Slain by medieval charm. Steve McKenna puts Bruges on the to-do list - with a bullet. There's an amusing clip in the black comedy In Bruges, when hitmen Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are discussing the merits of Belgium's best-preserved medieval city. The dozy duo have been ordered to stay put there after a botched contract killing in London, so Gleeson takes Farrell on a day trip, hoping he'll be wowed by the abundant Gothic architecture, canals and cobbled streets that form Bruges. Frustrated by his young colleague's lack of interest, Gleeson labels him the worst tourist in the world - to which Farrell replies: "If I grew up on a farm and was retarded, Bruges might impress me. But I didn't, so it doesn't." The sulky Irish character could be forgiven for having other things on his mind; if he didn't, he would surely have to concede that Bruges is quite a spectacle. This fairytale, canal-endowed Flemish city is cuter and quieter than Venice, particularly in the autumn months. Hiring a bike, taking a horse-drawn carriage or boat trip are popular pastimes but I found the best way to get acquainted with Bruges was on foot.