[idiparker]

I thought I'd start a thread like this since it often comes up with people who are over in London. "What other games can I see in London?" Chances are that if you are in London for a Saturday game, someone, somewhere, will be home Friday or Sunday so consider making it a football weekend.

Here is a report on some places I've seen matches:

West Ham--Upton Park
They play at Upton Park (which is not the West Ham tube stop, but a different one). It's a pretty big stadium, and generally not that tough to get tickets to. The Main, West Stand is the most recently developed if I recall and has the most features. The East Stand is a bit of a shack, and then there is behind the goals.

A few notes:
*The area around there is pretty interesting. Lots of Pakistanis and a few chip shops.
* There are horrible line for the tube, and the lines start down the side street of the station (i.e. not down the high street in front). Follow the crowds after the game. Many are running for a reason.
* Consider the Jubillee Line and then transfer over to the line that goes to Upton Park. Can save you some time as fewer stops then going direct from Central London.

Fulham--Crave Cottage
Haven't been in awhile. The away stand is open to the elements (no roof) last I checked. Near a couple of tube stations in Central area so not tough to get too, and I think tickets are easy enough to get except for big games. Stadium is kind of a dive though. Wasn't that impressed.

Chelsea--If you get forced...

Believe it or not, it's not tough to get a ticket to Chelsea. They often don't sell out. Be wary of the lower...ummm...West Stand I think, as the seats there are obstructed by the upper deck. The East (I'm confused) is the newest stand...

* Lots to do in the area around Chelsea--nice stores, but a bit sterile.

QPR--Loftus Road

This is a favorite of mine, and not just because I have a soft spot for QPR, but because Loftus Road is a 'fun' intimate stadium to see a game. You can literally reach out an touch a player on the touch line. Tickets are rarely sold out (check ahead). You really feel a part of the game. White City and Shepards Bush Tube. Area is redeveloping into nicer places. Not far from Central London.

I should also note that QPR fans hate Chelsea, and are ambivilant (generally) toward Arsenal or closet Arsenal supporters. No real bad blood now as far as I can tell.

* Close to Central London
* Real intimate lower division feel
* Seats are small--long legs will be scrunched

Brentford--Griffin Park(?)

Very small stadium where sit where you want seating more or less. Not on the tube so you have to take BRail or a Cab from the tube station. Middle of a neighborhood with no real High Street nearby. Only been once (but was a good game) and fans were pretty chatty.

[Bluto11]

Originally Posted by idiparker

QPR--Loftus Road

This is a favorite of mine, and not just because I have a soft spot for QPR, but because Loftus Road is a 'fun' intimate stadium to see a game. You can literally reach out an touch a player on the touch line. Tickets are rarely sold out (check ahead). You really feel a part of the game. White City and Shepards Bush Tube. Area is redeveloping into nicer places. Not far from Central London.

I should also note that QPR fans hate Chelsea, and are ambivilant (generally) toward Arsenal or closet Arsenal supporters. No real bad blood now as far as I can tell.

* Close to Central London
* Real intimate lower division feel
* Seats are small--long legs will be scrunched

got tickets the day of the match to Loftus Road. just took the Tube over in the morning and got them from the ground. Went with GP and muradom. atmosphere was really lacking (which goes against everything I've heard) the loudest noise were the 10 year old behind us screaming "come on you RRRRRRRRRRRRRs". liked the ground though, even if the view was blocked by some thin columns. Leicester City won on an offsides goal (i know because the player was lined directly up with me when the ball was kicked!)

sat in the Ellerslie Road stand and didn't sample any of the pubs nearby, but The Springbok on South Africa Rd (on the way from the White City Tube stop to the ground) looked like the place to have a beer.

[idiparker]

Originally Posted by Bluto11

Went with GP and muradom. atmosphere was really lacking (which goes against everything I've heard) the loudest noise were the 10 year old behind us screaming "come on you RRRRRRRRRRRRRs". liked the ground though, even if the view was blocked by some thin columns.

It can be lacking if the game isn't very good. When it is loud it does shake a bit, especially if you are nearer the Loft end which is where their loudest supporters hang (you have to be in the supporters club to sit in there).

[Bluto11]

Originally Posted by idiparker

It can be lacking if the game isn't very good. When it is loud it does shake a bit, especially if you are nearer the Loft end which is where their loudest supporters hang (you have to be in the supporters club to sit in there).

yeah, we were on the other end. match was 1-1 after 10 minutes and then ended 3-2 Leicester, with the rest of the goals coming in the last 10 minutes. good 1st 10 and last 10, crap in the middle!

