1 popular destinations across Belgium — compare prices from 500+ airlines and OTAs, find the cheapest fares from any UK airport.
Brussels has multiple daily flights from London plus Manchester and Birmingham. Charleroi (Brussels-South), Ryanair's Belgian hub, runs cheaper Stansted and Manchester routes — useful for budget travel but a 60-minute bus from central Brussels.
| Visa (UK passport) | No visa needed for UK passport holders. Schengen — 90/180 days. |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR, €). Cards everywhere; Bancontact is the local debit network — a Visa or Mastercard is fine in tourist areas, less reliable at small bakeries and waffle stands. |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) — one hour ahead. |
| Language | Dutch (Flemish) in the north, French in the south, German in eastern cantons. Brussels is bilingual French/Dutch; English widely spoken in central tourist areas. |
| Plug type | Type E (French-style with earth pin). Standard EU adaptor works. |
| Best months | May–September for outdoor cafés and beer terraces. December (Christmas markets) is busy and chilly. November and February are the cheapest weeks. |
| Flight times from UK | Brussels (BRU) 1h 25m; Charleroi (CRL) 1h 25m |
Eurostar usually wins on time and total cost. London St Pancras to Brussels-Midi is 1h 50m centre-to-centre, vs ~5 hours flying once you add airport transfer and security. Eurostar fares from £39 one-way book early; Ryanair Stansted–Charleroi can undercut on raw price.
Brussels Zaventem (BRU) is the main international airport, 12 km north-east of the city, on the rail network and 20 minutes by train. Charleroi (CRL) is 60 km south, used almost exclusively by Ryanair and Wizz Air, with a 60-minute coach to Brussels for €17.
No. Belgium is a Schengen state — UK passport holders visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. ETIAS pre-authorisation will apply once it is live.
Yes, by 30–50%. Tuesday and Wednesday departures undercut Friday and Sunday. Single business travellers drive Brussels demand on Mondays and Thursdays — avoid those days for leisure trips if you can.
Yes — UK photocard licences are valid for short visits. Drive on the right; speed cameras are common; Brussels has a Low Emission Zone with online registration required if your car is older than ~Euro 5.
Belgium's small size and excellent rail network mean most UK travellers fly into Brussels and reach the rest of the country by train within an hour — practical logistics are minimal.
