ARSENAL STADIUM TOURS ULTIMATE GUIDE
Mon - Sat: 9:30AM to 6:00PM
Sundays: 10:00AM to 4:00PM
Time Needed: 3 hours
Price: £15
From tours hosted by famous football legends to a self-guided audio tour so you can walk around Emirates Stadium at your own pace, it’s no secret why the Arsenal Stadium Tour has become such a popular tourist activity for sports fans in London.
The origins of the Arsenal Football Club can be traced all the way back to 1886, but throughout its history, the team has gone through many name and location changes. Arsenal FC only recently moved to the Emirates Stadium in Holloway in 2006, which was the same year the stadium was officially opened to the public.
The Emirates Stadium has 60,260 seats and cost a whopping £390 million to complete. The stadium is also home to the Arsenal Museum, which boasts two video theatres, and 20 massive displays centered around Arsenal FC’s history.
Arsenal Stadium Tours Highlights
There are three different Arsenal Stadium Tours to choose from which include:
- The Stadium Self-Guided Audio Tour – where visitors can walk around the Emirates Stadium at their own pace using audio-visual guide handsets. The guide is narrated by Arsenal legends Lee Dixon, Charlie George or Nigel Mitchell, and will lead you to the Directors’ Box, both the home and away changing rooms, the Players’ Tunnel, the Pitchside and much more. Also included in the tour is a set of branded Arsenal headphones and a tour certificate.
- The Legends Tour – which are led by former Arsenal players including Charlie George, Nigel Winterburn and Perry Groves. During the tour, the Legends will lead you around the Emirates Stadium, answer any of your questions about their time playing for the Arsenal Football Club, and even give their two cents about the current team.
- The Match Day Tour – where visitors can take a tour around Emirates Stadium hours before a match, which includes visits to the Directors Box, the Pitchside, the Home Dugout, the Diamond Club, the Press Conference Room, and much, much more. However, visitors will not be allowed to access either the home or away changing rooms or the Players’ Tunnel (for obvious reasons).
Special Tips
In the past, some people have complained that the Self-Guided Audio Tour was a bit impersonal, as there is no one to really guide you around the stadium (although members of staff are always at hand to answer your questions). So if you're a true-blue hardcore Arsenal fan, it may be worth the money to upgrade to a personalized tour.
If you plan on going on a Match Day Tour, be prepared that the Arsenal Stadium can get incredibly busy both before and after the game. If you want to avoid the crowds and plan on using the Underground, then try going to the Finsbury Park, Highbury and Islington stations instead.
A visit to this stadium might be the perfect conclusion to a free walking tour around London with a local guide.
Getting There
Address: Hornsey Rd, London N7 7AJ, United Kingdom.
By Tube: The nearest station is Arsenal station, which is a three-minute walk away. Other nearby stations include Finsbury Park, Highbury & Islington, which are around a ten-minute walk away.
By coach: There is a coach parking site located on Queensland Road, which is a few minutes' walk away from the stadium. However, mini-buses will not be allowed to park at this site.
By Bus: You can reach Emirates Stadium via routes 4, 19, 29, 43, 91, 106, 153, 236, 253, 254, 259, 263, 271, and 393. There are bus stops located at Holloway Road, Nag's Head, Seven Sisters Road, Blackstock Road and Highbury Corner.
By car: Be aware that only car owners with resident's permits are allowed to park on the streets near the stadium.
Visiting The Arsenal Stadium Tours
The Stadium Self-Guided Audio Tour: The tour can take anywhere from one hour to even over three hours, depending on how long you wish to tour the stadium. Tickets can be purchased at the Stadium Tours desk (in the Armoury Store) on the day of your visit, and you don’t need to book your tickets online beforehand. Tickets are only valid for three months from the date of purchase, however, tickets are flexible and can be used at any time during the stadium’s opening hours.
The Legends Tour: Tours last approximately one hour and all tickets must be booked in advance. Be aware that all visitors must arrive at the tour entrance ten minutes before the departure time.
The Match Day Tour: Because tickets are only valid for a specifically-assigned time, all visitors must check in 15 minutes before the departure time. Be prepared to undergo a bag and body search before entering the stadium. No bags are allowed on the tour, and must be tagged, numbered and put in a secure place beforehand.
Ticket prices and Opening Hours
Tours run seven days a week (although there are no tours on match days or from 1 p.m. the day before the European matches). The opening and ending times for each tour vary according to which one you choose.
For The Self-Guided Audio Tour, ticket prices cost:
- £30 for adults
- £25 for seniors over 65
- £15 for children between 5-15
- Free for children under the ages of 5
- Group bookings of 15 or more people will receive a 15% discount off ticket costs.
You can go on your own Self-Guided Audio tour anytime between 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with last entry at 5 p.m.) from Monday to Friday, or 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entry at 3 p.m.) on Sundays.
For The Match Day Tours, tickets generally cost:
- £35 for adults
- £25 for children under the ages of 16
- £30 for seniors over 65
For The Legends Tour, ticket prices cost:
- £50 for adults
- £40 for seniors over 65
- £30 for children between 5-15
Tour times may vary, so be sure to check out the official website beforehand to get more information on upcoming tours.
If you want to visit the Museum without going on a tour, tickets cost:
- £10 for adults
- £7 for children under the ages of 16
- Free for children under the ages of five
- £8 for students
- Group bookings of 15 or more people will receive a 15% discount
The Museum’s opening hours are:
- 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from Monday to Saturday (with last entry at 6:15 p.m.)
- 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays (with last entry at 4:15 p.m.)
- 10 a.m. to one hour before-kick off time on Match Days.
Souvenir programmes are also available for £5.
If you want to visit the Emirates Arsenal Stadium, you might want to consider checking out the numerous free tours in London that operate daily.