With both Flemish and French architecture, a vibrant student population, and a beautiful old town, the former industrial hub of Lille has transformed in recent years to become one of France’s must-see destinations.
Clarence Hotel Lille (Photo: Clarence Hotel Lille Courtesy Booking.com)
Easy to reach from Paris, Brussels, and London, this crossroads of culture has museums galore, some truly fantastic restaurants, a bustling nightlife, and plenty of high end hotels to service visitors either just passing through, or wanting to stay longer to soak up the local delights. Here’s our comparison of the very best.
Clarence Hotel Lille
Situated in a beautiful 18th Century French-style mansion, with many of its original features deftly accented by striking contemporary styles, the Clarence Hotel offers high ceilinged, light-filled luxury, and a perfect blend of old and new. Well located in Lille’s old town, all the conveniences of high end hospitality are there, including an onsite Michelin starred restaurant serving food that perfectly matches the hotel in its blend of modernity and local tradition. Make sure you’re up for breakfast, which is particularly special. From 385 euros per night
L’Hermitage Gantois
L’Hermitage Gantois (Photo: L’Hermitage Gantois Courtesy Booking.com)
Marketing itself, perhaps with a whisper of hubris, as “the best hotel in the north of France” the Hermitage Gantois is nevertheless a superb luxury destination. Housed within a stunning, Flemish-style 15th century building, which even as it’s been modernised has retained much of its shiver-down-the-spine medieval charm: wood-panelled ceilings, plush rooms, and a large onsite spa with its own indoor swimming pool, all await. There’s even a chapel, and authentic tapestries in the communal area. Like staying in a (very comfortable and clean) museum! From 276 euros per night
Grand Hotel Bellevue
The Grand Hotel Bellevue is really all about location. Right on the Grand Place in the centre of Lille with spacious, classically comfortable rooms, one of its strongest draws are its views. At all hours you can enjoy the simple pleasure of just looking from your windows down to the hustle and bustle of the square below. Not playing up any particular theme – aside from that of “five star hotel” – it’s still housed in a fine old Flemish-style building, and rooms come replete with marble bathrooms and antique furniture. From 215 euros per night
Alliance Lille – Couvent Des Minimes
Alliance Lille – Couvent Des Minimes (Photo: Alliance Lille – Couvent Des Minimes Courtesy Booking.com)
Pushing the blend of eras to extremes, the Couvent Des Minimes is located inside the structure of a 17th Century convent that has been updated with an almost space-age extension. A hotel on a vast scale, there is an enormous central atrium covered with a glass roof, and the rooms have come a very long way from the nun’s cells some of them once were. Large, stylish, and modern to their core, they come complete with flat screen TVs, A/C, and minibars. From 275 euros per night
Hôtel Barrière Lille
The Barrière chain is a byword for luxury across northern France, and this establishment does not disappoint. Situated in a purpose-built modern building, this is top end tourism without compromise. Large windows look from beautiful temperature-controlled rooms out across the city, and there’s a spa, a gym, three restaurants, and even a casino onsite. Perhaps the most exciting feature, though, is the hotel’s proximity to Lille train station – one of the best connected departure points in Europe. So while it’s true you are a ten minute walk from downtown, you are also only an hour’s train ride from downtown Paris, Brussels, and London. Imagine the day-trips you could take on a holiday with this hotel as your hub! From 235 euros per night