Castles & Palaces
Leeds Castle
A castle on islands in a lake formed by the River Len in Kent, often called the loveliest castle in the world.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom · France · Belgium
London to Brussels drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 4 hr 33 min
- Distance
- 362 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €45
- Tolls (est.)
- €8
The London to Brussels drive
The drive from London to Brussels covers 225 miles (362 km) and takes about 4 hr 33 min without stops, including the 35-minute Eurotunnel shuttle from Folkestone to Calais. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
It's split between the E40, the A16 and the M20, with no single road carrying more than 36% of it. On the way you go past Bexley, Maidstone and Folkestone, and you'll be near Calais roughly 2 h 9 min in. It crosses 2 borders: United Kingdom to France near Calais and France to Belgium near Brugge.
It's flat. Nowhere along the way did we measure the road higher than about 107 m above sea level.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €45 one-way plus roughly €8 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 225 miles this is longer than 66% of the 144 routes covered here. Even in a single day it crosses 3 countries, so keep documents where you can reach them.
The road, kilometre by kilometre
Towns within a few kilometres of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping, plus where you cross the border.
- StartLondon
- 25 kmBexley18 min in
- 62 kmMaidstone46 min in
- 114 kmFolkestone1 h 24 min in
- 145 kmInto France
- 175 kmCalais2 h 9 min ingood place to stop
- 218 kmCoudekerque-Branche2 h 40 min in
- 249 kmInto Belgium
- 280 kmBrugge3 h 26 min in
- 320 kmGent3 h 55 min ingood place to stop
- 352 kmDenderleeuw4 h 19 min in
- 362 kmBrussels
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- E40135 km · 36%
- A1655 km · 15%
- M2049 km · 13%
- A230 km · 8%
Best stops between London and Brussels
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Castles & Palaces
Dover Castle
A medieval fortress overlooking the English Channel, known as the Key to England due to its strategic defensive significance.
Natural Wonders
White Cliffs of Dover
Iconic chalk cliffs reaching up to 110 meters high along the English Channel, symbolizing Britain for centuries.
Castles & Palaces
Hever Castle
Romantic 13th-century double-moated castle that was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, set within award-winning gardens and a 38-acre lake.
Racetracks
Brands Hatch Circuit
Legendary undulating British racing circuit in Kent hosting major motorsport events and offering car racing experiences.
Landmarks
Bruges Markt
The medieval heart of Bruges, where the climbable Belfry tower looms over a square of stepped-gable guild houses.
Cafes & Pit Stops
Café Vlissinghe
Bruges tavern serving continuously since 1515: likely Belgium's oldest café, with a Flemish Renaissance interior, a stove-warmed main room and a boules garden out back; Van Dyck is said to have paid in paintings.
Cathedrals & Temples
Canterbury Cathedral
Seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the oldest Christian structures in England.
Tunnels
Channel Tunnel (Eurotunnel)
50 km tunnel under the English Channel - drive your car on the train
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
United Kingdom
- Motorway
- 112 km/h · 48 in town
- Tolls
- Individual tolled crossings (Dart Charge, M6 Toll)
- Drives on
- the left
Low-emission zones: London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone).
France
- Motorway
- 130 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Autoroute à péage
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
- Winter tyres
- 1 November - 31 March
Low-emission zones: ZFE (Zones à Faibles Émissions) — needs a Crit'Air (Certificat qualité de l'air).
Belgium
- Motorway
- 120 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- No motorway tolls
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
Low-emission zones: Antwerp LEZ (2017) and Ghent LEZ (2020).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in United Kingdom and France and Belgium
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Verdon Gorge: Route des Crêtes
Europe's deepest canyon, turquoise water 700m below, and a clifftop road with no barriers
104 km · 3h driving · 5 stops · 2 days
Snake Pass + Peak District
Cobblestone villages, Bronte-novel moors, and the moodiest 14 miles of road in England
104 km · 2h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
Atlantic Highway A39: North Cornwall
Cornish surf beaches, smuggler's coves, and the Westcountry pasty trail
139 km · 2.5h driving · 7 stops · 4 days
Causeway Coastal Route
Belfast to Derry along Northern Ireland's cliff-edge coast, via Game of Thrones country
200 km · 3.3h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
London to Brussels FAQs
How long is the drive from London to Brussels?
Driving from London to Brussels takes about 4 hr 33 min nonstop, covering 225 miles (362 km), including the 35-minute Eurotunnel shuttle crossing. Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from London to Brussels?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €45 one-way. Expect around €8 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from London to Brussels in one day?
Yes, at about 4 hr 33 min of driving, London to Brussels is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from London to Brussels?
The fastest route uses the E40 (about 135 km), the A16 (about 55 km), the M20 (about 49 km), the A2 (about 30 km). It passes Bexley, Maidstone, Folkestone, Calais.
Where should I stop on the way from London to Brussels?
If you stop every couple of hours, Calais comes up about 2 h in, and Gent comes up about 4 h in. All are just off the main road.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 57 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between London and Brussels?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Leeds Castle, Dover Castle, White Cliffs of Dover: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from London & Brussels
Amsterdam → BrusselsBrussels → BrugesLondon → AberdeenLondon → AmsterdamLondon → BarcelonaLondon → BathLondon → BirminghamLondon → BrightonLondon → BristolLondon → Bruges
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, browse every destination we cover or the Belgium planner, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Belgium guide.