4 ms·

I’ve got the opposite impression coming to London from Brussels. London is so much better. When you arrive in London by Eurostar, you walk on a nice wooden floo

I’ve got the opposite impression coming to London from Brussels. London is so much better. When you arrive in London by Eurostar, you walk on a nice wooden floor. St. Pancras station is wonderful, clean and easy to navigate. When I come back in Bruxelles Midi, everything is dirty, mechanical stairs are broken, nobody can find the metro entrance, most exits are closed at 22:00... It seems that the grass is always greener on the other side. I’d like to try Tokyo some time though, it seems so nice. (I’m from Belgium)

rossng 8y ago
I think it's fair to say that St. Pancras is uniquely fantastic, and Bruxelles Midi is unusually terrible. I suspect stations in the UK and Belgium are much the same once you average them all out. That being said, I do think that the Tube has generally very good signage and ticketing. Its main issues are being unpleasantly loud and hot.
- thibautg 8y ago
  You are right. In London as a foreigner I’ve always found the Tube easy to use. Even when there is an interruption there is always someone to help and give guidance. The Oyster card is convenient and cheap for one day tourists. In train I’ve only ridden on the GWR Paddington-Bristol route. I found it very comfortable although it was still diesel powered. I’ve heard the line now has been electrified up to Swindon I think. I’m a railway worker so I can ride first class for free. It’s great because with GWR you get free drinks and snacks and the seats are really comfy. But if you have to pay it’s really expensive in the UK.
dreamcompiler 8y ago
Brussels has the only subway I've yet encountered that I could not figure out without local help. (And that was partially because I couldn't figure out how to buy a ticket from the machine and there was no booth with a person to sell me one.)

4 ms·

I’ve got the opposite impression coming to London from Brussels. London is so much better. When you arrive in London by Eurostar, you walk on a nice wooden floo

by thibautg 8y ago

rossng 8y ago
I think it's fair to say that St. Pancras is uniquely fantastic, and Bruxelles Midi is unusually terrible. I suspect stations in the UK and Belgium are much the same once you average them all out. That being said, I do think that the Tube has generally very good signage and ticketing. Its main issues are being unpleasantly loud and hot.
- thibautg 8y ago
  You are right. In London as a foreigner I’ve always found the Tube easy to use. Even when there is an interruption there is always someone to help and give guidance. The Oyster card is convenient and cheap for one day tourists. In train I’ve only ridden on the GWR Paddington-Bristol route. I found it very comfortable although it was still diesel powered. I’ve heard the line now has been electrified up to Swindon I think. I’m a railway worker so I can ride first class for free. It’s great because with GWR you get free drinks and snacks and the seats are really comfy. But if you have to pay it’s really expensive in the UK.
dreamcompiler 8y ago
Brussels has the only subway I've yet encountered that I could not figure out without local help. (And that was partially because I couldn't figure out how to buy a ticket from the machine and there was no booth with a person to sell me one.)