Lille is a great family weekend destination that you can discover across all seasons. Less than one hour train journey from Paris or Brussels or a little more than one hour from London, Lille offers quite a lot of Indoor activities and attractions suitable for children. If you are looking to take the family for an authentic French weekend break, Lille might be the right destination. Located in the North of France, the city is easily reachable by train with only 45min journey from Brussels, 1h15min from London with Eurostar and 1h from Paris. In 2004, the town was designated the Capital of Culture by the European Union. Since then, it has attracted more and more family travellers who are looking to find a great destination weekend break. So what is worth to do with the family?
Luckily, BabyBreaks has done the hard work for you, and researched the best things to do in Lille.
Where to Stay in Lille with Children
Family Friendly Restaurants & Cafes in Lille
1. Palais des Beaux Arts de Lille
With a permanent collection of different artworks from Flemish paintings to Middle Age artifacts, this massive building is in itself a piece of work. There is enough space for children to wander around or sit on several benches inside the museum. Palais des Beaux Arts de Lille is must do activity in the morning, especially on a rainy day!
Address: Place de la République, 59000 Lille, France
Website: www.pba-lille.fr/en
Opening Times: Monday from 2pm to 6pm and Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm
Closed on Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May, 14 July, the first weekend in September, 1 November, 25 December.
2. Museum of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History is a great place to let your kids learn about animals in a very much traditional 19th century mood. Don’t expect a big museum but enough to have your kids standing by vivariums, stuffed animals, dinos and more. Also the museum is FREE every first Sunday of the month.
Address: 19 Rue de Bruxelles, 59000 Lille, France
Website: www.mhn.lille.fr
Opening Times: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.30am until 5.00pm & Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays from 10.00am until 06.00pm. Closed on Tuesday, 1 January, 1 May, 14 July, Monday following the Braderie Flea Market, 1 November, 11 November and 25 December.
3. Metro Bowling
There is not much to say about this activity as it speaks for itself. Why not take a couple of hours having fun on a bowling lane and introduce this game to your children. Metro Bowling has 36 lanes over 3 floor levels. Last but not least, they have lanes specifically designed and dedicated to children from the age of 4.
Address: 17 Boulevard Victor Hugo, 59000 Lille, France
Website: www.metrobowlinglille.fr
Opening Times: visit their website for more info
4. Bookstore Furet du Nord
You might wonder why do we list a bookstore on the top 5 activities to do in Lille. Well, Furet du Nord is one the largest bookstore in the world spread on 8 floors. It also has a very large collection of children’s books available for all age groups. So why not buy a book or two to introduce the French language to your toddler or your pre-teen. And for all book lovers, you need to see this store once in your lifetime.
Address: 15 Place Charles de Gaulle, 59800 Lille, France
Website: www.furet.com/blog/nos-magasins/furet-du-nord-de-lille/
Opening Times: From Monday to Saturday 09.30am until 07.30pm. Closed on Sundays
5. Saint Sauveur Train Station La Gare Saint Sauveur
This former train station hosts different exhibitions throughout the year with also concerts, a cinema (which could be privatised for a birthday party) and a nice restaurant-bar called Bistro de St So where you can drink local beers. And yes this venue is kid-friendly and if you go in the winter you might experience some iceskating!
Address: 17 Boulevard Jean-Baptiste Lebas, 59800 Lille, France
Website: www.lille3000.eu/gare-saint-sauveur/2018
Opening Times: Wednesday until Sunday from 12pm until 7pm. Closed on Monday & Tuesday
6. Old Town – Vieux Lille
Even with a baby or a toddler, you can visit by foot especially if you explore the Old Town located in the North part of the town. It has been recently renovated with a typical Flemish architecture with great buildings like Comtesse Museum, Eglise Madeleine, cobbled streets, the Cathedral Notre Dame de la Treille and more.
Address: Vieux Lille, Lille, France
7. Guided Bike Tour
With so much to see, you may be wondering the best way to see it all. A guided bike tour in Lille is a great way to get around and take in the sights while being active outdoors. Thanks to over 500 km (310 mi) of dedicated bike lanes, you can ride around safely, learning about the history and culture of the city while having fun at the same time. Plus, biking is a good way to see more in less time. In two hours you can see the beautiful cobblestoned pedestrian streets of the Historical Center, the Citadel and Palais des Beaux-Arts, the city park, and much more.
Baja Bikes offers the chance to discover Lille in a fun and eco-friendly way with experienced guides. You can choose between a Highlights tour or if you’re traveling with family and friends or a group, they also offer a private tour. All tours are family friendly with child bikes and seats available.
8. Lille Zoo & Citadelle
The zoo is located on the West side of the Old Town. With more than 70 species of small and large animals like turtle, pandas, zebra or foxes, your little tribe will certainly have a great time there even if it is raining. After visiting the zoo, don’t forget to wander around the Citadelle, a military fortification built in the 17th century.
9. Cita-Parc
This new amusement park is close to the Zoo and the Citadelle. It has been recently opened with family-friendly attractions and great playgrounds throughout. This is a great complementary venue for families who are looking to stay outside and entertain their children.
Address: Avenue Mathias Delobel, 59800 Lille, France | Phone: +33 (0)3 20 40 65 65
10. Les Halles de Wazemmes
A weekend break in a French town can’t be complete without a visit to a food market and the Wazemmes Market would be the preferred choice especially if you would like to do some shopping and prepare your dinner at your vacation rental. Expect local food products with cheese shops, fish monger, butchers and more.
Address: Place Nouvelle Aventure, 59000 Lille, France
Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 7.00 am to 2.00 pm. Covered market from Tuesday to Saturday from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, Sunday and bankholidays from 8.00 am to 3.00 pm
11. Parc Jean-Baptiste Lebas
After a visit to the Natural History Museum, head to the Parc Jean-Baptiste Lebas to enjoy your kids having fun in several playgrounds. This park is quite original with red gates all around the premises.
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