There are few sports experiences that compare to attending a Premier League match. The atmosphere, the pubs, the chants, the history — it all feels bigger and louder in person than it does on television.
A few months ago, three friends and I headed to London for a long weekend built entirely around football. Originally, the plan was simple: fly over, catch a Brentford match, enjoy some pub time, and head home. But as often happens on trips like this, the plan evolved.
By the end of the weekend, we had attended two Premier League matches, including the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham. We had a lot of fun during the trip and made memories.
If you’ve ever thought about flying to England for a football trip, this blog is for you. Here’s what worked well, what I’d change, and a few lessons we learned along the way.
The Trip Overview of our long weekend in London
There were four of us on the trip. Two friends started a few days earlier in Cambridge before taking the train down to London. Because of work commitments, I had a much shorter schedule and essentially sandwiched the trip between work travel.
The itinerary looked like this:
- Friday: Fly from Washington, DC to London
- Saturday: Brentford match and pub crawl
- Sunday: Record shopping, great food, and the North London Derby
- Monday: Fly back to the United States
It was quick, exhausting, and completely worth it.
Where We Stayed in London in Fitzrovia
We stayed at the Grafton Arms Pub & Rooms in Fitzrovia, just north of Soho. The hotel checked several important boxes for a football weekend:
- Easy access from train stations
- Great pub atmosphere downstairs
- Excellent location near Soho and central London
- Reasonable pricing
Fitzrovia turned out to be an ideal base. It was lively without feeling overwhelming, and it was quieter at night than Soho itself. One warning: there are no elevators. If you stay on the upper floors after a long day of football and pub crawling, you’ll definitely feel those stairs.
Match One: Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium
Our first match was at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium in West London. None of us is actually a Brentford supporter, but that’s one reality of planning football trips: sometimes logistics determine which matches you attend.
The stadium itself was excellent. Smaller than some of the major Premier League grounds, but intimate and energetic. We purchased hospitality tickets, which I highly recommend if you’re traveling internationally and want a smoother experience.
Getting there was simple using Uber, and despite Brentford not playing particularly well that day, it was still a fantastic place to experience English football culture. And yes, we all bought scarves and gear in the club shop despite not supporting Brentford. That’s part of the fun.
The Unexpected Highlight: The North London Derby
The biggest surprise of the trip came on Sunday morning when we made a somewhat impulsive decision to attend Arsenal vs. Tottenham at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The tickets were expensive. Painfully expensive. But the experience was unforgettable.
Even as neutral fans — aside from one Arsenal supporter in our group — the atmosphere inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was incredible. Arsenal won comfortably, which made our Arsenal fan very happy, and the crowd energy throughout the match was unlike anything you can replicate on television.
One thing we learned quickly: if you attend as an away supporter sitting among home fans, it’s wise not to celebrate too aggressively. Our friend Joel did an admirable job keeping his Arsenal reactions under control. Probably saved us from getting punched.
The Best Parts of the Trip to London
Several things stood out as major wins during the weekend:
- Using Airline Miles: I flew United with points and paid only about $5 out of pocket. If you collect travel rewards, London football weekends become surprisingly attainable.
- London Transportation: The London Underground remains one of the best transit systems in the world. Taking the Tube from Heathrow into the city was fast, cheap, and far easier than using taxis.
- Food in London: Anyone still clinging to outdated stereotypes about British food hasn’t visited London recently. The city’s food scene is outstanding. One of the highlights of the trip was an incredible Malaysian lunch in Soho before heading to the derby.
- Guinness at Covent Garden: Guinness recently opened a large warehouse-style location near Covent Garden, and it’s well worth visiting for a pint before a match.
- Whisky Shopping: We also discovered a Buffalo Trace store in London that stocked bottles nearly impossible to find back home in the United States.
Lessons Learned from our trip to London
Here are a few takeaways if you’re considering a football weekend in London.
- You Don’t Need Much Cash: London is overwhelmingly digital now. Credit cards and mobile payments work almost everywhere. We barely used cash all weekend.
- Supporting a Team Matters: Attending a match as a neutral is fun. Attending as an actual supporter is something entirely different. The emotional investment changes the entire experience. Future trips will probably revolve more around clubs we genuinely support.
- Don’t Walk Everywhere at Night: London is massive. After matches and pub crawls, the Tube is your friend. It’s faster, easier, and far less exhausting than trying to navigate long walks back to your hotel.
- Stadium Access Varies: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is spectacular, but it’s not especially close to a Tube station. Expect a decent walk before and after the match.
- Match Day Exhaustion Is Real: Flying overnight from the United States and immediately heading to a Premier League match sounds fun — and it is — but the jet lag catches up to you quickly. By Saturday night, I was completely drained. Still worth it.
Final Thoughts on our Guys’ football adventure to London
This trip reminded me why football travel is so addictive. The matches are obviously the centerpiece, but it’s everything surrounding them that makes the experience memorable: the pubs, the conversations, the train rides, the neighborhoods, and the shared stories with friends.
If you’ve ever considered flying to England for a Premier League weekend, do it. You won’t regret it.
And honestly, after this trip, we’re already discussing the next version — maybe three matches next time.
I am Doug Keating, and this is my letter to my sons.