The pretty city of Lille is the capital of the Hauts-de-France region and is a fun weekend break for families. Not only is it easy to get to – simply hop on the Eurostar to Lille and you’ll arrive in the centre of town 1 hour 22 minutes after leaving London St. Pancras – but there are also lots of things to do in Lille with kids.
From world-class museums (including one in an Art Deco swimming pool) and the month-long Christmas market (the largest in Northern France), to delicious pastries, gooey waffles and a fun tour through Vieux Lille in an open-top 2CV, there is lots to keep you busy.
Lille is also home to the largest flea market in Europe, La Grande Braderie de Lille, which takes place annually on the first weekend of September, which I would love to visit. The flea market is hugely popular – some two million people visited in 2019 – so book your accommodation well in advance.
Before you do that, however, read on to discover the best Lille attractions.
This post has more ideas on places to visit in France with kids.
Things to do in Lille
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Lille is an old city with a colourful history; legend has it that the city was founded in 640 the giants Lydéric and Phinaert but really the first records of Lille date back to 1066. It was under Flemish, Burgunidan and Spanish rule before becoming French in 1667.
This history might be a little lost on younger kids (although what child doesn’t love the idea of a city being created by giants?!), but it’s fun to point out the different buildings in Vieux Lille (‘Old’ Lille) to curious kids. The Spanish buildings, for example, are all painted red and yellow.
Pro Tip! If you’re going to be in Lille for the weekend or longer then it’s worth investing in the Lille City Pass. Valid for 24-, 48- or 72-hours, the pass gives you access to a huge range of Lille attractions as well as free travel on public transport.
Disclosure: This was part of a paid collaboration with Hauts de France tourism. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.
Tour Vieux Lille in an old Deux Chevaux
If you’re wondering what to do in Lille first, book a tour with Tradi’Balade, who run tours of Vieux Lille (‘Old’ Lille) in colourful open-top 2CV cars.
These tours are a great way to see Lille’s top sights and learn a bit of the city’s history. Your guide provides commentary while touring the cobbled streets, pausing occasionally to share more tips and tales about Lille.
Our charming driver, Olivier, said that they don’t run specific family tours but kids are more than welcome. Sam definitely enjoyed riding in the back of our tangerine orange Deux Chevaux (note that there are no car seats).
Tours last 30-minutes, 45-minutes, 1-hour and 1.5-hours and prices start from €19, depending on how many cars and people who have in your group. Kids under 11 are half-price and children under 7-years-old ride free. You can book online or via Get Your Guide.
Go for a ride at Cita Park
Located in La Citadelle is the family friendly Cita Park, a mini-amusement park that’s perfect for younger children. There are 18 rides including a train that loops through the forest, spinning tulip cups, a rollercoaster, flying chairs and a giant slide. The park is located where Parc les Poussins used to be.
Go to the Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in Lille is one of the oldest museums in France having first opened its doors in 1822. Since then, the museum has collected a huge range of specimens from across the globe, allowing visitors young and old to travel through time and across continents.
See prehistoric insects trapped in amber, a taxidermy duck-billed platypus and enormous whale skeletons suspended from the ceilings. There are also some live creatures that call the Natural History Museum home including our favourite, the Mexican Axolotl salamander.
Try Les Petits Merveilleux
We only discovered Aux Merveilleux de Fred because our Tradi’Balade driver pointed out this patisserie when we were touring Vieux Lille.
If you have a sweet tooth then this is the place to go in Lille!
The shop sells enormous brioche buns, which are a great way to start the day, but the real reason you come here are for ‘Les Petits Merveilleux’, roughly translated as “the little marvels”.
These cakes originated in Belgium and consist of a sandwich of two meringues with whipped cream in the middle. This is then covered in more whipped cream and topped with flavours such as chocolate shavings or nuts.
There’s usually a long line out the door but we visited early on a Sunday and didn’t have to wait long.
Eat waffles a La Maison Meert
Waffles in neighbouring Belgium and thick and gooey, filled with lumps of gooey melted sugar. In Lille, however, the local waffle is a much more delicate affair. The Gaufre Fourrée de Lille is a thin waffle-sandwich filled with vanilla cream that was apparently a favourite with President de Gaulle and even Winston Churchill!
The best place to try this local sweet treat is at La Maison Meert, that has been standing in the exact same spot since 1761, although Monsieur Meert only took charge in 1849. You can’t leave Lille without trying one of these gaufres!
