Get your next getaway on the right track: The 16 best European city break destinations Brits can reach by train, ranked by Which? – with Paris and Amsterdam beaten by a ‘magical’ spot in Belgium

Bruges has been named the best European city break by train for Brits in a new survey. Which? surveyand thus beat capitals such as Paris and Amsterdam.

The consumer organisation asked over 1,000 members to rate their experiences of European cities that are accessible by train from the UK. The eligible destinations were all seven hours or less from London.

Respondents rated the locations five stars across seven criteria, including food and drink, accommodation, cultural sights and attractions, and value for money. An overall score for the city was then calculated based on overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend the city.

Belgium’s Bruges topped the rankings with an impressive score of 85 percent.

Bruges is a three and a half hour drive from London St Pancras, making it just a short drive from the English capital. Yet, according to respondents, it feels like a different world.

Bruges has been named the best European city break by rail for Brits in a new Which? survey

According to Which?, they enjoyed Bruges’ canals and medieval cobbled streets, but it was the “magical” and “enchanting” atmosphere that really set the city apart, the research found.

Which? said: ‘With its tempting chocolate shops and cosy cafes, the city scored four stars for food and drink, and was also awarded four stars for its cultural sights and attractions, accommodation, value for money and ease of transport. Several respondents noted that the city was compact and easy to get around on foot.’

In second place is Bordeaux in France, with 84 percent. From London, it is about a six-hour drive to Bordeaux.

The city is known for its wine and was one of only two cities to receive a five-star rating for food and drink, according to Which?, with several respondents citing its ‘excellent restaurants’ which ‘offer something for every taste and budget’ as a favourite.

Which? asked over 1,000 of its members to rate their experiences of European cities accessible from the UK by train, with the eligible destinations each being seven hours or less from London

The city also received five stars for its ease of getting around, with Which? noting that visitors said the city was easy to explore on foot or by public transport, thanks to its ‘efficient tram network’.

It was awarded four stars for its cultural sights and attractions, including the ‘popular’ wine museum and cultural centre, La Cité du Vin, where, according to Which?, ‘visitors can enjoy a range of activities, from an interactive exhibition on the history of winemaking to wine tastings’.

In third place were the Dutch capital Amsterdam and the historic French city of Avignon, with a score of 82 percent.

Which? said: ‘Amsterdam is famous for its maze of waterways lined with characterful canal houses and is just a four-hour drive from London St Pancras. Respondents gave the city five stars for cultural sights and attractions, including the Rijksmuseum, home to some of the world’s most celebrated artworks, and the Anne Frank House, which offers a somber reflection on life during the Holocaust. The city was awarded four stars for ease of travel and three stars for value for money, food and drink and accommodation.’

Six hours’ drive from London, historic Avignon also received five stars for its cultural sights and attractions, including the famous Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that respondents described as ‘an essential visit’, according to Which?. The palace now offers ‘a fascinating insight into a unique period in European history, when the French city was home to the papacy from 1309 to 1379’.

Which? noted that the city also received four stars for value for money and ease of exploring the area, and three stars for accommodation and lack of crowds.

A three-and-a-half hour journey from London St Pancras, Bruges (above) is just a short hop from the English capital, but according to respondents to the Which? survey it feels like a world of difference

About a three and a half hour drive from London, Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second city, is in fourth place with a score of 81 percent.

Which? said it was described by one respondent as ‘an underrated post-war gem’.

The consumer champion added: ‘Much of the original city was lost to bombing in World War II, but it has been rebuilt as a modern city with architectural landmarks such as the famous De Rotterdam, made up of three interconnected towers, the iconic Markthal Rotterdam food market and the mirrored Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen museum.’

Ghent in Belgium followed closely behind, completing the top five with a score of 80 percent, while the French capital Paris and Strasbourg tied for sixth place with a score of 79 percent.

Bordeaux in France came in second. The city was only one of two in the survey, Which? noted, to receive a five-star rating for food and drink

In third place with a score of 82 percent were the Dutch capital Amsterdam (above) and the historic French city of Avignon.

Cologne and Lyon finished in seventh place with 71 percent, Brussels and Lille finished in eighth place (70 percent), Basel in Switzerland came in ninth (68 percent), Frankfurt made the top 10 with 64 percent and Marseille received an overall score of 63 percent, placing it in 11th place.

Geneva, Switzerland, received the lowest score of 60 percent (12th). The city is about six and a half hours by train from London.

Which? said: ‘Although the city was awarded four stars for ease of getting around, and three stars for food and drink and lack of crowds, it only received one star for value for money, making it the only city in the rankings to achieve this.’

Several respondents noted that the city is expensive, Which? noted, adding that while the city was described as ‘beautiful’ and ‘clean’, some visitors concluded it was quiet and ‘boring’, unlike some other destinations.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: ‘You can reach some of Europe’s most spectacular cities by train from the UK in about the same time as flying, and often for less money too.

‘If you don’t live in London, it’s easy to skip the Eurostar, but with cities like Birmingham, Cardiff and Portsmouth just two hours from the capital, you can still travel to many European destinations quicker than flying. It’s certainly a lot more fun and a lot better for the environment.’