London Stadium away guide

West Ham play at the London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, E20 2ST. Away fans sit in the south-west corner of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, across both tiers, with an allocation just under 3,000 for league games (Football Ground Guide). It is a 15 to 20 minute walk from Stratford, reached on the Elizabeth or Central line from central London (London Stadium).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

This is a London ground, so the "fly to the nearest hub and go overland" logic does not apply. From Manchester the real choice is train against coach: the train roughly halves the journey but costs far more, while the coach is the budget option if you have the time. Flying is possible but rarely worth it once you add airport transfers at both ends. From London itself it is a short hop across town on the tube. Here are the ways there and roughly what each costs and takes.

Costs are estimates and vary with how far ahead you book. Advance train singles from Manchester can be well under the figures above; walk-up anytime returns can be well over.

Getting there from the airports

Stratford is the target for every airport route, and the closest airport by far is London City. From London City Airport, take the DLR to Stratford and walk to the stadium; the official guide gives roughly 40 minutes in total (London Stadium).

From Heathrow, the stadium's own route is the Piccadilly line to King's Cross, a walk across to St Pancras International, then a Southeastern high-speed train to Stratford International, around 1 hour 40 minutes (London Stadium).

From Gatwick, take Thameslink to St Pancras International then a Southeastern service to Stratford International, around 1 hour 20 minutes (London Stadium).

From Stansted, coach services run directly to Stratford, around 1 hour (London Stadium).

Getting there from central London and by train

Stratford is the main gateway and one of the best-connected stations in London: Central line, Jubilee line, Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground and National Rail (Greater Anglia and c2c) all serve it. The stadium says roughly 58 trains an hour call at Stratford on matchday. From there the ground is about a 15-minute walk, though West Ham's own away guidance says 20 minutes (London Stadium).

For a shorter walk, Pudding Mill Lane (DLR only) is the single closest station at about 10 minutes (London Stadium).

Hackney Wick (London Overground) sits on the opposite side of the stadium, about a 15-minute walk, and can be quieter than Stratford after the game if you want to avoid the main crush. Note that it has limited platform capacity, so post-match services fill quickly (Fulham Supporters' Trust).

Driving is not recommended. There is no public car parking at the stadium, although chargeable parking may be available at Westfield Stratford City, and egress after a match can take about an hour (Fulham Supporters' Trust).

Where to stay

Stratford itself has plenty of chain hotels around Westfield and the station, which is handy if you want to roll out of bed and walk to the ground. For a proper weekend, base yourself in central or east London (Liverpool Street, Shoreditch or the City) and use the Elizabeth or Central line out to Stratford in 10 to 15 minutes. Both put you close to the pre-match meeting points at Liverpool Street.

Inside the stadium and allocation

Visiting fans are housed in the south-west corner of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, using both the upper and lower tiers (Football Ground Guide). The away allocation is just under 3,000 for league games, rising to over 8,000 for domestic cup ties (Football Ground Guide).

Enter via Turnstile D, reached through Bridge 4. The away turnstiles open 90 minutes before kick-off (Brentford FC). Away ticket collection is from the North Stand ticket office near Turnstile J, and you will need ID (Football Ground Guide). Lift access to the away section is on Bridge 4 (Football Ground Guide).

Manage your expectations on atmosphere. The running track left over from the 2012 Olympics sets the stands well back from the pitch, so all fans sit much further from the action than at a traditional ground. Splitting the away support across two tiers, combined with that distance, means the away end is widely rated as poor for atmosphere (Football Ground Guide). Beer inside the stadium runs at around £5 to £6 a pint (Football Ground Guide).

Travel light. The stadium strongly discourages bags and asks fans not to bring them, with no left-luggage on site. Large bags and backpacks over roughly 30x20x20cm are not permitted, and all bags are searched on entry (London Stadium). Prohibited items include alcohol, flares, air horns, laser pens, and half-and-half scarves showing both clubs' colours. The nearest secure storage is at Westfield Stratford City (Football Ground Guide).

Where to drink

There are very few pubs near the ground that welcome away supporters, so most travelling fans drink in central or east London first and head out to Stratford closer to kick-off (Fulham Supporters' Trust).

• Hamilton Hall (Wetherspoons), Liverpool Street: the traditional away meeting point, straight off the concourse, cheap pints and easy to find. Ideal if you are arriving by train (Football Ground Guide).
• Tap East, Westfield Stratford City: a brewpub just by Stratford International that brews its own beer, one of the few genuinely walkable options and generally relaxed about visiting fans (Jim & Tonic East).
• Jim & Tonic East, Hackney Wick: a distillery bar about 10 minutes from the ground, does a four-pint beer pitcher around £20, good for a group (Jim & Tonic East).
• The Green Goose, Bow: slightly away from the stadium but one of the more reliable options for travelling fans (Football Ground Guide).
• The bars of Hackney Wick: the canal-side strip has more than 30 places to eat and drink plus street food, a good pre-match wander if you have time (Fulham Supporters' Trust).

Expect London prices, roughly £6 to £7 a pint outside the ground. Avoid the pubs immediately around the stadium such as The Carpenter's Arms and The Cow, which are home-fan locals and fill with Hammers supporters before kick-off (Football Ground Guide).

Where to eat

The local dish to try is proper East End pie and mash with liquor (a parsley sauce), the traditional matchday feed, with jellied eels for the brave.

