Fun Days Out Just A Hop Across The Channel
Living in this corner of the country means we are ideally located to pop over to Northern France for either a day trip or short break with relative ease.
Image Photo by Maarten Wijnants on Unsplash
Here we take a look at a variety of places to visit and ways to entertain yourself there.
First up on your itinerary is planning how you are going to get across the Channel. There are three options to choose from, depending on where you want to travel from and whether you will be taking your car with you.
If travelling by train is your preferred option then you can get on the Eurostar at London St Pancras International, which will take you to Gare de Calais-Ville located in the city centre. This station also offers regular services to Lille, Dunkirk and Boulogne if you want to go a little further afield during your trip.
Alternatively, if you want to explore Northern France in your own car you can head over via the Eurotunnel LeShuttle, getting on at Folkestone in Kent and arriving in Coquelles, west of Calais, in just 35 minutes. It is then only a seven-minute drive to the city centre.
The third option is to travel over via ferry. P&O run services from Dover to Calais with a crossing time of 90 minutes, DFDS Seaways takes 100 minutes from Dover to Calais, or you can get from Dover to Dunkirk with them in the same time. The added benefit of ferries is the ability to get out of your car and stretch your legs as well as enjoying the views as you cross the Channel. DFDS do not allow foot passengers on board so you will need to be travelling by car, but P&O do run some foot passenger sailing times.
Having made the crossing on your chosen route and finding yourself in the centre of Calais why not spend the day exploring the city? There are many key points of interest to visit. With the seafront just a 15-minute walk away, head there to see the Dragon of Calais, a 12m high and 25m long robotic ride that goes along the seafront – an experience unlikely to be forgotten! For panoramic views of Calais head to Calais Lighthouse, where after heading up 271 steps you will be rewarded with stunning views – and in clear weather may even be able to see back home to the White Cliffs of Dover. The lighthouse itself is unusual is several ways, both in being located in the town amongst residential streets, and that it may even be haunted! If you happen to be in Calais on a Wednesday or Saturday morning take the chance to wander the market at Place d'Armes.
After the mnorning’s activities it’s time to rest and refuel, so head to one of the many independent cafes or pick up a takeaway and relax at Parc Richelieu.
Once refreshed, it’s time to hit the shops and while wandering the streets look out for the beautiful architecture to be found throughout the city, including the town hall – l'Hotel de Ville de Calais. This UNESCO World Heritage site has a belfry that is accessible by lift offering an overview of the city, a square turret with a bell tower and there are also a series of underground passages you can tour.
For museum-lovers, nearby there is the WWII Museum – a former bunker which now tells the story of Calais during the Second World War. Other museums worth a visit are the Museum of Fine Arts, and the City of Lace and Fashion.
After an exciting day, it’s time to check into your hotel. Some top picks on Tripadvisor for independent venues include Les Secrets Des Loges (a boutique B&B located behind the theatre in the centre of Calais), Azal 1889 in the Gare district, or Hotel Meurice, a charming venue built in 1771 adjacent to Notre-Dame Catholic Church.
Once you’ve unpacked it’s time to head into the city for dinner. Tripadvisor rates La Buissonniere which offers healthy French cuisine with vegetarian options, Le Grand Bleu offering entirely homemade cuisine with local and seasonal produce, or Au Cote D’Argent located on the Calais sea wall with panoramic views.
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After a good night’s rest, consider heading a little further afield on your second day. Just a one-and-a-half hour drive away is Lille, where you can walk the cobbled streets of Vieux-Lille with its small boutiques and flamboyant architecture, explore flea and street markets, or head to Grande Place – the town’s historic main square. Spend some time at Palais des Beaux Arts, a historic monument considered a cultural treasure dedicated to fine arts, modern art, and antiquities. Fun for all the family, Zoo de Lille has a variety of birds, mammals (including red panda and white rhinoceros) and reptiles in themed areas. Meanwhile at Bourbourg prison you can discover prison life from the 16th century up until to World War II at this historical monument, with its warden's quarters, cells, isolation cells and inmates graffiti.
After lunch it’s time to start heading back towards Calais. Making a stop at Dunkirk is a must with lots of points of interest to choose from. Explore the Museum Dunkerque 1940 Operation Dynamo with an incredible story to tell. If you head to the beach, at low tide some shipwrecks from the second world war will appear.
To get a great view of Dunkirk, make a visit to the observation deck at Saint-Éloi Belfry of Dunkirk, a UNESCO World Heritage site with 50 bells that play popular melodies very 15 minutes.
For something a little different head to Le Camélus Farm which has more than 100 animals representing over 40 species including wallabies, emus, buffalos, camels, four-horned sheep and the chance to feed an ostrich!
Before you head home don’t forget to stop off at Carrefour Cité Europe, just a five-minute drive from the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais. This hypermarket offers tax free shopping and the chance to stock up on some French cheese, wine, pastries or olive oils for your kitchen or pick up some new clothes, jewellery, technology and more.
Then it’s just a short trip back home, and time to start planning your next visit...
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