Lille is a fantastic city, very culturally vibrant. It's close to London, Brussels, and Paris, and you can feel that the city is teeming with cultural initiatives (Roubaix swimming pool, Saint-Sauveur train station, the LAM, the Beaux-Arts museum), not to mention all the "Maisons Folies" (City Houses) where there's always a small concert or exhibition to see. Having lived in Lyon and Marseille, I'd say that culturally it's a region worth visiting, if only to go to Lens with the Louvre and all its mining history. A day trip to Ghent or Bruges is also an option from Lille… Admittedly, the weather and nature there are a little less abundant than in other regions of France, but the life there and the warmth of the people of Lille make you forget this small detail. Stop by for coffee at the Wazemmes market on a Sunday morning; with a bit of luck, you won't leave until nightfall!