From royal pageantry to Gothic chapels and gilded guildhalls, this one-week journey threads together three European heavyweights: London, Cambridge, and Brussels. You’ll trace millennia of history, taste your way through markets and breweries, and ride Europe’s most storied train lines between them.

London is a city of palaces and pubs, where Roman walls meet glass-and-steel skylines. Cambridge distills English academia into cobbled lanes and river lawns where students glide punts under centuries-old bridges. Brussels dazzles with the Grand-Place, world-class art, Trappist ales, and chocolate craftsmanship that borders on the spiritual.

Plan on afternoon arrival Day 1 and an afternoon departure on Day 7. You’ll base in London first (with a full Cambridge day trip), then ride the Eurostar to Brussels. Book key entries ahead (Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Sky Garden) and trains for better prices. Pack layers; weather can swing in both the UK and Belgium.

London

London’s tapestry stretches from the Crown Jewels to cutting-edge galleries, with bridges arcing over the Thames and markets that feed the soul. Stand in Westminster’s echoing nave, stroll the South Bank at sunset, and close the night under a pub’s wood beams.

• Top sights: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, British Museum, Covent Garden, Soho, Shoreditch street art, Sky Garden views.
• Food & drink: Borough Market’s artisanal stalls, Dishoom’s Bombay comfort classics, St John Bread & Wine for nose-to-tail plates, Nightjar’s vintage cocktails.
• Fun fact: The Great Fire of 1666 reshaped the city; you can still trace medieval lanes in the City, then look up to the Walkie Talkie and learn how London keeps reinventing itself.

Stay: Browse stays on VRBO London or hotels on Hotels.com London (Covent Garden/Soho for theaters and dining; South Bank for river walks; the City/Shoreditch for contemporary vibes).

Getting in: Compare flights to London on Omio (Flights). For UK rail (e.g., London–Cambridge), see Omio (Trains).

Cambridge

Cambridge is collegiate England in high definition: chapel spires, college courts, willow-draped riverbanks, and bikes everywhere. Scholars, poets, and Nobel laureates have walked these same lanes.

• Top sights: King’s College Chapel, the Backs, Mathematical Bridge, Great St Mary’s tower view, Kettle’s Yard (modern art in a home), Fitzwilliam Museum.
• Food & drink: Fitzbillies for the legendary Chelsea buns, Aromi for Sicilian slices, The Eagle pub where the DNA “double helix” was announced, Parker’s Tavern for modern British.
• Fun fact: Punting along the River Cam began as a way to move cargo in shallow waters; today it’s the quintessential Cambridge pastime.

Stay (optional if you choose a night here): VRBO Cambridge | Hotels.com Cambridge

Getting there: London King’s Cross/Liverpool Street to Cambridge by train in ~50–70 minutes, from ~£20–35 each way if booked in advance. Search times/prices on Omio (Trains).

Brussels

Brussels blends medieval squares with EU modernism, lace-like Art Nouveau facades, and a culinary scene where frites and waffles coexist with Michelin stars. The Grand-Place glitters by day and glows at night.

• Top sights: Grand-Place, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Magritte Museum, Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Atomium, Mini-Europe, Sablon antiques district, European Quarter.
• Food & drink: Mussels and frites, farmhouse lambics at Cantillon, pralines at Pierre Marcolini and Neuhaus, seafood at Noordzee Mer du Nord, waffles at Maison Dandoy.
• Fun fact: Comics are serious business: Brussels is the capital of Tintin and home to colorful mural trails celebrating bande dessinée.

Stay: Explore VRBO Brussels or Hotels.com Brussels (Grand-Place for postcard views; Sablon/Ixelles for boutiques and cafés; European Quarter for calm, green spaces).

Getting there from London: Eurostar from St Pancras to Bruxelles-Midi in ~2:01. Typical one-way fares €70–130 when booked early. Check schedules and prices on Omio (Trains).

Day 1: Arrival in London + South Bank Sunset

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a Thames-side stroll from the London Eye to Tower Bridge: river views, street performers, and icons in a single walk. Espresso stop at Monmouth Coffee (Covent Garden) for single-origin brews.

Evening: Time a free-ticket visit to Sky Garden for dusk cityscapes (book ahead). Dinner near London Bridge: Padella (hand‑rolled pici cacio e pepe; they queue but it moves) or Wright Brothers for oysters and shellfish. Nightcap at The Boot & Flogger, an atmospheric wine bar set in a Dickensian warren.

Day 2: Royal London, Westminster, and the West End

Morning: Westminster trio: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament exterior, then tour Westminster Abbey—coronations, poets, and kings under one roof. Walk St James’s Park to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard (check schedule).

Afternoon: Dive into the Churchill War Rooms to step inside Britain’s WWII nerve center. Late lunch at The Laughing Halibut (crispy cod and chunky chips) or The Goring Bar & Lounge for refined sandwiches if you’re feeling posh.

Evening: Pre-theater dinner at Dishoom Covent Garden (black daal slow-cooked 24 hours, gunpowder potatoes, and house chai). Catch a West End show nearby. Celebrate after at Swift Soho for impeccable, classically driven cocktails served fast.

