The Best Independent Bookstores in Lille
The capital of the North is a surprising city, with a rich cultural scene evident in its fabulous museums, art galleries, exhibitions, historical landmarks and its amazing selection of bookstores.
1. World tour
Just a five-minute walk from the train and Eurostar stations, Autour du Monde features a rich selection of books focused on travel – including regional guides, travel essays, international travel titles and maps.
Autour du Monde, 5 Rue de Paris, Lille, France +33 03 20 78 19 33
2. Family fun
Theater
3. Two cousins
After working separately in two successful bookstores, cousins Fantine et Alix decided to join forces and set up the delightful La Lison, with the enthusiasm born from a strong belief in the important role that neighbourhood bookshops play in the life of a community.
La Lison, 8 Place Jeanne d’Arc, Lille, France +33 09 83 99 70 32
There’s a long tradition of second-hand bookstalls in the incredible historical landmark of the old stock exchange La Vieille Bourse. The booksellers, or bouquinistes, set up in the beautiful courtyard every day from Tuesday to Sunday between 1pm and 7pm.
International central
V.O. (short for version originale) is a dreamy little spot created in 2002, offering a large selection of books in their original language. You will find classics, and new releases in English, German, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Russian. You can also enjoy a coffee while you browse, and literary events are held throughout the year.
Coffee and comics
There’s a lovely little corner in Lille for comic lovers. At BD + Café you can sip your grand crême with a side of comics, and if you are enjoying the read… well, then you just buy it and take it home, of course!
4. Antique hunting
Bookstore
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.