Lille (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Lille

4:28pm Friday 1st August 2008 in

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Located in the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France, Lille is the main city of France's fourth largest metropolitan area.

A trip on the Eurostar to Lille, takes only one hour and 30 minutes from St Pancras International Station, making Lille an ideal location for a weekend city break.

In the central area of the city you will find a variety of culture, including some amazing architecture, talented street performers and a variety of French cafés.

La Vieille Bourse, the former commercial exchange building now hosts a market place within its court yard, featuring various book sellers and florists. Opposite La Vieille Bourse, you will find both the Opera House and the Chamber of Commerce, both outstanding structures.

It is well worth a visit to the leisure park near la Citadelle. Within the park there are various rides for those younger members of the family. There is also zoo, featuring various animals from around the world, for which there is no entry fee.

La Citadelle itself is a noteworthy structure. It was built by Vauban, a famous French military architect under the instruction of Louis the Fourteenth.

If you shop around, you can find a number of places which will offer a three course meal for around 25 euros. It is also worth paying a visit to the ice cream shop Kokoa. A parlour which boasts a wide variety of 48 different flavours, including Kinder, Toblerone and Nutella.

If you are interested in paying a visit to Lille, you can probably find a package deal priced at around £130. This should include your Eurostar tickets and accommodation.