LILLE – Decathlon Stadium

A Wedding Anniversary with Ed Sheeran in Lille – And a Whole Lot More

I didn’t plan to go abroad. I really didn’t. I just wanted to see Ed Sheeran live. But with the UK dates for his tour mostly sold out, I was left with limited options. Then I spotted one: Lille, France—on our wedding anniversary. It felt meant to be. So I booked it. And only afterwards did I ask myself… how hard could Lille be to reach?

As someone who’s spent fifty years working in film and television and travelling the world, I’ve flown, driven, ferried, and trained across continents. But this surprised even me. Lille, it turns out, is almost like popping out to the shops—at least in terms of ease.

Here’s what I found:

Getting There: Surprisingly Simple

We took the Eurostar from London, and in just 90 minutes we were in Lille, the only stop before Brussels. The train was smooth, fast, air-conditioned, and quiet—a world away from the stress of airports or the bottleneck of UK concert transport logistics.

Wembley, for example, might be iconic, but I’ve witnessed some of the poorest crowd control there. And most UK cities were sold out. Lille? Spacious, modern, and welcoming.

We used Britain’s first high-speed line (HS1) to link up with Europe’s world-class rail system, and it was a joy.

Why Lille?

We’d never been. Few cruise ships stop in nearby Dunkirk (about an hour away, with two port points across a 17km coastline), and we wanted to explore somewhere new. The region has history, accessibility, and—unexpectedly—style. We decided to stay for three days and film it.

I’d considered jumping over the border to Ghent in Belgium—it’s barely an hour away—but Lille had enough to keep us happily busy.

Touring the City – With Our Phones

The City App Tour was a revelation. Under $10, and available on both our phones. It guided us through Lille’s landmarks with no need for a guide or group. We walked over 20,000 steps in 33°C heat, and we filmed the whole thing.

Our full, indexed video is on the Doris Visits YouTube channel. You can study the map, skip what doesn’t interest you, and decide if the synagogue, churches, statues or shopping are your thing. Our films are without commentary so you decide what to explore.

Lille: Organised, Spotless, and Stylish

By sheer luck, we arrived on the same day as a city-wide music festival. While we expected live musicians, what we found instead were DJs on every corner. It felt like an end-of-year student celebration—loud, lively, and unforgettable.

The streets were packed until 1am. And yet, by 8am, it was spotless. Lille puts London to shame for cleanliness and order. Everyone seems to smoke (like Britain in the 70s), yet no one drops cigarette ends. There must be strict rules, and they work.

Their 50,000-seater stadium, where the concert was held, was another envy-inducing marvel: modern, well-designed, with a retractable roof. Efficient crowd management, great seating, and a stadium that just works.

Concert Review: 10 Out of 5 Stars

Ed Sheeran delivered a phenomenal show. Here is the first number as the crowd of 66 thousand count him in.

But the bonuses? Myles Smith joined him for Stargazing.

Plus as support, he had his own brilliant set.

Then came Pierre Garnier, a French star I hadn’t heard of, performing his hit Ceux Qu’on Était with Ed—a truly memorable moment that brought the house down.

Luton born Myles Smith was a real treat as a support act.

Those films are also up on our YouTube Channel, officially licensed under the copyright-sharing system, so the rights holders can monetise them fairly.

Final Thoughts

The food in Lille was great, the service excellent, and the prices pleasantly surprising—cheaper than expected, certainly cheaper than London.

From the moment we boarded the train, to the final encore, the entire experience was flawless. What started as a second choice due to UK sell-outs turned into a magical weekend—and an anniversary we’ll never forget.