European cities by train

[Minitoots]

I'm planning to go away to Europe for a few days around Easter and want to go by train- any recommendations on less well known cities with good modern art galleries which are fairly easily accessible from London? I love Amsterdam, Paris, Venice, Nice etc but want to find somewhere new. happy to travel for several hours to get there, or to break the journey en route....

[maxxi]

I've said it on another thread and it's not a quick journey and hardly a less well known city but if you haven't tried it Vienna (Eurostar to Paris then on via Zurich) is worth a visit.

More art (especially modern) than you can shake a stick at and very cheap (and good quality) restaurants and bars.

[Ruffler]

Barcelona looks very do-able by train. http://www.seat61.com/Spain.htm#.VtGmJ_DfWK0

[Alex K]

Aachen; the Ludwig Museum for contemporary art; the cathedral; two days' worth of cosy. The IBIS at the top of the Theaterstrasse is decent.

[DaveR]

Antwerp and Ghent both have good contemporary galleries and you could easily do both in a few days.

[Jennys]

The Beaux arts museum in Lille is good and you can easily get to Roubaix from there and see La Piscine gallery.

[mancity68]

Cologne is easy by train. Great city for a weekend.

[Townleygreen]

Would recommend Cologne and Antwerp. Munich excellent - might be too long for you?

[Lowlander]

Vienna Vienna Vienna

Good resource for European train travel http://www.seat61.com

[Minitoots]

Thanks for all the good suggestions which I will bear in mind for the next trip. I've ended up booking a direct train from London to Marseille - it's only 6 and a bit hours and as well as the city itself, will be a good base for day trips to Aix, Arles, Nimes and coastal villages. If anyone has been to Marseille or the local area recently, I'd be interested to hear recommendations for the best areas of the city to stay in, etc.

I plan to book an apartment rather than hotel.