Searching for some last-minute travel ideas to make the most of the long weekend? We’ve rounded up three short-haul destinations that you can reach, without having to catch a flight.
If you’re looking for the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint, or are simply not interested in paying the heightened flight fees that come with Bank Holiday travel, journeying via train could be a great option for you. It’ll take you a little bit longer to get to your destination, but the scenic route will make travelling part of the adventure. Here are three flight-free holidays to take this Bank Holiday.
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1. Hop on a train to Lyon, the capital of French gastronomy
Waiting to be explored in Lyon is a labyrinth of traboules — around 400 passages and stairwells once used by silk workers to carry fabrics from factories to merchants. Around 50 are open to the public and they’re one of the Lyon’s biggest attractions, only rivalled by the city’s culinary reputation. In 1935, the city was hailed as the world’s gastronomic capital by famed food critic Curnonsky; today, it’s still considered by many to be among the world’s top destinations for food-lovers. Its culinary heritage remains strong, with around 4,000 restaurants —21 of which are Michelin starred — feeding visitors and locals. Travel via Paris on the Eurostar.
2. Travel through Belgium to Antwerp, its trendiest city
If you’re considering a city break, here’s the lowdown on Belgium: head to Bruges for beautiful architecture (made famous by the 2008 film In Bruges), head to Brussels for food and culture, Ghent for history and Antwerp for vibrant city life.
With a growing reputation for fashion, spend the day shopping and the evening sipping Seefbier. This pale ale was popular in the 19th century — the frothy head saw it dubbed ‘poor man’s Champagne’ — and made a comeback in 2012 when the popularity of pale ales and craft beers grew around the world. Not a beer drinker? Try Elixir d’Anvers, a local liqueur created by a doctor in 1863 as a digestive aid. You can travel to all four Belgian cities from London on the Eurostar.
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3. Travel from London to Venice on the former Orient Express line
You can leave London St Pancras in the morning and be in Venice the following evening. Take the Eurostar to Paris and stop for an early lunch before following the railway line of the former Orient Express through France and on to Turin, northern Italy.
You’ll stop here for the night, having spent the afternoon looking out at the Alps as you journey through Italy, then it’s on to the City of Water the following morning. Travel back to London via Milan before returning to Paris and then back to London. Plan your trip with Byway and decide for yourself how long you want to spend at each destination.
Feature image: Unsplash
