Travelling from the UK to watch live sport in the United States is about as easy as international sport travel gets: an ESTA rather than a visa, direct flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester to most major US cities, and no language barrier worth the name.
The friction is all in the details — tipping, sales tax that is not on the price tag, US cities being built for cars, and stadium bag policies that are stricter than anything at an English ground. This guide covers the lot.
Which Sport to Go and See
The United States runs five major spectator sports, and which one you can see depends entirely on when you visit.
- College football (late August to early January) is the one most visitors underestimate. Crowds of 100,000 are normal at the biggest programmes, the atmosphere is closer to a derby than anything in US pro sport, and tickets are cheap by comparison.
- NFL (September to February) is the hardest ticket and the biggest occasion. Only nine home games a season, so plan around a specific team's schedule.
- MLB (April to October) is the easiest to see on short notice — 81 home games a season means tickets are cheap and available almost any day of the week in summer.
- NBA and NHL (October to June) are indoor, weatherproof, and the best option for a winter trip. Many arenas host both.
If you are building a trip around it, our schedule pages show every away game for a given team with flights, hotels and tickets for those dates, and the stadium guides cover getting in, where to sit, and what you cannot bring through the gate.
Entry Requirements
UK citizens don't need a visa to visit the US. You need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
The fee is now $40.27 (it increased from $21 in September 2025). Apply at the official site only: esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Avoid third-party sites that charge inflated fees for the same application.
Apply now, not the week before your flight. Most applications are approved within hours, but if yours gets flagged for any reason, sorting it out takes time. CBP recommends applying at least 72 hours before travel, but there's no reason to wait.
A few important details: your passport must be an e-Passport (all UK passports issued since 2006 qualify), ESTA allows stays up to 90 days, and you cannot work on an ESTA. If you've visited Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, or Yemen since March 2011, or hold dual nationality with any of those countries, you're not eligible for ESTA and will need to apply for a B-2 visa at the US Embassy in London instead. Embassy interview wait times can stretch to several months, so start that process immediately if it applies to you.
Getting There
Heathrow has direct routes to Dallas (DFW), Boston (BOS), and New York (JFK/EWR). Manchester and Edinburgh also have direct New York flights.
AT&T Stadium is in Arlington, about 20 minutes from the airport by car. For Boston, fly into Logan (BOS). For New York, fly into Newark (EWR) if possible: MetLife Stadium is in New Jersey, just a few miles from Newark airport. JFK works but adds significant travel time.
If you haven't booked yet, do it soon.
Book as early as possible to lock in current prices. Search flights to Dallas (DFW) → | Search flights to Boston (BOS) → | Search flights to New York (EWR) →
Getting Around
The US is car-centric in a way that can catch UK visitors off guard. Public transport exists in some cities but is limited or nonexistent in others.
Dallas: You will need a rental car or Uber/Lyft (rideshare apps, similar to booking a taxi on your phone). Arlington, where AT&T Stadium sits, has no meaningful public transit. The city was designed around cars.
Boston: The T (subway) covers the city centre, but Gillette Stadium is in Foxborough, about 22 miles south. Tickets are available only through the MBTA mTicket app — you must have a match ticket to buy a train ticket. Tickets go on sale April 8, 2026 and are limited, so buy early. A rental car or rideshare is an alternative but not necessary.
New York/New Jersey: NJ Transit runs special event rail service to MetLife Stadium (Meadowlands station) on game days, but the journey requires a transfer — there is no direct train from Penn Station. Take any NJ Transit train from Penn Station that stops at Secaucus Junction (look for trains marked "SEC" on the departure boards), then transfer at Secaucus Junction to the Meadowlands Rail Line shuttle directly to Meadowlands Station, which is steps from the stadium. This is still the easiest of the three venues to reach by public transport, but note that the Meadowlands shuttle only operates on event days and won't appear on normal NJ Transit timetables. Check their site closer to the date for schedules.
Your UK driving licence is valid in the US. You'll be driving on the right. Fuel is much cheaper than the UK.
Money, Phones, and Essentials
Tipping: This is the big one. Tipping is not optional in the US. At restaurants, tip 18-20% of the bill. At bars, $1-2 per drink. For Uber/Lyft rides, 15-20% is standard and the app will prompt you after the ride. This is how service workers earn their income. Not tipping is considered extremely rude and will get you noticed for the wrong reasons.
Currency: US Dollars. Contactless payment works almost everywhere. Let your bank know you're travelling to avoid your card being blocked. Consider a travel card (Wise, Revolut, etc.) to avoid foreign transaction fees. As a rough guide, £1 ≈ $1.30 — so a $60 dinner is about £46, and a $12 beer is about £9. Check the rate before you travel.
Phone: Your UK mobile will work, but check roaming charges with your provider. A cheaper option is a prepaid US SIM from T-Mobile or AT&T, available at airports and phone shops. You'll get much better data rates.
Plugs: Type A/B (two flat pins). Bring an adapter. Voltage is 120V versus the UK's 230V, so most phone and laptop chargers auto-switch, but hair dryers and straighteners may not work properly.
Healthcare: There is no NHS equivalent. A trip to A&E (called the "emergency room") can cost thousands of dollars. Buy travel insurance before you go. This is not optional.
Food and Drink Costs
Here's a rough budgeting guide:
- Casual lunch (deli, fast-casual, food truck): $15-22
- Coffee and pastry: $7-10
- Sit-down dinner (no drinks): $40-60
- Dinner with a couple of drinks: $60-90
- Pint at a bar: $9-14 depending on city (New York at the top end)
- Grocery run for day supplies (sandwiches, snacks, drinks): $20-30
New York is the most expensive of the three cities for food and drink, followed by Boston, with Dallas being the most affordable. Grocery stores, delis, and food trucks are the budget-friendly options for day-to-day meals. If your accommodation has a kitchen, cooking a few meals will save real money over a multi-week trip.
Weather
Mid-June in Dallas will be hot, expect 35C+ (95F+). AT&T Stadium has a retractable roof and air conditioning, but getting to the ground and any tailgating will be intense. Drink plenty of water and wear sun protection. Heatstroke is a genuine risk if you're not used to it.
Boston and New York in late June are warm but more moderate, around 25-30C (77-86F) with humidity. It can feel hotter than it sounds if you're not used to humid heat. Light clothing, comfortable shoes, and water are essentials.
Fan Culture Differences
Tailgating: This is the big pre-match ritual. It's less of a pub culture and more of a car park party. Join in.
Stadium rules: Bags are heavily restricted. Most US stadiums enforce a clear bag policy: only transparent bags smaller than 12"x6"x12" are permitted. Leave your regular bag at the hotel. You can pick up a cheap clear bag at Target, Walmart, or order one from Amazon before you travel. Security checks are thorough. No flares, no smoke bombs.
Atmosphere: US sports crowds are enthusiastic but less structured than English supporter sections. US stadiums have assigned seats, and while people stand and cheer during play, don't expect terracing.
Time Zones
For you in the US, games will be afternoon/early evening local time: 3 PM in Dallas (Central Time), 4 PM in Boston (Eastern Time), and 5 PM in New York (Eastern Time). The Eastern time zone is 5 hours behind the UK during BST. Central is 6 hours behind.
If England advance, games could be in different cities and time zones.