Football Trip To London

[Twenty26Six]

Being a football fan in US, I've always wanted to travel to England to see some games. To experience a "real atmosphere" or whatever. I'm starting to formulate plans for travel in my head. I wanted to do something before Gemrnay '06. Something to get my feet weet for traveling overseas.

I was thinking about going to a three game set.
West Ham Home
Fulham Home
Arsenal Home

It's very early in my planning and this may seem "out of forum". I was planning on staying in or around the "Highbury" area. Taking the underground to games elsewhere.

My questions are...
How often do the london clubs schedule home games around the same time as each other? [i.e. - Whats the probability of these three teams getting a home game at different times in the same weekend?]

What would be the best airport to come into? [from NY, or closest to Highbury]

How close in proximity are all the areas mentioned? Would it feel like a major adventure to travel around London like this in one week/weekend?

I haven't been to many super-large metropolitan areas. So I'm trying to get a grip on what London is like in terms of 'size'.

Any help appreciated.
Thanx

[Boro_lad]

they dont call highbury the library for no reason...

why not try and get to a euro 04 match :o

[Boro_lad]

best place to get information about stuff like this is the club's official websites.

check em out

[Tom van Nixtelrooy]

London covers a vast area. Vast. It goes on for miles and miles and miles. The metro area anyway.

But, it is super easy to get around in. You can stay in any area of the city and get to the games with ease.

I could be wrong (and I am sure someone will let me know), but I have heard the North of London, where Arsenal is, is not the best place to stay, as far as vacationing type stuff goes any way.

I went to see a Charlton v. Derby Cty. and Chelsea v. Leeds a few years ago. Could not have been more fun!

Have fun.

[MNGooner]

You don't want to stay in Highbury/Islington. It's not the nicest place to be in London. Stay closer to the center of town, and just catch the tube up to Arsenal station on game day. Piccadilly line.

Trust me.

[DallasGooner]

Stay in central London, take the tube to the differnt stadiums. You won't be able to see 2 games on a Saturday but you could see a game Sat and Sun, there are quite a few teams in London. Getting tickets to Arsenal and not being an Arsenal supporter is going to be tough, small stadium and lots of fan. Chelsea will be hard too, all the sudden everyone wants to go. West Ham, Fulam, Tottenham, QPR, Palace, etc will be easier to get tickets to.

[Rapids/Arsenal Fan]

As far as game scheduling, you'll just have to check their schedules and see if anything lines up. Then only time I've ever been able to catch 3 games within a week was Fulham on Tuesday, Arsenal Champs league on Wed, and then another Arsenal on Sunday. You're kind of playing with fire during the spring though, as teams advance through the FA Cup and stuff, fixtures get moved around a little.

Heathrow or Gatwick is fine. Heathrow you can take the subway ("tube") into town, or from Gatwick you can take a train to Victoria Station.

London is very manageable with the tube. But don't think you can walk everywhere, it's pretty sprawling. Tubes and taxi are the best.

And stay somewhere closer to town. Try the Bloomsbury area, it has some decently priced b&b's.

And don't forget that Fulham isn't at Craven Cottage anymore! They play at Loftus Road in Queens Park Rangers' stadium for the time being.

[Lanesra]

Originally posted by MNGooner
You don't want to stay in Highbury/Islington. It's not the nicest place to be in London. Stay closer to the center of town, and just catch the tube up to Arsenal station on game day. Piccadilly line.

Trust me.

What do you base this on ? All you'll find in Central London are extortionate prices for food , drink, and anything else you want, it's full of drug dealers, pimps , prostitutes and most other pond life, I've worked here for 20 years.

Although Islingtons not perfect, Upper st, boasts some of the finest bars and resturants in London, and the fact that the property prices are sky high tells you it can't be that bad.

Sorry to jump on you like this , but I grew up In Highbury/Islington, and I'm very fond of the old place :) in fact the only reason I moved out was that property prices rose so much due to the amount of people trying to move in.

[DallasGooner]

Originally posted by Lanesra

Although Islingtons not perfect, Upper st, boasts some of the finest bars and resturants in London, and the fact that the property prices are sky high tells you it can't be that bad.


Hanging out a bar near Highbury is a must. Having spent time at T-Bird's the people there are great! Everyone there was great, both staff and guests. I assume all the pubs/bars around there can boast the same. Was nice to get away from the central London crowd.

[phishy]

Originally posted by Lanesra
What do you base this on ? All you'll find in Central London are extortionate prices for food , drink, and anything else you want, it's full of drug dealers, pimps , prostitutes and most other pond life, I've worked here for 20 years.



was thinking the exact same thing~~

[RobtheAggie]

Here is a list of London clubs:

Aresnal
Charlton
Chelsea
Fulham
Tottenham
West Ham
QPR
Millwall
Brentford
Leyton Orient
Watford
Wimbledon
Barnet

The lower divisions play sometimes on odd days so you may be able to get a few games.

[Martin Daoust]

Originally posted by Lanesra
What do you base this on ? All you'll find in Central London are extortionate prices for food , drink, and anything else you want, it's full of drug dealers, pimps , prostitutes and most other pond life, I've worked here for 20 years.

Although Islingtons not perfect, Upper st, boasts some of the finest bars and resturants in London, and the fact that the property prices are sky high tells you it can't be that bad.

