Bienvenue à Lille! Why this compact city is an excellent destination for your next French language trip

Thinking of taking a deep dive into French culture with a language-focused school trip? Venture beyond the well-trodden paths of Paris, and your group will benefit from fewer crowds, lower prices, and an alternative view into French culture that extends outside the capital. Nestled on the northern edge of France, close to the Belgian border, the compact city of Lille offers an unrivalled blend of French heritage, language immersion, and a charming atmosphere that will make it your next favourite destination for a language-focused school trip.

In recent decades, the capital of the Hauts-de-France region has shed its reputation as an industrial centre to become a cosmopolitan cultural and commercial hub that’ll both excite your students and motivate their learning. Lille’s thriving student population encourages a brilliant café, restaurant, and art scene – further bolstered by the 1,600 designers that reside here – to boost extracurricular activities. Meanwhile, influences from nearby Belgium are evident throughout the enchanting old town, where you’ll find a charming combination of French and Flemish architecture to add yet more conversation points among your group.

In this blog, we’ll run through a few of the reasons we recommend visiting Lille for a French language trip, and include all the essential excursions that can’t be missed on a trip here. Read on and discover the compelling reasons why Lille should be at the top of your list for a French language getaway.

Lille holds plenty of educational opportunities for a short sojourn overseas

With a wide array of attractions and activities scattered through its charming streets, Lille ensures that even a short visit is brimming with things to do. Discover the historic Old Town and Grand Place, visit museums like Palais des Beaux-Arts and Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse, or savour local delicacies in the bustling markets – whether it's language development or cultural immersion that you’re after, Lille offers a fulfilling experience for young scholars with a brief visit.

Its proximity to the UK makes Lille an easy option for a French school trip

There are a number of transport options available to language-focused school groups wishing to travel to Lille. Coach groups can reach Lille in a little over an hour from the Le Shuttle terminal in Calais, while Eurostar groups can reach the French city in under 90 minutes directly from London St Pancras.

Lille is a compact city, meaning everything is within walking distance

Unlike the widespread dispersion of attractions across larger cities, Lille’s compact layout means everything you need for a school trip is within walking distance (for example, the Grand Place and Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse are just a minute’s walk from each other).

With much of the city reachable on foot, you’ll spend so much less time herding your group and readying tickets for public transport between excursions. Students are therefore granted more time each day to immerse themselves in French heritage, fostering a more intimate connection with the local language and culture as they explore the city’s ornate architecture, charming streets, and vibrant markets.

Lille’s extracurricular activities make for a delightful destination for teens

Window shopping takes on a whole new dimension in Lille, where you can impress the fashion-forward teens in your group with a visit to the designer stores and trendy boutiques around the Old Town, and Euralille’s Westfield. For food, you’ll find French and Flemish options, with options to visit a Flemish waffle factory nearby, or chocolate workshop en route.

At Christmas, the city’s Grand Place comes alive with an impressive combination of lights and stalls to provide one of the best souvenir shopping experiences in Europe – as well as opportunities for language practice, as students navigate transactions and converse with locals.

Equity contractor Clare W also advises: “Groups, especially those with younger students, travelling outside of winter should factor in some time to explore Citadelle Park, a lovely green area with a small zoo and rides.

“At any time of year, there are also some tasty local delicacies to try, such as waffles and ‘merveilleux’ – a meringue-based snack.”

Its location means Lille is easily combined with other cities

Lille's proximity to the Belgian border makes it a fantastic option for visiting other nearby cities; you may even find a multi-centre trip checks off more of your all-important learning objectives, as you enjoy the diverse cultural offerings of multiple destinations. It’s possible to combine your school trip to Lille with a couple of extra days in Brussels, Bruges, Opal Coast, Ypres, the Somme, or even Paris – simply mention this to your account manager upon enquiry, and they’ll find an itinerary that works for you.

Next stop: Lille!

With its proximity to the UK, compact layout, and sheer abundance of activities, Lille stands out as a remarkably convenient destination for French language groups. This charming French city provides an immersive environment for language learning and cultural exploration, while offering the convenience of being easily accessible for short trips or as part of a larger European adventure. So, why not plan your next language excursion to Lille? Get in touch with our friendly team, who’ll help you unlock a world of linguistic and cultural discovery for your students.

To find out more about our school trips to Lille, or enquire about booking a school trip, please call us on 01273 648248. You can also fill out our webform, and our school trip experts will get back to you as soon as we can.