The great thing about travelling to Europe on Eurostar is that you step off the train and are immediately in the centre of the city you are visiting.

There is no tiresome wait for your bags to come round on the carousel and no time-consuming transfer to worry about.

And now, for those who fancy a break to Belgium, Eurostar and Virgin Trains are offering a great deal which makes visiting this relaxing country even more appealing.

Your ticket to Brussels is valid to and from any station in Belgium. A 24-hour stopover is also included in your ticket making it easy and cost-effective to take a two-city break over a weekend.

My break began at Wolverhampton station on a Thursday morning where my wife and I caught the Virgin Train to Euston.

Once at Euston it is a 10-minute walk to the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras, although you can easily use the Tube if preferred. Your ticket includes your Underground transfer. The Eurostar takes just one hour 50 minutes to get to Brussels.

Brussels is a chilled out city with a deserved reputation for its relaxed and friendly attitude – even the police are called Politie. Our hotel for the night, The Dominican, built on the site of a 15th Century abbey, echoes the city’s calm atmosphere.

Belgium is of course famous for its chocolate and any visit would not be complete without a visit to one or more of the many shops selling delicate handmade treats. There are dozens to choose from. We visited Whittamers, one of the Belgium’s royal families favourite firms, and were lucky enough to be shown round the kitchens.

The chocolatiers at work in Belgium are more artist than cook, and if you do not get invited to make a behind-the-scenes visit, tourists can pay to get a taste of the skill involved at a chocolate making workshop. We attended an afternoon session at Atelier Plus in Ghent, the second city on our trip.

Our chocolate guides Mia and Hendrik explained the intricacies of mixing the chocolate, which has to be worked at exactly the right temperature for it to set properly into the myriad shapes and designs available. We were then allowed to pour the chocolate into egg moulds and put the finishing touches to more delicate creations. The results were delicious.

Our chocolate-making experience followed a “nibbling” tour around the exquisite medievel city which allows visitors to take in the main sights while experiencing the tastes of Belgium. We sampled the area’s best known cheeses, hams and sweets. It was all rounded off with a chance to try some of Belgium’s famous beers – of which there are 400 according to some guides.

However it is not just chocolate that Belgium has to offer anyone who enjoys their food. In Brussels and Ghent there are a wealth of restaurants available catering for all tastes, from modern cuisine to traditional fare. Many of the restaurants are based in historical buildings which have been lovingly converted, making for a unique dining experience.

On our final evening we ate at Pakhuis, a down-to-earth restaurant serving no-nonsense food in a converted warehouse. It is a delightfully novel place to eat, with many of the tables arranged on a balcony among the industrial-sized metal roof girders.

Before leaving Ghent for the homeward journey we enjoyed a traditional Belgium lunch of chicken stew at Belga Queen. Although simple food, it was perfectly seasoned and fantastic.

The restaurant is based in Ghent’s oldest building, a riverside grain store, and is delightfully laid out with trendy glass tables. I particularly liked upstairs where diners can watch the chefs at work.

In Ghent we stayed in the modern Marriott hotel, which boasts a fantastic glass-walled foyer/lounge that contrasts with the ancient architecture surrounding it. The hotel’s breakfast also deserves a mention as one of the best I have ever had, improved even further by the fantastic view across the river.

The journey back was as smooth as it was going with all our trains running on schedule. When it works as well as that, why would you ever want to fly again?

By David Briggs