A visit to the Louvre-Lens Museum is the ideal last-minute trip. Credit:
flexbox
Written by Emily Luxton. Follow her on Twitter here.
A driving holiday in Europe can make a great last-minute
trip. With Eurotunnel Le Shuttle it takes just 35-minutes to cross to Calais,
and since you don't need to book too far in advance, it's perfect for taking a
getaway at the eleventh hour. If you're travelling last-minute, it's a good
idea to aim for less popular cities, as these will likely have more
availability. Here are a few incredible options for a last-minute driving
holiday.
All drive times are approximate and based on Google Maps.
Don't forget to account for passport control, as some of these journeys involve
multiple border crossings.
Lens, France
Perfect for: Art lovers
The small town of Lens near the Belgian border is a very off-the-beaten-path
destination, and you can get there from London within a couple of hours. Local
Vincent Malisz (@malisz) tweeted me a few tips for his home city. “It's a very
little city. You have the Louvre museum of course, and if you have a chance go
to the stadium! It's something!” The Louvre-Lens Museum is one of the
city's biggest attractions; built on a disused colliery site and located in a
48-acre landscaped park, the museum exhibits works of world importance. A must
for art lovers!
Drive time from Calais: 1hr
Lille, France
Discover the bustling location of Lille. Credit:
Craig Morey
Perfect for: Families
My sister, Cheryl, recommends the city of Lille, where she
headed with her family recently on their driving holiday through the surrounding
region. The cathedral is free and very pretty to visit, and you can take a nice
walk around the citadel. Cheryl's kids loved the zoo inside the citadel, which
is fairly small but completely free, and has a nice play area. “The best thing
about Lille is Meert, an old chocolate shop and patisserie... it's very
fancy and a bit expensive, but so worth it!”
Drive time from Calais: 1hr 10
Ghent, Belgium
Perfect for: Foodies
Surprisingly close to England, Belgium is the perfect
destination for foodies. Whilst Brussels and Bruges are likely to get booked up
fast, the more underrated cities of Ghent and Antwerp are more likely to have
availability. Travel blogger, Victoria, calls Ghent “foodie heaven”! She
recommends tasting Purple Noses from the sweetshop Temmerman, and
swapping your shoe for a beer at De Dulle Griet (read more
here).
Drive time from Calais: 1hr 40
Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp is home to stunning architecture. Credit:
Pedro
Perfect for: History buffs and shopaholics
Local travel blogger, Lot Wildiers, (Reisgoesting) lives very close to Antwerp, and she recommends a day of history, shopping and good food. For history, she says to visit the cathedral, the Ruien (underground passages and sewers from the middle ages) and the museums housing works from the Old Masters (ThePrimitieven). Shopping lovers should head to the Museum of Fashion Design and enjoy the high end shops around it. “At the end of your day, go and eat some real Belgian fries with stew sauce and mayonnaise, and have a Belgian beer in one of the many pubs and cafés”.
Drive time from Calais: 2hr 20mins
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Rotterdam’s Central Station. Credit:
Rick Ligthelm
Perfect for: Architecture lovers and trendy hipsters
Last year I spent a month living just outside of Rotterdam
and fell in love with the city. Compared with the more popular city of Amsterdam,
Rotterdam is quieter and much more chilled out. The city was almost completely
reconstructed after WWII, so it's is known for its modern architecture –
especially the famous Erasmusbrug bridge, which is an amazing site. It's
also a seriously cool city with lots of vintage shops, arty boutiques and
trendy coffee shops to discover.
Drive time from Calais: 3hr 10mins
Düsseldorf, Germany
Perfect for:
Fashionistas
Home to a world-famous school of photography, Düsseldorf is
known for its vibrant art scene and innovative fashion industry. The blogger
behind GnomeTrotting recommends a
walk along the banks of the Rhine, saying; “it's a good place to hang out, eat,
and drink”. Düsseldorf is also considered to be one of the most elegant
shopping cities in Germany. Head to the streets of Königsallee and
Schadowstrasse, which are lined with boutique shops, to discover why.
Drive time from Calais: 4hr
Travel
to any of these last-minute driving holiday destinations with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, and get
from Folkestone to Calais in just 35-minutes.