Don't miss the wood and park land called 'The Bois de Boulogne' in the north of Lille, easily accessible from the city centre.

It houses a spacious zoo whose aim is to breed endangered species; not to trap animals from the wild.

The playful red foxes will make you laugh and as a bonus, entrance is free.

The park has a great family atmosphere, none more so than on the last Sunday in May when every woman visiting the park is presented with a carnation to celebrate Mothers Day in France.

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My tip is to visit the annual 'Braderie de Lille' - the biggest flea market in Europe, with stalls on over 100kms of pavements.

It is held over the first weekend in September in the centre of Lille. From Antiques to Junk, from Books to Pictures it is all there. The walk from Lille Europe to the market is short, some 500 yards so access is easy.

I discovered it by accident. Leaving the old station (Lille Flandres), after an ovenight trip from Italy, I headed for a café and stumbled across a small part of the market. I was hooked!

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In the middle of the Christmas Market in Lille amongst the wooden huts selling mulled wine and crafts is a harmless looking Ferris wheel - make sure you don't miss having a go for a great birds eye view of the city especially at night and the chance to be scared witless.

The back of each car seemed so low I spent the entire time feeling like I was about to fall out!

Afterwards head for one of the cafes in the same square for a medicinal hot chocolate.

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The swimming pool museum in Roubaix is less than 30 minutes from Lille centre by tram (Roubaix) or metro (Euroteleport).

The marvellous Museum of Arts and Industry relocated to this renovated 1920's swimming pool in 2001.

There is a huge Art deco rising sun window dominating the scene and the paintings, sculptures, textiles and (glorious) ceramics, showing the creativity behind Roubaix's heyday, are imaginitively displayed around the pool, shower cubicles and surronding areas.

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Lille is a fantastic weekend city. Easy to explore on foot or on the metro.

A memorable Sunday outing is a short hop on the metro to Wazemmes market to mingle with the locals, take in the sights, sounds and smells of the flower, cheese and flea markets. Head back on foot through the suburbs to central Lille and the charming old city.

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Everyone seems to go to Lille to shop, but head for the amazing Palais des Beaux-Arts, which was empty when we visited (because everyone was shopping!) It's stunning, (second largest museum after the Louvre) and houses beautiful paintings, sculptures and amazing maps and town models in the basement.

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