London’s Wembley Stadium is one of the most iconic sports and entertainment venues in the world. As well as being the home of English football, the stadium also hosts NFL London Games, major finals and big music concerts. 

In 2023 Wembley celebrated 100 years since the original stadium opened and in 2024 the venue will host the Uefa Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.

The district around the stadium, Wembley Park, has seen huge redevelopment in the past few years. There’s now plenty of places to eat and drink, popular attractions and many new residential buildings. 

Here we take a look at Wembley Stadium and the Wembley Park neighbourhood.

Key details 

• Official name: Wembley Stadium connected by EE
• Website: wembleystadium.com
• Capacity: 90,000
• Address: Olympic Way, Wembley, London, HA9 0WS
• Owner: The English Football Association (The FA)
• Stadium facilities: stadium tours; hospitality; Club Wembley
• Things to do: wembleypark.com

A brief history of Wembley Stadium

Original Wembley Stadium (1923-2000)

• The original Wembley Stadium, often referred to as the “Twin Towers”, was built in 1923 and opened on 28 April of the same year. The stadium’s distinctive twin towers became an iconic symbol of British sport and culture.
• It was constructed as the centrepiece for the British Empire Exhibition and primarily served as England’s national football stadium.
• Throughout its history, Wembley hosted numerous historic events, including the 1948 Summer Olympics and the 1966 Fifa World Cup final, in which England won their first and only World Cup.
• The old Wembley also hosted various other sporting events, music concerts, and significant cultural gatherings.

Reconstruction and new Wembley Stadium (2000-2007)

• In need of modernisation, the original Wembley Stadium was closed in October 2000 and subsequently demolished. The English Football Association (The FA), the governing body for football in England, initiated plans to construct a new state-of-the-art stadium on the same site.
• The construction of the new Wembley Stadium began in September 2002 and finally opened its doors in March 2007.
• With a seating capacity of around 90,000 spectators, the new Wembley features an iconic arch design, which replaced the original twin towers.

Events and legacy

• Since its reopening, Wembley Stadium has hosted numerous high-profile events, including the final of the 2022 Uefa Women’s European Championship, the final of the men’s Uefa European Championship in 2021, and the Olympic football tournament during the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
• Wembley has also been a popular venue for music concerts, welcoming some of the world’s biggest artists and bands, further adding to its cultural significance.
• In 2011 and 2013, Wembley hosted the final of the men’s Uefa Champions League. The 2024 Uefa Champions League final will also be hosted at the stadium.
• Wembley continues to be an important sporting and cultural landmark in London, attracting visitors from around the world.

Stadium tours

Headout: headout.com

• Wembley Stadium Guided Tour – £27.68
• Where to buy: headout.com

Buy a Gift: buyagift.co.uk

• Adult tour of Wembley Stadium for two – £48
• Tour of Wembley Stadium for two adults and two children – £65
• Adult tour of Wembley Stadium – £24
• Tour of Wembley Stadium for one child – £17
• Where to buy: buyagift.co.uk

Red Letter Days: redletterdays.co.uk

• Wembley Stadium tour for two adults and two children – £65
• Wembley Stadium tour for one child – £17
• Tour of Wembley Stadium for two adults – £48
• Where to buy: redletterdays.co.uk

Hotels near Wembley

• Hilton London Wembley
• Novotel London Wembley
• Ibis London Wembley 
• Premier Inn London Wembley Stadium hotel
• Holiday Inn London – Wembley, an IHG Hotel
• Wembley International Hotel
• St George’s Hotel
• OYO The Arch, Wembley Stadium
• Search for Wembley hotels: Hotels.com | Expedia.com | LastMinute.com

Travel information: how to get there by train

• Wembley Park: London Underground – Metropolitan and Jubilee lines
• Wembley Central: London Underground – Bakerloo line; London Overground line; national rail
• Wembley Stadium railway station: national rail 
• Plan a journey: Transport for London

Just 12 minutes from Central London, the Wembley Park district is served by three London Underground lines (Jubilee, Metropolitan and Bakerloo), mainline rail (Chiltern Railways and Southern Railways) and the London Overground. Secure car parking for 3,000 cars is also available on-site; with 39 electric vehicle chargers located within Pink Parking. Pre-booking is advisable on event days.

About Wembley Park

Already home to the OVO Arena Wembley, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre and Wembley Stadium, the Wembley Park district is building on its international reputation for music and sporting events and becoming a destination in its own right. 

As a neighbourhood, Wembley Park includes more than 4,700 new homes, shops, and places to work, as well as attractive public spaces, with parks and gardens, public squares and wide boulevards for locals and visitors alike to enjoy. When completed, nearly half of the 85-acre site will be open space and private gardens and Wembley Park will be home to the largest single site of Build to Rent in the UK, with more than 6,000 homes, all managed by Quintain Living. 

The three-acre southern section of what will be the seven-acre Union Park is the latest milestone in the transformation of Wembley Park, including brand new amenities such as a children’s paddling pool, a playground, a pond, new trees, and expansive lawns, as well as outdoor training equipment. 

Wembley Park is also home to shops, hotels, restaurants, The White Horse pub by Fuller’s, Black Sheep Coffee, Bread Ahead, Chop-Chop London, Out of Office Coffee, Studio 5ive and MoreYoga.

Things to do at Wembley Park

There’s plenty to do in Wembley Park, so be sure to arrive long before the match or event starts. Shoppers can browse for the perfect outfit at London Designer Outlet, which is home to brands such as adidas, Guess, Kurt Geiger, Superdry, Levi’s, Sketchers and the new Nike Unite store. For more adrenalin-fuelled activities visitors can enjoy axe throwing at Bad Axe, warding off the zombie apocalypse at meetspaceVR or scoring a hole in one at Pop Golf.

Eating and drinking in Wembley Park

There are plenty of choices for eating and drinking at Wembley Park. From the gourmet street food on offer from 22 vendors at BOXPARK Wembley to dessert at Haute Dolci, irresistible carb-feasts at Bread Ahead, modern Italian flavours at Pasta Remoli and a home-from-home experience at Estadio Lounge. London Designer Outlet is also home to family favourites, including Nando’s, Las Iguanas, TGI Friday’s and Wagamama.

For a chic dining experience, Masalchi serves up fragrant Indian dishes under the watchful eye of Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, while The Association at the Hilton London Wembley delivers a modern British fine dining experience. The White Horse, meanwhile, is the perfect spot for a pre-match drink.

Main image: Wembley Park/Quintain Living

Editor’s note

Sports Tourism News works with affiliate partners such as ticket providers and hotel/travel/experience booking websites. Any tickets or packages are sold directly by agents and operators.