Our Selection Of City Break Highlights
Short stay finder
Northern France is the perfect destination for an easy weekend city break. Lille, the capital of the northern France region is a contemporary, lively and culturally rich city, reached in under 90 minutes from London by Eurostar or an hours drive from Calais.
Shopping and wandering the quaint pebbled laneways in Lille is just as charming as a visit to Paris. You will be pulled by curiosity into hidden courtyards, intriging shops and enticing cafés. The food scene here is serious, and is easy to find a good meal to satisfy that good French food desire. Main attractions include the old town - Vieux Lille, the Palais des Beaux Arts and the Lille Museum of Modern Art. If time permits, and it must, head out to Roubaix by metro - known as the Soho of Lille, it's home to an th e incredible art museum La Piscine, housed in an old Art Deco swimming pool. It is breathtaking.
Amiens is another weekend city break option under 2 hours from Calais. Amiens is a charming town with three main points of interest. Its UNESCO listed Amiens Cathedral, its atmospheric network of canals running through the center of town with restaurants and quaint shops dotted along its banks, and the Hortillonnages floating market gardens which you can visit by boat.
The hilltop medieval town of Laon, the Art Deco town of Saint Quentin, the coast town of Le Touquet or St Omer are quieter options for a lovely urban break.
Your insider's guide
to Northern France
to Northern France
Just a short hop across the Channel, this fascinating region of northern France is famed for its Gothic art, its royal castles and its war sites, but also for its horses and its whipped cream!
Find out all about the world-class Gothic architecture of Amiens (between Lille and Paris) during a relaxing break in Northern France – and discover the city’s many hidden charms at your leisure.
Roubaix is a suburb likened to Soho, situated just 20 minutes by tram from the center of Lille. Diverse, full of character and attracting a wide range of people. Here, you can combine designer shopping and outlets, French charm and cultural visits.
Step off the Eurostar and into another world. Get lost wandering the old town of Lille, its pebbled laneways, secret passages and hidden cafes. Experience a different take on French art de vivre and a unique ambiance dating from Lille’s history as part of French Flanders.
Take a break from everyday routine and grey skies with a couple’s break in this romantic French city just a short hop from the Channel ferry ports, rich in Flemish architecture and atmosphere.
Northern France Secrets n°1
To whet your appetite,
Contents:
- An enchanting road trip along the Opal coast
- Romance off the beaten track
- Joie de vivre and urban warmth in Lille
- Captivating! Plunge into the hundred years' war
- ...
Ever thought about getting local advice from insiders when you go on holidays? Well, that's exactly what this is all about. We invite you to get information directly from Hauts-de-France locals, knowledgeable visitors, tourism professional and guides, and you can use this information to help you plan your next stay in Northern France.
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Photo credits : Ville de Calais - F Collier, City break - French Weekend Breaks