On a Thursday in early March I'm going on a whistle-stop tour to Lille. I arrive on the Eurostar at 11am and return at approximately 18.30. Have anyone any ideas on what to do? 20 years ago I did something similar and just stuck to the city and did a bus tour. I'm tempted to go on the Metro, tram or SNCF.
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What to do in and around Lille
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riceuten
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There's loads to do and you can use the driverless metro, the tram and buses pretty cheaply. Lille Flandres is a lovely station and the centre - the Grand Place is a short walk from there. "Furet Du Nord" - supposedly Europe's largest bookshop - is on the main square - it has a sizeable English section!
It's absolutely not worth doing a bus tour, but a leisurely lunch of Carbonnade Flamande (if you're not a veggie) and a local beer (Ch'ti) may suffice - there exist plentiful establishments on the Rue de Gand or in the old town that serve this. There's an intriguing museum (La Piscine) which is a former swimming paths in Roubaix, a short distance away on SNCF or the tram.
Or a park (Jardin Vauban), if the weather is clement, north of the town centre, with a small but charming zoo.
It's absolutely not worth doing a bus tour, but a leisurely lunch of Carbonnade Flamande (if you're not a veggie) and a local beer (Ch'ti) may suffice - there exist plentiful establishments on the Rue de Gand or in the old town that serve this. There's an intriguing museum (La Piscine) which is a former swimming paths in Roubaix, a short distance away on SNCF or the tram.
Or a park (Jardin Vauban), if the weather is clement, north of the town centre, with a small but charming zoo.
dutchflyer
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A 24 hr ticket for Ilëvia, the local Operator for metro/tram/bus is just 5,50, this is ONLY also valid on the local network of TER/SNCF trains IF loaded on a chipcard named PassPass-which also cost a few € to issue and a visit to an office that can do that. Loaded on a one-time cardboard ticket will also add a few cents to the sum. The area it covers is quite wide-the ´MEL´ Metro Area, with 3 larger towns Lille-Roubaix-Tourcoing.
Your visit is just to short to take advantage of the many new free urban bussystems in this département, like in Calais, Dunkerque and since 1/1 for this year also the agglo of Bëthune/Lens, which connects with the MEL/Ilévia network.
Your visit is just to short to take advantage of the many new free urban bussystems in this département, like in Calais, Dunkerque and since 1/1 for this year also the agglo of Bëthune/Lens, which connects with the MEL/Ilévia network.
Another vote for La Piscine in Roubaix which is beautiful. Is Les Trois Brasseurs opposite Lille Flandres still going? It is or was a good brasserie specialising in food and beers. You used to be able to buy a little tray with three small glasses of different beers to try.
riceuten
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Yes, https://restaurants.3brasseurs.com/fr/france-FR/455/3-brasseurs-lille/details
It's a chain, albeit a very good one, with branches as far away as Metz.
I was there a couple of weeks ago. Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille is a really good and pretty large art gallery. It also has some really interesting models of fortified cities in the basement that are several hundred years old.
Metro line one was partially closed while I was there as they were testing new driverless rolling stock, which is twice as long as the older driverless stock. They might be fresh in service by the time you visit. Sitting at the front or back of the metro is an interesting experience. The underground sections are quite twisting and undulating. It has elevated sections above ground too. Be aware that there are professional pickpockets in operation on the metro.
Metro line one was partially closed while I was there as they were testing new driverless rolling stock, which is twice as long as the older driverless stock. They might be fresh in service by the time you visit. Sitting at the front or back of the metro is an interesting experience. The underground sections are quite twisting and undulating. It has elevated sections above ground too. Be aware that there are professional pickpockets in operation on the metro.
Martijn
Member
I second the suggestion of visiting the Palais des Beaux-Arts! I also quite liked the Hospice Comtesse.
If you're into beer, there are many interesting bars and breweries there!
I wrote about my recent (December 2025) visit to Lille on my blog:
If you're into beer, there are many interesting bars and breweries there!
I wrote about my recent (December 2025) visit to Lille on my blog:
Amalie
Member
In terms of restaurant recommendations, I found and used this excellent guide (in French) to find a good one: https://lilleaddict.fr/meilleur/restaurant-lille/les-10-meilleurs-estaminets-a-lille.html. I managed to get to number 8 on the list (the other ones were fully booked,) les Compagnons de la Grappe, and had some excellent flamande carbonade, poulet maroilles, and for dessert a delicious slice of toasted brioche with ice cream and caramel sauce.
