Balance January 2020 - 57

TRAVEL
TRAIN
GANG

BRUSSELS
We might be severing
ties in a political sense
with our European
chums, so all the more
reason to visit this hub of
culture. Take yourself off to the
Atomium, arguably the city's most
remarkable museum. Six of its nine
spheres are accessible to the public, and
enjoy the restaurant at the top that
offers superb views of the whole city.
Just nearby is Mini-Europe, which
features 1:25 reproductions of
monuments in 80 cities and 350
buildings, and is a reminder how
interconnected we are as a continent.
Stay Drawing inspiration from the
neighbouring Botanical Gardens, the
rooms and suites at the Hotel Indigo
Brussels are designed with tropical,
herbal and floral themes in mind, and
make for a calming stay. It's also just a
short bus ride away from the Eurostar
terminal, so perfect for getting settled in
quickly. ihg.com
Travel time 1 hours 53 minutes from
London St Pancras International
Cost £245

AMSTERDAM

LYO N
As the third biggest city
in France, this UNESCO
World Heritage Site is
certainly worth a visit.
The sheer architectural
features of the famous Traboules, built
in the Renaissance era, make for a visit
in themselves. These delightful
passageways are open to the public and
run beneath the buildings above straight
to the Saône River. For more culture,
head to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de
Lyon and fill your mind with paintings
and education galore in this former
abbey from the 17th century. Once
you've finished there, pay a visit to
the expansive Parc de la Tete d'Or for
a walk around one of its 18 tracks and
experience some childish fun with
friends and family at its mini-golf course.
Stay The Hotel Dieu, situated in the
Grand Hôtel Dieu complex is one of
Lyon's most iconic buildings, the site of
a former hospital. Located right by the
river's edge, its understated luxury rides
tandem with the history of Lyon and is
fit for couples and families alike. ihg.com
Travel time 4 hours and 55 minutes from
London St Pancras International
Cost £265

In the time it takes to
get to Scotland, you can
pull into the 'Dam's
Centraal railway station.
What better way to
explore the city than to languidly
pootle on a canal cruise. Get a culture
fix at the Rijksmuseum or if shopping's
your thing, head to De Negen Straatjes
(the Nine Streets) area, which is full of
boutique shops. Head to the
Vondelpark for tea and cake at the
wonderful 't Blauwe Theehuis. That's
without mentioning all the other kind
of cafés to relax in...
Stay The Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam
exudes a modern approach to luxury
whilst keeping true to Dutch design. Its
"Stay Human" rooms invite guests to
engage in mindfulness and water the
room's plants, write down your
experiences in the confessions book,
and capture your Amsterdam
experiences with the in-room Polaroid
camera, and leave for the next guests
to enjoy. kimptondewitthotel.com
Travel time 5 hours 50 minutes from
London St Pancras International
Cost: £304 via Eurostar

HOW TO BE A MORE
ECO-CONSCIOUS
TRAVELLER
1. Reduce how many flights you take
each year and replace them with train,
coach or ferry trips
2. Join Climate Perks (climateperks.
com), where employers can offer their
team a minimum of two "journey" days
a year to cover the extra time it takes
for staff to take flight-free holidays
3. Swap long weekends abroad for
staycations right here in the UK
4. Talk about why you're opting for
trains and ferries over planes with
friends, family and colleagues and
kick-start a culture of eco-travelling

57
http://www.ihg.com http://www.kimptondewitthotel.com http://www.ihg.com
Balance January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance January 2020
