The idea of a tunnel under the English Channel was once a fanciful dream; now it’s a daily part of European life. Super-fast, comfortable Eurostar trains make travel between London and the continent a joy. And because you go from city center to city center, you save time and stress compared with air travel and give the environment a break at the same time.

Hop on board at London’s historic St. Pancras station and discover beautiful Paris in style. With a travel time of around two and a half hours each way, you can cover the highlights of the City of Light in a single day, including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and the Champs-Elysees. Or stay overnight and have an extra day to tour this magnificent city at your own pace.

Naturally this also works in reverse: you can start out from Paris for a full day’s sightseeing in London including top sites like Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London as well as a Thames River cruise.

A journey to France and Belgium can also be a journey back in time. Almost a century later, the battlefields of World War I are still moving testimony to a conflict which devastated a continent and redrew its borders. Ypres, the Somme or sites centered on the northern French city of Lille can be reached on day trips from London. For an unforgettable experience, join a select group on a two-day tour of French and Belgian battlefields accompanied by veterans who will shed light on this dark chapter.

But to witness a brighter episode in the continent’s history, head for charming Brussels – headquarters of the European Union. Just two hours from London you can be enjoying delicious moules frites, decadent chocolates and the some of the world’s best beer while marveling at the Grand Place and other architectural marvels.

And wherever you decide to go, you have the option of comfortable standard class or luxury first class.