One of England's new football stadiums. It is modern and comfortable, but has poor sightlines and lacks the atmosphere of the old Highbury.

History and description

Arsenal's former home, Highbury, was replaced by the Emirates Stadium. The stadium has larger capacity and more possiblities for expansion, which is why it was a better option than Highbury. A new stadium was first planned in the late 1990s, but also considering a move to the new Wembley Stadium was considered.

Construction of the stadium started in 2004 and the total project budget amounted to £390 million.

On July 23, 2006, the Emirates Stadium officially opened its doors to the public. The first match was a testimonial match for Dennis Bergkamp featuring an Arsenal and Ajax side.

Due to the competition of Wembley Stadium, the Emirates Stadium has never hosted the English national team. However, the Brazilian national team has regularly staged friendlies at the stadium.

How to get to the Emirates Stadium

The Emirates Stadium is located in the Islington area, north of London at just under 2 miles from Kings Cross St Pancras railway station. There are multiple ways to reach the stadium by public transport. One option is the underground (tube) - the nearest tube station is Arsenal, which is on the Piccadilly line. Another option is stations Finsbury Park (Victoria and Piccadilly line) and Highbury & Islington (Victoria line and London overground). The approximate 10-minute walk from both stations will take you to the stadium.

Before and after matches at Holloway Road station (Piccadilly line) will be closed to the public and only access will be available to those who have tickets.

Alternatively, one can catch a train to Finsbury Park or Highbury & Islington main line stations. This trip is usually about 5-10 minutes long and can be made from Kings Cross station. During the week, trains depart from Moorgate as well. Drayton Park rail station, which is closest to the stadium, closes on matchdays.

No supporters are advised to arrive by car on matchdays, and there is little parking available around the Emirates Stadium on non-matchdays.

Address: Emirates Stadium, London N5 1BU

Eat, drink, and sleep near the Emirates Stadium

The Emirates Stadium is located in the Highbury area of recently regenerated London. There are a few pubs and cafés in the immediate surroundings of the stadium, which is mainly residential, and some options to eat and drink along Holloway Road and Highbury Park road. More nightlife can be found in the Islington area on Upper Street starting south of Highbury & Islington tube station. An approximate 15 to 20-minute walk from the stadium will take you there.

There are no hotels located near the Emirates Stadium, but a few accommodations can be found nearby on Seven Sisters Road, which is a fifteen-minute walk from the stadium. The Queens Hotel and Best Western Highbury get the best reviews and cost about £100 per night, whereas the Pembury Hotel, Woodberry Down Hotel, and Central Park Hotel are more affordable options.

Browse all hotels near the Emirates Stadium. As there are various tube lines passing by the stadium, you can just as well choose a hotel in any part of Central London.

Arsenal Tickets

Tickets for Arsenal matches can be bought online or by phone. Arsenal is one of the Premier League clubs for which it is hardest to get tickets and, as a rule, tickets will not be available to the public until pre-sale. The most basic Red level membership currently costs £33.00 and, with it, one can generally acquire tickets in pre-sale.

Tickets for category B matches, in the middle of the price range, start at £41.75 for most lower-tier seats and go up to £72.25 for a central upper-tier seat. Arsenal's matches fall into three pricing categories; C matches, which are the cheapest, start at £26.00 for most lower-tier seats and go up to £51.00 for a central upper-tier seat; A matches, which are more expensive, range from £63.50 for most lower-tier seats to £126.00 for a central upper-tier seat; and B matches, which are in the middle of the price range, start at £41.75 for most lower-tier seats and go up to £72.25 for a central upper-tier seat

A fee of £2.00 applies for further bookings. Members' tickets are cheaper.

Emirates Stadium tours

Arsenal offer the opportunity to see the Emirates Stadium through a self-guided stadium tour. You can walk through the stadium at your own pace with the company of an audio guide. The route includes the changing rooms and players' tunnel. Alternatively, the club offers guided stadium tours by an Arsenal legend. Both tours include access to the Arsenal museum, as well as insights from that person about the club and its history.

