Streets and squares across the UK are filled with festive cheer, thanks to their twinkling lights, the aroma of mulled wine, and charming wooden chalets that make up their Christmas markets. While we have a bundle on offer, from Bath to Edinburgh, I was blown away when I visited a European Christmas market just an hour and 23 minutes away from the UK.

Taking advantage of the most wonderful time of the year, I boarded the Eurostar from London St Pancras International at 9am and arrived in the delightful city of Lille, France, by 11.24am, ready to explore its enchanting Christmas Village. And with a 20-minute stroll from the station, it couldn’t have been easier to find myself at the heart of the festive magic.

My first port of call was the city’s bustling Christmas market on Place Rihour, which was enclosed but adorned with packed stalls offering everything you could ever imagine. From fur hats and knitwear to an array of Santa hats, quirky baby socks, a wooden Harry Potter Quidditch pinball machine, Christmas baubles, sculptures, candles, pop-up cards, colourful posters, and vinyl records – it really did have it all.

But what really caught my attention was the food. Before arriving in France for the day, I knew I’d be treated to some seriously good cuisine, but what I discovered was more than what I could have expected.

Starting off my foodie journey, I began with a portion of the croustilles de Noël, which translates to Christmas chips, though they looked more like croquettes with a tender centre and crunchy coating. I chose to have mine smothered in melted Maroilles cheese from Northern France, and garnished with crispy onions, and wow.

When I say these were out of this world, I mean it. The cheese was like nothing I’ve ever tasted before, with its strong yet sweet and mellow flavours that melted away with every mouthful. I can easily see why it’s been dubbed the ‘king of cheese’. So, that poured over the croustilles de Noël, I really was in foodie heaven.

Elsewhere, I devoured some raclette tourtons, which are “small doughnuts filled with a cheese puree”, as they explained in French on the board, and they were equally divine. I also sampled a truffle macaron, which proved a bewildering yet scrumptious combination, before moving on to a champagne macaron.

I could have easily whiled away the day indulging in the market’s culinary delights, with more offerings such as fondue, Bretzels, corn dogs, cheese-topped French baguettes, stroopwafels, enormous doughnuts, and old-fashioned gingerbread. Not forgetting the traditional panettone going for €25, a massive gingerbread heart for €30 and a packet of stroopwafels for €5, alongside an array of gins, ciders and cured meats all up for grabs.

No visit to a Christmas market, whether in the UK or Europe, is complete without a comforting cup of mulled wine, and I sampled the best one yet. After trying one stall that only accepted cash, I found another that served me a traditional Vins Chauds, or mulled wine, from a bubbling copper steel cauldron.

It set me back €5 for a generous 25cl serving, plus an extra €2 for the reusable plastic cup adorned with a scene from the Lille Christmas Village. If you return the cup to the stall, you’ll receive the €2 back, but I couldn’t resist keeping it as a small memento.

Moreover, visitors can opt for a 50cl serving, nearly equivalent to a full pint, of either red or white mulled wine, for just €8 (roughly £6.99). I noticed many people strolling around the market clutching their pint of warming wine, and wished I had upgraded my own.

Another impressive feature of this particular Christmas market was the fully equipped bar, which had absolutely every drink on offer, something I had never seen before. Visitors could order cocktails for €9, a bottle of wine for €24, or even opt for a spirit or shot – this really was the place to come for some festive drinks with pals.

Additionally, there was another stall selling draft beer, and a personal highlight, a champagne and wine bar. Not only could you indulge in a glass of bubbly at the heart of jollity, but the menu also boasted salmon, caviar and oysters for an extra touch of luxury – it is Christmas after all?

I strolled around the market for around three hours, soaking up the atmosphere while sampling some of the delicious dishes on offer, but I noticed it got increasingly busy from around 5pm onwards. I saw more people were socialising around the wooden market tables with a pint of beer or mulled wine, while the bars were surrounded by people as queues formed.

It seemed that this Christmas market was more than just a place to pick up some gifts, but a hot spot to socialise, drink and feast on the delicacies. And with free entry and vibrant festive merriment, it’s easy to see why.

The festivities extend further into the city, with a large Ferris wheel and an enormous Christmas tree in the main square, among other attractions. I also discovered a chalet-style Christmas bar buzzing with locals and tourists enjoying the festive spirit, followed by a delightful carousel and two holiday-themed displays in front of the Opéra de Lille.

The enchanting Christmas village created a fairytale-like setting that beckoned me to explore more. However, I had to return to catch the 6.36pm Eurostar back to London, arriving at 7pm UK time, but it was certainly a day trip well worth taking.

• Eurostar offers direct routes to Lille from London St Pancras International – find out more and book on eurostar.com. 

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