Britain’s best footballing cities
As the birthplace of modern football, since the mid-19th century, stadiums can be found across the country, hosting everything from the Premier League to non-league matches. For unmissable moments on and off the pitch, choose to immerse yourself in a game, enjoy a slice of Britain’s footballing heritage, or get behind the scenes on a stadium tour. Fresh from England’s national team, the Lionesses, reaching the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, if you’ve had enough of watching from the sidelines, here are some of Britain’s footballing highlights…
Top five football experiences in Britain
Witness top-flight action and lower-league rivalries
There’s more than 40,000 registered football clubs in England alone, but all across Britain you’ll find ties to football. The English Premier League teams regularly attract star players from around the globe, cheered on by legions of dedicated fans. The popularity of the Women’s Super League (WSL) is quickly growing too, with further growth expected after England’s national team won the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 tournament.
In addition to the various Premier League club stadiums across Britain, the national stadiums also host larger sporting events. The iconic Wembley Stadium, complete with its 133 metre arch, reopened in 2007 and can hold up to 90,000 fans, making it Britain’s largest sporting venue.
Glasgow’s Hampden Park is another stadium with a rich history of hosting top quality international sport. Known as the home of Scottish football, it was the world’s biggest stadium when it opened in 1903.
Where to mingle with fans and experience match-day euphoria
Manchester
Red versus Blue, United versus City, Old Trafford versus the Etihad - Manchester is a must for football fans with two rival teams who have both enjoyed phenomenal success in recent times.
Liverpool
Everton and Liverpool play their home matches less than a mile from each other across Stanley Park. With Liverpool at Anfield and Everton at Goodison Park, it only adds to a fizzing city atmosphere.
London
Home to seven Premier League teams plus the iconic Wembley Stadium, London is the place to watch England, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Brentford or Fulham.
Glasgow
Hampden Park is Scotland’s national football stadium and home ground to lower league team, Queen’s Park. Glasgow’s ‘Old Firm’ clubs, Celtic and Rangers are by far the most successful in Scotland with rivalry between the teams embedded in Scottish culture.
Unmissable stadium tours
Experiencing Premier League football
The 2023-2024 Premier League season kicks-off on Friday 11 August 2023, with the final round of matches due to take place on Sunday 19 May 2024. The majority of fixtures are scheduled well in advance, although some may be rearranged due to TV rights or clubs being involved in cup competitions, such as the FA Cup or English Football League (EFL) Cup.
Tickets for Premier League matches can be purchased via the official club websites for each club, or by contacting the club box offices directly. Most clubs require fans to have a membership in order to purchase tickets online before they go on general sale.
Premier League games are often also categorised by each club (Grade A, B, C etc.), so it can be more difficult to purchase tickets when the top teams go head-to-head. Instead, fans should look for lower category games as ticket availability is often greater.
As well as matchday tickets, clubs also offer a range of different hospitality packages – these may include food and drink, souvenirs, or exclusive access to certain part of the stadium on a matchday.
For information on safe ticket buying, visit the official Premier League website.
There are 20 teams in the Premier League, with each team playing home and away against every other side. This means each season lasts for 38 games, with fixtures occurring regularly from August until May.
The teams competing in the Premier League 2023-2024 season are: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, Burnley, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Luton Town, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Seven of the Premier League clubs can be found in London. Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham all play their fixtures at football stadiums in the capital.
For fans who are unable to get matchday tickets, it’s still possible to take in the magic of the Premier League. You’ll find club shops at the majority of stadiums, alongside museums and stadium tours.
Several clubs also offer unique experiences to see and experience their stadiums from a different perspective. As part of The Dare Skywalk, fans can venture out onto a glass walkway above Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium, while F1 Drive, a world-first e-karting experience is set to launch on a track underneath the stadium in late 2023. Newcastle United also offers an exclusive Rooftop Tour, allowing visitors to see their St James’ Park stadium, as well as the cityscape, from a fresh vantage point.
Watching the Women’s Super League (WSL)
The Women’s Super League features 12 teams: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion, Bristol City, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. Two of these teams, Arsenal and Chelsea, have been ever-present since the league was created in 2011.
Tickets for the Women’s Super League can be purchased online via the official websites of each club or via their box offices. A directory for ticket sales can also be found on the official Football Association website. You should only purchase tickets via the clubs directly.
Most Women’s Super League games are played in different stadiums to those used for Premier League matches. The exception to this is Leicester City, whose men’s and women’s teams use the club’s King Power stadium. However, a growing number of Women’s Super League fixtures are being held in the major stadiums of the clubs involved, making it easier to get tickets for selected games.