Nestled in the South West of France, the city of Toulouse is ready to welcome British visitors once again and is the perfect destination for travellers looking for a post-lockdown getaway. Visitors will enjoy Toulouse’s culture, art and architecture as well as its famed gastronomy and proximity to Spain and the Pyrenées. With a variety of transport options to choose from, travellers can decide to reach the destination by air, Eurostar or Eurotunnel. 

Named ‘the pink city’ or “La Ville Rose” in French, thanks to its iconic terracotta buildings and coral roofs, there is plenty to discover on a long-weekend getaway:

Cycle the picturesque Canal du Midi

Linking the Garonne to the Mediterranean, the Canal du Midi’s peaceful tow paths provide a beautiful cycle route for holidaymakers keen to explore the city by foot or on two wheels. Visitors can use the VélÔ Toulouse, a self-service bike scheme with more than 280 stations dotted around the coral streets. The service is open 24/7 and free to use for the first half hour then just 1.20€ for the day.

Walking food tours 

Taste of Toulouse offers guided tours of the impressive Victor Hugo covered market in the heart of the city and teaches English-speaking tourists about the local produce on offer. Visitors can tuck into baked goods, pastries, charcuterie, cheeses and sweet treats on their way around while Jessica the guide shares her knowledge of regional dishes including the famed Touloussain Cassoulet. 

The out-of-this-world, interactive space museum 

A must-do activity in Toulouse is the Cité de l’espace where visitors can learn about all things space. Current exhibitions include the Mars, Space and Comet experiences as well as a Lunar Module, Astronomer’s Observatory Dome and Planetarium to explore.

Sample wine at the best wine bar in the world
Enjoy the art of wine tasting at the N°5 Wine bar, voted ‘Best wine bar in the world’ in the World’s Best Wine Lists the last three years in a row. In a cosy atmosphere, wine aficionados can improve their knowledge during one of the bar’s “Oenological Journeys”, where guests are given three glasses of either red or white wine for a blind tasting. Visitors will then learn to identify the wine’s country of origin according to the flavours. 

Dine out in the foodie capital of France

Many of Toulouse’s top chefs, such as Michel Sarran, have opened more affordable versions of their Michelin-star restaurants to make their outstanding cuisine more accessible. The latest to join this trend is Yannick Delpech, who in December 2019 opened an eatery in Toulouse called Des Roses et Des Orties. The establishment boasts an open kitchen, patisserie, trattoria and bar, offering exceptional regional dishes at affordable prices.

A shopper’s paradise

Toulouse has always been at the cutting edge of fashion and is the birthplace of many famous brands such as Kooples, Le Comptoir des Cotonniers, Marchand Drapier, 7Robes and Marc Deloche jewellery. Major brands can be found on Rues d’Alsace-Lorraine and Saint-Rome, offering all the latest ready-to-wear creations, accessories and cosmetics. For a more sophisticated wardrobe, head to Rues des Arts, Boulbonne and Croix-Baragnon, as well as Place Victor-Hugo or Place Saint-Georges. 

The city’s antique dealers are located in the charming little streets in the Saint-Étienne Cathedral quarter. Here, the antique dealers sit alongside mansion houses and passers-by can visit some of the most beautiful squares in the city. 

La Halle de La Machine 

Situated on the historic runway used for take-off by the pioneers of the "Aeropostale" airmail service, now known as the "Piste des Géants" (Giants' Runway), La Halle de La Machine invites visitors to discover the collection of street theatre machines designed and made by François Delaroziere and La Machine Company. The most impressive addition to the collection is the monumental Minotaur, also known as ‘The Guardian of the Temple’. Visitors can embark on a journey around the local neighbourhood of Montaudran, 14 metres up on the Minotaur’s temple structure perched on its back, and marvel at the steel, wood and leather architecture in motion.

Where to stay: 
Located in the heart of Toulouse and just a stone’s throw away from the Capitole Square, Hôtel Albert 1ER is an independent hotel that has been taking action to protect the planet for many years. Its efforts to preserve a healthy and high-quality environment for both its customers and the city of Toulouse has earned it the European Ecolabel for its social and environmental responsibility. The hotel focuses on quality, local and organic products and uses the freshest ingredients including honey from the 1,000m altitude mountains of Ariege in the Pyrenees, fresh yoghurt from the farms in the Haute Garonne, coffee from Toulouse’s oldest coffee roaster, Café Bacquié and of course, the best charcuterie and cheeses from the city’s magnificent Victor Hugo Market. Hôtel Albert 1ER is priced from £80 per night in an Economy Room on a B&B basis.

To book visit Hôtel Albert 1ER.

 How to get there: 

Train: 

Return journeys with Eurostar available from £64 from London St Pancras Int'l to Toulouse Matabiau.

To book visit Eurostar.

Plane: 

Flights from £20.99 each-way from Bristol to Toulouse.

To book visit easyJet.

Flights from £31 each-way from London Heathrow to Toulouse.

To book visit British Airways.  

Car:

Those looking to take a road trip can drive to Toulouse in just under 11 hours via the Euro Tunnel The Eurotunnel is available from £31 per vehicle.

For more information on Toulouse please visit: www.toulouse-visit.com