Traveling into London to see any team opens up a whole host of great options for activities and landmarks to see. However, visiting the Emirates to watch Arsenal, in particular, is one of the best. From St. Paul’s Cathedral to Tenpin Bowling, there really is something for everyone.
It is worth noting that the activities suggested are not in a ‘best-to-worst’ order but provide a variety of interesting and fun activities to spend your spare time around watching the match. You can use this guide as an idea generator when planning your trip to the Emirates.
Let’s dive in!
1. St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral is arguably one of the most iconic landmarks in England and certainly in London. The beauty of traveling to the Emirates as an Arsenal fan is the stadium’s proximity to Central London. This allows visitors to feast their eyes on the gems of the city without straying too far from the Highbury & Islington area.
Built in 1675, the cathedral has been a London mainstay for centuries. To say it is worth visiting is an understatement. In the early days of my writing career, I would spend my lunchtimes on the grounds of St. Paul’s, and the atmosphere of the place was like no other.
Although not the closest to the Emirates, the transport links are fairly straightforward. You only need to take the Piccadilly Line from Holloway to Holborn and then from there to St. Paul’s station. This journey takes around 30 mins, whereas walking (a nice walk, it must be said) will be a lengthy 1 hour and 15 minutes.
With accessibility not being an issue, a quick trip before the match is manageable for fans, although a tour of the Cathedral (£25 per adult ticket) may need a longer time slot to be carved out of the schedule.
Location: St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD
2. Jamie Oliver Cookery School
Although this may seem like a more obscure suggestion, hear me out. This option is for those food lovers who are spending a long weekend in London on their football travels. Famous chef Jamie Oliver has built a number of franchises in his name, with the North-London-based cookery school being one of them.
The range of cuisines in the curriculum are pretty impressive. From Indian, to Italian, to Thai, it is a great opportunity to push your culinary knowledge and skills. I only heard high praise from my friends who tried out a weekend Japanese cooking session.
Each class is around 2 hours in length, so it is great for either after a game or on the days either side of the Arsenal match. At £69 per person, it may be somewhat at the steep end, alongside the football tickets, but it is a far more engaging and memorable activity than sitting in a pub or sports bar, for example.
Seven minutes is the time it takes to arrive on foot from the Emirates, so fans won’t have the headache of organizing transport, making it a far more relaxing affair.
Location: 160 Holloway Road, London, N7 8DD
3. Angel Comedy at The Camden Head
The Angel Comedy Club in Camden is perfect for an evening trip post-game to let off some steam from a loss or revel in that winning feeling. Even better, a lot of the comedy shows are free of charge, making it low risk even for fans who don’t normally enjoy stand-up comedy.
I dropped in there one night with friends whilst looking for something to do in the Islington area. Offering free shows most nights of the week, the offer is too good to turn down. The Angel Comedy Club hosts some of the best British comics, such as James Acaster, despite its non-existent entry fee.
In terms of location, you will need to travel a bit further into Islington to get there, as it is around a 30-minute walk and a 20-minute train journey from Drayton Park to Essex Road station.
Location: Camden Head, 2 Camden Walk, London N1 8DY
4. Camden Market
Camden Market is one of the ‘must-visit’ spots when exploring the North London area. Known for its artistic aesthetic, it can be mind-blowing at times, making it perfect for first-time Emirates visitors to feel the essence of what makes Camden so unique.
With over 1000 stalls and shops sprawled across the area, bowling, yoga, a boxing club, with a lock full of boats to explore, among many other attractions, Camden Market is a sensory feast. Because of this, it is perfect for fans traveling to Arsenal who need something to do after a weekend match.
Camden Market is another one on the list that most likely needs a train to get to because of the 50-minute walk from the Emirates. From Highbury & Islington Overground station, it is only around 30 minutes to Camden Road, making it very accessible.
Location: 54-56 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF
5. Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is one of the free options on the list that is suited for the hours in between games. The famous park has some of the greatest views in London where you can look out for miles over Central London.
When I spent a few hours at Hampstead Heath before heading to the Emirates, I noticed the trendy, relaxed mood that surrounded the place while groups of friends and families enjoyed their picnics. I would recommend the Heath for fans who either prefer a more calm build-up to a game, or have a spare afternoon the day after the match.
