The centrepiece is an ambitious exhibition of Rubens paintings, drawings and tapestries, which reasserts the city’s pre-French origins as one of the great commercial city-states of Flanders. The city is, with Genoa, Europe’s “cultural capital” for 2004. The theme of the thousands of artistic, theatrical and musical offerings, in Lille and surrounding towns, until December is “Metamorphosis”: a salute to the city’s resurrection from heavy industrial disaster in the 1980s.The theme could just as well be “Back to the Future”. To prejudiced Parisians, Lille will always remain a dreary, rainy city somewhere near the Belgian border Brits know better.

With the coming of the Eurostar, and the resurgence of France’s northern capital in the past two decades, a brand-new, 1,000-year-old continental city has materialised on Britain’s doorstep.
There has never been a better time to visit Lille (an hour by road from the Channel Tunnel; 100 minutes from Waterloo by train). Until 15 July, it is offering return flights, transfers and six nights’ half-board accommodation at the five-star Saint Anne Resort All prices are based on two sharing, unless stated. The deal includes return flights from Heathrow, 14 nights’ room-only accommodation, car hire and a ferry crossing between the North and South islands.£2,116 Two can travel for the price of one to the Seychelles with ITC Classics (01244 355527). The Hotel Splendido has long attracted the glamour set – the Duke of Windsor was the first to sign its visitors’ book and paved the way for a procession of celebrity guests such as Grace Kelly, Richard Burton, Groucho Marx and Madonna, who have all lounged by the hotel’s spectacularly positioned sea-water swimming pool.£998 Bridge the World (0870-444 1716) is offering a 17-day driving holiday in New Zealand if you book before 31 March for travel between 1 May and 15 June. The deal is available from 1-30 April (excluding Easter) and includes return flights from London to Genoa, private transfers and b&b accommodation.The hotel, which is housed in a restored 15th century Benedictine monastery, perches on a hill overlooking the chic Ligurian resort and is surrounded by verdant, semi-tropical gardens.With its pastel-coloured houses and beautifully situated harbour, Portofino has become one of Italy’s most glamorous and exclusive holiday resorts. Child prices start from £411.£725: Live it up like Madonna, in a Benedictine monasterySave £426 per person on a three-night stay at the luxurious Hotel Splendido in Portofino on the Italian Riviera with Citalia (020-8686 5533). Valid for departures on 2 and 9 May.£409 Spend three nights in Hong Kong with Austravel (0870-166 2070).

Book by 31 March for travel before 30 June, including return flights from London and three nights at the Metropole Hotel, Kowloon, on a room-only basis.£499 Combine two weeks on the Kenyan coast near Mombasa with an overnight safari with the African Safari Club (0845-345 0014). The price quoted is valid for departure on 19 March.£359Inghams (020-8780 8800) is offering ski enthusiasts a final chance to hit the slopes of St Anton in Austria on 27 March. The price for the deal offered includes return flights from London, transfers and seven nights’ catered chalet accommodation.£379 Book before 31 March to get two weeks for the price of one at the Hotel Ville Kolocep on Kolocep Island in Croatia with Crystal Croatia (0870-888 0024). £549Depart on 31 March for a seven-night holiday in the Tunisian resort of Hammamet with Wigmore Holidays (020-7836 4999). The deal includes flights, full board and an overnight safari in Tsavo East National Park.