Your stay in a B&B Lille

    You'll be irresistibly won over by the "Pearl of the North" during your stay in a Lille B&B. Located just 1h23 from London and less than an hour's drive to Brussels, this dynamic metropolis with its Flemish influence is a cultural destination not to be missed, with the legendary kindness of the people of the North as an added bonus.

    Lille
    Stay in the historic heart of the Lille

    Choose a Lille B&B in Old Lille, and you'll be instantly submerged in the bewitching atmosphere of the red-brick buildings, sandstone houses and cobbled streets. The Flemish influence is omnipresent in this picturesque part of the city. A visit to the Grand'Place, also known as the Place du Général de Gaulle, is a must: it's the meeting place for all the inhabitants of Lille. Here, you'll find the old stock exchange, undoubtedly the city's most beautiful monument. Dating back to 1652 and fully restored, it comprises twenty-four identical houses surrounding a cloister. An infinite variety of stone-carved females adorn the pillars, and the window pediments are decorated with scrolls, garlands and fleshy fruit in the style of the Flemish Renaissance. Don't forget to climb to the top of the belfry for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

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    Lille, the City of the Arts

    The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lille is undoubtedly one of the richest museums in France. Housed in a magnificent 19th-century building, it boasts prestigious collections, including French and European painting masterpieces, from Rubens and Van Dyck to Goya, Delacroix, David and Courbet. The museum also boasts a wide variety of sculptures and ceramics and an extensive compilation of drawings. Among the most remarkable items are the impressive relief models of almost fifteen fortified towns designed by the military architect Vauban in Northern France and Belgium. Just outside Lille, in Villeneuve d'Ascq, don't miss a visit to the LaM (Musée d'art moderne, art contemporain et d'art brut) or the famous Piscine in Roubaix, an art and industry museum housed in a former art deco swimming pool built by Albert Baert in 1932.

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    The people and the food of the North

    It's impossible to talk about the North without mentioning the legendary kindness and famous sense of humour of the people. You can expect an exceptionally warm, friendly and pleasant welcome when you stay in a Lille bed and breakfast. The generosity of the people of the North is also reflected in the conviviality around the table. The cuisine is rich and delicious in this region. Try specialities such as Lille waffles, Flemish carbonnade or the inevitable mussels and chips... accompanied, of course, by a bière de garde or bière blanche or bière brune!

    Getting to Lille and getting around

    If you're coming by train, Lille has two stations 500 meters apart right in the city centre. Lille Flandres station caters for regional trains and direct TGV trains from France, while Lille Europe station offers direct Eurostars trains from London, Brussels and Amsterdam and direct TGV trains to Roissy airport, Paris and all the major French cities. To get around Lille and the surrounding area, the comprehensive Ilevia public transport network makes everything efficient. Its Metro, the VAL (light automatic vehicle), was the 1st automated Metro in the world (1983). It serves 60 stations over 45 km as far as Villeneuve d'Asq and Lomme St Philibert. By tram, you can get to Roubaix and Tourcoing stress-free in the blink of an eye. Plus, there are plenty of park-and-ride facilities available. Another popular way to explore Lille is on two wheels, and there are plenty of free bikes available in the city.