In terms of what to do, I think the others have it covered. I will give one hint about the Christmas market however. I know, that season is long past, but more for the next time anyone visits while it is active.
There’s a main entrance which is always crowded, but if you walk around it (left from the main entrance,) there’s a side entrance which is never crowded, and it’s totally permitted to enter/exit through it. In it, there’s the usual suspects, it’s not that big. But one stand makes good gaufres lilloise (Lille style waffles,) which I would highly recommend grabbing. They are a bit similar to Dutch stroopwafels but filled with a brown sugar-vanilla filling. You can also find them at the highly acclaimed Meent, but here they are significantly cheaper.
In terms of what to do, I think the others have it covered. I will give one hint about the Christmas market however. I know, that season is long past, but more for the next time anyone visits while it is active.
There’s a main entrance which is always crowded, but if you walk around it (left from the main entrance,) there’s a side entrance which is never crowded, and it’s totally permitted to enter/exit through it. In it, there’s the usual suspects, it’s not that big. But one stand makes good gaufres lilloise (Lille style waffles,) which I would highly recommend grabbing. They are a bit similar to Dutch stroopwafels but filled with a brown sugar-vanilla filling. You can also find them at the highly acclaimed Meent, but here they are significantly cheaper.
mq90
Member
Villa Cavrois is worth the visit if you like architecture. In any case, visit the Vieux Lille and have a meal in one of the many good restaurants. Would recommend the carbonnade flamande, welsh or filet americain if you want a local delicacy.
The ilevia day pass is great but be careful of the TER times in the middle of the day . Some routes have trains every 15 mins in the peak and two hour gaps in the day. I think Roubaix is hourly all day though and you can metro or tram back
There is a 12 Euro trampoline return ticket to Kortjik in Belgium which is a nice day tour but need a few days really.
There is a 12 Euro trampoline return ticket to Kortjik in Belgium which is a nice day tour but need a few days really.
AFAIK Trampoline is history and has been replaced by other offers (book online via Belgian railways). Or have you found any current reference to it?
MikeFromLFE
Member
Another vote for the Villa Cavrois but with the warning it's quite a walk to the nearest public transport.
We did the villa and the Piscine art gallery in a full day. Both excellent destinations.
I bought one in November from Lille Flandres ticket office and had a fantastic day out
Many thanks for all the replies. It sounds like there is lots to do. Indeed I may return again with my daughter later in the year.
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I love Loco haulage. However I'd like to see a bit of Lille too. Can you catch BB22000's part way to Calais. Is there somewhere obvious to go to, perhaps one of the suburbs recommended. Is there anywhere I could find what services BB22000's work?
barrowjack
Member
Did a similar day trip a few weeks back. Depending on your interests, as has been said a day ticket covering the metro and tramway is relatively inexpensive and the service certainly on the metro is very frequent. Between Lille Europe and Flandres is a Westfield shopping centre (including a Primark) Is also a 10-15 minute walk from Europe to the Grand Place with lots of old buildings, the Cathedral is a further 5-10 minutes walk. Also a zoo which again is further out but can be accessed by Metro and walk. (I have posted a few pics from the other week on my trip report). I didn't do any heavy rail this time. If wanting to do touristy stuff in the city centre I would spend some time on Google maps and street view to get your bearings first, or check out the Lille Tourist board website https://en.lilletourism.com/ . Lille is a lovely city. Hope you enjoy.
You can see timetables ("fiches horaires") online from the SNCF website for the Calais-Lille services they run on: https://ter-fiches-horaires.sncf.fr...que_du_14_decembre_2025_au_3_juillet_2026.pdf (route timetable)
https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires (Hauts de France, the region website)
On the timetables above they are the ones in pink which run the full route to Calais, line K71.
If you're sticking to the Lille's day ticket, the Ilevia, then the boundary goes as far as Armentieres, the first stop on the route. If you're a bit more adventurous then you could travel halfway along the route to Hazebrouck, located near two junctions and a small yard - and is apparently great if you like a bit of freight spotting - and catch a returning loco-hauled service back to Lille.
