Visit Lille - As Told by a Local and a British Expat
Your honest guide to Lille, written by two people who actually live here: one who grew up in the region, one who moved from Britain and never left Discover our storiesBienvenue à Lille
Lille is the fifth-largest city in France, a stone’s throw from Belgium, and — helped along by its universities — the youngest population of any major French city. It’s also home to some of France’s best-known companies, including Decathlon.
It’s a city that surprises people: expect grey and industrial, find instead cobbled squares, a roaring food scene, and a train that puts London 1H20 minutes away, Brussels 35 minutes and Paris in under an hour.
Chamber of Commerce on Place Théâtre
Two Perspectives, One City
Delphine — the local
Born and raised in the Lille metropolitan area, now living just outside the city with a direct train in. Twenty years spent promoting this region to British visitors for the regional tourism board, including its lesser-known WWI heritage sites. She knows which courtyard shortcuts cut through Vieux Lille and which bar you go to when you actually live here rather than visit once.
Andy — the British expat
Former editor of Cycling Weekly, Procycling and Mountain Bike Rider, now living near Lille on the Paris-Roubaix route. Three times named UK editor of the year, he later moved into tourism media, editing content for World Travel Market and working with the CRT Hauts-de-France. He arrived as an outsider and has spent years closing the gap — one estaminet, one carbonnade, at a time
Stay Connected
As you’ve probably gathered by now, cycling is what got me here in the first place. When the Tour de France announced it was starting in Lille, I couldn’t resist setting up a Facebook group to swap tips and updates with other fans — and it’s still going. Give it a follow if you’re into cycling, or just want to see what a Brit who’s a bit too enthusiastic about this city gets up to.
Facebook group, TDF-Fans-Lille-2025. And I tweet as @lilleanglais.
I’m happy to try and answer more specific questions, within reason! You can contact me via the contact tab on the website or via the Facebook group.
Map and Key
Locations in Lille
Obviously, everyone has online maps! However, I thought this map was quite good for getting your bearings. The streets in yellow are the old town (Vieux Lille). The streets in pink are pedestrianised shopping streets. Think of Gare Lille-Flandres as your transport hub (the two metro lines intersect here, the tramlines terminate/start here, and there are lots of bus stops) and the two adjoining central squares (Grand’Place/Place Charles de Gaulle and Place du Théâtre), as the centre of the city.
DISCOVER LILLE
Lille, the vibrant capital of Flanders, is known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and welcoming atmosphere. Explore the charming old town, indulge in delicious French cuisine, and experience a unique mix of French and Flemish cultures.
Culture and History
Bars and Cafes
Dining
Shopping
Vieux Lille
STAY IN THE LOOP
The Lille Braderie, exactly as I live it: the atmosphere, the chine and getting here from London
Once a year, my city turns into the largest flea market in Europe, and for two days you'll hear singing from an open window, smell mussels on every terrace, and lose all sense of time in a crowd that somehow never feels like a crowd. This guide starts where the...
What if Count Binface stood for Lille? Andy’s political fantasy
I've been following the Clacton-on-Sea by-election with unashamed delight. A dustbin-helmeted independent taking on Nigel Farage is exactly the kind of political theatre I live for. And somewhere between his last press round-up and my second coffee, I started...
Duty free shop Calais : the complete guide to getting the best deals on wine
The duty free shop at Calais port is well-known to every British traveller who crosses the Channel. But for wine buyers, it is rarely the most rewarding stop. Calais Vins and Olivier Vins combine direct sourcing from French producers, a formal VAT reclaim service and...
Why visit Lille : the honest insider’s guide for British visitors
Lille sits 80 minutes from London by Eurostar, yet most British visitors still fly straight past it. That is a mistake. The capital of Flanders combines world-class museums, a thriving estaminet food scene, some of the strongest beer in northern Europe and enough WW1...
Moving to Lille: What You Really Need to Know Before You Arrive
Lille is the kind of city that surprises people. They expect a grey northern industrial town and find, instead, cobbled squares, a roaring food scene, and a train that puts Brussels 35 minutes away and Paris in under an hour. What they don't expect is how fast the...
How to Prepare for the Tour de France Grand Départ
Introduction Planning to attend the Grand Départ in Lille? Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your experience. 1. Book Your Accommodation Early Hotels fill up fast during the Tour de France. Choose a place close to the city center for easy access...
Day trips from Lille
9 destinations
Templeuve-en-Pévèle
Moulin de Vertain & Cysoing cobbled sectors — Paris-Roubaix route
Louvre-Lens
Satellite of Paris Louvre; UNESCO Bassin Minier surroundings
Ypres / Ieper (Belgium)
Menin Gate Last Post (nightly 8pm); In Flanders Fields Museum; Tyne Cot cemetery
Vimy Ridge
Canadian National Vimy Memorial, April 1917; managed by Veterans Affairs Canada
Brussels
Grand Place, Atomium, Belgian cuisine and beer
Ghent
Medieval city centre, Gravensteen castle, canal walks
Bruges
Canals, chocolate, medieval architecture
Cassel
Hilltop town; Jardins du Mont des Recollets
Oudenaarde (Belgium)
Tour of Flanders Centre
Get Around Lille Like a Local
Thanks to Andy’s tips, you now know where to eat, drink, and how to survive the Lille Metro without getting (too) lost.
It took time (and a few beers) to gather all these secret spots…
Wanna say thanks? Buy Andy a beer!