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Honfleur
One of the most beautiful spots on the Normandy coast, Honfleur’s picture-perfect harbor is lined with townhouses dating back to the 16th century. It’s the only place for long, sunny lunches and dinners of fish and seafood pulled in from the sea earlier in the day. Step into the Eugène Boudin Museum to discover works by artists including Monet, Duffy and Boudin, and walk the Pont de Normandie, a 7,000-foot-tall and spectacular cable-stayed bridge. Views on the banks of the Seine. Stay at Le Manoir, a beautiful 18th-century manor house with an excellent restaurant (doubles from £167 B&B, sawdays.co.uk). Ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, dfds.com
Villiers-sur-Mer
If you want to pop in and out of glitzy Deauville and Trouville without staying there, this charming village 10 minutes down the coast with its long beach and small, pedestrianized high street makes for a great stopover. Best fish restaurants, boutiques and foodie emporiums. A good base for hikers, the tourist office has maps of 12 circular walks, with 35km of marked trails on foot, bike or horse. Afterwards, settle in for a molasses roast and excellent local wine at Le Cafe de France (2 rue de Generale de Galle) and stay at the fine house La Mascotte, a few streets from the beach (doubles from £100, sawdays.co).uk). Ferry from Portsmouth to Caen, brittany-ferries.com.
Baffler
Seafood lovers and history buffs should make a beeline for Barfleur. A traditional Norman fishing port, it has played an important role in Anglo-French history for over a century, famous for its wild mushrooms. Sunny evenings are best spent at one of the beautiful fish restaurants on the harbor, while days can be enjoyed on the three sandy beaches close to the village, sailing and sailing. Stay at Fleur et Mer, a charming chambre d’hote with four rooms (some sleeping up to four), bikes, prams and baby seats all available to hire (doubles from 75 B&B; fleuretmer.fr). Ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg, brittany-ferries.com.
Lyon-la-Forte
If you’re looking for a real sense of escape, this delightful village, steeped in over 1,000 years of history and surrounded by Normandy’s oldest and largest forests, is ideal. A holiday retreat of choice for Norman dukes and French kings for centuries, thanks to its excellent hunting, Lyon has a 14th-century covered market and its streets are full of medieval buildings, now ancient emporiums, tea shops and restaurants. . Monet’s gardens at Giverny are within easy reach, as is Château Gaillard, and La Licorne – a 16th-century building with a spa, indoor and outdoor pools and popular restaurants – has a superb base (doubles from £92, hotel-licorne.com). Ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, dfds.com
Amen
Ninety minutes by car from Dieppe, Amiens is an ideal base for a short break. Steeped in history, home to some of France’s most beautiful cathedrals, the finest restaurants line the banks of the Somme. Take a boat trip to discover the unique vegetables – 300 hectares of floating gardens glow with color in spring, illuminating the city’s canal network – and visit the Somme Museum, focusing on life on the canal near Albert. Stay at La Marotte, the city’s most upmarket address, which has added a new spa and bedrooms in the former Banque de France building (doubles from £178; hotel-marotte.com). Ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, dfds.com
Lil
If retail therapy is high on your list of weekend getaways, Lille – an hour and 15 minute drive from Calais – is a great choice. France’s fourth-largest city is home to Europe’s largest flea market, La Grand Brâderie de Lille, as well as the sprawling Errille shopping center and a picturesque old town with boutiques, homewares stores and mouth-watering patisseries. Elegant Flemish-style buildings house classic brasseries alongside modern restaurants, and the city’s excellent rail links make it ideal for exploring further afield. Stay at Mama Shelter, a hip, affordable design hotel with a lively cocktail bar and restaurant (doubles from £92; mamashelter.com). Ferry from Dover to Calais, dfds.com
Boulogne sur Mer
Ideal for a family holiday, Boulogne is just 20 minutes from Calais, and combines plenty of bucket-and-spade opportunities with a beautifully preserved old town, cobbled streets lined with fine restaurants, bars and boutiques. Walk or bike the nearby Route de la Corniche for stunning sea views, or explore the jagged sand dunes that rise behind the beaches. Older kids can try kite or windsurfing, while the whole family can explore the coast by canoe or kayak. Stay at L’Enclos de L’Evêché – a 19th-century mansion in the heart of town, with five elegant rooms (doubles from 85 B&B; enclosdeleveche.com). Ferry from Dover to Calais, dfds.com
Saint Malo
Ideal for a car-free vacation, this fortified town offers a seductive combination of history, great food and long, sandy beaches. Before exploring the medieval streets, start with a walk at the walls of the ancient walled city of Intra-Muros, filled with creperies selling the region’s trademark galettes, oyster stalls and smokehouses. At low tide it’s possible to walk to the two beautiful islands opposite the town, while the Plage du Ceylon – a 3km stretch of sand – is perfect for lazy afternoons with ice cream and a book. Stay at Villa Saint Raphael, a charming 17th-century villa with five cozy bedrooms (doubles from 85 B&Bs, villa-st-raphael-saint-malo.com). Ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo, brittany-ferries.com.
Cooper
The cultural heart of the region, Kuiper combines a magnificent cathedral and a well-preserved old town with a lively and artistic atmosphere. Famous for it Pottery – Unique Pottery, Breton Designs – The city has pottery and workshops to visit alongside the Musee de Faience with over 500 rooms. Beautiful half-timbered houses line the banks of the Odette River on either side of flower-adorned bridges. Pop into the Musee de Beaux-Arts, which includes several works by Gaugin, and grab cider and galettes for a picnic in the beautiful Jardin de la Retraite. Stay at the family-run Hotel Craigen, a stone’s throw from the cathedral (doubles from £78 B&B, bestwestern.com). Ferry from Portsmouth to Roscoff, brittany-ferries.com.
Fern
If you’re more interested in Brittany’s bucolic hinterland than busy beaches, Foggers makes a great base for exploring the region’s northwest. Known for its more than 1,000-year-old fortress – the largest in Europe – the atmospheric town is lined with beautiful cobblestones and traditional half-timbered buildings. Rocher Porteille, one of Brittany’s most beautiful chateaux, is nearby, as is Rennes, the region’s capital, thanks to its impressive Place de République and lively bar scene, thanks to the 20,000 students who call the city home. Stay at the 14th-century Château de Montbrault (doubles from £118 B&B, chateau-de-montbrault.com ), which exudes classic French style. Ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo, brittany-ferries.com.
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