Suggestions/travel ideas to Lille

Lille is one of my favorite French cities! Best accessed from Paris CDG Airport followed by a short train ride (less than 1 hour), second best from Brussels Airport (change trains at Brussels Midi). Lille Airport is tiny.

There are great museums in three neighboring towns:
- La Piscine, a converted public Pool in Roubaix, 19th-20th art and interesting exhibitions
- LAM, modern and contemporary art museum in Villeneuve d'Ascq
- Louvre Lens, offshoot of the Louvre in Lens
I've heard good things about the Beaux-Arts museum, too, but never visited.

The old town of Lille is a very pleasant stroll, with good shopping, lovely cafés, Meert for a delicious pastry.

"Lille 3000" organizes a lot of exhibitions in quirky locations all over town until the end of November this year, too.

Beyond Lille & vicinity, Brussels and Bruges are easy day trips, so is Arras.

Lille is a stop on the Eurostar, I think from London to Brussels. There are two, adjacent, train stations in Lille. I doubt you can local-train from Brussels without at least one change. I went for the art museum, Palais de Beaux Artes, which is excellent. The city’s nickname, for it’s streetside architecture, was Little Paris. It’s a little post-industrial now, but still lovely. It has an early version of driverless subways. The NY Times had a review of several Belgian ethnic restaurants there some years ago. It may be possible to bus to Bruges from Lille (no personal knowledge.)

Lille is one of my favorite cities in France. I visited there two christmases ago and fell in love, I am going back for spring break. You can book your trip through air france and it includes the train part as well...an air france train.

If you need help with restaurants and hotels, let me know. I also recommend doing a food tour there. There are so many regional specialties.

Lille is by far one of my least favourite cities in France. If you are at all mobility challenged or travelling with somebody who is, the extremely narrow pavements - sidewalks - in most of the city are difficult, and they are very uneven so a real challenge. I haven't been into any of the museums but the city as a whole does nothing for me.

Different people have different opinions.

I stop at Lille or one of its suburbs frequently either before or after crossing the Channel - it is about an hour by car to Calais - and despite several attempts to like the city, going in by metro, it still leaves me cold.

Still, as the home of both Paul bakery and Charles de Gaulle it has some history.

Thank you all for your suggestions.
I have heard mixed reviews regarding Lille and things to do there, but since I am named after the city, I figured I have to go visit at least once in my lifetime right?
Anyway, I am looking forward to going and thank you again for the suggestions.

I can't say I agree with Andrew Reis' blanket statement over the entire region - while the far north isn't indeed as densely packed with sights as, say, Alsace or Provence, it does provide an interesting, relaxing travel experience peppered with architectural gems (cathedrals of Laon, St Omer and Amiens, Arras' Grand Place, parts of Old Lille)

and first rate cultural sights (museums I listed earlier).
Anyway, you'll no doubt have a great time in your namesake town!

Old Lille, park in the north and be sure to sample local beer and a 'carbonade'!