http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19460 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19460 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19459 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19459 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19457 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19457 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19455 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19455 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19456 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19456 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19454 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19454 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19451 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19451 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19450 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19450 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18600 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18600 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16973 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16973 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16820 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16820 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16113
Then head to "Het Park"in the town square for fantastic cuisine.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16113 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16112 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16112 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16111
Within walking distance of the Gare Du Midi, and ideally placed to fill that wait before boarding the Eurostar, explore a nation's fascination with comic strip heroes.

Beautifully presented displays carry explanations of the storylines and characters, whilst giving interesting background of the creators and designers.

A reasonable knowledge of French would be useful, though. The Belgian Comic Strip Centre (Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinee) is in Rue Des Sables.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16111 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16109
Don’t bother with the slightly eccentric and haphazard metro system – just walk. Central Brussels is small enough to potter round in a day.

Aim for the splendid Place du Grand Sablon (where you can get the best chocolates in the world) then head downhill to La Bourse and Grand Place and west into the trendy St. Catherine and St. Géry areas.

Make sure you take in plenty of good food and drink along with the stunning Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings that populate so many streets.

The best thing about Bruxelles/Brussel and the bilingual-Belgians is that they know all this; they just don’t go shouting it from every corner of the Grand Place.

I can heartily recommend buying the finest cheeses, meats and bread, beer and chocolates from the above areas, getting back on the Eurostar and turning all the other passengers green with envy as you tuck-in. Brussels is nearer than Paris too!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16109 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16108
Stroll down Chausee d'Ixelles and back via Chausee de Wavre, investigating the shops and bars along the way. The contrast with the rest of the city is heightened by the fact that the area is not out in the suburbs but close to the city centre.

Just the other side of the metro station are the antique shops and grand buildings of the Upper Town.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16108 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16107
The food is utterly Belgian especially when the owner, Alain Fayt, matches the menu to his personally sourced Belgian beer.

A different glass with each course is accompanied with his unique commentary. The dessert even comes with its own floor-show.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16107 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16106
Scentastic is located underground at the Bourse metro/tram stop, and is just a couple of minutes walk from the Grand Place.

Once you’ve found the understated entrance (difficult, even if you know it’s there) you enter what looks like a large romper room/playground, all primary colours and play equipment.

Scientastic will then amaze and educate through its use of simple psychological, physiological perception experiments.

Virtually everything is hands on and a simple explanation leaflet can explain some of the impossible thing you encounter.

Try to arrive just as they open as usually a multi-lingual member of staff will perform a series of moves in front of a mirror.

Then go and play and explore at your leisure, it can and should take at least a couple of hours, adults will at least be surprised and kids just love it.

Opening hours are at 1400 hrs. Weekends and Belgium school holidays otherwise you will have to make a reservation. Their website is at scientastic.com or telephone 02.732.13.36 (usually an answer machine they will call back).

Belgium international telephone prefix is 0032 then leave off the first zero.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16106 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16105
This major European chain sells general electronic devices plus a fair selection of CDs but excels with its choice of DVDs at competitive prices.

Art-house and world cinema titles which would be hard or impossible to find in the UK are well represented though remember to check that foreign language films have English sub-titles!

(There is also a branch of Media Markt in Antwerp on De Keyserlei close to the Central Station.)]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16105 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16104 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16104