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It's not a big town, but a lot has happened in Mons over the centuries, especially the last 150 years. We didn't find a lot of well-presented tourist interest but we found it easy to explore on foot. Away from the Grand Place, it quickly becomes parochial; there is renovation going on but it all feels as if it's driven and funded locally.

Parking a car is a nightmare. You can be very easily towed away overnight despite the street signs indicating otherwise. Not tourist friendly. Mons centre is disappointing as the best of shops are now in the Grand Pres on the outskirts of the town which have denuded the centre which remains now a McDonald's and general cafe grand place location offering not much else . Used restaurants on the outskirts. We found Flanders (Ypres and Veurne) very clean and more up-market. Doubt we'll be visiting Mons again. This report is given by someone who was brought up in Mons as a child/teenager back in the 60's with Wallonian grandparents. Sad really to see how town planners can crucify a town.

Mons is very quiet. We spent a Tuesday summer evening there and only saw people in the main square. It was surreal to walk around an empty town; we enjoyed looking at the buildings, including some Art Deco ones. We managed so get some frites in the Grand-Place before 9pm, but were not allowed to sit down as they were closing. We sat on public benches. We had a beer at the bar next to McD; the bartender was Sicilian and very nice. Mons was a convenient stopover.

The suggested walking route took in the majority of the historical buildings in the town. The centre square is very interesting - don't forget to rub the monkey statue by the town hall on the head!

This city may be not at your radar screen and may be easily eclipsed by Brussels, Gent or Antwerp - but if you decide to visit Mons, you will be surprised how many things it has to offer. A plethora of restaurants and bars, magnificent churches, interesting museums (Mons Memorial, Doudou Museum, Mundaneum, art museum - well, now in renovation but organising events, the Belfry and more) and, most of all, a great atmosphere of a typical Waloon city, the streets that can lead you to new discoveries... I was really enchanted! And it will be even better as one can see a lot of restoration works in the city ongoing, including a, well, imposing, railway station. This city has a potential, indeed.

Mons is the site of the first contact between the British Expeditionary Force and the invading German armies in August 1914. The British were stuck in a difficult position owing to the fact that their flanking French allies had retreated without informing the British, and they had to dig in along the Mons-Conde-Charleroi canal, which they held against all odds for the day of 23rd August 1914. Not only were the first shots exchanged here, but also the first two Victoria Crosses were won during the battle. If you have a good guide or guidebook, the greater part of the battlefield is largely unchanged, and after a day of looking round, you have the town square of Mons, where the troops rested before moving up to contact. The square is unchanged, and anyone who has seen any of the photos taken at the time will be able to situate themselves easily - while enjoying a beer of a meal at any of the town's excellent bars and restaurants. I recommend the Lebanese restaurant on the main square.