Spend the day at Gare Saint-Saveur
A former goods station, the Gare Saint-Saveur now houses exhibition spaces as well as bars and restaurants. There are regular exhibitions (check their Facebook page to see what’s on), games, concerts and parties happening year-round as well as plenty of activities, including film screenings, for kids.
Visit Lille Zoo
A visit to Lille zoo is a guaranteed winner with kids, especially if you’re visiting Lille with toddlers.
Located within La Citadelle de Lille, a military fortification built in the 17th century as a defence for the city, the zoo is not big but it is charming. Covering 3.5 hectares, Lille Zoo is divided into six areas: the Aviary, the Tropical House, the Isle of Madagascar, the Valley of the Monkeys, African Land and American Land, and is home to some 250 animals, including the rare white rhino.
Like most zoos these days, the emphasis is on education and conservation. Entry is free for locals and €4 for visitors. La Citadelle is also the city’s biggest park and a good place for kids to run around and let off steam.
Visit Lille Christmas Market
The month-long Lille Christmas Market is the biggest in Northern France and takes place in Place Rihour. Expect lots of Christmas cheer, plenty of stalls selling festive goodies and the chance for kids to have their photo taken with Father Christmas.
Apparently on the Saturday before Christmas, Santa “falls” from the nearby 80-metre-high Belfry, which sounds both exciting and possibly terrifying!
Discover Lille’s best bookstore
Located on the the famous Grand Place, Lille’s main town square, is Le Furet du Nord, a brilliant book store home to the largest selection of children’s books in France. Positioned over seven floors and home to some 135,000 titles, Le Furet du Nord also hides an educational toy library and plenty of books and games, including a selection in English.
Climb the Town Hall Belfry
For a bird’s-eye-view of the city climb to the top of Lille’s Town Hall Belfry that towers above the city at 104 metres high. The tower is listed as a World Heritage Site and provides the perfect viewpoint for seeing the city below, the valley of the Lys and even the mountains of Flanders.
Be prepared to climb the first 100 steps after which you’re rewarded with a trip in the elevator to reach the belfry. You can book tickets here via Get Your Guide.
Explore Lille’s most unusual museum
Possibly the most unusual museum you’ll visit in Lille is the La Piscine, a beautiful Art Deco swimming pool that opened in 1932.
The pool was very modern when it opened, boasting not only the pool but bathrooms for both men and women – something that many people did not have access to at that time. It closed in 1985 and opened as a museum in 2001.
What’s wonderful about the renovation, however, is that the swimming pool and its diving board remain and the works of art are displayed around it (although there’s definitely not enough water in the pool to swim!). You’ll also spot art by the likes of Rodin and Picasso on display in the former changing rooms and shower stalls.
Get arty at LaM
The Lille Métropole Museum of Modern Art houses nearly 5,000 pieces of art including drawings, sculptures, paintings, photographs and mixed media. But if your kids tire looking at the works of Picasso and Miró (and let’s face it, most kids can only last so long in a museum, right?!), then don’t worry as the museum gardens are fantastic.
Filled with sculptures, the offer the perfect space to run around. LaM also host regular family workshops so check the schedule and see if there’s anything happening during your planned visit.
Where to stay in Lille
Lille has lots of lovely hotels to stay in from Grand Dames of the Belle Epoque era to boutique boltholes and wallet-friendly budget options. This list from TripAdvisor has the top 10 hotels in Lille for this year.
I personally love the look of the Clarance Hotel, located in an 18th century town house in Vieux Lille and Couvent des Minimes, a 17th-century convent that is now a stylish four-star hotel.
See what other families have to say about Clarance Hotel on TripAdvisor and check current rates on Booking.com. See rates and reviews for Couvent des Minimes on TripAdvisor here and Booking.com here.
How to get to Lille
Lille is an easy city break from the UK. The quickest way to get there is on the Eurostar to Lille. The Eurostar departs from London’s St Pancras International train station and takes less than 1.5 hours. It’s so speedy that you can even visit Lille on a day trip from London by train. Lille is just 1 hour away from Paris by train.
Lille Airport – known as Lille-Lesquin Airport or Lesquin Airport – is in Lesquin, 7 km south-southeast of the city centre.
What a cute town!! I would love to return to France and visit Lille.
I have never been to France but I would love to visit a beautiful town like this.
It really is a beautiful town. I hope you get to visit France one day soon!
I love when people share towns and cities other than the main highlights! Lille looks great!
Thank you! We really enjoyed Lille, especially the old town. I’m looking forward to going back soon as it’s such an easy weekend break from London.