Seeing other games while in London?

[GWGunner]

I'm a noob around here, but you guys seem like the best lot to ask for advice on my upcoming trip to London.

I'm bringing my family of five from the US to London next month. (We're in Paris for a few days before we arrive in London on Aug 10th.

My two boys are 7 & 9 years old, and they're just starting to become 'serious' football fans, particularly my 9 year old, who follows the EPL religiously.

We've been Arsenal supporters in my house since I saw my first game at Highbury in December 1993 (v Queens Park Rangers - a 0-0 match!!!)

I've put in my request to Rick B for tickets to Arsenal/Fulham, but I'm interested in taking the kids to any other football games we can see while in London. (Only there from Aug 10-Aug 17).

I'm learning it will be next to impossible to purchase general tickets to many of the games in advance. What is my best avenue? Wait until game days and buy tickets? Is it even possible to get tickets once we arrive in London?

The kids don't get many chances to see 'real' football games the way they can experience during our trip, and I want to maximize their experience by seeing as many games as we can.

Thanks in advance for any input!

GW

[Bluto11]

i saw QPR v Leicester City last time I was in London.

got tickets the day of the match at the box office at Loftus Road (i don't think they will mail tickets to a US address if you order them online, so you have to go in person or have a UK address to mail them to, i think). it was very easy to get tickets. Loftus Road is a great place to see a match, if you don't mind being wedged in a small seat and having support columns obstruct your view (depending on the stand!)

[shincan]

I saw Crystal Palace play Watford two years ago. Easy as pie. Just took the train down from central London (35 mins?) and bought two tickets at the box office. Lots of fun. Selhurst park is no Highbury, no Emirates, but it had buckets of atmosphere and admirable fan support.

[Rick B]

Generally for games below Prem level you can buy on the day. Don't go to a Millwall game obviously and be careful if the team is playing Stoke or Cardiff. Otherwise the atmousphere is generally quite good down the leagues. Even Barnet would be a laugh!!

Remember that on Aug 12th or 13th we will have a game which could be home or away in the CL qualifications. Make sure you keep an eye on the fixtures and as soon as it is announced let me know if you want tickets.

[Lanesra]

Generally for games below Prem level you can buy on the day. Don't go to a Millwall game obviously and be careful if the team is playing Stoke or Cardiff. Otherwise the atmousphere is generally quite good down the leagues. Even Barnet would be a laugh!!

Remember that on Aug 12th or 13th we will have a game which could be home or away in the CL qualifications. Make sure you keep an eye on the fixtures and as soon as it is announced let me know if you want tickets.

Don't want to correct the teacher,but on the 12th we play Fulham,the champions league game could be on the 14th or 15th.

[Rick B]

Don't want to correct the teacher,but on the 12th we play Fulham,the champions league game could be on the 14th or 15th.

Whoops!!! :o

Cheers, shows how much I have looked at the fixture list!!

[Shibby13]

Generally for games below Prem level you can buy on the day. Don't go to a Millwall game obviously and be careful if the team is playing Stoke or Cardiff. Otherwise the atmousphere is generally quite good down the leagues.

I've been to Millwall 4 times and haven't had a problem there. I could see why in the past it might not be suitable for kids but as long as you're in the family section it shouldn't be a problem. Actually now that I think about it it might not be the best place to take a family. I think the Millwall support can be fantastic though when they're playing well and draw decent sized crowds. Every time I've been I haven't seen any type of racism, which they used to have a reputation for. Their reputation is poor, but I've had a great time every time I've gone and Theo Paphthis did a great job of cleaning up the club.

[Schu419]

Personally, I'd love to see a Millwall-West Ham cup derby. Can't recommend taking any kids though.

[Shibby13]

I went to Millwall-Palace at the Den a few years ago and obviously while not as big as Wall-Wet Spam, it was still a fairly good local derby. Even the PA system was playing some song over the loud speakers about Palace to which all the Wall fans would sing "Who the f*** are Palace?"

[Suckafree]

Does Anyone have the link to Google Earth with all the London Clubs? I know its here somewhere but I can't find it. Thanks.

