London isn’t just one of the football capitals of the world — it’s a city where every matchday becomes a complete experience.
Prepare yourself
To truly experience the essence of London football, plan an excellent day in advance, starting with a stadium tour. Local stadiums, particularly the famous stadiums with major clubs like Emirates Stadium (Arsenal), Stamford Bridge (Chelsea), and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium offer guided tours. They generally include tours of the changing-room, the press area – and some tours even include a walk pitch side. Wembley Stadium, the legendary home of English football, allows you to view the FA Cup and reflect upon key moments in the history of football. Likewise, going to an early pre-game visit to the club museum is also a worthy visit. The Chelsea FC Museum offers the opportunity to see up close the trophies and memorabilia a fan would love not to miss! If it is a local atmosphere you want to warm yourself up with before the game, a football themed pub – such as The Twelve Pins near Arsenal, or nearby Twickenham, The Cabbage Patch – is also a lively local spot.
During the game
Once inside the stadium there is the real thrill. Modern London stadiums offer a variety of bars and food options, so you can grab a pie, burger or fish and chips without missing any action. Sample some local beers from the vendors in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which boasts one of the best stadium beers systems in Europe. Add a little excitement to the match by placing live bets on goals, cards or corners with many other fans. And for those who like to keep the stakes high, to place bets in live time you can take advantage of the many welcome offers that gaming platforms make available to online users, such as the Betfair sign-up offer found on the page just linked. These promotions match the experience with the clubs’ goal to make the experience more fun and interactive, even if you’re neutral, or someone who’s just doing it for the experience. Halftime entertainment also contributes to the atmosphere — from mascot dances to little mini-games for fans, clubs in London try to make attendance more entertaining over the entire 90 minutes. Whether it means supporting by loudly singing from the stands, or just being, attending a match in London is about more than the sport — it’s an experience in itself.
After the match
For a lot of fans, the post-match meeting — the ‘third half’ — is the best part of the day! Win or lose, supporters always take the opportunity to go to the nearest pub to chat about the highs and lows of the game and enjoy a pint of English ale. There are always lively bars, for example The Gunners Pub at nearby Emirates Stadium or The Bricklayers Arms close to the Chelsea Stadium, and both pubs will be buzzing after the final whistle. In addition to the pub, some patrons will go to organized fan parties or live music events, often provided by the club or local venues. Other fans will prefer a more low-key vibe. Maybe, after a match at Emirates Stadium, they will go to Borough Market and get something to eat. London’s food markets are also a great way to experience the city’s multicultural food scene.
If you are fortunate enough to go to a game at the London Stadium, make sure to stop by Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This is a lovely place to relax and take a walk, as well as enjoy public art installations and fountains. Each major stadium in London is all near major attractions. For instance, Wembley is near the London Designer Outlet, and Stamford Bridge is a short trip from Chelsea’s King’s Road and the Saatchi Gallery.
