Cheap flights to Lille

History

Originally settled by the Gauls way back in 2000 BCE, the story of Lille is a long and fascinating one, details of which you'll be able to see all around the city. Thanks to a booming textile industry, Lille rapidly expanded in the 17^th century, and much of its old town is filled fine examples of architecture from this period.

While Lille is a French city, its architecture also has been considerably influenced by its near neighbour, most notably in the form of the Flemish-style Town Hall Belfry, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (and at 104 metres tall, you'll find amazing views of the surrounding countryside if you take the trip to the top). Other notable architecture in the city includes the Citadel – one of the finest military buildings in all of France. Find out more about the city's rich history by grabbing a great deal on cheap Lille flights with us.

Sport

Sport is a big deal in Lille, and the city is home to one France's largest sports grounds. The Stade Pierre-Mauroy can hold 50,000 sports fans and is set to host several matches during the Euro 2016 tournament. Lille has its own first division football team, Lille OSC, and every September a half marathon is run through the historic city centre. You can be a part of the action yourself with our cheap flights to Lille.

Shopping

Lille is famous for its markets – including a Christmas Market which transforms the city into a winter wonderland each December. However, the main event happens during the first weekend of September every year, when the city centre hosts the Grande Braderie de Lille. Dating back to the 12^th century (at least), it's the largest flea market in Europe, and can attract as many as 3 million visitors. And saving some cash with our flights to Lille will give you have an excellent excuse for scouring the stalls for a vintage bargain gem or two (and don't forget to help yourself to a generous portion of moules frites – the official food of the Braderie).

If you're looking excellent shopping at any other time of the year – check out the Furet du Nord, Europe's largest bookshop, or the très chic Maisons de Mode. This new development is home to a community of upcoming fashion designers, who sell their latest their hottest new looks in their on-site boutiques on Wednesday-Saturday afternoons. Who knows, maybe you'll be buying something from an iconic brand of the future?

Culture

Are you a bit of a culture vulture? Grab one of our Lille flight offers and you'll find plenty to explore in this former European City of Culture. The city's Palais des Beaux Arts is the second largest museum in France, behind only the Louvre, and one of the country's oldest, dating back to the Napoleonic era. The collection spans the middle ages through to the 20^th century, and includes works by Rubens, Manet and Picasso.

If you're looking for something a bit more modern, check out the Musee d'Art Moderne or La Piscine - found in a former Art Deco swimming pool, the museum displays paintings, sculpture, textiles and designs from the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

Nightlife

Being a University town, Lille has a buzzing nightlife, with many of its young population out looking to party. And the city's clubs and gig venues are often quite fascinating in their own right – Le Splendid is a modernist 1950s former cinema, and now a gig venue, while the grand Theatre Sebastopol dates back to 1903. If you're ready to let your hair down, check out our offers on last minute Lille flights - you could soon be strutting your stuff to the supercool sounds of Le Network or Magazine Club's dancefloors.