Officially appointed by Arsenal
Issue 01 · City Guide · 6 min read
Arsenal
& the Emirates
A travelling supporter’s guide to North London’s reds, the Emirates Stadium, and the neighbourhoods that shaped one of England’s most successful clubs.
Club
Arsenal
Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Capacity
60,704
Founded
1886
League
Premier League
Words by Champions Travel · Updated May 2026
North London Forever, the Gooners sing. Arsenal have been crowned English champions 13 times, the most of any club in the capital, and the 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium has been home to generations of football’s greatest names.
Thierry Henry, Tony Adams, David Seaman, Dennis Bergkamp, Robin Van Persie, Patrick Vieira, Ian Wright, Sol Campbell, Liam Brady, Robert Pires, Arsenal’s modern legend list rivals any club in England. The post-Highbury era has been defined by the move to the Emirates in 2006 and the rebuild that followed.
Today’s Arsenal returns regularly to the Champions League, and Emirates matchdays, particularly under European floodlights, have become some of the most atmospheric in the Premier League era.
Chapter 01
The Emirates
The Emirates Stadium opened in 2006, replacing Arsenal’s historic former home Highbury after 93 years on the same site. Built on a former industrial estate just down the road, the new stadium increased capacity from Highbury’s 38,000 to over 60,000, at the time one of the largest in Europe.
The bowl design places supporters close to the pitch from every seat in the ground, and the architectural brief specifically prioritised sightlines: there isn’t a poor view in the stadium. The North Bank and Clock End behind the goals are the most vocal sections.
Stadium opened
2006
Capacity
60,704
Founded
1886
League Titles
14
The Ashburton Army, based in the Clock End, was formed to bring more organised, continental-style ultras atmosphere to the Emirates, flags, coordinated chants, a more consistent high-energy matchday experience comparable to clubs in Germany or Italy.
The Arsenal Museum, attached to the stadium, traces the club’s history from its 1886 founding through the Highbury years and into the modern era. The standard stadium tour gives access to the Directors Box, Diamond Club, players entrance, both dressing rooms, the players’ tunnel and pitch side.
The Emirates Stadium of today carries the weight of every supporter who has ever sung from these stands. To be inside on a big night is to feel that history in real time.
View official tickets
North London Forever, whatever the weather. The streets are our own, the new Arsenal anthem captures everything about what an Emirates matchday now feels.
Chapter 02
Matchday
Arsenal on matchday is a North London tradition. The walk down Holloway Road, the pubs along Drayton Park, the queues for the museum on tour days, and the streets filling with red two hours before kick-off, all part of the Emirates build-up.
For visitors attending an Arsenal match, the Piccadilly Line to Arsenal station is the most direct route, just a few minutes’ walk to the ground. Finsbury Park or Highbury & Islington are alternative options that often have less post-match congestion.
Take the Piccadilly Line. Arsenal station on the Piccadilly Line is just a few minutes’ walk from the stadium. Holloway Road is often closed post-match for crowd control.
Walk from Highbury & Islington. The 15-minute walk through the leafy streets between Highbury Corner and the Emirates is one of the more characterful matchday approaches in London.
Arrive early. The Tollington Arms, The Drayton Park and The Gunners Pub fill up well before kick-off. Get there early to soak up Arsenal’s pre-match culture.
Try the Legend Tour. The 90-minute Legend Tour is led by a former Arsenal player, Charlie George, Nigel Winterburn, Perry Groves or Faye White. From around £32, with personal anecdotes from their playing days.
Champions Travel
Skip the planning.
Book the Emirates trip.
Official Arsenal match tickets, hospitality and matchday packages. We’re the officially appointed agent, turn up and we handle the rest.
Chapter 03
Beyond the Pitch
London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is a bustling metropolis blending rich history with dynamic modern culture. Big Ben, Westminster, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the city’s iconic landmarks need no introduction. Hyde Park and Regent’s Park offer green respite from the urban hustle.
Culturally, London is a hub of world-class museums, the British Museum, the Tate Modern, the V&A, alongside the West End’s globally famous theatre scene. The culinary scene runs from Michelin-starred restaurants to street food markets like Borough Market and Bermondsey Beer Mile.
A football weekend in London might involve a morning at the Tower or the South Bank, an afternoon along Borough Market or in Shoreditch, and an evening watching Arsenal in N7. Few cities pack more in.
Neighbourhood Guide
Highbury
The old home
Arsenal’s pre-2006 home, now converted into flats. Walking the streets where Highbury stood is part of the pilgrimage for travelling Arsenal supporters.
