Update – 18 October 2026: Is Lille safe? Yesterday, it certainly didn't feel that way. I wrote this article just a few days ago to reassure visitors after...
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Prepare your visit
The practical bit, before the fun bit. How to get here from the UK (train, car or a very quiet electric drive), where to sleep, whether the place is actually safe once you look past the news footage, and what to know if you are thinking of staying for good. I made the move myself, so consider these the answers I spent months finding out the hard way. Read this first, then go and enjoy yourself.
London to Lille by Electric Car: My Real Journey in a Peugeot e-208
Driving from London to Lille in an electric car sounds like the sort of journey that requires spreadsheets, three charging apps and a mild obsession with...
The best boutique hotels in Lille: a local’s shortlist
Lille rewards travellers who choose carefully. This guide shortlists six standout boutique hotels with real prices and room counts, from Vieux Lille's cobbled...
How to get to Lille from the UK
Reaching Lille from the UK takes as little as 1h22 by direct Eurostar, though coaches, rideshare and driving through the Channel Tunnel all offer real...
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...