Sorry to jump on you like this , but I grew up In Highbury/Islington, and I'm very fond of the old place :) in fact the only reason I moved out was that property prices rose so much due to the amount of people trying to move in.

Agree with you on that. Left out late the night before leaving on Oxford Street and ended catching this Russian Pimp shaking down his "girls" out in front of everyone. London's a city like any other. Right now fair to say Highbury isn't really as posh as Central London, but its an alright place from the times I've been there, and ALL Arsenal, especially on Match Days-The Gunners, the Woodbine, the T-Bird as Dallas Gooner notes below, the London Headquarters for this season's first(I can hope) Arsenal America RoadTrip, and the Blackstock to name but a few out the outstanding pubs where the Gooners gather. Certainly there are more including the Moray Arms. I am not certain if the Twelve Pins(I won't try the Gaelic spelling)across from Blackstock Road is a major Arsenal pub but it's absolutely delightful inside and out. I would only recommend staying in Central London because there is that much more to do that much closer to you which unless you're renting a car is something to keep in mind. It is also easier to venture beyond to ALL points not merely Highbury and Islington from that central location...like, DUH-UH...London is marvellous though and whatever matches you'll see you should have a blast. Enjoy it...

[rancid]

I'll be heading over to London in March, and plan on attending either a Charlton or Fulham match on the Sat. I am there. Do any of you guys think I would have a problem getting walkup tickets at the game for either team, or should I preorder?

Thanks for the help.

[Boro_lad]

check out the club websites or icketmaster for ticket availability...

[martymarts]

Why don't you fly into Manchester Airport and stay in either Liverpool or Manchester or both? They're great cities to party in. Plane tickets are about the same as to London and tickets to the games will be half the price of London. Train service is pretty good so you could probably do without a car. London is 2 1/2 hours away and if you book in advance the trip will cost about $40. You could do Anfield ( I would have thought more up your street), Old Trafford, City of Manchester Stadium, The Reebok and Ewood Park and even pick up a game in the capital on a trip south?

[Twenty26Six]

I suppose going to see a Liverpool game would be more my taste. I'm as scouse as an American gets. Whether that be good or bad.

But this trip is more about taking in as many games as I can, seeing as I prolly would have to save up for awhile and not be able to go again til after WC'06.

My knowledge of football club and ground locations is pretty decent. But I am not sure what games I would want to see near Merseyside, besides the obvious. Plus Red's tickets must be pretty rare. Nothing against, but I'd rather not watch Blackburn. Everton and Manchester United are out of the question. I'd incite a riot. I at least have borderline interest/respect for the Gunners.

I suppose Bolton wouldn't be half bad, or maybe Newcastle. But then I'd be all over the northern part of the country and in need of a car. In London I can tube/rail it.

Also, someone mentioned the vastness of London. Anyone know the square mileage? Or how far the East Ham area is from Heathrow[in traveling time as well as miles]? Being an American I am intrigued and puzzled by so many club teams in such a small country. I'd definitely have died and gone to footy heaven if I could live in a city with over 10 club teams.

Thanx for the information so far. I'm mentally logging it. As far as where to stay, I'm not interested in it too much. I'm not much interested in more than football, due to time and funds. I'd stay damn near anywhere, as long as I didn't feel particularly threatened. Or unwelcome b.c I was American. Don't know how that stuff goes.

[Charlemagne]

How much would it cost to buy tickets on gameday or on very short notice? Is scalping allowed? And what would kind of prices would i be looking at for either an Arsenal or Man utd match?

[addickfan]

Originally posted by rancid
I'll be heading over to London in March, and plan on attending either a Charlton or Fulham match on the Sat. I am there. Do any of you guys think I would have a problem getting walkup tickets at the game for either team, or should I preorder?

Thanks for the help.

Not sure about Fulham but I know that Charlton games have been selling out nearly all season. Even this weeks game against the bottom club, Wolves, was sold out at least a week before. I think that you can order tickets from the website but best to check for yourself.

To be sure of being able to buy tickets on the gate you will have to go to one of the lower division sides. QPR, brentford, Leyton Orient should all have tickets available. The standard of football won't be the same but the passion and the atmosphere will still be nothing like what you will find in the US.

I hope that you get to go to the valley. If you get a choice of seats it might be useful to know that the North stand is where most of the more voiciferous fans tend to congregate so the atmosphere will be great but it may not be the place to be if you have ears sensitive to bad language. The East and West stands are more family oriented and the South stand is usually reserved for away fans.
Oh and stay away from the burgers, they are awful.

[RobtheAggie]

I just recieved an e-mail from Charlton thletic stating that the games have been 99.86% sold out. I think that going to one of these games would be awesome, Charlton Fans are very friendly and helpful. If you contact the club in advance you can get help that way including a possible tour of the Valley. There was a guy who posted on the Charlton board who recently took a trip to London and during the week went to see the Valley. He just went to the team offices and asked if he could go on the field and take pictures and they said no problem.

[Rapids/Arsenal Fan]

Originally posted by kold_77_krush
I'd stay damn near anywhere, as long as I didn't feel particularly threatened. Or unwelcome b.c I was American. Don't know how that stuff goes.

Forget about it. Just being an American who loves English soccer is enough to get you a free pint in a pub somewhere. They love American soccer fans.