As landlords of rental accommodation in London and the south-east of England get flooded with bookings for next year’s Olympic Games, today’s fast Eurostar links mean homeowners in northern France could also benefit from the increased need for beds.

Brits with properties close to Calais and Lille, the former just 60 minutes from the centre of London via Eurostar, are being advised to make their property available during London 2012. Demand for properties in this area is likely to be particularly high from visitors to the Games travelling from within France or other parts of Europe.

“Various districts of Northern France are going head-to-head with the UK in a bid to attract tourists seeking accommodation for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” reported Cote d’Opale Developpement, an organisation that promotes investment opportunities on the Cote d’Opale, which includes the areas of Boulogne sur Mer, Calais, Dunkerque and Saint Omer.

Attractions on the Cote d’Opale include more than 100 miles of beaches, five casinos, six golf courses, 17 shopping centres, and 30 sporting centres, while cultural highlights include the 800-year-old Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Saint Omer, Nausicaa – The French National Sea Experience centre and the Battle of Dunkerque Museum.

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