Stade Pierre-Mauroy away guide

Lille is one of the easiest away days on the continent for UK fans. From London you skip flying altogether and take Eurostar straight into Lille-Europe in about 1h22 (Eurostar). From there it is Metro Line 1 to 4 Cantons for the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, roughly 20 minutes and a short walk. Away fans sit in the south-east corner, sector between gates H and I, entering via Entrance I (BVB).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

There are no direct flights from UK cities into Lille-Lesquin (Skyscanner), so from London you skip flying and take Eurostar straight there. From Manchester and the north you choose between staying on rails the whole way via London, or flying to a hub (Brussels or Paris) and taking the train for the last leg. Costs below are rough returns and swing hard with how far ahead you book.

Getting to the ground

The Stade Pierre-Mauroy sits in Villeneuve d'Ascq, about 6km south-east of the centre (Football Tripper). The main route is Metro Line 1: get off at 4 Cantons (Stade Pierre-Mauroy) or Cité Scientifique, both about a 15-minute walk from the ground (Stade Pierre-Mauroy). Frequency steps up from around two hours before kick-off (Football Tripper).

Alternatively take Metro Line 2 to Les Près and the free shuttle bus that runs on event days only, so check it is operating before you rely on it (Stade Pierre-Mauroy). Local buses Line 18 and La Corolle stop at Versailles nearby (Stade Pierre-Mauroy). Your match ticket does not cover the metro, so buy an Ilévia single (about €1.85) or a day pass (€5.50) (TransportMEL).

From either of Lille's central stations, Lille-Flandres and Lille-Europe, allow about 20 minutes to the ground on Line 1 (Stade Pierre-Mauroy). Lille-Lesquin airport is roughly 11km, about 15 minutes' drive, from the centre if you do fly in (Football Tripper).

Inside the stadium and the away end

Away supporters are housed in the south-east corner, in the sector between gates H and I, entering by Entrance I (BVB). The ground opened in 2012, holds 50,186 and has a retractable roof that closes in about 15 minutes, so games go ahead whatever the northern weather (Wikipedia). It is modern, with good seats, sightlines and acoustics (Football Tripper).

Lille's loudest home support, the ultra groups behind the north goal, is the stand to steer clear of; fans found in home areas can be asked to leave (BVB). Beer served in the away end is reduced-alcohol (BVB). There are few bars right by the stadium, so most away fans drink in the centre first and head out later (Football Stadiums).

Bulky items, most bags beyond a handbag or clutch, non-folding umbrellas and helmets must go in one of the four forecourt cloakrooms, open from three hours before to one hour after and sometimes charging a fee (Stade Pierre-Mauroy). Uncapped plastic bottles under 50cl are fine; capped bottles, glass, cans, flares and outside alcohol are not, and only small compact cameras are allowed inside (Stade Pierre-Mauroy).

Where to stay

Base yourself in or near Vieux-Lille and around the two central stations. Everything you want, bars, food and Eurostar or Brussels connections, is walkable, and Metro Line 1 to the ground runs from both Lille-Flandres and Lille-Europe (Stade Pierre-Mauroy). The Rue Solférino and Vieux-Lille strips put you in the middle of the drinking (FSA).

Where to drink

France is café culture rather than pub culture, so expect terraces and estaminets over big boozers, and centre-of-town prices (FSA). Reckon on roughly €4 to €5 for a 25cl glass and €7 to €9 for a 50cl (Mister Good Beer).

• L'Abbaye des Saveurs, Vieux-Lille: institution with 200-plus beers, relaxed and beer-nerd friendly (Reizen en Reistips).
• La Capsule: 28 taps leaning into French brewers, a proper craft stop (Reizen en Reistips).
• Les 3 Brasseurs, Place de la Gare by Lille-Flandres: own-brew brasserie, cheap, handy on arrival (FSA).
• Tir Na Nog, Place Philippe Le Bon off Rue Solférino: the main Irish bar and a natural away-fan gathering point (FSA).
• Omnia Bar, Rue Esquermoise: micro-brewery in the old town, walkable from the station (FSA).
• Rue Solférino, Rue Masséna and Rue Royale: the main bar strips where the students go, good for a crawl (Reizen en Reistips).

Anywhere to avoid: the bars right by the ground are thin on the ground, and near the stadium keep away from the home ends, especially the north side (BVB). The city centre itself is relaxed; just keep colours sensible on the metro out to Villeneuve d'Ascq.

Where to eat

Lille's kitchen is Flemish, so think beer-braised beef, mussels and melted cheese. The dishes to try are Le Welsh (a heart-stopper of cheese, beer, ham and bread), moules-frites, and carbonnade flamande, beef slow-cooked in lager (GetYourGuide).

