WEMBLEY STADIUM TOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE
Open: Everyday: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Time Needed: 1,5 hours
Price: £20
Given that it was a venue for the 2012 London Olympic Games, and even the historic 1985 Live Aid concert, you don’t necessarily have to be a hardcore sports fan to appreciate all that the Wembley Stadium Tour has to offer.
Wembley Stadium as it is known as today officially opened in 2007, and was built on the same site as the original Wembley Stadium which hosted the 1948 Olympic Games as well as the 1966 World Cup Final. After the original stadium was demolished in 2003, the new Wembley Stadium took over four years and £790 million to complete, and is now known to be the largest stadium in the UK.
The Wembley Stadium Tour, on the other hand, has been around since 1978, and has attracted millions of sports enthusiasts (and even non-sports enthusiasts) from all over the world.
Wembley Stadium Tours Highlights
Each tour is run by an expert tour guide who will lead you to some of the most historic spots in the stadium that are normally only seen on TV during historic matches and championships. Not only that, visitors to the tour will even be shown some of the more private areas in the stadium, such as England’s changing rooms, the players’ tunnel and the Royal Box.
Some of the many highlights you can expect to see during your Wembley Stadium Tour include:
- David Beckham’s Manchester United jersey (which he wore during his legendary 1999 campaign)
- The FA 150 Exhibition which celebrates the history of the Football Association
- The original rules of Association Football from as far back as 1863
- The Jules Rimet Trophy (AKA The World Cup) commemorating England’s World Cup win in 1966
- The 107 “sacred” Trophy Winner’s Steps
- The Royal Box where winners go to collect their prized trophies
- England Manager’s “hot-seat” in the Press Room
- The 1966 World Cup crossbar
- The original flag from London’s 1948 Olympic Games
- Steven Gerrard’s 2005 captain armband
- Graeme Souness’ three winning medals from 1978, 1981 and 1984
Visitors will also get the chance to lift up the FA Cup for a commercial photo, and buy some unique sports memorabilia at the Wembley Stadium Store, which offers everything from English and Wembley merchandise, to footballs, scarves, caps, replica kits and much more.
Special Tips
If you're a true-blue sports fanatic, you may want to purchase tickets to the VIP tour as it is much more personal and provides exclusive access to different areas of the stadium.
Although the tours are designed to be entertaining and informative for both sports and non-sports fans, be prepared to be quizzed on some sports facts by your tour guide!
Getting There
Address: Royal Rte, Wembley HA9 0WS, United Kingdom (See map).
By Tube: The nearest stations are Wembley Park station, (which is a ten-minute walk away), Wembley Central (a 25-minute walk away), and Wembley Stadium (a ten-minute walk away)
By coach: There is a coach park just across from the stadium, and spots must be pre-booked online on the Wembley Stadium's official website. Also, be aware that spots are available on a first-come first-served basis.
By Bus: You can reach Wembley Stadium via routes 83, 92 and 182 from Wembley Central and Wembley Park Station.
By car: You can park in the Official Wembley Stadium Car Park, but make sure you reserve a spot beforehand.
Visiting Wembley Stadium
Stadium tours last for approximately 75 minutes, but make sure you reserve at least one hour to visit the Stadium Store afterwards as well.
You may want to check the Wembley Stadium’s official website before you plan your visit, as there are numerous closures of the stadium which take place throughout the year.
You can purchase your tour tickets at the door, however it is highly recommended that you reserve a time slot online beforehand, as tours are subject to availability.
Be prepared to walk up and down lots of steps, so try and wear comfortable walking shoes for your visit. If you happen to be visiting in July, please note that the grass pitch may be covered to prepare the field for the start of the next season.
If you want to have a bite to eat before or after your tour, there is a Stadium Tour Cafe which offers both hot and cold beverages as well as sandwiches, snacks and muffins.
Ticket prices and Opening Hours
The Wembley Stadium Tours run every day of the year, except for certain dates which have been highlighted on the stadium’s official website.
Wembley Stadium Tour tickets cost:
- £17 (online) or £19 (at the door) for adults
- £10 (online) or £11 (at the door) for seniors, students and children under the ages of 16
- £45 for family tickets
- Groups of 25 people or more get a 15% discount
Tour times vary depending on what time of the year you visit, however during the peak seasons tours usually start from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the hour, every hour. During weekends and peak holiday seasons such as school holidays, more tours may be added.
Parking at the Official Wembley Stadium Car Park runs on a “Pay on Foot” parking system and costs £2 for up to two hours, and then an additional £1 per hour. Visitors can also choose to pay £6 for six hours, which may be handy if you know you’re going to spend a bit of time wandering around the stadium.
The Stadium Tour Cafe is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day of the week, and the Wembley Stadium Store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (from Monday to Saturday) and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
