London Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

The transit situation here is genuinely one of the best in English football, which is the one thing nobody can argue with about this ground. Stratford Station is served by the Tube (Central and Jubilee lines), the DLR, Overground trains, and national rail services — including the Elizabeth Line, which has made Stratford even more accessible from central London and Heathrow. From Stratford, it's about a 15-minute walk through Westfield Stratford and the Olympic Park. Alternatively, Stratford International Station — served by Southeastern High Speed trains and the DLR — is about a 10-minute walk to the stadium.

From Heathrow, the official routing is more involved: from London Heathrow, allow approximately an hour and 40 minutes — take the Piccadilly line to King's Cross St Pancras, walk to St Pancras International (five minutes), then take the Southeastern train service to Stratford International. A faster alternative is the Elizabeth Line direct from Heathrow to Stratford, which typically runs around 50–60 minutes depending on your terminal. London City Airport connects directly via the DLR, which links to Canning Town, Stratford and Bank stations.

Driving is a different story. You can access the venue via the A12 or North Circular (A406), but there is no on-site public parking, so the recommendation is to use the Westfield Stratford City car parks, located just a 5–10 minute walk from the stadium. For rideshare, don't just pin the stadium — the surrounding roads close for events. Black cabs are available from the taxi rank in Montfichet Road, situated outside the Northern Ticket Hall at Stratford station.

There is effectively no general matchday parking at or near the stadium itself. No general parking exists at London Stadium and road closures are active during events. The nearest public car parks are Westfield Stratford City (5,000+ spaces across three car parks), Stratford International Station, and Stratford Centre. Car parks A, B and C at Westfield Stratford City remain open throughout event days , so they are your practical fallback. Prices at Westfield typically run around £15–25 for an event day — book in advance online via the Westfield site to lock in the cheaper end. Demand is extremely high on matchdays, and many fans choose to park further out and travel in using public transport.

Blue Badge holders have a dedicated option: 49 accessible spaces are available per game — email accessibility@westhamunited.co.uk — and the accessible car park is located at the south west stadium corner. Book early; these sell out. Honest verdict: if you're driving, plan to park at Westfield, get there 90+ minutes early, and just walk. The 10-minute walk through the Olympic Park is actually quite pleasant and beats sitting in stationary traffic on Marshgate Lane.

Stratford is the obvious base — everything is convenient and you can walk to the ground. Premier Inn London Stratford at Westfield is the reliable budget pick directly attached to Westfield, putting you at the food court for pre-match and the tube station for transport — no walking in the rain necessary. Staybridge Suites Stratford, inside Olympic Park and an 8-minute walk from the stadium, offers apartment-style accommodation ideal for families or longer stays, with kitchen facilities and good location.

If you'd rather base yourself somewhere with more character and use the Elizabeth Line in, Shoreditch or Bethnal Green are strong choices — 10–15 minutes by tube, with far better bar and restaurant options at night. The Elizabeth Line reaches Stratford in 8–12 minutes from Liverpool Street, Tottenham Court Road, and Paddington , so there's no real penalty for staying central. Away fans on a weekend trip might prefer the buzz of east London proper over the mall-adjacent vibe of Stratford's hotel cluster.

Tap East — Just outside Stratford International Station, Tap East brews its own beers. It's a compact craft beer bar in the Westfield mall complex that punches above its surroundings. The own-brewed ales are genuinely good, and it fills up early on matchdays. Get here 90 minutes before kickoff or accept standing room only.

The Cow — The Cow in Westfield Stratford is a modern and welcoming gastro-pub that boasts stunning views of the Olympic Park. It's a great place for food and a drink, with plenty of comfy sofas and a great selection of craft beers, lagers, ales and wines. It's also a known destination for West Ham fans, so if you're in away colours, keep it low-key or head elsewhere.

The Green Goose — A handful of pubs in the area accept away supporters. The Green Goose is one of the more reliable options, slightly away from the stadium but popular with travelling fans. Worth the short walk for a less fraught pre-match pint.

Hamilton Hall (Liverpool Street) — Closer to major transport links, Hamilton Hall is a spacious Wetherspoons inside Liverpool Street Station, ideal if you're arriving by train and want a straightforward pre-match pint. It's a Wetherspoons, not a destination, but it's been a reliable away-fan meeting point for years precisely because it's neutral ground and the Elizabeth Line puts you at Stratford 8 minutes later.

Barge East — Along the canal, Barge East combines strong beef dishes with a unique waterside setting. It's a bit of a detour but worth it if you want a proper sit-down meal — think Sunday lunch energy on a converted Dutch barge, with a decent drinks list.

The bag policy is strict but not complicated. Large bags are not permitted and there are no left luggage facilities. No bag larger than A4 will be allowed entry. Small handbags and rucksacks no larger than A4 (30cm × 20cm × 20cm) will be allowed. There is no clear bag requirement — standard small bags are fine as long as they fit the size limit. Leave the backpack at the hotel.

Gates open 2 hours before kickoff. Away fans access the stadium via Turnstile D, and there is a dedicated supporters' tent directly opposite where visiting fans can ask questions. Head to the northeast side of the stadium island. Alcohol may not be consumed in view of the pitch at football matches , which is standard UK football law — you can drink in the concourse, not in your seat. The London Stadium is a cashless venue with card payments only accepted at all food and drink kiosks , so leave the cash in your pocket and make sure your contactless is ready.

