Armchair traveller's guide to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is usually one of the easiest, and most pleasurable, city break destinations imaginable. The Dutch capital is just a stone's throw from the UK, accessible by plane (1hr 5m), train (3h 41m), or boat (9h 40m on an overnight sleeper ferry and metro via the hook of Holland). While currently cut off from the city's charms - from its famed canals and gabled houses to its smorgasbord of museums and galleries - those craving a slice of the Netherlands can still get their kicks, albeit remotely.