Shop Until
You Drop

There’s a very good Printemps department store (Rue Nationale). And a medium-sized Westfield shopping centre, beside Gare Lille-Flandres. I don’t think anything is particularly cheaper.

In Roubaix, which is part of the MEL (Métropole Européenne de Lille) zone, there’s a MacArthurGlen discount shopping retail park. And l’Usine discount centre with over 200 retailers selling at outlet prices.

Shopping Tips for Visitors

Prices in France, like the UK, seem to be rising gradually. So don’t expect too many bargains.

Sweet Treats and Gourmet Food Shopping

Chocolate is a bit of a thing here. There are lots of chocolate shops, from the chains such as Leonidas, Jeff de Bruges, and Maison Georges Larnicol (Rue Esquermoise). Plus plenty of independents.

Cycling Shopping

If you’d like to take home a quirky cycling product reminder of your visit, head to Vera in Roubaix, 36 rue du Général Sarrail, for Céline‘s locally manufactured funky cycling caps, bags, socks, etc. Also in Roubaix you will find La Vie est Belt, manufacturers of belts, socks, bracelets, etc., using upcycled old bike tyres. Great gifts (or for you!). A friend Andreas is the last operating frame-builder in Roubaix if you fancy a Roubaix-made new bike, LaFraise Cycles.

Main Pic: Philippe Olivier. Above Merveilleux de Fred.

Fashion, Knitwear, and Cheese!

Some other shops. If you fancy returning with a fine bit of French knitwear (in particular), Saint James in the old town (Rue Esquermoise) is your destination! For cheese, Fromagerie Philippe Olivier (Rue du Cure Saint-Etienne/Rue Basse) is part of a small chain. And very, very good!

There’s also one next door to Calais Vins, if you’re stopping for Duty Free; and a very good patisserie.

Lots of other cheese shop (of course).

Note: at the time of writing, the UK Government has introduced a ban on importing dairy products because of the risk of Foot and Mouth disease.

Maison Caffet Chocolate Shop

French Bastards Boulangerie

Great belts and more from La Vie est Belt

Louis Vuitton in an old oyster shop!

French Fashion Stores
and Local Brands

If you want to pretend you’re French, forget the berets and onion strings, and buy yourself a JOTT lightweight puffa jacket! One shop in Westfield another in old Lille. Everyone seems to have one, including me!

The K-Way waterproof jackets are currently ubiquitous. They are another northern France success story. There’s a shop on rue Basse in the old town.

High-End Shopping and Duty-Free Opportunities

Most of the big French brands have a presence here. So if you feel like blowing your life savings on a Louis Vuitton bag, there’s a shop.

For electronics head to FNAC or Boulanger. Fancy a posh watch? Check out Le Page on rue de la Bourse. The Printemps Department Store has a  luxury section, perfume section, men’s and women’s fashion, homewares… 

As an aside, if you are making a ‘significant’ purchase the shop will usually be able to help you claim back the tax as a Duty Free purchase. Certainly it’s offered in Printemps and I would guess places like Louis Vuitton; never been in!

Second-Hand Books and Posters at La Vieille Bourse

The old stock exchange (La Vieille Bourse) now houses a well-known second-hand books/posters/magazines/postcards/etc market and currently features an art installation that’s part of the Lille3000 festival; good for old Miroir de Cyclisme magazines!

It’s a great spot to browse old magazines. Nothing seems to be over priced.

At the weekend speed chess players set up inside the building.

Bike Shops 

There are a number of bike shops in Lille, including an absolutely enormous Decathlon cycle shop just outside the city centre, B-Twin Village in the Fives area. 

Vera in Roubaix for funky and fun cycling gear!

Decathlon’s huge B-Twin Village

Speed Chess, art installations and secondhand books at La Vieille Bourse