History and description

The stadium is located in East London and has a seating capacity of 80,000. The first match to be played in the stadium was between Aston Villa and Manchester United on 20 August 2012. The London Stadium, also known as London Olympic Stadium, got built to serve as the centerpiece stadium for the 2012 London Summer Olympics. It hosted the athletics events and opening and closing ceremonies. The stadium is located in East London and has a seating capacity of 80,000. The first match to be played in the stadium was between Aston Villa and Manchester United on 20 August 2012. No attention had been paid to the legacy of the stadium following the games, however, and it soon turned out that a football club moving in would be the only financially viable long-term solution despite the stadium being ill-designed for football purposes. This would require a significant redevelopment.

The 99-year lease for the stadium was given to West Ham in 2013, following a lengthy and contentious bidding process that included Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient. The stadium was subsequently redeveloped to suit it for both football and athletics, including the reconstruction of the bottom tier into retractable stands and the construction of a new roof.

The redevelopment works started in 2013 and, by the end of summer 2015, the stadium was ready to host its first sporting events in the form of the Rugby World Cup.

West Ham moved into their new stadium in the summer of 2016. Their first match at the stadium was a Europa League fixture versus Domzale (3-0).

The attendance for West Ham's first year at London Stadium was much higher than expected, with the club selling out their season ticket allocation. However, there have been some issues with the stadium, such as poor sightlines and inadequate stewarding. Right now, the club is leaving 3,000 seats unsold, limiting capacity to 57,000.

How to get to London Stadium

The London Stadium is located on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the Stratford area of London, about 3.5 miles away from the City. The transport connections Stratford has with the rest of London are excellent, with various underground and overground rail lines available.

From central London, the stadium can be reached by tube with either the red Central Line (e.g. Oxford Street and St Paul's), or the silver Jubilee Line (e.g. London's South Bank and Westminster). Get off at stop Stratford, where it is a 10-minute walk to the stadium. From most central London destinations, it takes 10 to 15 minutes to reach Stratford by tube.

From certain North London destinations (e.g. Islington or Camden), it may be quicker to catch the overground to Stratford, which is the last station on the line. From a number of local East London destinations and London City Airport, the DLR light rail can be used to get to the stadium.

There are no parking facilities near the stadium, so arriving by car is not encouraged.

Address: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 2ST UK

Eat, drink, and sleep near London Stadium

The London Stadium is situated on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London?s Stratford area, which has seen a wave of regeneration since the opening of the stadium in 2012. The centerpiece of the Stratford new development is the Westfield Shopping mall. It has a large number of restaurants and some pubs for local eating and drinking. The rest of Stratford is less attractive, but there is little reason to venture out. However, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is great on a summer day.

There is a good amount of hotels near the Olympic Park, and finding a hotel here is often more affordable than in central London and a great base to explore the rest of London. There are a Holiday Inn, Premier Inn, and somewhat more luxurious Staybridge Suites right at Westfield mall that all get good reviews. A slightly more affordable Ibis a few steps further away is an alternative.

Click here for an overview of hotels near London Olympic Stadium.

West Ham Tickets

West Ham tickets can be bought online, or by phone+44 (0) 333 030 1966. Following their move to the London Stadium, West Ham's attendance soared and they quickly sold out their first few games, though interest has dropped somewhat subsequently and tickets for most fixtures except the top teams and local derbies will now be available on general sale. That said, the stadium still regularly sells out so it is recommended to buy well in advance.

If the match is sold out, season ticket holders can list their tickets on West Ham's ticket exchange.

Prices for tickets to games against certain opponents vary depending on the matchups.

Email [email protected] or call +44 (0) 333 030 1966 for more information.

London Stadium Tours

The self-guided multimedia stadium tours at London Stadium offer visitors access to the players' tunnel, dugouts, changing rooms, and stands. The stadium opens for tours every day except for Saturday, from 10 am to 4:45 pm. The last tour entry is at 3:30 pm, and the last tour exit is at 4:45 pm. From October to Match last entry and exit times are 30 minutes earlier.

The stadium does not open on event days and opening times may be reduced on other days so please check the London Stadium website for latest schedules.

The tour costs £17.00, bookings can be made online.

Relevant Internet Links

West Ham United FC's website, London city guide website, and public transport journey planner website are all located at www.whufc.com. The London Underground and other London public transport websites are at www.tfl.gov.uk. Many people might prefer the old grounds which were more intimidating for visiting teams and home fans, which created great atmosphere inside. It is a great piece of architecture, but not to everyone's taste?

I went to the stadium to watch West Ham play Juventus. It is easy to get to, but walking from the metro station seems to take a long time. The stadium itself is very modern and nice. Most people would probably prefer the old ground which was more intimidating for the visiting teams and home fans created great atmosphere inside. It is a great piece of architecture, but not everyone's taste.