First five-star hotel for Bruges

Holidaymakers heading to Bruges will soon be able to live in luxury with the arrival of the city's first five-star hotel.

The Kempinski Hotel Duke's Palace will open its doors in the Belgian city in March.

Offering 93 rooms, including 22 luxury suites, the hotel is housed in the historic 15th Century Prinsenhof building in the heart of the city.

Philippe DeMeyer, general manger of the hotel, said: "We are very much looking forward to welcoming guests in the New Year and are extremely proud of what promises to be an exciting addition to the charming city of Bruges."

Bruges is the perfect destination for Britons taking a ferry to Belgium. Situated in the West Flanders province, it's easily reached from the ferry port at Zeebrugge.

The maze of canals are ripe for exploration and the city centre - a Unesco World Heritage Site - contains some fine examples of medieval architecture.