Le Touquet - Northern France

[MYOB]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 21 April 2025 at 16:21

[chip*]

It is touristy, very popular with the Brits too (and popular with UK golfers as there are lots of courses nearby). A very pleasant seaside resort to chill / eat decent food, perfect for a short break (2 nights) as I did last summer before heading south to Honfleur. You can hire bikes to visit nearby coastal towns for lunch stops, or just ride around the surrounding residential roads to admire the amazing house (all very unique!). I am not a beach person (and luckily my girls are the same), but it has an amazing beach if that's your thing. Other things to do: visit Montreuil for a day trip, or if you fancy something more active, book an electric scooter for a tour of the surrounding area. I have never ridden an electric scooter until I went on this trip, and something I suspect your teenager kids will enjoy. If you are confident with the scooter, and want a challenge, the guide will take you through the forest paths (others continue on the road and all reunite at the end of the forest section). Their website is https://touquet.trott-aventure.com/ Highly recommended! We stayed in Holiday Inn, nothing fancy (mezzanine rooms with 2 separate double beds) but it's ideally located (5 mins pleasant walk into town), hassle-free car parking (I took my GT3 so parking was essential), and a pool for a refreshing dip if you wish.

[Soloman Dodd]

Next weekend (7-9) is the Le Touquet beach race. There will be a huge number of spectators.

[WyrleyD]

Been there many times for long weekends, some good restaurants in the town and in the winter you can wander down to
the beach and watch the bulldozers and diggers moving the sand around. We normally stayed at the Westminster and have tried the cheaper hotels but always gravitated back to the Westminster.

[interstellar]

Yes France takes Apple Pay etc no problem.

I guess in some rural villages they might not but main places no problem.

I went to le Touquet years ago. This is very popular there and great fun

https://en.letouquet.com/le-touquet-paris-plage/sp...

[davek_964]

We went there last year - think it was over the August bank holiday weekend.

We really liked it - nice town, lovely beaches. It was very windy when we went which limited how much we wanted to walk along the seafront - but it was a good choice.

(And I pay for everything with contactless)

[chip*]

MYOB said:

Oh, one final question please. It has been a few years since my last visit to France but are they set up widely for contactless payment like we are?

Thanks again.

Yep, but I always carry a spare Euro100 for the odd shops who don't accept cards.
You won't even need cash for the seafront car parks as you can pay with your cards via the paybyphone app too.

MYOB said:

Looking forward to it already. Makes a change from doing City breaks!

You should enjoy the resort as it is pretty chav free unlike the typical UK seaside resorts (excluding Whitstable). I enjoy weekend breaks in France pre-kids, and my kids getting older, these short French weekend breaks are beginning to appeal again.

Edited by chip* on Monday 3rd February 10:06

Edited by chip* on Monday 3rd February 10:07

[TT1138]

Stayed there last July for a night. On way down to Brittany on the motorbikes.

Really liked it. Very easy to get to from the tunnel, some great patisseries for breakfast and a huge, sandy beach and promenade. Felt very safe. Contactless no problem.

Only thing worth considering was just how quiet it was, albeit midweek.

[rufmeister]

Have a look at La Panne, just over the border in to Belgium, was our go to for many years with the kids until football took over our weekends.

Huge promenade, lovely restaurants, activities galore, love it there.

[Lotusgone]

Stayed at Le T, at the Westminster; town very pleasant, beach & prom also. The only downer is that when you look back at the town from the beach, there are a lot of very downbeat buildings that let it down.

Honfleur doesn't have the beach but has a lovely harbour.

[e600]

We’ve been several times, mostly Westminster but the odd Airbnb. Great place, good eateries, and a sensible base for shortish further afield trips.

On one occasion it appeared every French security service agent and policeman was in LT, I think i Macrons summerhouse is there.

[Den Den]

e600 said:

We’ve been several times, mostly Westminster but the odd Airbnb. Great place, good eateries, and a sensible base for shortish further afield trips.

On one occasion it appeared every French security service agent and policeman was in LT, I think i Macrons summerhouse is there.

We usually stay at the Bristol, which has a car park round the back, mainly as I like the bar (it looks like a 60's Bond film set) and the breakfast is decent. Favourite restaurants are Perards and Le Coq Hardie in the Rue de Metz.
I have come out of the Globetrotter at ungodly hours of the morning and been greeted by fully armed rozzers, once asking if I'd like a hand to get back to the hotel as I was slightly unstable.

[davek_964]

MYOB said:

Thanks guys. I’ve booked the tunnel and hotel for two nights. Really wanted the Westminster but there was no guarantee of a parking spot and as it’s over half term, I didn’t want to take the risk. Thus I’ve booked the Holiday Inn which virtually guarantees a parking spot.

Um..... That's where we stayed.

There are a decent amount of spaces, but you're far from guaranteed a spot. If it's busy, it overflows and people park on the road (which isn't that wide). If you drive down the side of the hotel there are some spaces at the back, and although they do also fill - people tend to use them last.

[dontlookdown]

You will have a good time in Le Touquet, ideal for a long weekend. Eàsygoing and attractive spot with fun shops, good food and a fine beach.

I am going to check out La Panne and Honfleur too, thanks to this thread.

[rufmeister]

dontlookdown said:

You will have a good time in Le Touquet, ideal for a long weekend. Eàsygoing and attractive spot with fun shops, good food and a fine beach.

I am going to check out La Panne and Honfleur too, thanks to this thread.

If you have kids, look out for Plopsaland, theme park and water park.

There's also a good car event in La Panne in September "DP4C" we stumbled across it several years back, and there was a great atmosphere with some stunning cars.

[chip*]

dontlookdown said:

I am going to check out La Panne and Honfleur too, thanks to this thread.

Never heard of La Panne till now, so appreciate new recommendations, especially as we are going to Belgium in May half term.

Honfleur port is very pretty and worth a visit, but just be aware, it gets crazy busy during the main holiday period. Great place for seafood, and conveniently base for day trip to Deauville, Etretat (jump on the velo rail!) or to tour Calvados distillery e.g. Christian Drouin.