Haute cuisine in Hauts-de-France

A Luxurious Long Weekend in Northern France

DAY 1 BONJOUR FRANCE

The time has come to leave any stresses at home and head off for your long weekend in France. Your first destination is Le Touquet, a small seaside town in northern France which is just a hop, skip and a jump away. There are regular train departures from London to Calais that can take as little as two-and-a-half hours. On arrival, collect your hire car and drive one hour to your first hotel: a beautiful farmhouse perfect for an evening of delicious food, indulgent wines and plenty of relaxing.

DAY 2 PRIVATE TOUR OF THE LOUVRE-LENS MUSEUM

After a laid-back morning with a lie-in followed by a delicious breakfast, it’s time to head to your next destination, the charming city of Lens which is a one-and-a-half-hour drive away. Check into a cosy hotel which is well situated for visiting the Louvre-Lens Museum this afternoon. Once you’ve settled in and freshened up, meet your private guide and head to the Louvre. The museum, which is housed inside a magnificent glass building designed by the Japanese architect firm SANAA, is a decentralised wing of the Paris museum and your guide will talk you through the masterpieces on display. This evening, feast on some delicious culinary delights whisked up by the restaurant’s talented chefs.

DAY 3 DISCOVER LILLE

It’s your last full day in northern France so wake up bright and early this morning to make the most of it. After a hearty breakfast, hop into your hire car and travel to the region’s largest city: Lille, just a 30-minute drive away. Instead of stopping straight away, continue on a further 20 minutes to reach Roubaix, where you’ll have the opportunity to visit La Piscine, a museum of art and industry, with a private guide. The city's former swimming pool, an Art Deco masterpiece, was considered the most beautiful in France when it opened. Its renovation, entrusted to the architect Jean-Paul Philippon, has given it a new role as a cultural and artistic centre. Around the main pool, you can wander between the unique works of art and the various exhibition rooms.

Head back to Lille to check in to your last hotel of the weekend: a private mansion in Vieux Lille, the old part of town, which comes with a fine-dining restaurant serving sophisticated Michelin-starred cuisine. Spend the rest of this afternoon and evening soaking in the delights of the city: its boutique shops, gourmet restaurants and trendy cafes and bars. We could also arrange for you to head out with a knowledgeable private guide to discover Lille’s must-sees.

DAY 4 JOURNEY HOME

Sadly, the time has come to head back to the UK. But as the journey home is short, it’s definitely worth making the most of Lille. This morning, you’ll head out into the city armed with entrance ticked to Lille's Tri Postal. Built in the 1950s to sort mail, the site has since been converted into an exhibition space. It was in 2004, when Lille was named the European Capital of Culture, that the Tri Postal became a major space for contemporary creation and it continues to host exhibitions, concerts and cultural events. Once you’ve had your fill of art, head back to the train station in Calais to drop off your car and settle in for a quick journey back to London.