Lille or Brussels recommendation

[Awentford]

With the Eurostar offer, I’m thinking of a long weekend in either Lille or Brussels but don’t know much about them. It’ll be in mid-August and can be either a weekend or mid-week.

Does anyone have any recommendations of things to do there and/or places to stay?

Thanks

[Rob]

Both are big enough for a weekend but no longer. Brussels is often used as a stop-off to Bruges if you’ve never been there.

There’s a Hilton (ex Crowne Plaza) at Lille station but its a 15 minute walk into centre IIRC. I’m meant to be reviewing it at some point. Not sure if its been refurbed since Hilton took it over a while back. Too long since I was there to name downtown options.

Brussels – I wasn’t keen on the Corinthia. Rhys reviewed a central Marriott a while back if you dig that out. No real shortage of options and rates should be good as long as the EU isn’t sitting (which on an August weekend is certain).

[aseftel]

Brussels is perfectly charming for a long weekend, despite its reputation for being a bit dull.

It doesn’t really have any destination hotels, Amigo would probably be the ‘best’ but there are lots of perfectly decent 4* hotels – I quite like the cluster around Rogier in terms of location (walkable to centre, excellent public transport). There’s a new Standard, but I don’t really rate the location. Hotels can be very good value if you visit whilst the EU parliament is in recess (first few weeks of August). As it’s quite a travelling circus, there’s a lot of hotel infrastructure set up to support it so it’s one of the few European capitals where the height of summer is the off-season.

In terms of things to do, you can have a great time if you enjoy beer (Cantillon for a brewery to visit, the Saint Gille Moeder Lambic for a pub), chocolate (I think Blondeel is worth the trip but it’s quite suburban), chips (loads of great fritkots, but Chouke is a favourite), waffles, moules etc. I’d be quite content simply to wander around parks and neighbourhoods interspersed with nice food and drink. In terms of sightseeing, the centre around Grand Place is very charming, St. Michael & St. Gudula cathedral and Magritte museum are also worthwhile. I’m a bit split on the Atomium – it’s iconic, but out of the way and the queue to get in (even with a pre-booked ticket) can be quite long. Sort of thing that you might do once but not on a repeat visit. Manneken Pis is just a statue – you may well end up walking past it by accident which is briefly interesting but you’ll be disappointed if you plan your day around it.

As Rob suggests, it’s easy to get out to Bruges (or Ghent too). Trains run through Brussels, stopping at the North, Central and South/Midi stations so you may well have a suitable station close to your accommodation.

[Michael C]

We stayed in the HGI – not “lovely” but more than decent and v good price. Strolled
over to the big flea market after breakfast, which was great fun and had lots of nice cafés around it.

[Gagravarr]

Lille has a load of art museums in and around the city. Plus some lovely old streets / buildings, and good beer too!

Hotels wise, Marriott has a Moxy that’s in a fairly good spot for museums (but getting a little far from the old town), the l’Hermitage Gantois was lovely last time I stayed and a fairly good location for most stuff.

[elguiri]

In Brussels, we recently stayed at the Doubletree and liked it. Breakfast was extensive with lots of local treats. Across the road is the botanical garden which is nice for a walk around when done with the hustle and bustle. Easy access to the metro to take you around the other parts of the city, including Eurostar terminal.
Have also stayed at the HIX a few times off grand place. Perfectly reasonable and easy to get places too.

[acewoking]

Stayed in Lille in February. Chose Hilton at Lille Europe Station as handy for Eurostar, walk into town <10 minutes, and close to big Westfield mall. We had top floor room on southeast side of hotel which runs half the width of the building with long windows – you can see them on all the photos. Executive rooms give you free breakfast, lounge snacks and soft drinks all day, and happy hour from 5pm to 8pm with hot food and wine and beer. It was usually empty so we just scoffed the lot.
The problem with Lille is it only has 6 museums of its own, the rest are all on tram rides to Roubaix and Tourcoing – all very nice but it’s definitely a 3-day max city. Loads of great places to eat. See my tips at b.link/traveltheworld

[acewoking]

BTW, Brussels hotels:
1. Radisson RED Brussels, Rue d’idalie 35 – especially if you have Radisson VIP status. Next door to European Parliament, 5 minute walk to Trone Metro station, 15 minute walk to city centre. Stayed here 4 times, it’s good. Or for more upscale Radisson, try Radisson Collection Grand Place.
2. Pullman Brussels Centre Midi, Place Victor Horta 1. Literally in Brussels Midi where the Eurostar arrives, with a nice bar, and rooms are quiet despite the central location. Handy for dumping luggage when arriving and when checking out.
3. Doubletree Brussels City, Rue Gineste 3. At Rogier station, less than 10 minutes from Brussel Noord and 10 minutes walk to city centre.

[HughM]

Lille: not really a summer holiday area, from the French point of view. So at this time of year you find quite a lot of shops and restaurants closed. Not all, but I found it a bit limiting.