By taking the Emirates Stadium Tour you will see and experience all the key areas of the stadium, one of the most technologically advanced sporting arenas around.
Highlights
- Visit the player dressing rooms and get a feel for the buzz and anticipation of matchday at the Emirates.
- Take a look around the Head Coach’s office where the planning and match day strategy is devised.
- Enjoy the Arsenal museum’s collection of items charting the club’s long and impressive history, including ‘the Invincibles’ golden Premier League trophy.
Tickets & Prices
Step into the hallowed grounds of the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC, for an immersive self-guided tour that offers a peek into the illustrious world of football.
- Emirates Stadium Tour – Gain access to the Emirates Stadium’s key areas, including the changing room and players’ tunnel, with a multi-language interactive audio guide and entrance to the Emirates Museum.
- The London Pass – Explore London’s finest with the London Pass, which includes entry to Emirates Stadium among over 90 other attractions, and the convenience of a hop-on hop-off bus tour.
- Go City London Explorer Pass – Customize your sightseeing with the Go City London Explorer Pass, granting access to the Emirates Stadium and your choice of 2 to 7 attractions over a generous 60-day period.
Things to Keep in Mind
- The audio guide for the Emirates Stadium Tour is available in multiple languages, catering to international visitors.
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended as there is a fair amount of walking involved during the stadium tour.
- The London Pass and Explorer Pass offer great value if planning to visit multiple attractions; make sure to plan your visits to use the passes effectively.
- For the best experience, check the matchday schedule and plan your visit accordingly, as the stadium may have different opening hours or restricted areas during these days.
What to See and Do
Player Changing Rooms
On a tour of the Emirates Stadium, you will get access to areas normally off-limits to all but a very few. You can imagine preparing for match day as you wander around the luxurious home and away changing rooms, the nerves and the anticipation building as kick-off approaches. Note the impressive hydrotherapy spa as no stone is left unturned to improve performance and recovery. You will also call in at the office of the Head Coach where so much of the preparation is done.
Walk the Tunnel
You will most likely have watched on TV as the players gather side by side in the tunnel before heading out to the roar of the crowd. Now you have the chance to experience the same walk as you leave the changing rooms and walk along the tunnel out into the vast stadium. Take a seat in the dugouts and get an idea of the manager’s matchday view.
Directors Box
If you have ever wondered what the view of the game is like for the club’s top officials then you will finally find out on a stadium tour. You will have access to the Directors entrance and also be shown to the Directors box. You will also get to look in on the Diamond Club, a private members club with excellent views of the pitch and a fine dining restaurant.
Media Lounge
In an era where the media seems to have unprecedented post-match access to players and managers, the media lounge and press room have become an intrinsic part of matchday. You can explore both these areas as part of your tour, getting a better feel for the areas you only see parts of when watching the interviews on TV.
Arsenal Museum
Included with an Emirates Stadium tour is entry to the club museum, a treasure trove of memorabilia charting the club’s long and illustrious history. With many items donated from past players, including Michael Thomas’ boots from Anfield in 1989 and Jens Lehman’s ‘Invincibles’ goalkeeper gloves, the museum offers a fascinating trip down footballing memory lane. Films and around twenty major displays help effectively chart the club’s history and development since its formation in 1886.
Legends Tour
The Legends tour and VIP stadium tour experience offers fans a great chance to see all the behind the scenes areas of the self-guided tour, but accompanied by one of the club’s playing legends. Not only do you get to see all the places you could never normally access, you will get the chance to hear tales from the playing days of these great ex-players. Feel free to ask them questions too. The club also offers a matchday tour where you can go behind the scenes in the build-up to the game and soak up the pre-match atmosphere.
Did you know: (5 interesting facts!)
- The Emirates Stadium has a capacity of just over 60,000, a significant increase over their previous ground at Highbury which could hold around 38,500 spectators. This increase came at the not too insignificant cost of £390m in building the new stadium.
- After having planning permission turned down to expand at Highbury, the hunt for a new ground location began. One option which was considered was purchasing Wembley Stadium.
- The first goal scored at the Emirates was by Klaas Jan Huntelaar during a testimonial for Dennis Bergkamp. Aston Villa’s Olof Mellberg notched the first competitive goal there, with Gilberto Silva scoring Arsenal’s first goal at their new stadium in the same game against Villa.
- Arsenal included 241 wheelchair accessible seats in the stadium design which are located throughout the arena, including 13 in the away fans end.
- Modern-day football stadiums are often used for more than just football and the Emirates is no exception. In 2008 the stadium hosted a summit between British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
History
- 1997 – Club begins looking at new ground options after being denied permission to expand Highbury Stadium.
- 2001 – Planning permission granted to build a new stadium on an industrial and waste disposal centre at Ashburton Grove.
- 2004 – Construction of stadium begins.
- March 2006 – First seat in the Emirates stadium installed in a ceremony involving Arsenal player Abou Diaby.
- July 2006 – Dennis Bergkamp testimonial is first match staged at stadium as part of process to obtain required licenses.
- August 2006 – First competitive match as Arsenal are held to a one all draw by Aston Villa in the Premier League.
- October 2006 – Prince Philip officially opens Emirates Stadium, with the Queen unable to attend due to a back injury.
- August 2009 – Club begins process of ‘Arsenalisation’ to give the new stadium a visible connection to the club and its history.
Facilities and Accessibility
The Emirates stadium is wheelchair accessible with lifts to all levels and 241 wheelchair spaces located around the arena. Both the tour and museum permit registered guide dogs, hearing dogs and medical alert dogs.
You will be provided with a state of the art handset to help you get the most from your visit. There are also 30 handsets which are loaded with the British Sign Language Tour.
To refresh yourself before or after your visit there is a food and beverage kiosk in Armoury Square by the stadium tour entrance. The Armoury serves as the club’s flagship store where you can buy a whole range of items including club kit, training gear, souvenirs and gifts.
All the family is catered for and you can also have the name of your favourite player printed on to your shirt, as well as bespoke items made in the personalisation area.