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A Guide to London Soccer Stadiums

If you don’t know by now, London – and the UK as a whole – have football as their main sport. Not only is it their main sport, but it could be considered their religion.

Sundays are sacred – the Premier League is blasted throughout every TV, speaker, and radio sound system in the pubs, peoples’ houses, cars passing by, and outdoor projector screens.

Not only is football a way of life in England, but going to “your” team’s stadium or match is a rite of passage. Are you a Chelsea fan? Head to Stamford Bridge. Fan of the Hotspurs? Take the tube to White Hart Lane.

If you are unsure of where to start – or, God forbid, unsure of what team to support – maybe you should start by checking out the stadium culture in London…

6. Stamford Bridge

Stamford Bridge, West Stand – By By Vespa125125CFC at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19208906

Stamford Bridge is located just next to Chelsea in South West London and is the home of the aptly-named Chelsea Football Club, a club in the top-tier of English football that was founded in 1905 and has a title for one of the most successful clubs in the country.

The capacity of the stadium is nearly 41,000 people, which is the 9th largest venue for all of the competing Premier League teams spread throughout the UK. First opened in the late 19th century, the stadium was the home of the London Athletic Club until the turn of the 20th century.

At this point in the new decade, Gus Mears, the founder of the Chelsea Football Club, moved the team to this home ground – and this is where they have been ever since.

Not only is Stamford a ground for Chelsea home matches, but it is also a venue for FA Cup Finals, FA Cup semi-finals, cricket matches, rugby union games, and greyhound racing.

Positioned closest to Fulham Broadway tube station, this due-West stadium is close to Chelsea, Sands End, and South Kensington, combining a wealthy, affluent, and beautiful area into one, ideal football location.

5. Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium – By By Jordan Reay – Wembley Stadium, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89242165

Wembley is possibly the most well-known ‘football’ stadium in London. Opening in 2007 at the site of the original stadium that was destroyed in 2002, the new structure hosts matches for the English national football team, the FA Cup Final, association football, rugby, and boxing.

The largest stadium in the UK with 90,000 seats, the stadium features a characteristic arch that not only structurally supports the stands and 75% of the roof, but serves as a landmark across the capital city of England.

Along with the FA Cup final and the England games, the stadium also is home to numerous other games in the football league, like the League Cup final, FA Trophy, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Euros.

Located close to the Wembley Park tube stop, the Wembley Central tube and train station, and the Wembley Stadium train stop, this stadium is located in Northwest London.

4. Selhurst Park

Selhurst Park Holmesdale Stand – By Rockybiggs / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Selhurst Park is the association football stadium in Croydon, a south London Borough that is the southernmost borough of the capital city. The home ground for Crystal Palace Football Club, the stadium was first opened in 1924 and has hosted the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Crystal Palace FC is a professional club based in Selhurst and currently competes at the highest level of English football – the Premier League.

Selhurst Park contains 4 stands within the park – the Holmesdale Road Stand, Arthur Wait Stand, Main Stand, and the Whitehorse Lane Stand. Whitehorse Lane sound familiar? This is similar to the name of the infamous Tottenham Football Club home ground.

3. White Hart Lane

White Hart Lane October – By By Thedamo from the English Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:White_Hart_Lane_October2006.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3673887

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, also known as White Hart Lane, is the third-largest stadium in the entire country of England with a capacity of just over 62,000 people. Designed to be a multi-sport stadium, this structure contains a retractable football pitch and is used for multiple events.

Located near the White Hart Lane tube stop, Northumberland Park train stop, and the Seven Sisters tube and DLR stop, this Northern stadium is the shining light of the Tottenham and Edmonton neighborhood.

2. Emirates Stadium

Emirates Stadium aerial – By By Ed g2s – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92123552

Are you a Gooner fan? Well, I’m sorry to hear that, but at least you have a great stadium! The Emirates Stadium is a football stadium in Highbury, England, and is the fourth-largest stadium in the country. With a capacity of 60,000 people, this stadium is only behind Wembley, Old Trafford, and White Hart Lane in size.

A new stadium was in talks back in 2001, with Arsene Wenger, the manager at the time, applauding the initiative to take such a big step and make an impactful decision for the club. With the relocation starting in 2002, the official construction began in 2004.

Emirates, the largest airline in the UAE, was finally announced the sponsor for the stadium during the construction process, with completion achieved in 2006 for a nearly £400 million.

Located near the Arsenal tube stop, Holloway Road tube stop, or the Finsbury Park train station, this stadium is located in North London, sandwiched between Camden Town and Hackney. If you are lucky enough to go to a game here, or just want to take a tour on a random day, you will find plenty of things to do in the area both before and after your visit.

Camden Town is home to one of the best outdoor markets in the entire city, complete with vintage clothes, cute coffee shops, bustling pubs, and gourmet food. Hackney is a young and vibrant neighborhood, proving to be a great spot to go out for a pint or two after a football match at Emirates Stadium.

1. London Stadium

London Stadium panorama – By By Hammersfan – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76652590

This Stratford-based Stadium is home to West Ham United, an English professional football club that moved from their previous home, Boleyn Ground, to London Stadium in 2016.

With the prep work for the stadium construction beginning back in mid-2007, the construction date officially began in May of 2008. The stadium first was opened in 2012 for a public event, hosting the IAAF World Championships, London Grand Prix, Rugby World Cup, and the first regular-season US Major League Baseball game in Europe.

Located by the Stratford tube stop and the Stratford International train station, this Northeast stadium is close to Hackney, a youthful neighborhood that can be a good stopping point before or after a match at London Stadium.

If you want to get a little glimpse of the water before you head to the stadium, take the DLR or the tube stop down towards Blackwall, Isle of Dogs, and the Greenwich Peninsula to catch a few, rare sun rays along the Thames.