places to eat and drink. Drift past street performers and canalside cafes by canoe, explore the city on an illuminated night walk or pedal your way to the tranquil botanical gardens... think of it like a mini Amsterdam but without the crowds.
Flight-free travel from London to Utrecht:
Journey Time: from 3 hours 56 mins
Sample timetable: Depart London 11.04pm, arrive Utrecht 4.28pm
Changes: 1
Transfer: Quick same-station change of platform within Rotterdam station
Frequency of Departures: 12/day
Carbon emissions: 12.0kg (flight would be 114.9kg)*
Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available.
How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation
If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries.
On Board Eurostar
For ticket types (Standard, Plus and Premier) and information on what it's like on board, see our Guide to Eurostar
What's the journey like?
Take the Eurostar to Rotterdam station where there's an easy same-station platform change to board the local intercity train to Utrecht Centraal.
Miss your connection?
Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager.
Stopover in Rotterdam 🏠
If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Rotterdam while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay conveniently near the main railway station Rotterdam Centraal.
Hotels close to Rotterdam Centraal station 🚉
Grand Hotel Central is a mid level hotel with budget rooms from less than £100.
Hostel Ani&Haakien and Sparks Hostel are backpacker hostels with dorms for those on a budget.
Green Traveller's Top Pick 💚
Bed and Breakfast Rotterdam is less than a mile from the station and has great reviews particularly for its breakfasts. Rooms from about £120.
Eco-certified hotels in Rotterdam ✔️
If you're looking for other sustainable green hotels in Rotterdam, then these have been certified by an accredited ecolabel:
a&o Rotterdam City, Hilton Rotterdam, and Holiday Inn Express Rotterdam - Central Station by IHG
On arrival in Utrecht
Welkom in Utrecht! You can explore the city's unique canals by boat – Utrecht’s Oudegracht is a curved canal that runs through the city. Utrecht is the national headquarters of Netherlands Railways, and therefore home to the Dutch Railway Museum.
Hotels in Utrecht
Hotels close to Utrecht Centraal station 🚉
Hampton By Hilton Utrecht Centraal Station is a 3-star hotel by the station with double rooms from £124.
Logement Petit Beijers: 3-star hotel conveniently just 400m from the station with luggage storage space, free wifi and a restaurant serving Dutch food (dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free options can be requested).
Daen’s Greenhouse: as the name suggests, this 2-star hotel is packed with plants as the reception is a florist. It's about 15 minutes walk (less than a mile) from the station, close to the Gothic Dom Tower of Utrecht and the Speelklok Museum.
Green Traveller's Top Picks 💚
Hotel Mitland: A good upmarket option with very peaceful grounds, heaps of facilities and close enough to cycle into the city centre. In the spirit of relaxation and tranquility the hotel is designed around beautiful gardens and offers cycling, jogging, walking, bowling and swimming facilities for guests. Double rooms start from £175.
Buurboot La Luna B&B: Hidden in the peaceful waterside neighbourhood of Lombok, Buurboot is a luxurious houseboat that boasts two kingsize bedrooms, large living space and fully equipped kitchen. Take the time to paddle down the lush backwaters of the 'Old Rhine' in one of the rentable electric rowing boats, or make the short trip into the centre of Utrecht.
Eco certified hotels in Utrecht ✔️
These two hotels have also been certified by an accredited ecolabel and are within 10 minutes of the station: Stayokay Hostel Utrecht Centrum and NH Utrecht.
See below for more hotels in Utrecht:
More about Utrecht
If the sun is shining spend an afternoon taking in the sights by bicycle before relaxing in one of Utrecht's impressive parks. The Botanical Garden, home to a huge range of plants, butterflies and rock garden, is part of the University and is located on "The Uithof", on the east side of Utrecht. The Wilhelminapark, Park Lepelenburg or the Julianapark are good places to chill out in over the summer. Bike hire will cost you approximately 20 Euros for 1 day. There is a large bike hire centre next to the central station: www.rentabike.nl
For more information about visiting Utrecht, see Green Traveller's Guide to Utrecht
