Lille

[thehubman]

Can anyone tell me about Lille?

What kind of reputation does the city have?

Is the crime rate low, clean, etc?

A good place to live, a working town, affluent, whatever comments you may have please.

Thanks.

[virginia.c]

Hello hubman

I visited Lille in March this year on a three day university exchange.  Purpose of the visit was to explore the French healthcare system, spend time with hospital medics and students at the medical and nursing schools within the university.  Like many cities I guess it is a city of contrasts.  Some lovely areas and some definitely not so lovely.  For example, the area around the main train/tube station is a long way from salubrious and you wouldn't want to be walking around there late at night.  Like other cities however, nicer and better areas are very close by.  The tube is great - it's nowhere near the scale of London or Paris because it's a much smaller city but it gets you where you need to go quickly and efficiently.  It's a very good hospital! and I spent a day there seeing patients being treated.   In common with many of the French hospitals it is big, very clean and very high medical staff to patient ratios.

Architecturally, the Flemish influence is everywhere - and very attractive, to me at least.  The people we met were pleasant and courteous.

Only three days, and not enough to give you much more than a very subjective overview, but hope it is of some interest.

Good luck!

[thehubman]

Virginia - thank you for your comments.

When I get around to driving over I'll keep them in mind - looking to buy a property near Lille possibly.

Thehubman

[Loiseau]

My visits to Lille have always been by Eurostar, and as such I have seen mostly the very attractive heart of the city.

However, any friends who have arrived by *car* have always said how ghastly the suburbs are as you drive in.

Angela