Wembley Stadium, photo: Unsplash Wembley Stadium, photo: Unsplash

Guide to stadiums in London

The vast array of world-class sports facilities in London has hosted some of the most iconic sports events in history, from the Olympic Games to the World Cup, as well as legendary performances by some of the biggest music acts of all time - and that's before we even get to the bitter club rivalries and memorable derbies. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a music fan, or simply looking to explore the city's rich culture, our guide to stadiums in London will take you on a tour of London's most iconic stadiums, providing an overview of their history, features, and amenities. From the grandeur of Wembley Stadium to the intimacy of The Hive, get ready to discover the best of London's sports venues.

In this guide
  1. Stadiums in London
    1. Wembley Stadium – A global icon
    2. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – The heart of Tottenham
    3. Emirates Stadium – Gooner central
    4. Stamford Bridge – Keeping the blue flag flying high
    5. London Stadium – Hammer time
    6. Craven Cottage – London's oldest stadium
    7. Selhurst Park Stadium – Top vibes
    8. Brisbane Road – Part of Orient
    9. The Valley – Red Army headquarters
    10. Twickenham Stadium – The ultimate rugby destination
    11. The Den – The Millwall theatre
    12. Loftus Road Stadium – Forever QPR
    13. Lord's Cricket Ground – The spiritual home of cricket
    14. Gtech Community Stadium – Regenerating the area
    15. Cherry Red Records Stadium – The new Plough Lane
    16. The Hive – Host your own match
    17. Kingsmeadow – Fading glory
    18. VBS Community Stadium – Putting the "club" in "football club"
    19. The Chigwell Construction Stadium – Daggers out

Stadiums in London

Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium – Stadiums
Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium

A global icon

The largest stadium in the UK with 90,000 seats, Wembley Stadium is a mecca for both sports fans and concertgoers. It hosts major football matches, including the FA Cup Final and the home matches of England's national team, as well as performances by the biggest stars in the world. With its recognisable roof arch, the longest single-span roof structure in the world, Wembley Stadium is an iconic London landmark.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The heart of Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a seating capacity of 62,303, is the home ground of Tottenham Hotspur FC and stands as one of the world's most impressive sporting venues. Its design is both unique and eco-friendly, featuring a retractable pitch that allows for natural sunlight exposure, maintaining its playing surface quality. The stadium's facilities are unrivaled, offering premium seating options, luxury suites, and exclusive hospitality areas. Furthermore, the stadium has several dining options, including an in-house bakery and the world's first microbrewery within a stadium. Visitors can also enjoy exciting attractions such as tours and a skywalk.

Emirates Stadium

Gooner central

Emirates Stadium, the home ground of Arsenal FC, is a globally recognised stadium and one of the largest in the UK, with a seating capacity of 60,260. Its bowl-shaped structure provides fantastic views from all angles, and the facilities are top-notch, offering luxury suites, hospitality areas, and an extensive range of dining options. Located close to Finsbury Park, the stadium also has excellent public transport connections. Fans of Arsenal FC can explore the club's rich history at the Arsenal Museum.

Stamford Bridge

Keeping the blue flag flying high

Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC since 1905, is a renowned football stadium with a seating capacity of 40,831. It boasts a unique design, featuring four distinct stands, each with its individual character. The stadium has played host to several significant events in English football, including memorable cup finals and international fixtures. The Chelsea FC Museum, located within Stamford Bridge, is showcases the club's history through numerous memorabilia and interactive displays.

London Stadium

Hammer time

Formerly known as the Olympic Stadium, London Stadium, the home of West Ham United and UK Athletics, can also host concerts by major stars, rugby, baseball, and other sports events. The stadium boasts a seating capacity of 60,000 for football matches and can accommodate up to 80,000 for concerts, with free-flow access between the field of play and the lower tier. In addition to facilities such as a cantilevered roof, a community track, multiple catering outlets, wheelchair viewing spaces, and hospitality lounges, the stadium also benefits from excellent transportation links.

Craven Cottage

London's oldest stadium

Built in 1896, Craven Cottage has served as the abode of Fulham FC for almost its entire existence. The stadium enjoys a prime location, nestled right along the banks of the River Thames. Moreover, it boasts the distinction of having the oldest football stand that still exists in professional football. The Johnny Hayes Stand, designated as a Grade II listed structure, features original wooden seating and an ornamental brick exterior, making it a mandatory stopover for any football enthusiast. With a seating capacity of 22,384, the stadium is a perfect venue for experiencing the thrill of the beautiful game.

Selhurst Park Stadium

Top vibes

Situated in Croydon, Selhurst Park is a football stadium that hosts the home matches of Crystal Palace FC. Since its opening in 1924, the stadium has undergone renovations to enhance the spectator experience and can now accommodate 25,486 seats. The ground is renowned for its charged atmosphere, owing to the fervor of Crystal Palace fans who are considered some of the most passionate in the Premier League. While the Arthur Wait Stand is infamous for its boisterous ambience, the Main Stand offers a more conventional vantage point.

Brisbane Road

Part of Orient

Located in East London, Brisbane Road is a stadium with a smaller seating capacity, serving as the home ground for Leyton Orient FC. The stadium, constructed in the 1890s, has undergone various renovations and improvements throughout the years, and currently boasts a total seating capacity of 9,271 across four stands. Apart from hosting football matches, Brisbane Road has also been utilized for a diverse range of events, such as boxing matches and music concerts, making it a multifunctional venue.