The stadium is open seven days a week for self-guided tours. Entry is from 10 a.m., with the last entry at 5 p.m. There are no tours on matchdays, and the stadium may close earlier on the day before a match or event. The walk around the stadium can take anywhere from 55 to 90 minutes to complete, and it can be very hot in summer or cold in winter.

The legends tour starts every day at 1:00 pm and lasts 75 minutes.

The price of the self-guided tour is £17.50, while the cost of the legends tour is £35.00. Tours can be booked online, by phone +44 (0) 20 7619 5000, or at arrival at the stadium (self-guided tours).

Relevant Internet links

Arsenal.com, official website of Arsenal Football Club, Visitlondon.com, official London city guide, Tfl.gov.uk, website of the London Underground and other London public transport, Journeyplanner.org, London public transport journey planner, Nationalrail.co.uk, check train times and fares The stadium is clean and tidy with plenty of room to move around. The stadium has progressed, which is why it had to happen. Well done Mr Wenger, I don't always agree with his tippy tappy football, but what he has done for the club is nothing but miraculous. The Emirates is a big part of his legacy! I have been going to see Arsenal since 1970 and how things have changed!

The stadium is clean and tidy, with plenty of room to move around. The club has made much progress in the past few years, and this is why it had to happen. Well done Mr Wenger! I sometimes disagree with your tippy-tapping football, but what you have done for Arsenal is remarkable. The Emirates stadium is a big part of your legacy. I have been going to see Arsenal since 1970 and the changes over that time are incredible.

The one problem is that the atmosphere at the stadium is poor. This may be because a lot of tourists visit the stadium who are not die-hard fans, and this might be a factor in the low level of noise. Additionally, the seats are a little far from the pitch.

One problem with the atmosphere at the stadium is that it may be because there are a lot of tourists who are not die-hard fans, and that may contribute to the low level of noise. Additionally, the seats are a little far from the pitch.

Noble Clarke wrote: January 2, 2017 at 10:37 PM Fantastic stadium. There's plenty of room in the seats and it's well-organized. You can bring your own food and there's usually little wait at the nearby subway station.

The Fantaic Stadium is well laid out with plenty of room in the seats. You are free to bring your own food and there is no expensive food at the stadium. After the game, you can walk to the Finsbury Park tube station without a lot of line-ups.

Gavin Roger wrote: 4 September 2015 at 7:48 pm The ground is excellent, but the atmosphere is zero. The view from the away section is awful if you're near the front.

The stadium has excellent ground but there is little atmosphere inside. If you are near the front, the view from the away section is not very good.

Mr Woolwich wrote: 22 February 2015 at 10:45 PM 0 out of 10. Very, very disappointing. Are you finding more atmosphere at a morgue, rather than a 'off the shelf' stadium with fans who seem more interested in the prawn sandwiches and red wine than the football?

You find less atmosphere at a morgue than at a ?off the shelf? stadium with fans who seem more interested in the prawn sandwiches and red wine than the football.

JWB wrote: 31 December 2013 at 5:37pm Nice stadium, padded seats and good size as well. The ground does look bigger than Old Trafford and even Wembley, but it has lots of leg room so it doesn't fit as many seats in. I would give it 8.5 stars out of 10, as it is scary when sitting in the very top row with glass. Amazing experience though!

The stadium is nice and comfortable with padded seats. The ground size is bigger than Old Trafford and Wembley, but there is plenty of leg room so it doesn't fit as many seats. I would give it an 8.5 out of 10, as it can be scary sitting in the top row with glass. The experience was amazing!

Babul wrote: 20 November 2013 at 1:54 am The stadium is amazing! The tour was wonderful - the changing room and tunnel were surreal. You got to check it out!

The stadium is amazing! The tour was a wonderful experience, with a great change room and tunnel. You got to check it out!

Greg wrote: Emirates is good, but lacks the atmosphere that Arsenal had so much of at Highbury. It's easy to get to by tube, but remember to allow plenty of time, as queues are horrendous getting into Arsenal Station.

Arsenal is better, but Emirates lacks the atmosphere that Highbury had so much of. It is easy to get to by tube but remember to allow plenty of time, as queues are often horrendous getting into Arsenal Station.