Things to do in Brussels

Brussels mixes grand and playful in equal measure. The Grand-Place, ringed by gilded guild houses, is one of Europe's most striking squares, while a few streets away the tiny Manneken Pis statue wears one of hundreds of costumes. The city is home to the Magritte Museum, the Art Nouveau townhouses of Victor Horta and the retro-futuristic Atomium.

It's also a food city, famous for chocolate, waffles, frites and beer, and a perfect base for day trips. Bruges and Ghent, with their canals and medieval centres, are both under an hour away by train, and the Belgian coast is within easy reach for a family day out.