Accessibility is one of the strongest aspects of the London Stadium experience. The stadium provides wheelchair spaces across multiple areas, and step-free access is available across the stadium via lifts and ramps. Accessible seating is available on each level, including wheelchair and companion positions or limited mobility seating with few or no steps. These seats need to be booked in advance. Supporters with tickets for accessible seating can use any entrance. All turnstile blocks in use for football matches have disabled access doors, and the main concourses are level and step-free, with accessible lifts spread across all levels.

London Stadium also offers a complimentary accessible shuttle service from Platform 13 at the end of the Jubilee Line for guests with accessible requirements. Audio commentary is available for partially sighted and blind supporters in all stands via pre-booked audio units with volume control. Quiet spaces are available for customers overwhelmed by the stadium environment; these may be a room in the mid or upper tier available on request, though they may not have a view of the event. Contact accessibility@westhamunited.co.uk for any specific requirements.

Away fans access the stadium via Turnstile D , and the away section is in the northeast corner of the ground, in the upper tier. The allocation is typically around 3,000 and sits in blocks above the northeast quadrant.

On sightlines: London Stadium's achilles heel is the fact that it was originally a venue at the 2012 London Olympics. Although the running track has been removed, there is still a significant gap between the playing surface and the stands. If you're desperate to get the best views possible, get yourself a ticket at the front of the upper tier or in the lower tier, in either the East or West Stands, as centrally as possible. For away fans, who are assigned to the upper corner, the views are decent from an elevation standpoint — you'll see the full pitch clearly — but expect to feel further from the action than at most grounds. It's a top-down experience rather than an immersive one.

The away experience here is comfortable, civilised, and — if we're being honest — a bit bloodless. Many West Ham fans themselves feel the stadium lacks the atmosphere and identity of a traditional football venue, something they had in abundance at the Boleyn Ground. That tension doesn't disappear when you're in the away end; it's in the air. The stadium is enormous and genuinely impressive architecturally, but 62,500 seats in a converted Olympic bowl means a lot of empty space acoustically, and the away section in the upper corner often ends up being the loudest part of the ground by default. One thing worth knowing: the walk to the stadium through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park — past the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture, along wide pedestrian bridges — is genuinely one of the more striking stadium approaches in England. It won't feel like walking into a traditional football neighbourhood, because it isn't one, but it has its own modern grandeur that's worth arriving early to appreciate.

By Tube/Train: Stratford's ability to handle large numbers of fans makes it the recommended gateway, with stewards, directional signage and strategic road closures to help fans move to and from the ground quickly. The Jubilee and Central lines run high frequency post-event, and the Elizabeth Line absorbs significant volume. Wait 15–20 minutes after the final whistle inside the concourse or on the stadium island before heading to Stratford — the initial crush on the bridges clears relatively fast. The platforms at Stratford can queue, but trains run every 2–4 minutes on peak lines, so it moves. You should be on a moving train within 30–40 minutes of the whistle if you're patient.

By Car: Road closures around the Olympic Park island remain in place for approximately two hours post-match. Closures are in place for approximately two hours after the final whistle. If you're parked at Westfield, the car parks stay open and you can wait it out in the shopping centre. Realistically, plan for 60–90 minutes before the roads are moving freely.

By Rideshare/Taxi: For those wishing to travel by taxi, black cabs are available from the taxi rank on Montfichet Road outside the Northern Ticket Hall at Stratford Station. For the return journey, black cabs can be found at a temporary rank on Pool Street. For Uber and Bolt, surge pricing post-match is real — prices can easily double in the first 30 minutes after the game. The smartest play: walk five minutes away from the immediate stadium island toward Hackney Wick or along the canal, and request your pickup there. You'll get better pricing and a faster match.

Best crowd-beating tip: If your team has a late goal and you want to move early, leaving five minutes before full time gets you across the bridges before the crowd — the walk from the away end to Stratford takes 12–15 minutes and the difference between leaving at 89 minutes versus the final whistle is significant on a big matchday.

What's the best way to get to London Stadium by public transport?

Stratford Station is your best option — served by the Central and Jubilee lines, DLR, Overground, and national rail services. From the station, it's a 12–15 minute walk through Westfield and the Olympic Park.

What's the bag policy at London Stadium?

Large bags are not permitted and there are no left luggage facilities. No bag larger than A4 will be allowed entry. No clear bag is required — just keep it small.

Is London Stadium cashless?

Yes — London Stadium is a cashless venue with card payments only accepted at all food and drink kiosks. Contactless, Apple Pay, and chip-and-pin all work.

Where do away fans sit at London Stadium?

Away fans access the stadium via Turnstile D , and the away section is in the northeast upper tier — typically around 3,000 seats. Expect good views from height but a noticeable distance from the pitch.

Is there parking at London Stadium?

There is no general parking at London Stadium. The nearest public car parks are the Westfield Stratford City multi-storeys , a 5–10 minute walk from the ground. Book in advance.

When do gates open?

Gates open 2 hours before kickoff. Arriving early is worthwhile — the concourses are large and well-stocked, and queues at entry build up in the 45-minute window before kickoff.

How far is London Stadium from Heathrow?

From London Heathrow, allow approximately an hour and 40 minutes via the Piccadilly line to King's Cross St Pancras, then the Southeastern train service to Stratford International. The Elizabeth Line direct from Heathrow to Stratford is a faster and simpler alternative.

Is the stadium suitable for fans with accessibility needs?

Supporters with accessible tickets can use any entrance; all turnstile blocks have disabled access doors, concourses are level and step-free, and accessible lifts are spread across all levels. A complimentary accessible shuttle also runs from Stratford Station Platform 13.