Lille French city

Lille is a large French city close to the Belgium border. My first sight of the city was that of a large traffic jam from several motorways that run around and through the city. I would recommend a sat nav if you are making your first visit by car.

To get to Lille by car from Calais or Paris, you have several options depending on your preferences and budget. You can take the train, the bus, the rideshare or drive yourself. Here are some estimates of the travel time and cost for each option:

Train: about 1 hour and 15 minutes, £14 - £26 per person .

Bus: about 1 hour and 25 minutes, £7 - £16 per person .

Rideshare: about 1 hour and 30 minutes, £8 per person .

Car: about 1 hour and 10 minutes, £18 - £27 for fuel and tolls .

The photo above shows the high speed train station. Where the eurostar train from London via the channel tunnel arrives.

The trip takes about 1 hour 20 mins My son who lives in London found it quicker overall than flying.

You only have a short check in time on the train and town centre to town centre.

Between the two main station is the Euralille a large modern shopping complex.

Or if you prefer old buildings and traffic free streets then head for Rue de la Grande Chaussee. The old street is full of quality shops , restaurants and cafe bars. You can eat out in a restaurant in the City The area has many old streets and museums and green areas with riverside walks and also a tramway if you get tired.

Lille has a rich cultural and architectural heritage, with many museums, art galleries and monuments to explore. Some of the most popular attractions are:

Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille one of the largest museums in France, with collections of paintings, sculptures, drawings and ceramics from various periods and regions. The museum is located in a beautiful 19th-century building on Place de la Republique .

Musee La Piscine a unique museum housed in a former Art Deco swimming pool, with exhibits of industrial and applied arts, textiles and fine arts. The museum also features a garden, a cafe and a bookshop .

Lille Cathedral also known as the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Treille, this is the main church of Lille and a symbol of its history and identity. The cathedral has a striking modern facade made of marble and glass, contrasted with a Gothic interior decorated with stained glass windows and sculptures .

Try the Bois de Boulogne it is a large park with a free zoo near the citadelle fort. If you want to go to the markets visit our market page for details

The Zoo is very good it was free when we visited you can find it at Parc de Zoologique Avenue Mathias Delobel 59000. It is about a mile form the city centre. Every September the city holds the largest flea market in Europe.

Google street map

A short video of the old town centre