Although the Heath is not in the immediate area, being just under an hour away on foot, there are Overground train links from Highbury & Islington to Hampstead Heath station.
If you do decide to visit Hampstead Heath, keep your fingers crossed for sunny weather, because it doesn’t get much better on a hot day.
Location: Hampstead, London, N6
6. British Library
The North and Central sectors of London are full to the brim of sites of British heritage, and the British Library is one of them. Perfect for Arsenal fans who have a particular interest in literature and reading, as they can check out the aisles and aisles of excellent books from the past and present.
From my experience hanging out on the grounds of the British Library, as many do at lunchtime, the atmosphere is calming and would provide a nice contrast and respite from the noise from the stands after the game.
A walk may be off the cards at 45 minutes, but a straightforward 20-minute train ride from Holloway Road to King’s Cross St. Pancras via the Piccadilly Line will be the best option.
Location: 96 Euston Rd., London NW1 2DB
7. Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park has to be one of the best all-round options for Arsenal fans as it is situated very close to the stadium and is open both pre-game and post-game. Even better, it doesn’t cost anything to spend a few hours enjoying the ambience of one of the nicer parts of the city.
The one time that I visited Finsbury Park was for an open-air music festival, which was amazing. These events are regularly happening in the park, alongside the quieter elements, so it is great for most people, where they can have fun but also relax.
Situated only 20 minutes away from the Emirates by foot and only 13 minutes on the Piccadilly Line from Drayton Road to Finsbury Park station.
Location: Finsbury Park, Islington, London
8. Rowans Tenpin Bowl
This is one for those competitive fans who enjoy the feeling of hitting that perfect ten score. Although bowling is suitable for any time of day, it is another one of the options that suits an evening perfectly.
Leading on from the Finsbury Park suggestions, Rowans Tenpin Bowling is situated nearby, which makes it an excellent choice for those trying out different locations in the Finsbury Park area. Being open until late and costing around £10 per game, I would recommend Rowans as the post-game location for some good old-fashioned competition and a pint with your friends.
Location: 10 Stroud Green Road, Finsbury Park, London N4 2DF
9. Madame Tussauds London
Here is an option for those Arsenal fans who have come to the Emirates with their family. When bringing your kids to football, it is important what environments they are exposed to and Madame Tussauds is such a good choice for this.
As a wax-work heaven full of lifelike celebrity figures, it lets you and your kids meet their idols in person without the potential disappointment that may come with meeting the real person. As they say, ‘never meet your idols’. It is a great alternative to a bar or pub near Emirates stadium and will be far more engaging for the little ones. Tickets are also reasonable at £30.
Although located in North-West London, there is still quite a distance between the Emirates and the wax-work exhibition, with over an hour of walking. The best bet is to take the Piccadilly Line from Holloway to Kings Cross St. Pancreas, and then, from there, you can head to Baker Street. Overall, the journey is around 30 minutes.
Location: Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR
10. ZSL London Zoo
Okay, so here is another one for the whole family. The ZSL London Zoo is great for fans with families who have a spare day or two around a trip to the Emirates. Located in Regent’s Park, visitors can kill two birds with one stone by exploring the park before entering the zoo. This is fantastic for those scenic summer afternoons in the city at the beginning of the season.
From personal experience, the zoo is so engaging that you will most likely want a full day to really take everything in. Tickets are around £35 for adults and £25 for children, so you most likely will want to get your money’s worth by seeing all the animals on offer.
The ZSL London Zoo, like most places on the list, is fairly straightforward to get to. For example, from the Emirates, you would need to jump on a Piccadilly Line train at Holloway, get off at Kings Cross St. Pancras, and then continue on the Northern Line to Camden Town. About 45 minutes is the estimate for travel time.
Location: Outer Circle, London NW1 4RY
Have Fun Exploring the Arsenal Area
From relaxing trips to the park taking the kids to the zoo, to learning how to cook, there are so many options for activities in and around the Emirates area. With fans traveling to watch Arsenal play, not everyone wants to spend time in the typical spots for drinking and eating. Many want to explore what the local area has to offer and learn about what has made London so unique. I hope this list has given you plenty of ideas that will be productive and contribute towards a memorable weekend of watching football.
