Clarance Hôtel, Lille, Normandy & Pas de Calais, France
This is a chic home base for exploring one of Northern France's most scenic towns: its past honoured with beautifully preserved original features like parquet flooring, period mirrors and chimneys; and up-to-the-minute touches placing it all firmly in the here and now.
Contemporary artwork adds a splash of colour around the hotel's public spaces; Clarance's complimentary bike rentals make it even easier to set off from the charming old town and explore the array of local landmarks; and the 300-square-metre Le Jardin de Clarance is a real natural oasis (its organic vegetable garden, fruit trees, and beehives adding a little je ne sais quoi to the seasonal menus of Lille's only Michelin-starred restaurant, La Table).