Elsewhere, there are posts on this forum where loco-hauled stock run around France, though Lille-Calais is the only one in that area AFAIK.
For transport, the VAL and the tram are worth doing if just for the novelty. I took a bus from Toucoing to near the border with Mouscron and walked across - just so I can say I've walked across a national border. Neither Toucoing nor Mouscron is anything to write home about though.
ricohallo
Member
It's actually not that straight-forward. They are definitely not exclusive to the Lille-Calais line and few and far between.
It is possible to check which trains are loco-hauled by checking the station departures on the SNCF Connect app. If it says the train type is V2N then it should be loco-hauled. I just checked the departures of Lille Flandres (which is where they'll run out of as Lille Europe is TGV-only) and saw that the 08:53 to Amiens is loco-hauled, for example.
Below a screenshot of what that looks like in the SNCF Connect app.
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mq90
Member
Incidentally, I picked up my partner last night after she was in Lille. She brought me back a sweet treat from Meert, which was heavenly.
So, add that to the list too. The building itself is outstanding!
https://www.meert.fr/en/
So, add that to the list too. The building itself is outstanding!
https://www.meert.fr/en/
brooklynbound
Member
The first of the new Lille metro trains was officially put in service yesterday starting from Quatre Cantons station.
I went on my trip to Lille last week and had an excellent day out. Many thanks for all the tips. I incorporated many of them into my day out.
Leaving Chester at 04.18 this connected with the West Midlands 05.11 Crewe to Euston. Arrival at Euston was 5 minutes late at 07.33 which worried me a little as recommended check in at St Pancras was 07.47.
After quick walk to Euston I was through customs by 07.50 so there was little to worry about. Leaving on time from St Pancras on time I was pleased at Lille that there was no customs allowing exploration to begin.
I first walked to Lille Flandres where there were 2 double deck TGV's waiting to depart. There were huge crowds waiting to board. Not surprising as I believe each train can hold over 2000 passengers. I was also surprised that every train I saw was a double deck train except the 2 Eurostar trains I caught.
I left the station to look for Les Trois Brasseurs. I couldn't find it despite someone telling me it was two minutes walk away. Not to worry I then walked into the centre of Lille where I found Ben's Cookies where I had promised my daughter I'd get her a couple of cookies. Needless to say I succumbed to the special offer of buy 5 get 2 free. No regrets though they are lovely.
A couple of doors from here was Meert which is impressive both inside and out where I got some of Lille's famous vanilla Waffles.
With shopping complete and the weather warm and sunny it was time to find some lunch. Determined to try Carbonnade Flamande I found a lovely restraint on the main square called Coq Hardi. I got a seat outside where it was warm enough to eat outside. Indeed I was even able to take off my jumper, it was so warm. Service was excellent as was the food. I went for a starter of pate, Carbonate Flamande main and a desert recommended by the waitress described as pastry and sugar!
After a wander around the town I had a beer outside Lille Flandres Station at 3 Brasseurs. It was only at this point I realised this was in fact Les Trois Brasseurs with Trois replaced by a number. My French and common sense is so bad!
Now it was time for a local train journey. Over the last few weeks I'd been following the SNCF connect app thanks to a recommendation. I'd noticed that none of the Lille - Calais services seemed to be Loco hauled now but a few other what appeared random services were. In particular the 15.53 Lille - Amiens service seemed to be Loco hauled more than 50% of the time. I intended to catch this one stop to Douai to experience French Loco haulage perhaps one last time. I was extremely happy that it did indeed turn out to be Loco hauled. After taking a photo I got board the top level. Unfortunately though the train had a fault and we were delayed, so much so I had to abort this trip as I was worried I would miss my Eurostar back.
I then walked back to Lille Europe I bit unsure what to do. In the end I decided on catching a driverless Metro to Marie de Mons. The Metro accelerated very quickly and seemed like it may have been narrow gauge to me. Marie de Mons was more interesting than expected wirg interesting tower blocks and what seemed like the Town Hall.
Back to Lille Europe I went which gave me just enough time to look at a Tram. Both this and the Metro were very busy. Sadly homeward bound it was now.
Arrival back into St Pancras was 30 minutes early unless I'd read the timetable wrong. This allowed me to get back to Chester earlier than expected at 22.00. Thank you for all the tips and advice. It was very useful and made for a great day.
