Lille's Braderie is the undisputed king of French flea markets. It only happens once a year, but it’s Europe’s largest, with thousands of stalls. Over a million visitors head to this pretty city on the border of Belgium in search of a bargain every September. The bumper
brocante starts on Saturday morning and runs up until midnight on Sunday, so there's plenty of opportunity to immerse yourself in the carnival atmosphere and some serious bargain hunting. Refuel with some speciality fast food like mussels and fries, and piquant merguez sausages.
Lille is just 1hr 20m away from London, making the journey to Braderie de Lille an easy day trip. Fares start at £65 return. Take a look at our
destination guide for more information.