We stayed at the Hermitage Gantois last week. We wanted to travel somewhere carbon neutrally on the Eurostar and booked via the Eurostar website (after checking out reviews on here). We'd never been to Lille. The hotel was beautiful. Fine mix of the old with hi-tech modernity. We had a 'tradition' room which overlooked an incredibly quiet courtyard. Enough space for 3 days and lovely bathroom. The hotel shuttle doesn't run on Sundays but a taxi ride was very quick. We'd booked for dinner on arrival and enjoyed a truly exquisite French meal. Everything was delicious. Service was a bit slow on the main course, even by French standards, but the quality made up for it. The price was comparable with other places we chose to eat in. We don't go for cheap and were rewarded with high class cuisine. Breakfast was good with a fair range on the buffet for different palates - including Tattinger champagne. As it was Mark's birthday whilst we were there, we enjoyed a bucks fizz one morning! It got busier in the week as the hotel hosted business conferences, but was never crowded. The bar is very spacious and great for looking at the art etc. As are the chapel and other rooms around the hotel. All staff are pleasant and very helpful. They really were service-minded and not aloof. After staying at l'Hermitage we were a bit disappointed by some parts of Lille (mainly the outskirts), but it was always great to get back to and not very far from the centre. We had lots of rain whilst we were there, so went places on foot, by metro and taxi - depending on the weather. Location was very good. We ate out on our other 2 nights and would definitely recommend La Compostelle in the town - amazing food in very friendly settings with lots of unexpected, delightful touches.

I took my girlfriend to the Hermitage as I wished to propose and booked one of the suites. The rooms were beautiful, as was the rest of the hotel with the lounge area and exceptional garden / courtyard, and the staff were helpful for booking a restaurant and guiding us around Lille. Once I had informed the staff that my girlfriend had said yes, they laid out roses throughout the bedroom, which was a wonderful touch, The breakfast was included in the suite price, and although if you don't have it included ? 18 is not bad, as it is a wide chioce of fresh bread, juice, yoghurt, fruit salad, tea etc. all delivered to you to have breakfast in bed - a luxury but really good. If you are looking for a romantic hotel in Lille I really wouldn't look any further, the public areas are delightful, as were the staff.

From start to finish this hotel exceeded expectations. The front of house staff were lovely, one even coming to the local beauty parlour to help explain the treatments available as my French is non-existent. The room was oak paneled and spacious with lead light windows, the bathroom modern with a suitably powerful shower. Breakfast was great but there seems to be a patisserie on every corner if you prefer. If you are going to Lille, I couldn't recommend the hotel more highly, it is well positioned, not far from the Eurostar terminal and in good walking distance to both the centre and the markets on Sunday which are a must..

from the moment you arrive you know this is a special place, staff are very friendly and helpful, check-in was pain free. Our room was a revelation, it was huge(215, a priveledge room) It overlooked a courtyard of trees, the window was large , but you had to stand up to look out, and it did not let in much light. Lighting was a bit of a problem, it was a dark room and the lighting in some areas was inadequate, especially the hall/wardrobe area. somewhat strange was the contrast with the bedside lights they were very high up and incredibly bright, not good for reading in bed. Beds were comfortable, nothing special, and no headboard. The carpets need underlay and the beamed ceiling, though spectacular had a portion above our bed with unpainted chipboard! The decoration was a good blend of traditional and modern. The bathroom was great, a good shower, spectacular sink and decorative tiles. The make-up mirror was a bit inaccessable, ask a woman what height it should be. We tried the main restaurant, it was very upmarket and professional, but a bit modern, with smears of brown stuff, and blobs of paler brown stuff, I had a starter portion of delicious fois gras that was of epic proportions, followed by five of the smallest scallops I had ever seen with a smear of cooked cheese. The mashed potato was the worst I had ever eaten; glutinous with over mashing and yet lumpy. Continental breakfast in the room as 36 euros, for only 6 miniature pastries with coffee and juice. The bar is spectacular, but there were never enough people in it to give atmosphere. Even when the Lille football team turned up. The distance to the main part of town takes 10 minutes of leisurely walking, there are bars shops and cafes on the way. at the hotel there is a patisserie that I wanted to bring home with me, it was fantastic. Parking is on the street, the staff will feed the meter for you and it is free at the weekend. The best bit about Lille is the food I don't think you can eat badly. Even in the very touristy main square, it is a friendly pretty town, but still 'real'.