Skip to main content
Answer

Seat Reservations

  • March 29, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 66 views
M

Hi everyone! I’m hearing mixed things about whether seat reservations are required in the UK. I will be traveling from London to York and then from York to Edinburgh in August 2025. Does anyone know whether I will need to have seat reservations?

I’m also having trouble booking seat reservations from Amsterdam to Ghent, Beliguim (also in August). It says that they may all be booked up. It seems like that would be very early to book up but, if that’s the case, does anyone know how else I can make that trip?

Thank you!

Best answer by Angelo

Reservations are mostly optional in UK. If you want to buy a reservation, do it localy in a station because reservations are for free in UK.

From Amsterdam to Ghent you have some options. 

With Eurostar (compulsory reservation) + IC (reservation not possible) - would not reccomend for this journey to pay very much for a reservation on Eurostar.

Or you take the Eurocity or Eurocity Direct on the same route to Antwerpen and change there to the IC to Ghent. All trains: Reservation not possible. Hop on the train with a valid ticket or pass.

4 replies

Angelo
Railmaster
Forum|alt.badge.img+11
  • Angelo
  • Railmaster
  • Answer
  • March 29, 2025

Reservations are mostly optional in UK. If you want to buy a reservation, do it localy in a station because reservations are for free in UK.

From Amsterdam to Ghent you have some options. 

With Eurostar (compulsory reservation) + IC (reservation not possible) - would not reccomend for this journey to pay very much for a reservation on Eurostar.

Or you take the Eurocity or Eurocity Direct on the same route to Antwerpen and change there to the IC to Ghent. All trains: Reservation not possible. Hop on the train with a valid ticket or pass.

Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask in the community! Known languages: Deutsch, Italiano, English.
ralderton
ralderton
Railmaster
Forum|alt.badge.img+8
  • ralderton
  • Railmaster
  • March 29, 2025

Absolutely not required in the UK, except for sleepers and Eurostar.

But as ​@Angelo says, they're free. So no harm in getting one if you want. For the two routes you mention, on LNER, book them at https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/make-a-reservation/

and enter 0 as your ticket number.

But feel free to jump on a different train if you get to the station early. They're every 30 minutes.

Angelo
M

Reservations are mostly optional in UK. If you want to buy a reservation, do it localy in a station because reservations are for free in UK.

From Amsterdam to Ghent you have some options. 

With Eurostar (compulsory reservation) + IC (reservation not possible) - would not reccomend for this journey to pay very much for a reservation on Eurostar.

Or you take the Eurocity or Eurocity Direct on the same route to Antwerpen and change there to the IC to Ghent. All trains: Reservation not possible. Hop on the train with a valid ticket or pass.

Thanks so much! Is there a chance that I wouldn’t get on the IC or Eurocity train? Like that it would be full. That’s mostly what I’m worried about. 

T
Full steam ahead
Forum|alt.badge.img+6
  • thibcabe
  • Full steam ahead
  • March 29, 2025

Reservations are not possible so nobody has priority over anybody. Simply show up 10-15 min before departure in Amsterdam Zuid (not Centraal!) for peace of mind.

For IC trains and Belgium travel in general: plenty of space and trains. Even if one train is late or cancelled, the next one is 15-20 min later.

Angelo
Terms and Conditions & Privacy PolicyAccessibility statement