[Achtung]

Went to Craven Cottage last season to watch Sunderland-Fulham. First experience in a smaller stadium, roughly the size of your average MLS soccer-specific park. Thought it had a certain old-timey feel to it, and I liked it. Fairly spartan environment--other than the sideboards, it could've been a match from 25 years ago. But it was fun, no bad seats that I could see, and nice to get the "come on Fulham" and "come on you Whites" chants going. Only wish McBride had scored.

[pookspur]

Originally Posted by Achtung

... But it was fun, no bad seats that I could see, ...

you clearly weren't sitting deep in the stevenage road stand, then.

it's a wonderful old stand - an archibald leitch classic. fenway- or old commiskey-type architectural feel (for us americans), circa 1905. but the columns can be very imposing.

i'm glad to have been able to sit there, but next time i'm at the cottage, it'll likely be in another stand.

while i'm here, i'll thow in my two cents on a couple of others. loftus road is great, in my book. as far as atmosphere goes, i've seen it dire on a cold, wet tuesday night, and i've seen it brilliant on a sunny saturday four-goal afternoon. either way, a qpr match gets my full endorsement. a proper football ground.

i'll also give an endorsement to the valley. charlton athletic have a reputation for being a 'friendly club', and it's well-earned. if any of you fellas are old enough to remember when customer service representatives were friendly and genuinely interested in being helpful, it's kind of like that. atmosphere waxes and wanes with the fortunes of the team, and that doesn't bode well these days; but when they're playing well, the valley can be pretty good.

then, of course, there's the best atmosphere in all london up in N17. proper stadium, too. may not be first choice for folks on these boards, however.

[Achtung]

Originally Posted by pookspur

you clearly weren't sitting deep in the stevenage road stand, then.

it's a wonderful old stand - an archibald leitch classic. fenway- or old commiskey-type architectural feel (for us americans), circa 1905. but the columns can be very imposing.

i'm glad to have been able to sit there, but next time i'm at the cottage, it'll likely be in another stand.

Still got the ticket--Stevenage Road Stand Upper Tier.

Luckily the columns weren't much of a problem for me where I was sitting. But I can see how they could be for others.

[pookspur]

Originally Posted by Achtung

Still got the ticket--Stevenage Road Stand Upper Tier.

Luckily the columns weren't much of a problem for me where I was sitting...

no kidding? you were fortunate.

Originally Posted by Achtung

... But I can see how they could be for others.

yeah. after my first trip to the cottage (a last-minute decision), when i had a column right in front of me, i made certain to order my next ones in front of the columns (still wanted stevenage road). and then, when i got there, there were two people sitting in our seats - with tickets identical to ours! an usher came up and resolved the situation by taking us to two different seats, futher up. naturally, the result was a column right in the middle of each box. nice.

i'm sure most seats in the stand aren't so bad, but with fifteen- or twenty- thousand other options around the ground, i won't be finding out.

[Lanesra]

Originally Posted by pookspur

you clearly weren't sitting deep in the stevenage road stand, then.

it's a wonderful old stand - an archibald leitch classic. fenway- or old commiskey-type architectural feel (for us americans), circa 1905. but the columns can be very imposing.

i'm glad to have been able to sit there, but next time i'm at the cottage, it'll likely be in another stand.

while i'm here, i'll thow in my two cents on a couple of others. loftus road is great, in my book. as far as atmosphere goes, i've seen it dire on a cold, wet tuesday night, and i've seen it brilliant on a sunny saturday four-goal afternoon. either way, a qpr match gets my full endorsement. a proper football ground.

i'll also give an endorsement to the valley. charlton athletic have a reputation for being a 'friendly club', and it's well-earned. if any of you fellas are old enough to remember when customer service representatives were friendly and genuinely interested in being helpful, it's kind of like that. atmosphere waxes and wanes with the fortunes of the team, and that doesn't bode well these days; but when they're playing well, the valley can be pretty good.

then, of course, there's the best atmosphere in all london up in N17. proper stadium, too. may not be first choice for folks on these boards, however.

not in London but Cardiffs great,you'll have to take my word for it Pook

[pookspur]

Originally Posted by Lanesra

not in London but Cardiffs great,you'll have to take my word for it Pook

yup, 'cause it's back in wembley this year.