• Maureen's Pie & Mash, Poplar: one of the highest-rated pie and mash shops in London, proper liquor and no-frills service (Football Ground Guide).
• Westfield Stratford City food court: fast, cheap and a one-minute walk, with Five Guys, Shake Shack and dozens of other outlets; the default away-fan pre-match option (Football Ground Guide).
• FIGO Stratford: sit-down Italian in Westfield, arancini, calamari and pizza, handy if you want a proper meal near the ground (Football Ground Guide).
• Barge East, Hackney Wick: waterside dining on a restored Dutch barge, strong on beef and a decent Sunday roast (Football Ground Guide).
• Las Iguanas, Westfield: Brazilian and Latin American plates and cocktails, reliable chain option for a group (Football Ground Guide).

What to do

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park sits right on the stadium's doorstep, so there is plenty to fill a day or two (Visit London).

• ArcelorMittal Orbit: the UK's tallest sculpture at 114.5m, with an 80m observation walkway and the world's longest and tallest tunnel slide, 178m looping 12 times down the tower (ArcelorMittal Orbit).
• London Aquatics Centre: the Zaha Hadid-designed Olympic pool, open for public swimming (Visit London).
• Lee Valley VeloPark: ride the Olympic velodrome track, mountain bike trails and BMX circuit (Visit London).
• Westfield Stratford City: one of Europe's largest shopping centres, 250-plus stores, bars, restaurants and a cinema (Visit London).
• Hackney Wick and Fish Island: canal-side warehouses full of breweries, galleries and street art, a short walk from the ground (Fulham Supporters' Trust).
• The City and Liverpool Street: 10 minutes back on the Elizabeth line puts you among Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane and the historic Square Mile.
• Central London by tube: the Central and Jubilee lines run straight into the West End, so the usual sights (the Tower, South Bank, museums) are all within half an hour.

Common questions

How do you get to the London Stadium from the airport?

From London City Airport, take the DLR to Stratford then walk, roughly 40 minutes total (London Stadium). From Heathrow, allow around 1 hour 40 minutes via the Piccadilly line to King's Cross then a Southeastern high-speed train from St Pancras to Stratford International. From Gatwick, around 1 hour 20 minutes via Thameslink. From Stansted, coaches run directly to Stratford in about an hour.

Which airport should I fly to for West Ham?

London City (LCY) is the closest and quickest, about 40 minutes door to ground on the DLR. There is no need to fly to a distant hub and train across, because this is London itself. Scheduled long-haul and domestic flights use Heathrow; budget carriers use Stansted, Gatwick or Luton, all of which have direct rail or coach links into the Stratford area (London Stadium).

Where do away fans sit at the London Stadium?

In the south-west corner of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, across both the upper and lower tiers (Football Ground Guide). Because the seats are split over two tiers and set well back behind the old athletics track, the away end is widely rated as one of the flatter atmospheres in the league.

What is the away allocation?

Just under 3,000 for league games, rising to over 8,000 for domestic cup ties (Football Ground Guide). League tickets tend to sell out for the bigger clubs, so buy early through your own club's ticket office rather than turning up on spec.

What time should I arrive?

Get to Stratford in good time, ideally an hour or more before kick-off. The away turnstiles (Turnstile D, via Bridge 4) open 90 minutes before the game, and the 15 to 20 minute walk plus bag searches eat into your buffer (Brentford FC). Stratford station gets very busy, so earlier is calmer.

Can you drink in the ground?

Yes, there are concourse bars serving alcohol before kick-off and at half time, but you cannot take drinks to your seat or drink in view of the pitch, as at any English ground. Beer inside runs at around £5 to £6 a pint (Football Ground Guide).

How much is a pint near the stadium?

Expect London prices. Inside the ground it is roughly £5 to £6 (Football Ground Guide). Outside, in Stratford, Hackney Wick or central London, budget £6 to £7 a pint. A four-pint pitcher at Jim & Tonic East in Hackney Wick works out cheaper at around £20 (Jim & Tonic East).

Is the area safe for away fans?

Stratford is a busy, well-policed transport hub and there is nothing unusual to worry about. On matchday, stop-go boards manage the flow back to Stratford station and away fans are routed on designated paths, so expect queues rather than trouble (Fulham Supporters' Trust). Keep colours sensible in the home pubs immediately around the ground.

Where are the away-friendly areas?

Liverpool Street (for the Hamilton Hall Wetherspoons meeting point), Westfield Stratford City and its bars, and the canal-side strip at Hackney Wick are the safest bets for travelling fans (Football Ground Guide). Avoid the home locals right by the stadium, The Carpenter's Arms and The Cow.

Does the match ticket include free travel?

No. Unlike some clubs, a West Ham matchday ticket does not include free public transport, so standard TfL fares apply. Use a contactless card or phone to tap in and out; the daily fare cap keeps costs down if you are hopping around London before the game (London Stadium).

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

Stratford is in east London, roughly 10 to 15 minutes from Liverpool Street on the Elizabeth or Central line, and about 20 to 30 minutes from the West End. It is very much part of the city, not an out-of-town ground, so you can combine the game with a full day of sightseeing (London Stadium).

What is the nearest station?

Stratford is the main hub, a 15 to 20 minute walk, served by the Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth lines, the DLR, Overground and National Rail (London Stadium). Pudding Mill Lane (DLR) is the single closest at about 10 minutes, and Hackney Wick (Overground) is about 15 minutes and quieter after the game, though it fills fast (Football Ground Guide).

Where should I stay for a weekend?

Stratford has plenty of chain hotels around Westfield and the station if you want to walk to the ground. For a proper weekend, base yourself around Liverpool Street, Shoreditch or the City and ride the Elizabeth or Central line out to the game in 10 to 15 minutes, which also keeps you near the pre-match meeting points and the best of London's food and nightlife.