How we spent a day in Lille, France
In 2025, I decided to make more of the fact that the Eurostar isn’t far from my house and I can (technically, finance-permitting) get to some of Europe’s major cities very easily. The Eurostar sale happens a couple of times a year, so in June I made the most of the half-price tickets and booked a one-day return trip to Lille.
How to get to Lille
You can easily fly to Lille from London, but the Eurostar only takes 1.5 hours and is much more convenient than getting to an airport two hours early (for me, anyway!) I love that you only have to arrive 40-60 minutes early and can bring whatever you want with you. Plus, there’s wifi and (in my experience) fewer delays. So I’ll always opt for travelling around northern Europe by train rather than plane.
During the June sale, it cost £99 for a return from London St Pancras International to Lille, but at regular prices this could be more like £200. Prices depend on your time of travel, and how far in advance you book your tickets.
The best things to do in Lille
We caught the 7am Eurostar to Lille and arrived at 9:30am. This gave us plenty of time to grab a coffee and some breakfast before exploring the city. These were our highlights:
Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille - a brilliant art museum near the town centre.
Vieux-Lille - the old town is a beautiful area to wander for a few hours.
Maison Folie Moulins - an independent art space with free exhibitions.
La Vieille Bourse - home to a traditional outdoor market.
Place aux Oignons - a traditional old square with shops and bars.
Méert - a pâtisserie and tea shop famous for its waffles.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille - a beautiful church with a modern exterior but traditional interiors.
Beffroi de Lille - this famous belfry was closed on the day of our visit, but if you get the chance to visit the views from the top are stunning.
Eat and drink at an estaminet - a traditional restaurant that blends the French and Belgian culture Lille is famous for.
Where to eat in Lille
Our favourite places to eat and drink in Lille were:
Mü Cafe for breakfast and coffee
Boulangerie Mathieu for snacks
Paddo Cafe for lunch
Le Verlaine for afternoon beers
Sympa for dinner
Cafe Society for wine
How long do you need to spend in Lille?
We spent one day in Lille, and for us that was plenty of time to see the main sights of the city. But if you’re staying longer, there are plenty of things you can do outside of the city. A day trip to Roubaix and other towns on the border of France and Belgium are a popular choice with tourists, and in winter the city is lit up with Christmas markets which make a longer trip worthwhile.
Do you need to rent a car in Lille?
We didn’t take any form of public transport in Lille, except arriving and leaving on the Eurostar. We found it was very easy to explore the city on foot. But there are plenty of buses and taxis around if you need them. It’s only worth hiring a car in Lille if you’re travelling further around France of Belgium as part of the same trip.
What to wear in Lille?
France has a global reputation as being a stylish country, and I’m not here to disagree with that. But one mistake tourists often make is going wayyyy Emily-in-Paris-style overboard which makes you stick out like a sore thumb (or tourist!)
The real secret to French style is minimalism. In their everyday lives, the French dress casually and let the simplicity of their style do the talking. So jeans and a simple jumper, or a skirt and t-shirt depending on the weather, is fine. A full face of make-up and a flouncy dress really isn’t going to fit in on a daytrip to Lille.
We visited in September, when the weather was just turning autumnal. A skirt, boots, sweatshirt, and trench coat were fine for me, but if it turned out warmer I had a plain white t-shirt underneath. If it was colder, I would have switched the skirt for black jeans and the trench for something heavier like a teddy coat. Oh yeah, and don’t pack your beret!
Want to explore more of France? Check out our itinerary for a weekend in Paris here.