The Valley

Red Army headquarters

Since 1919, The Valley has been the home of Charlton Athletic FC, and it has undergone numerous upgrades since its inception. The stadium currently boasts a total seating capacity of 27,111 across four stands, offering excellent views of the pitch to football fans. The Valley is more than just a place to watch football, as it offers a range of amenities such as various food and drink outlets, a club shop, and a family area, catering to visitors of all ages. It is conveniently located near a train station and parking facility, and also offers behind-the-scenes tours of the club facilities.

Twickenham Stadium

The ultimate rugby destination

Twickenham Stadium, renowned as the home ground of the England national rugby union team, is the largest stadium in the world devoted solely to rugby union matches. Its seating capacity of 82,000 places it second only to Wembley in the UK. The stadium boasts state-of-the-art facilities, such as restaurants, bars, a gym, hospitality suites, and the award-winning World Rugby Museum and shop. In addition to rugby fixtures, Twickenham Stadium plays host to a diverse range of events, including music concerts and conferences.

The Den

The Millwall theatre

The Den, located in South Bermondsey, serves as the home ground for Millwall FC. The stadium, which opened in 1993, has a seating capacity of 20,146, featuring four stands: the Dockers Stand, the Barry Kitchener Stand, the North Stand, and the Cold Blow Lane Stand, which is known for its passionate and vocal supporters. Conveniently accessible by public transportation, The Den also houses a museum that exhibits the rich history of the home club.

Loftus Road Stadium

Forever QPR

Loftus Road, located in White City, serves as the home stadium for Queens Park Rangers FC and has a seating capacity of 18,439. Among the four stands at Loftus Road, the Ellerslie Road Stand is the largest and offers a great view of the pitch. For those seeking a more intimate fan experience, the smaller Loftus Road and School End stands are ideal. In addition, visitors can enjoy a range of amenities such as a club shop, food and drink outlets, and hospitality lounges designed for corporate guests.

Lord's Cricket Ground

The spiritual home of cricket

Located in St John's Wood, Lord's Cricket Ground is a historic and globally-renowned sports venue that serves as the headquarters of the Marylebone Cricket Club. The stadium has a seating capacity of 30,000 and hosts various cricket matches, including international test matches, county matches, and T20 matches. The Grade II listed Pavilion, which houses the dressing rooms and various MCC members' facilities, is one of the most striking features of Lord's Cricket Ground and has become an iconic symbol of cricket worldwide.

Gtech Community Stadium

Regenerating the area

Gtech Community Stadium, situated only a few minutes away from Kew Station, serves as the new home of Brentford FC following the closure of Griffin Park. This contemporary facility was established in 2020 and has a seating capacity of 17,250, with 2,930 of those seats designated as Premium Seats. The entire stadium campus was designed to blend sports and leisure, education, and residential spaces to enhance the urban development of the area.

Cherry Red Records Stadium

The new Plough Lane

A state-of-the-art stadium, Cherry Red Records Stadium opened its doors in 2020, boasting a capacity of 9,300 and providing flexible space for various events and occasions. As a prominent venue in the region, it offers affordable facilities to both businesses and communities. With modern conferencing facilities, equipment, and support available, the stadium is ideal for private functions, weddings, and conferences. More importantly, it serves as the new home of AFC Wimbledon.

The Hive

Host your own match

The Hive, the home of Barnet FC, is not just a stadium but also a versatile event venue featuring a newly installed football pitch and top-of-the-line banqueting facilities. You can choose to hold various events, such as weddings and conferences, or rent the full-sized pitch to organize your own tournaments, entertain clients, or have a friendly game with friends. Additionally, The Hive complex boasts a gym and a café, providing visitors with additional amenities to enjoy. It has a total capacity of 6,500.

Kingsmeadow

Fading glory

Located in Kingston upon Thames, Kingsmeadow was the home stadium of AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian FC. The 4,850-capacity venue has had difficulty attracting significant new investments over the years. Presently, the stadium is under the ownership of Chelsea FC, who utilize it as a venue for their women's and youth teams' home games.

VBS Community Stadium

Putting the "club" in "football club"

The VBS Community Stadium, located south of London, serves as the home ground for Sutton United FC, providing a seating capacity of 5,032 and a hybrid grass pitch. Visiting fans can relax in the recently constructed covered seated and standing sections on the east end, which include a fan zone, bar, catering amenities, and washrooms. There are also limited spots for wheelchair users. Additionally, the stadium facility encompasses a music venue, known as the Boom Boom Club, located in the main hall.

The Chigwell Construction Stadium

Daggers out

The home stadium of Dagenham & Redbridge FC, Victoria Road Stadium, is presently named as The Chigwell Construction Stadium due to sponsorship arrangements. The stadium accommodates a grass pitch, has a seating capacity of 6,078, and is situated just a few minutes from Dagenham East Tube station. In addition to hosting Dagenham & Redbridge's matches, the stadium has also hosted significant international matches such as Women's FA Cup semi-finals and a range of regional cup finals over the years.

Send suggestion

Did we miss something in this guide?

Editors

At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.