Day 3: Cambridge Day Trip — Colleges, Punting, and Storybook Lanes

Morning: Train to Cambridge (~1 hour; depart around 8:30–9:00; book via Omio (Trains)). Fuel up at Bould Brothers Coffee (precision espresso) before a collegiate deep-dive:

Recommended activities (bookable via Viator):

• Cambridge University Walking Tour by Alumni™ Kings College Option — University grads unpack traditions, rivalries, and hidden histories as you explore quads and chapels.

  

Afternoon: Classic lunch at Fitzbillies (Cambridge blue cheese salad and a Chelsea bun for dessert) or The Eagle pub, where Watson and Crick announced the DNA model. Then glide along the Backs on a chauffeured punt:

• Shared Guided Punting Tour of Cambridge — Drift under the Mathematical Bridge with college lore narrated as you pass.

  

Pop into King’s College Chapel for its fan-vaulted ceiling and stained glass (check opening hours). Browse Kettle’s Yard if time allows—modern art arranged like a lived-in house.

Evening: Add a spine-tingling twist before your return train:

• Cambridge University Ghost Tour by Alumni™ — Eerie tales, centuries of sightings, and lore-rich lanes.

  

Dinner before departure: Parker’s Tavern (modern British—roast chicken, sticky toffee pudding) or The Anchor by the river for hearty pub plates. Train back to London around 9–10 pm.

Day 4: Tower of London, Bridges, and East End Flavors

Morning: Arrive early to the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels without the crush. Coffee at WatchHouse Tower Bridge (single-origin filter), then walk across Tower Bridge and peek into St Katharine Docks’ marina.

Afternoon: Lunch at St John Bread & Wine in Spitalfields (Welsh rarebit, roast bone marrow) or Poppies for a retro fish-and-chips fix. Explore Old Spitalfields Market, then a Shoreditch street-art loop (look for Banksy-era walls and ever-changing murals).

Evening: Dinner at Brat (Basque-style cooking over open fire; turbot or smoked potatoes) or Smokestak (sticky pork ribs, charred brisket). Jazz-age cocktails at Nightjar Shoreditch—table reservations recommended.

Day 5: London to Brussels by Eurostar + Grand-Place Magic

Morning: Board the Eurostar from St Pancras to Bruxelles-Midi (~2:01; check fares on Omio (Trains)). Check in and drop bags.

Afternoon: Lunch at Noordzee Mer du Nord—order the shrimp croquettes and plancha-seared fish at the standing counter. Wander the Grand-Place (UNESCO), then the Galeries Royales Saint‑Hubert. Sweet stop at Pierre Marcolini for single-origin pralines and Neuhaus for the classic praline lineage. Waffle at Maison Dandoy (liege style with caramelized pearls).

Evening: Sablon’s antique shops glow at dusk. Dinner at Nüetnigenough (Belgian comfort: carbonnade flamande, rabbit in Kriek) or Le Chou de Bruxelles (dozens of mussel preparations). Toast at Moeder Lambic (Fontainas) for impeccably curated Belgian drafts.

Day 6: Museums, Atomium, and Lambic Heritage

Morning: Choose the Magritte Museum (surrealism’s poet of pipes and clouds) or the Royal Museums of Fine Arts (Bruegel to modern masters). Coffee at OR Coffee Roasters (careful roasts, minimalist space).

Afternoon: Metro to the Atomium—futurist spheres from Expo ’58 with panoramic views—and Mini‑Europe for a whimsical tour of the continent in miniature. Light lunch before or after at Tonton Garby (cult sandwiches, custom-built) or at Frit Flagey for crisp frites with andalouse sauce.

Evening: Early evening at Brasserie Cantillon, a living museum of lambic brewing; taste gueuze and kriek drawn from barrels (check hours; last entries often mid-late afternoon). Dinner at Le Zinneke for mussels in seasonal broths, rustic décor, and generous portions. Nightcap near the Grand‑Place or sleep early for travel day.

Day 7: European Quarter, Parks, and Departure

Morning: Visit the European Parliament (Hemicycle) or the House of European History to understand the EU’s evolution. Stroll Parc du Cinquantenaire’s arches and lawns; peek into Autoworld if classic cars call.

Afternoon: Brunch or lunch at Peck 47 (savory waffles, shakshuka) or the original Le Pain Quotidien (Brussels-born, great breads). Last-minute chocolate and lace shopping near the Grand-Place. Depart in the afternoon—search flights or trains on Omio (Flights) or Omio (Trains).

Practical Travel Notes

• Transport: In London, tap contactless on buses/tube; in Brussels, STIB trams/metro are efficient—buy a day pass if riding often.
• Tickets to prebook: Eurostar, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Sky Garden, and any Michelin or cocktail bars.
• Budgets: London–Cambridge train ~£20–35 each way; London–Brussels Eurostar ~€70–130 one way; museum entries €10–20 typical; meals range £10–50 depending on venue.

In one week you’ll trace royal London, scholarly Cambridge, and Brussels’ golden squares and breweries—linked by quick trains and generous plates. Come hungry for history and flavor; leave with a camera roll of bridges, chapels, and Art Nouveau curves, and a newfound allegiance to both British pies and Belgian frites.