✨ Is Lille, France the most underrated city in Europe? Just 30 minutes from Brussels and 1.5 hours from London by train, this northern French city feels like the center of the world — without the Paris price tag. We explore what makes this Flemish-flavored gem one of the best cities in France for expats, retirees, and anyone dreaming of moving to France.
Here’s everything we cover in this guide to living in Lille, France:
0:00 Intro
0:42 Hauts-de-France
1:14 Getting Around/TGV
2:04 Population
2:39 Weather
3:23 Groceries
4:51 Transit
5:45 Health
6:45 Parks
7:27 Biking
8:05 Gyms
8:42 Safety
9:18 Religion
9:46 Expat community
10:42 Lille – Retiree’s?
11:38 Social Scene
12:11 Coupon
12:20 Braderie de Lille
13:02 Scouting!
We break down grocery prices, transportation costs, healthcare, safety, and the social scene — including why the Lillois are called the friendliest people in France.Stay tuned for Part 2!
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📍 Note: Data and currency conversions are subject to change. Always check the latest information before making relocation decisions
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*Facebook Group: Expats move to France (Highly valuable resource):* https://www.facebook.com/groups/2381437231
*Blog Post about Lille:* https://storybooklivingfrance.com/the-warmth-of-the-north-discovering-the-soul-of-lille
*Links mentioned in the video:*
https://www.doctolib.fr/
https://parcdelacitadelle.lille.fr/
https://www.villeneuvedascq.fr/le-parc-du-heron
https://www.lille.fr/Nos-equipements/Parc-Jean-Baptiste-Lebas
https://www.basic-fit.com/fr-fr/salles-de-sport/lille
https://www.fitnesspark.fr/club/lille-le-31/
https://www.keepcool.fr/s/salle-de-sport-lille
https://cathedralelille.fr/
https://www.judaismenord.com/templates/photogallery_cdo/aid/1893921/jewish/Synagogue-de-Lille.htm
https://www.internations.org/lille-expats
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlaBlaLille/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/198883324556302/
https://www.meetup.com/find/?location=fr–Lille&source=EVENTS&keywords=Mundo+Lingo
▶️ *WATCH NEXT:*
*Paris 19th Arrondissement*: https://youtu.be/R6tYyYzgQ0w
*Paris 20th Arrondissement :* https://youtu.be/adHywJ64Xks
*Angers Part 1:* https://youtu.be/cEDkIhmY84M
*Angers Part 2:* https://youtu.be/3ccyB4jqLd4
*Baguette Bound Channel:* (For tons of French Info!): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaeSuJ1RxJtjQCo_AelQnNQ
*Media, Photo & Image Credits: 🎥:*
*Music:* No.9 “Esther’s Waltz” — Esther Abrami https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOFrldzxeKGG8fTpN5_d75Q
*Pexels*
Distill, Lazar Krstić, Steve B
*Unsplash*
Geoffroy Hauwen, Martti Salmi, Jacques Dillies, Thomas Würth, Ara, Alexandra Verniest, Denis Ivanov, Martti Salmi
*Wikimedia Commons – Public Domain & CC0*
Myrabella; IGN, Licence Ouverte; ArtyElAnanas; Olivier Cleynen; Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick; Facebook Page Ville de Lille]; VVVCFFrance
*CC BY-SA 1.0* https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0
The original uploader was Steff at French Wikipedia, Steff
*1.2* http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html
Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick, GFDL
*CC BY 2.0* https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
Alexander Baranov from Montpellier, France; Guilhem Vellut from Paris, France; Clem from Paris, France; Alexander Baranov from Montpellier, France; Fred Romero from Paris, France; Visions of Domino
*CC BY-SA 2.0* https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Patrick from Compiègne, France; Marie Thérèse Hébert & Jean Robert Thibault from Québec, Canada
*CC BY 3.0* https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Dronepicr
*CC BY-SA 3.0* https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
TUBS; High_Speed_Railroad_Map_Europe_2011.svg: SVG new version : AkwaOriginal PNG : Bernese media & BIL; Saber68; Romainberth; B.navez; Jiel Beaumadier (http://jiel.b.free.fr) ; Piocrr; B.navez; Fryderyk; GFreihalter; Chatsam; Velvet; PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ; Velvet
*CC BY 4.0* https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Pierre André Leclercq
*CC BY-SA 4.0* https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Oie blanche, Chabe01, Velvet, VVVCFFrance, Pierre André Leclercq, Edison McCullen, PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ, Ymblanter, Frédéric Kuhlmann, Abdeaitali, © Pierre André, Smiley.toerist, Hospice Comtesse
#LilleFrance #MovingToFrance #CostOfLivingFrance #ExpatsInFrance #LifeInFrance #LilleCity #FranceRelocation
10 Comments
✨ Did you know Lille hides charming courées and secret courtyards just steps from the bustling squares? Comment below if you’ve ever discovered a hidden corner in a city, and don’t forget to subscribe for more insider spots in France! 🏘🇫🇷
The background music…. I keep checking my phone for something that needs to be turned off.
I researched Lille extensively for a potential move to France. There are two things to consider that I would highlight a bit more: 1) The winters there are long, grey, damp and cold. They typically average less than 75 hours of sunshine per MONTH from November through February . . . grim. You could go weeks without seeing the sun at all, and it will rain a lot all year round. 2) Get local help when choosing where to live. There are some very dicey neighborhoods in Lille that would not likely suit most expats from North America. That said, there are a lot of reasons to like Lille, as this video illustrates. Bon voyage! 😉
I love how detailed you are. Thanks!
As I sit here in the Midwest (USA) it's gray and cloudy and that's fine with me. So, I'm one of those folks for whom the cool, rainy, gray winters wouldn't be a problem. Thanks for your hard work. Lille has been on my list for a while!!
This is a useful video. Lille is attractive in a lot of ways but you make a good point about the climate. I currently live near Seattle, Washington so am used to cloudy and damp winters. However, I wonder if my lungs would benefit from a somewhat drier climate.
Lille is a nice city, with lot of students. Many people living in the suburbs of Paris spend more time to go to work as it's needed to travel between Lille and Paris. However, the TGV high speed train prices would make a daily roundtrip too costly …
I was in Roubaix a few weeks ago to see the Musee de la Piscine. I liked it a lot. I wish I could have spent some time strolling the streets of Lille to enjoy the architecture. Another time.
LILLE is in the heart of Europe, very near from UK, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg. Young and busy city.
Lille and its suburb is the second French agglomeration after Paris.
The Dull River…