Four football stadiums you need to visit in London
Football is a huge part of British life; millions of people around the country enjoy watching football, playing football, and even gambling on football. Others, however, simply enjoy visiting the gigantic football stadiums where these games take place. There are dozens around London and we’ve managed to narrow down some of the best.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the home of the Tottenham Hotspur football team. Found in Tottenham, the stadium is one of the newest, launching back in April 2019. It features a dividing and retractable football pitch which can be removed for synthetic turf for concerts and other sports games.
The stadium will be used for various football games, NFL games outside of America, rugby, and more. Musicians also have hosted concerts there including Guns N’ Roses. Subsequent musical events have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including Capital’s Summertime Ball and Lady Gaga’s Chromatica Ball Tour event.
In the official fan guide, Tottenham Hotspur explains its decision to host betting kiosks within the stadium. However, fans that want to place in-play bets can use the stadium’s high-density WiFi to do so, as first mentioned by Casinos to Play, a review website for online gambling activities in the United Kingdom.
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium is the largest sports stadium in the UK which opened in 2007 following the demolition of the original stadium between 2002 and 2003. Wembley Stadium hosts various football matches as well as the FA Cup Final. The venue is owned by the Football Association (FA) and seats around 90,000 people. It’s also hosted events such as 2011 and 2013 UEFA Champions League Finals, the 2012 Olympic Games football tournament, the rugby league’s Challenge Cup final, as well as various music concerts from performers such as Green Day, Madonna, Beyoncé, and many others.
Visitors can go on tours of the stadium which offers a look into the England Dressing Room, the Royal Box, several interactive guides in various languages, as well as historical artefacts from the 1984 Olympics which were held at the original Wembley Stadium.
Emirates Stadium, Arsenal
Emirates Stadium is the home of Arsenal. Located in Holloway, the stadium is the fourth-largest in England and can sit over 60,000 people. Construction on the stadium began in the early 2000s but faced financial difficulties as well as several delays before it officially opened in July 2006. The stadium, which is sponsored by Emirates, cost almost £400 million to build but has hosted several important events.
Aside from hosting football games, Emirates Stadium also hosted a summit between former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, it’s been used as a location for auditions for reality shows such as X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, and it’s been used as a music venue for several artists including Muse, Coldplay, and for Capital FM’s Summertime Ball.
Stamford Bridge Stadium, Chelsea
Stamford Bridge Stadium is located in Fulham, West London, and is home to the Chelsea football team. The stadium, which opened in 1877, has faced several restorations and can sit just over 40,000 people, making it much smaller than the other stadiums on this list. However, there are plans to expand the stadium to seat 63,000 between 2023 and 2024, during which Chelsea will play at Wembley Stadium.
The stadium hosts national and international football matches, as well as events such as the FA Cup and Charity Shield Games. It’s also used for other sports including rugby, cricket, greyhound racing, baseball, and so much more. Like with Wembley Stadium, you can enjoy a tour here which will offer you looks at the player’s tunnel, the press room, television room, and more.
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