Islington
Café & gastro pub
Upper Street and the streets around Highbury & Islington, gastropubs, cafés, restaurants. The pre-match destination for many.
Finsbury Park
Transport & food
The major Piccadilly + Victoria Line interchange and home to a strong independent food scene. Honest Burgers, Five Guys and a dozen others.
Camden
Markets & music
A 15-minute Tube ride. Camden Market, Camden Lock and the canal, for a different side of North London on a non-matchday.
Chapter 04
Plan The Trip
London is well-connected by air, rail and Tube, and the Emirates is well-served by the Piccadilly Line. Here’s how to put an Arsenal weekend together.
Tickets
Official Tickets
champions-travel.com
The cleanest route into the Emirates is through Champions Travel, the officially appointed agent at Arsenal. Match tickets in the home sections, premium and standard hospitality, and full match-break packages are all available through us, with our team handling seating, travel logistics and accommodation. Premier League and Champions League demand runs hot, so book early.
Top Tip
Try midweek games
Arsenal’s ballot system makes Premier League tickets hard to guarantee, especially since the Champions League return. Midweek European fixtures often have more availability.
Stay
Near the Stadium
Best Western Highbury
Walking distance to the Emirates Stadium. Mid-range comfort, well-located on the Piccadilly Line for matchday and the surrounding pubs.
City Centre Hotel
Tower Hotel by Thistle
Central London base by Tower Bridge with good Tube links across to the Emirates. Sightseeing on the doorstep for a longer weekend.
Budget Accommodation
Travelodge London Central City Road
Reliable budget choice in central London. Well-connected to Arsenal via the Tube and within walking reach of King’s Cross and Old Street.
Airport Hotel
Radisson Blu Stansted
Convenient for Stansted arrivals or departures. Direct Stansted Express into central London for an easy onward connection to the Emirates.
Eat & Drink
Burger Lovers
Honest Burgers Finsbury Park
Fresh burgers and rosemary-salted fries on an evolving menu. Convenient pre-match or post-match fuelling spot near Finsbury Park.
Beer Garden
The Canonbury Tavern
Sophisticated 19th-century pub with a British gastro menu and a huge garden. Set back from Upper Street, the quieter matchday meeting point.
Local Pub
The Tollington Arms
Short walk from the Emirates. Lively pre-match atmosphere with Arsenal fans, live sports, and a buzzing pre-game environment.
Iconic
The Gunners Pub
Steeped in Arsenal history, short walk from the stadium. Memorabilia-filled interior, a must-visit for Arsenal supporters.
Getting There
By Train
London King's Cross
Direct trains from across the UK. From Kings Cross, Piccadilly Line direct to Arsenal station.
By Air
LHR · Heathrow
Heathrow’s Piccadilly Line runs direct to Arsenal station, one of the most convenient airport-to-stadium connections in world football.
By Car
M25 / A1
Driving to the Emirates on matchday is not recommended, limited parking and traffic restrictions. Use the Tube.
To the Stadium
Piccadilly Line
Arsenal station on the Piccadilly Line is just a few minutes’ walk from the Emirates. Finsbury Park and Highbury & Islington are alternatives, typically less congested post-match.
Champions Travel · Hospitality at Arsenal
Matchday Hospitality
Three hospitality tiers across the Emirates, from the Cannon Club at Club Level through to the premium Avenell Club.
Club Level
Club Level · Blocks 67, 70-76, 79, 81, 83-84
Premium padded seats on Club Level. VIP Lounge access 2.5 hours pre / 1 hour post. Pre-match hospitality with drinks and food voucher, half-time beer/wine/soft drinks, official match programme, official Stadium & Museum Tour, and Arsenal FC Megastore Voucher.
Enquire about this package →
Avenell Club
Avenell Club · Premium armchair seats
Premium armchair padded seating. Bottomless beers, wines and soft drinks throughout. Pre-game bowl food service. Complimentary matchday programme. Champagne and cocktails available.
Enquire about this package →
Official Arsenal Tickets
When the Emirates roars,
you want to be there.
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Champions Travel · Matchday packages
Emirates is on your list.
We’ll get you there.
Champions Travel is the officially appointed agent for Arsenal. From the moment North London Forever hits the stands to the final whistle, we handle the lot. Tickets in the category you want, hospitality if you want to do it in style, hotels within walking distance and the kind of matchday plan that means you just turn up.
Included in every package
→Official Arsenal match tickets across every seating category
→Hospitality and VIP options inside the Emirates
→Hotel packages tailored to your fixture
→End-to-end support from booking through to kick-off
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Europe’s premier official sports & events ticket agents.
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