[pookspur]

i saw QPR v Leicester City last time I was in London.

got tickets the day of the match at the box office at Loftus Road (i don't think they will mail tickets to a US address if you order them online, so you have to go in person or have a UK address to mail them to, i think). it was very easy to get tickets. Loftus Road is a great place to see a match, if you don't mind being wedged in a small seat and having support columns obstruct your view (depending on the stand!)

actually, QPR has posted me my tickets here in the states the last two years. they've arrived within a week (or maybe a bit over) each time.

but i'm not posting here to make that correction so much as to confirm that a trip to loftus road is well worth the time. i always try to schedule any trip to the lane to accomodate an RRRs match, as well.

[Bluto11]

actually, QPR has posted me my tickets here in the states the last two years. they've arrived within a week (or maybe a bit over) each time.

but i'm not posting here to make that correction so much as to confirm that a trip to loftus road is well worth the time. i always try to schedule any trip to the lane to accomodate an RRRs match, as well.
good to know :)

i was under the impression that any club in England wouldn't mail tickets to a US address, not just QPR!

the box office guy looked at me funny when I gave him my address in Chicago while buying the tickets.

[pookspur]

i was under the impression that any club in England wouldn't mail tickets to a US address, not just QPR!


of all the clubs in england from which i've purchased tickets in advance of matchday, QPR are, in fact, the only ones who have posted them to me here in the states.

[Skizz]

I hear it's quite easy to get Spurs tickets :p

Don't flame me!!

[Shibby13]

Loftus Road was the first place I ever saw an English football match as Arsenal were away to Boro that week when I went there so I settled for Fulham-Newcastle. So I have a soft spot for QPR since it is their ground, but Fulham was using Loftus Road for a couple years while Craven Cottage was being renovated.

[KirbyNYC]

I hear it's quite easy to get Spurs tickets :p

Don't flame me!!

It sure is! Got a roll of them in me bathroom! :D

[mjsicili]

of all the clubs in england from which i've purchased tickets in advance of matchday, QPR are, in fact, the only ones who have posted them to me here in the states.


Got tix for me, wife and daughter to a West Hame game last year. They mailed all of them out. I got mine two weeks before the match; their's came almost 6 weeks after we got back from vacation???

We had to wait on line to get their tickets and people were ordering day of game tickets. From what I saw everyone was being accomodated (then again it was a Man City match, not exactly Arsenal/ManU)

[Frankgarrison]

I've gotten southend tickets delivered here to the States and, I think, tickets to a Villa v. Birmingham match in 2003.

Speaking of other matches, I'd like to take in either the West Ham v. Bolton match or the Norwich v. Ipswich match on Sunday, November 4th. Does anyone know of anyone who might be able to help me locate 1 to either of those? I'd be most grateful.

And anyone in England on November 2nd who'd like to travel to Lincoln for the Lincoln v. Chester match, feel free to pm me. It'd involve an early train ride the next morning to London (as the ManUre match kicks off at 12:45), but there are early trains and the ground and, I think, a few hotels are close to the Lincoln Central Station.

[GWGunner]

Thanks for the input guys.....so many games to choose from.

I'll probably wait until I arrive in London to see which games I will be seeing. Sounds like I'll have a good chance of getting tickets on game days with some of the clubs.

Cheers...
GW

[Rick B]

I've gotten southend tickets delivered here to the States and, I think, tickets to a Villa v. Birmingham match in 2003.

Speaking of other matches, I'd like to take in either the West Ham v. Bolton match or the Norwich v. Ipswich match on Sunday, November 4th. Does anyone know of anyone who might be able to help me locate 1 to either of those? I'd be most grateful.

And anyone in England on November 2nd who'd like to travel to Lincoln for the Lincoln v. Chester match, feel free to pm me. It'd involve an early train ride the next morning to London (as the ManUre match kicks off at 12:45), but there are early trains and the ground and, I think, a few hotels are close to the Lincoln Central Station.

Frank, just a quickie but I would advise you to look at BA or BMI to fly from Manchester to London on the Sat or rent a car. Travelling by train to get you back for Midday is really going to be pushing it on a weekend. Our trains at the weekend are dreadful.