London to Amsterdam by train

Who it is for

For anyone who wants three capitals of northern Europe in ten days, without flying.

Not for anyone traveling on a tight budget, since all three are among the most expensive cities in Europe.

The strategy

The three capitals are connected by train: London to Paris under the English Channel, and Paris to Amsterdam in a little over three hours.

What you will see

• British Museum, London. Founded in 1753, it is the world’s oldest public museum and is still free.
• Eiffel Tower, Paris. Raised in 26 months for the 1889 World's Fair, it stands 330 m with the antennas, made of 7,300 metric tons of puddled iron, 18,038 parts, and 2.5 million rivets, and is hand-repainted every seven years.
• Canal ring, Amsterdam. The houses are narrow because tax followed the width of the facade, they lean forward on purpose so furniture can be hoisted up by the hook in the attic without scraping the wall, and the dated gable at the top tells you the decade of construction.

Day by day

London

1. 1
   Day 1: Westminster, the river and the Tower of London

   1. 3Westminster AbbeyEssential
   2. 2Tower of LondonEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: Free museums and the south bank

   1. 1British MuseumEssential
   2. 4Tate ModernEssential
3. 3
   Day 3: East, market, and meridian

   1. 7GreenwichWorth a visit
4. 4
   Day 4: Windsor and Eton (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Paris

1. 5
   Day 5: The island, the river, and the Left Bank

   1. 4Sainte-ChapelleUp to half an hourEssential
2. 6
   Day 6: Museum in the morning, the Marais in the afternoon

   
3. 7
   Day 7: Montmartre, a cemetery, and the Eiffel Tower

   1. 1Eiffel TowerEssential
4. 8
   Day 8: Giverny (day trip)

   
5. 9
   Day 9: Versailles (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Amsterdam

1. 10
   Day 10: The old center and the canal ring

   1. 6BegijnhofUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. 5Anne Frank HouseWorth a visit
   3. 3Canal ring (Grachtengordel)Essential
2. 11
   Day 11: Museums, De Pijp and the park

   1. 1RijksmuseumEssential
   2. 2Van Gogh MuseumEssential
   3. 8Vondelpark and MuseumpleinUp to half an hourWorth a visit
3. 12
   Day 12: The Plantage, the docks and the north of the IJ

   1. 7National Holocaust Museum and Portuguese SynagogueWorth a visit
   2. 4NDSM and Eye FilmmuseumUp to half an hourEssential