Home to the English national soccer team, Wembley is a suburban town in London’s north-west. Once a pleasure ground, Wembley Park was selected to host the British Empire Exhibition in 1924, which resulted in the development of what would become England’s largest sports stadium.
Things to do in Wembley
Coincide your visit with a soccer match or concert at Wembley Stadium, a 90,000-capacity venue recently rebuilt and opened to fans in 2007. It hosts home matches for the England soccer team and the FA Cup Final, as well as the European Rugby Challenge Cup. In addition to sport, it has provided a setting for performances by some of the world’s biggest artists, including AC/DC, The Killers and Beyonce.
Adjacent to Wembley Stadium is The SSE Arena, an indoor venue that can seat up to 12,500 people during music, comedy and sporting events. It was originally established as The Empire Pool for the 1934 British Empire Games and was restructured as part of the early 2000s Wembley Park regeneration. In recent years, the arena has provided a film set for several TV shows.
In addition to its large-scale venues, Wembley is also home to several historic buildings, including the 19th-century St John the Evangelist Church. The early-20th-century St Andrew's Presbyterian Church was transformed into the Wembley Central Mosque in the 1990s but has retained elements of its Arts and Crafts-style architecture. Also not to miss is the Ace Cafe, a historic transport cafe popular with motorcyclists.
Getting around Wembley
Wembley is around 30 minutes’ drive from the centre of London and 25 minutes from London Heathrow Airport. Trains and subway services connect to stations throughout the suburb, including Wembley Stadium, Wembley Central and Wembley Park. Buses also travel throughout Wembley and connect most of its attractions.