The medieval town of Bruges is a tourist hotspot thanks to its picturesque cobbled streets and historic buildings - not to mention the 2008 film In Bruges starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.

Bruges makes one of the best day trips from European metropolises like London, a 3.5-hour Eurostar ride away. Direct trains also regularly leave from Brussels and last only about an hour.

Read our guide to the best attractions in Bruges, as recommended by Telegraph Travel. Plan your trip with our expert reviews of the best things to see and do.

I suspect that’s true of many people, but there’s no question that the film made Bruges look like an undiscovered gem, as it was for me till I visited this spring. Of course, it’s a gem that ...

The 13th-century Belfry of Bruges that dominates the skyline plays a significant role in the movie. The bell tower is 83-metres-high and many tourists climb its 366 steps to the observation ...