• Chez La Vieille, Vieux-Lille: proper estaminet, the local pick for carbonnade flamande (GetYourGuide).
• Chez Raoul: cosy, nautical-themed spot known for moules-frites (GetYourGuide).
• Les 3 Brasseurs, Place de la Gare: cheap and cheerful, Le Welsh with your own-brew beer (FSA).
• Au Vieux de la Vieille, Vieux-Lille: classic estaminet for regional plates (RestaurantGuru via search).
• Le Coq Hardi, Grand Place: reliable sit-down brasserie right on the main square (GetYourGuide).
• Méert, Rue Esquermoise: famous patisserie for a Lille gaufre (vanilla waffle), if you want something to take home (Lille Tourism).

What to do

• Grand Place (Place du Général de Gaulle): the Flemish-baroque heart of the city and the natural meeting point (Lille Tourism).
• Vieille Bourse: the 17th-century old stock exchange, with a courtyard of second-hand book stalls and chess players (Lille Tourism).
• Palais des Beaux-Arts: one of France's biggest and best art museums, Rubens to Goya (Lille Tourism).
• Vieux-Lille: the cobbled old town, the prettiest quarter for a wander, and where most of the bars and estaminets are (Lille Tourism).
• Citadelle de Lille and Parc de la Citadelle: Vauban's star-shaped fortress of 1670 set in the city's biggest green space (Lille Tourism).
• LaM (Musée d'Art Moderne): modern and outsider art out in Villeneuve d'Ascq, handy if you are near the ground early (Lille Tourism).
• Euralille: the big mall by Lille-Europe, useful for a coffee or a wait between trains (FSA).

Common questions

How do I get from the airport to the stadium?

If you fly into Lille-Lesquin (LIL), it is about 11km, roughly 15 minutes' drive, into the centre; head to Lille-Flandres or Lille-Europe and pick up Metro Line 1 to 4 Cantons for the ground (Football Tripper). Note that direct UK flights into Lille barely exist, so most fans arrive by train, not plane.

Which airport should I use for a Lille away game?

There is almost no direct UK service into Lille-Lesquin, so from London take Eurostar direct and skip flying entirely (Eurostar). From Manchester and the north the hub is Brussels-Zaventem: fly there, then train Brussels-Airport to Lille-Europe in about 1h to 1h15 with one change (Trainline).

Where do away fans sit?

In the south-east corner, in the sector between gates H and I, entering via Entrance I (BVB). It is a corner between the south goal-end and the east side stand, away from Lille's ultras behind the north goal (Football Tripper).

How big is the away allocation?

For domestic league games the visiting allocation is small, in the region of 5% of the ground, and it is expanded for European ties depending on the opponent and the authorities (Football Tripper). Always buy through your own club's official away scheme rather than turning up hoping to get in.

What time should I get to the ground?

Give yourself a buffer. The metro is a 15-minute walk from the stadium, and turnstiles and cloakrooms back up close to kick-off (Football Tripper). If you need to deposit a bag or camera, the forecourt cloakrooms open three hours before and get busy, so arrive well before the whistle (Stade Pierre-Mauroy).

Can I drink in the ground?

Yes, but the beer served in the away end is reduced-alcohol (BVB). You cannot bring alcohol in from outside, and glass and cans are banned; uncapped plastic bottles under 50cl are the only drinks you can carry in (Stade Pierre-Mauroy).

How much is a beer?

In the city centre reckon on roughly €4 to €5 for a 25cl glass and €7 to €9 for a 50cl, with the cheapest bars starting lower and happy hours common (Mister Good Beer). It is café-terrace pricing rather than cheap-pint pricing.

Is Lille safe for away fans?

Lille is a relaxed, walkable university city and the centre is fine for a normal away day. The one rule is around the stadium: keep out of the home sections, especially the north stand behind the goal, or you can be asked to leave (BVB). Keep colours sensible on the metro out to Villeneuve d'Ascq.

Where are the away-friendly areas to drink?

The bars cluster in Vieux-Lille and along Rue Solférino, Rue Masséna and Rue Royale (Reizen en Reistips). Tir Na Nog on Rue Solférino is the main Irish bar and a natural gathering point, and Les 3 Brasseurs by Lille-Flandres is a handy first stop off the train (FSA).

Does my match ticket give free local transport?

No. Unlike in Germany, the Lille match ticket does not include metro travel, so buy an Ilévia ticket: a single is about €1.85 and a 24-hour day pass is €5.50 (TransportMEL). The day pass is worth it if you are doing the centre and the ground in one go.

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

About 6km south-east, in the suburb of Villeneuve d'Ascq (Football Tripper). On Metro Line 1 from either central station it is roughly 20 minutes, plus the 15-minute walk from 4 Cantons or Cité Scientifique to the turnstiles (Stade Pierre-Mauroy).

Where should I stay?

Stay in or near Vieux-Lille and the two central stations. It keeps you walking distance from the bars, the food and the Eurostar or Brussels connections, with Metro Line 1 to the ground running from both Lille-Flandres and Lille-Europe (Stade Pierre-Mauroy).

Is it worth making a weekend of it?

Yes. Lille is a proper day-or-two city: the Grand Place, the Vieille Bourse, the Palais des Beaux-Arts and the Citadelle are all central, and the Flemish food and beer are the point (Lille Tourism). With Eurostar from London at under 90 minutes it is one of the easiest short breaks on the calendar.