London is home to some major sporting events such as the Six Nations Tournament for rugby, the Wimbledon Tournament for tennis, the FA Cup, and Premiership for soccer, and, how can we not forget, the 2012 Olympics and the World Athletics Championships.
For those who love sports, the English capital is not to be missed. Here are five things not to miss if you visit London.
Olympics
The Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park is the sports complex built for the 2012 Olympics in the Stratford area of East London. It includes the Olympic Stadium and the London Aquatic Centre.
London Stadium
The opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics, as well as athletics competitions and, more recently, the World Athletics Championships, were held here. Since the Olympics, the stadium has been downsized and is the venue for West Ham matches. The tour includes the center grandstand, players’ tunnel, benches and sidelines, and indoor track. The facility is located in East London, the nearest tube station is Stratford, and ticket prices range from £17 to £19 for adults and between £10 and £11 for children.
Outside the Olympic Stadium is the ArcelorMittal Orbit, a 115-meter-high tower. There are two observation platforms from which there are views of London up to 20 miles. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (the last entry is at 5:30 p.m.); tickets cost £11.50 for adults and £5.50 for ages 3-16 (seniors and students £8.50).
Football: The Wembley Stadium
The temple of English and other soccer is located in west London. It is home to the official matches of the England national team, and the FA Cup final is played there. It has also been the location of some musical concerts such as Live Aid, the Freddie Mercury Tribute, the 1986 Queen concert, and many others. It reopened in 2007 after undergoing extensive renovations.
The guided tour of Wembley lasts 75 minutes and includes entry into the locker rooms, commentators’ box, the royal box, and the entrance tunnel to the field.
The tour also includes visiting Wembley’s historical treasures, where you can see the Rimet Cup won by England in 1966 and the FA Cup replica. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with visits every 60 minutes; ticket cost is £20 for adults and £12 for juniors, seniors, and students. The nearest subway station is Wembley Park.
Rugby: The Twickenham Stadium
A temple of world rugby and the second-largest stadium in the United Kingdom after the new Wembley, it is located in the Twickenham district near Heathrow Airport.
It is the only stadium in the world dedicated exclusively to rugby, hosts the official matches of the England national team, and was the site of the final of the last Rugby World Cup in 2015, won by New Zealand. (as well as the final of the 1991 edition won by Australia).
Inside is the Rugby Museum, the world’s most extensive collection of rugby memorabilia. In addition, you can visit the stadium, such as the stands, the locker rooms, and the players’ tunnel, experiencing firsthand the same feelings and emotions as the players.
For rugby fans, it is a visit not to be missed. Also, if during your vacation in London you are lucky enough to be able to attend a match and feel like increasing the adrenaline of the event by betting on one of the teams to win, online, you will find top betting sites, betting sites UK, and more.
Of course, the best betting sites in the UK depend on which sports you want to bet on, which features are essential to you, your preferred payment method, and so much more. But don’t worry because, on platforms like these, you will get all the help you need to bet in the safest and better way possible.
The Lord’s Cricket Ground
The home of world cricket is Lord’s Cricket Ground, the oldest cricket stadium in the world, having opened in 1814.
Four Cricket World Cup finals have been held there, and the next one will be in 2019 in London itself. The tour will allow you to discover the places and secrets of the sport. The museum collects the entire history of cricket from the 18th century to the present. It includes material related to the great champions of the sport and the leading cricket sports clubs.
The Lord’s is located a few miles from Baker Street, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and can also be visited during matches (in which case you must have a match ticket). The cost of the ticket is £20 for adults and £12 for children. Being in central London, it is easily accessible by public transport such as the subway and buses.