Like all cities, Lille has its problems. There’s a lot of begging. I was mugged last year, close to the station. The Gendarmes told me it’s a problem. They’re organised and fast! The area around the station is particularly affected by it at night. If you’re flashing you kitty money around on the table, be aware there’s a very resourceful and annoying accordion player who will quickly vanish it!
It’s a fairly clean city. The French are way ahead of the UK on recycling and litter collecting.
There’s a strong, heavily armed police presence in French cities, Gendarmes and Police Nationale. If you don’t cause them problems, they won’t cause you them! Plus be prepared to encounter military patrols. It’s normal, nothing to do with you lot! The Gendarmes are perfectly happy to have photos taken with them. I’d steer clear of the military.
Remember, the Gendarmes are paramilitary. If there’s trouble, they will have NO qualms about wading in! You’ll be pepper sprayed within seconds.
Medical things. There are pharmacies everywhere (the French are hypochondriacs). Anything more serious – hopefully not – you need to get yourself to CHU (https://www.chu-lille.fr/), a huge university hospital complex; it’s on the Metro (line M1). Emergency dental service there too. France, like the UK, has a shortage of dentists, so that’s basically your only option.
Lille RWC Guide 