England is the birthplace of football (soccer), making it one of the best places to visit for any football fan. Quality football teams can be found up and down the country, but visiting each destination may become a little expensive. Therefore, we’ve gathered together a series of four cities that all football fans should visit.
London
There’s no point in visiting the UK and not going to London, especially if you’re a fan of Tottenham, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, West Ham, Fulham, or Brentford. The stadiums for some of these teams are truly incredible, especially the Emirates Stadium and Stamford Bridge.
While you’re not busy exploring the stadium, the English capital city has plenty of attractions to keep you busy. What’s even better about London is how different each area of the city is, meaning everyone will find something to fall in love with.
Leeds
Yorkshire county has a vibrant football culture, which is why you should add Leeds to your list of cities to visit. Elland Road is a true icon for the city, and it’s been home to Leeds Football Club since 1919. With only 13 stadiums in the country larger than this, be prepared for a great visit.
Once you’ve finished soaking up the Leeds football scene, you should make the most of how close it is to the great outdoors. For example, you can travel to some of the more scenic towns to enjoy a night in these tucked-away log cabins Selby. From there, you can head over to York, where you’ll find the LNER Community Stadium.
Manchester
Split into the red or blue camp, you’ll find both Man United and Man City in Manchester, which makes it a must-see spot on any English football stadium tour. If you’re there supporting the Reds, then head over to Old Trafford. If blue’s more your colour, you need to find the Etihad Stadium.
After experiencing half of this historical rivalry, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Manchester. For example, if you’ve got an itch for shopping, you will find the following shopping centres more than satisfying:
- The Trafford Centre
- Manchester Arndale
- Broadstone Mill Shopping Outlet
- Barton Arcade
Newcastle
Newcastle United F.C. – often dubbed “The Magpies” – can be found at St. James’ Park. This magnificent stadium has been around since 1880, but it’s had plenty of updates carried you since then. For example, as the new millennium came around, a £43 million redevelopment project was completed.
If you’re looking for a good night out on your English stadium tour, then a “neet on the Toon” surely won’t disappoint. This city has everything you can need for a night out, ranging from live music bars to all-night dance clubs.
The cities discussed above serve up an impressive eleven stadiums to sink your teeth into. While it doesn’t cover every football club by a long stretch, it’s not a bad start. If you want to throw in other stadiums along the way, you’ll find most of these cities are near other football stadium destinations.