Are you looking for an activity to do with your friends? We have compiled a list of activities that you could do over a weekend, or in the evening after your studies or work.
Places to come and relax
Canada lake
Canada Lake is the perfect place to come and relax and just have some fun with friends. In the summer, choose from swimming, water sports, walks or bike rides, fishing, or go to ‘Canada Beach‘, open from the 6 July. In the summer, you can also hire quadracycles, pedalos, rowing boats, canoes/kayaks and stand-up paddle boards.
If you’d like to stay for the whole day, there are also picnic and barbecue areas that are free to use. You just need to bring your own grill for the barbecues. If you haven’t brought any food with you, the Rest’Eau du Plan d’Eau will be delighted to welcome you. Choose from their selection of sandwiches, salads, chips, paninis, pancakes, waffles, ice creams and granitas, and take a seat out on their shaded terrace areas. Everything you need for a great, fun day out.
Canada Lake is open all year round, but opening hours vary depending on the time of year.
Picnic areas to stop off at in Beauvaisis
Just taking time to relax in the summer, listen to music, enjoy some delicious nibbles with a cold beer… now that’s what summer is all about.
In Beauvaisis there are plenty of picnic areas to go to, in Bresles (with the possibility to play petanque), in Bailleul-sur-Therain (with the possibility to go fishing nearby), in Laversines (you’ll find shops nearby, as well as a multisports pitch and a petanque pit), in La-Neuville-en-Hez and in Tillé. You could also go to the Parc Marcel Dassault in Beauvais to enjoy this natural space surrounded by wildlife.
Fun and thrilling activities in the great outdoors
The Canoeing & Kayaking club and the Camping de la Trye
Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. If you see a crocodile… Does this song remind you of your childhood and of activities at summer camp?
Did you know that it’s possible to go canoeing or kayaking in Beauvaisis? First of all, it’s possible thanks to the Hermes Canoeing & Kayaking Club and then thanks to the Camping de la Trye. Don’t worry, you won’t find any crocodiles as you glide along the waters down the river Thérain. This is the perfect activity for groups of friends or as a family. It is also a great opportunity to explore the wild riverbanks and the protected fauna and flora there, all in a great atmosphere. You’ll be alternating between quiet sections and some faster currents, to keep you on your toes and get a rush of adrenaline.
The Hermes Canoeing & Kayaking Club has two routes to choose from: a first 3.5-km route with a qualified guide from Villers-Sain-Sépulcre to Hermes (45 minutes) and a second 7-km route without a guide from Villers-Saint-Sépulcre to Le Moulin de l’Isle (1 hour 15 minutes). The price is €23 per person for adults and €20 for under 18s.
The Camping de la Trye organises a 7-km adventure outing between Villers-Saint-Sépulcre and Le Moulin de l’Isle, just after Hermes. This is an independent outing with assistance for some more difficult sections of the route (1 hour 10 minutes on the water). The price is €15 per person and €8 for children under the age of 9.
If you leave early in the morning. If you go on these roads. By bicycle. We were a bunch of good friends. There were Fernand and Firmin. There were Francis and Sébastian. And then there was Paulette…
Pierre Elie Barouh
Bike rides
Those lyrics from French singer Yves Montand’s famous song ‘A Bicyclette’ will remind you of the time spent riding around on your bikes with friends as a child, which means you’re probably still a fan of bike rides with friends.
The good news is that in Beauvaisis, there are plenty of cycle routes to choose from, across valleys, through peaceful forests and along greenway routes. If you are looking for more routes through the forest, Beauvais Tourist Office can provide information about the MTB trails in the area. If you prefer road cycling, you can cycle along the greenway routes towards Clermont, or towards Normandy via Gisors.
Cariwood
Cariwood is a multi-activity adventure park at the heart of Oise in the Bois Brulet, with something for all ages. The added bonus is that this park is near Canada Lake, so you can spend half the day at Cariwood and half a day at the lake. The park is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1.30pm to 7pm and there is a wide range of activities to choose from:
- Treetop adventure trails to do independently, at your own pace, with more than 800 m of zip wires spread across the trails.
- The possibility to climb up a tree trunk to a height of 20 m and then throw yourself into the air
- Paintballing to let off some steam and do something original
- Exploration games such as the Investi’game or orienteering
Virée Mécanique
Virée mécanique is the perfect place to come if you want to experience something new and explore new places on a quad-biking outing with friends. It has never been easier to explore the region and have great fun at the same time. You can expect a great atmosphere, laughter and new discoveries out in the great outdoors.
For groups of friends, Virée Mécanique also organises barbecues, evenings around the camp fire and treasure hunts on an adventure theme.
Parc Saint-Paul
Parc Saint-Paul is a theme park in the countryside near Beauvais. There are 43 attractions to suit all ages, whatever you’re looking for: relaxation, thrills and laughter. The most sensational attractions are Wood Express, the Wild Train, La Tour Descente Extrême, La Souris Verte, L’Arche de Noé, La Tour Yoyo and Dino Splash.
You can also choose to bring your lunch with you and eat in the great outdoors surrounded by nature, at the picnic areas, other grassy areas and at the 3-hectare lake, or you might prefer to go to one of the 5 restaurants with sweet and savoury dishes on the menu.
The ideal time of year to come here with friends is of course Halloween because the Halloween decoration at the park is superb. For a great combination of fear and excitement.
Great bars for drinks with friends
If you’re looking for a nice bar to have a drink with friends, we suggest you go to the V and B or the Kiosque, with its warm atmosphere.
Le V and B is an absolute must for fans of wine and beer. This is the place to come to relax after work with friends or colleagues. This bar has a festive atmosphere and is a really warm and welcoming place. You’ll be able to choose from a wide range of local beers, traditional beers… there’s something for everyone.
At Le Kiosque, you’ll also be able to grab a bite to eat, but here the dishes are more traditional. The added bonus is that it is just opposite Beauvais train station. At Le Kiosque there is a spacious veranda overlooking the Square Jules Brière. You can also come to this bar-restaurant just for a drink, either indoors or out on the covered terrace area.
Relaxation and shopping
An afternoon of shopping with the girls is always a good idea.
Head to the Galeries Lafayette department store (the place to go in Beauvais for Women’s, Men’s and Children’s fashion, Beauty products, leather goods, shoes, glasses and jewellery).
Another unmissable place is the Jeu de Paume Shopping Centre, with the following shops: Camaïeu, H&M, Cléor, Kiko and Sephora.