Diamonds are forever in Antwerp

10:15am Tuesday 27th November 2007

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WE'RE a lucky lot, us Brits. Our green and pleasant land is ideally situated for exploring Europe and, with several airports on our doorstep, we're spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing city break destinations.

Many people opt to visit capitals, like Paris or Rome, but plenty of other places can give you a taste of the continental lifestyle.

Antwerp is just one of them. If you've got a couple of days to spare, try soaking up the culture in this cool Belgian city.

Known as the diamond capital of the world, Antwerp is less than an hour away by plane and ticks all the boxes when it comes to city breaks - there's a relaxing river to float down, plenty of cutting-edge fashion boutiques, hundreds of years of history and more handmade chocolates than you can shake a stick at.

My hotel, the Park Plaza Astrid Hotel, overlooked the square in front of Central Station and, thanks to the brilliant bus, tram and train links, I was right in the thick of the action.

Everything in Antwerp is within walking distance, however, and, although I wouldn't call the city compact, the best way to see the sights is certainly on foot.

I started my visit with a trip to the world-famous Diamond Quarter and it was as impressive as I'd hoped.

The streets are lined with jewellery stores and in several of the larger shops - like Diamondland - you can go behind the scenes and see how diamonds are graded and cut.

If you like things that glitter, the Diamond Museum and its special displays - like the current one on bling - is well worth a visit.

For security reasons, staff do not reveal the price of objects on display, but with extravagant exhibits like Swarovski-encrusted bikes and so-called "million dollar shoes", it's best to assume they're pretty pricey.

The same can be said for a lot of the fashion in Antwerp. Take a walk around the fashion district to get a taste of what's hot and what's not and why not visit the MoMu fashion museum while you're at it?

This is a great place to start exploring the trends, as is the Flanders Fashion Institute, which features many up-and coming designers, like Tim van Steenburgen.

Culture vultures will appreciate the city's hidden treasures, like the Rubens House - the former home of famous artist Peter Paul Rubens - and Lucy, a funky new arts project in the Arthur Building.

To feel like you've struck gold though, step into any one of Antwerp's delightful chocolate shops.

Packed with seasonal goodies, your willpower will be severely tested here. The handmade treats from family-run chocolatiers, such as Goossens, are to die for.

Flights with VLM Airlines from London City Airport start from £25 per person one-way, plus taxes and charges. For details, call 0871 666 5050 or visit www.flyvlm.com.

For more information on Antwerp, contact Tourism Flanders - Brussels on 0207 307 7738 or log on to www.visitflanders.co.uk.