Leaving Chester at 04.18 this connected with the West Midlands 05.11 Crewe to Euston. Arrival at Euston was 5 minutes late at 07.33 which worried me a little as recommended check in at St Pancras was 07.47.
After quick walk to Euston I was through customs by 07.50 so there was little to worry about. Leaving on time from St Pancras on time I was pleased at Lille that there was no customs allowing exploration to begin.
I first walked to Lille Flandres where there were 2 double deck TGV's waiting to depart. There were huge crowds waiting to board. Not surprising as I believe each train can hold over 2000 passengers. I was also surprised that every train I saw was a double deck train except the 2 Eurostar trains I caught.
I left the station to look for Les Trois Brasseurs. I couldn't find it despite someone telling me it was two minutes walk away. Not to worry I then walked into the centre of Lille where I found Ben's Cookies where I had promised my daughter I'd get her a couple of cookies. Needless to say I succumbed to the special offer of buy 5 get 2 free. No regrets though they are lovely.
A couple of doors from here was Meert which is impressive both inside and out where I got some of Lille's famous vanilla Waffles.
With shopping complete and the weather warm and sunny it was time to find some lunch. Determined to try Carbonnade Flamande I found a lovely restraint on the main square called Coq Hardi. I got a seat outside where it was warm enough to eat outside. Indeed I was even able to take off my jumper, it was so warm. Service was excellent as was the food. I went for a starter of pate, Carbonate Flamande main and a desert recommended by the waitress described as pastry and sugar!
After a wander around the town I had a beer outside Lille Flandres Station at 3 Brasseurs. It was only at this point I realised this was in fact Les Trois Brasseurs with Trois replaced by a number. My French and common sense is so bad!
Now it was time for a local train journey. Over the last few weeks I'd been following the SNCF connect app thanks to a recommendation. I'd noticed that none of the Lille - Calais services seemed to be Loco hauled now but a few other what appeared random services were. In particular the 15.53 Lille - Amiens service seemed to be Loco hauled more than 50% of the time. I intended to catch this one stop to Douai to experience French Loco haulage perhaps one last time. I was extremely happy that it did indeed turn out to be Loco hauled. After taking a photo I got board the top level. Unfortunately though the train had a fault and we were delayed, so much so I had to abort this trip as I was worried I would miss my Eurostar back.
I then walked back to Lille Europe I bit unsure what to do. In the end I decided on catching a driverless Metro to Marie de Mons. The Metro accelerated very quickly and seemed like it may have been narrow gauge to me. Marie de Mons was more interesting than expected wirg interesting tower blocks and what seemed like the Town Hall.
Back to Lille Europe I went which gave me just enough time to look at a Tram. Both this and the Metro were very busy. Sadly homeward bound it was now.
Arrival back into St Pancras was 30 minutes early unless I'd read the timetable wrong. This allowed me to get back to Chester earlier than expected at 22.00. Thank you for all the tips and advice. It was very useful and made for a great day.
185143
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- 3 Mar 2013
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- 5,358
Chester to Lille as a train day trip?
Fair play
Fair play
Wikipedia says it's 1620 mm. Openrailwaymap says 1620 mm for line 1 and both 1620 and 1435 for line 2. No narrow gauge.
Wandering Pom
Member
The Lille metro is a VAL system, so it's rubber tyres on bearing beams, with additional horizontal wheels to provide guidance - see Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Véhicule_Automatique_Léger
Since there are no conventional rails, I don't know how the "track gauge" is measured. However the VAL vehicles are unusually narrow - entirely within the width of the "track" - which is why they might feel like narrow gauge.
Since there are no conventional rails, I don't know how the "track gauge" is measured. However the VAL vehicles are unusually narrow - entirely within the width of the "track" - which is why they might feel like narrow gauge.
That would make sense now. I wish I'd looked down at the Unusual Track now.
Amalie
Member
I’ve visited La Piscine art museum in neighbouring Roubaix using the Metro and was shocked at just how narrow the vehicles were to the point where I would strongly recommend against using them if you had claustrophobia or were on the larger size (to put it politely.)
DesDobramento
Member
I would suggest a minimum of five BB22000 sets operating around Lille on 20/21 April 2026 including the 2040 Lille/Lens.
Norm_D_Ploom
Member
Arras is close enough. The WW1 tunnel complex is worth a visit