The London Stadium is the former Olympic Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, and today it is the home ground of West Ham United, a major concert venue and the setting for a guided tour that costs £22 for an adult booked online (September 2026). In the 2026/27 season West Ham play in the Championship, the second tier of English football, after relegation from the Premier League.
The stadium was built for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when it held 80,000 spectators and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and all the athletics. After the Games it was rebuilt for year-round use, with a new roof over every seat and movable lower seating that brings football fans closer to the pitch. It now holds 62,500 for football and up to 80,000 for concerts.
There are three ways to see it as a visitor: go to a West Ham match, see a concert or athletics meeting, or take the guided tour on a non-event day. This guide explains each one, and how to get there and back on busy event days, when Stratford can be very crowded.
London Stadium: visitor essentials
- Home club
- West Ham United (Championship in 2026/27)
- Capacity
- 62,500 for football; up to 80,000 for concerts
- Stadium tour
- Adult £22 online in advance, £24 on the day; children from £14; under-5s free
- Tour length
- 60-75 minutes; allow about 90 minutes in total
- Tour times
- Usually 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 on weekdays; hourly 10:00-15:00 at weekends
- Address
- Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 2ST
- Stations
- Pudding Mill Lane (about 10 min), Stratford, Stratford International, Hackney Wick (about 15 min)
- Bags
- On event days nothing larger than A4; no left luggage
From Olympic Stadium to football ground
The architects Populous designed the stadium for 80,000 people, with the intention that it could be changed after the Games. It was officially opened in May 2012, and during the Games it saw three Olympic records and more than 100 Paralympic records broken.
The conversion began in 2013 and was paused in 2015 so the stadium could host five matches of the Rugby World Cup and other events. The original roof was removed and replaced with a much larger one, which the stadium describes as the longest cantilevered roof in the world. West Ham moved in from their old ground at Upton Park, and the stadium has since hosted the 2017 World Athletics Championships and Major League Baseball, the first MLB games played in Europe.
Because it was built for athletics, the stands are further from the pitch than at a stadium designed for football, even with the movable seats. Some fans love the views and the space; others miss the closeness of a traditional English ground. It is worth knowing this before you choose between a match here and one elsewhere. For the wider picture, see our overview of the 2012 Olympic Park and its venues.
Photo: Egghead06 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized
The guided stadium tour
The tour is the easiest way to see inside, and it runs on most days when there is no event. A guide takes you through the players' changing rooms, the warm-up area and the tunnel, and you finish beside the pitch. Along the way you hear the story of the 2012 Games and of West Ham's move here. There is no museum at the stadium.
| Ticket | Price (September 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, booked online in advance | £22 | Guaranteed place on your chosen tour |
| Adult, bought on the day | £24 | Only if spaces remain |
| Child, booked in advance | From £14 | Under-16s must be with a paying adult |
| Under 5 | Free | Book an infant ticket |
| Student and concessions | Discounted | Students must show a valid student card |
A family of two adults and two children booking in advance pays from £72. A couple pays £44 in advance or £48 on the day. Groups of more than 15 get an automatic discount online. Prices and dates are on the official stadium tour booking site.
Tour dates appear about eight weeks ahead. The stadium releases its best availability around eight weeks in advance, in line with football fixtures being moved for television. Summer concerts and maintenance work can close tours for days at a time, so check the date before you plan a trip to Stratford around it.
Practical points for the tour
- Where to go: the tours ticket office on the lower level of the West Ham Stadium Store.
- Arrive 15 minutes early. Tours start on time, and late arrivals may not be able to join. There are no refunds for lateness.
- No luggage storage. Suitcases and large items are not accepted, so do not come straight from the airport.
- Photos for personal use are allowed throughout; tripods and drones are not.
- Accessibility: the whole route is wheelchair accessible with seats along the way, and pushchairs can go round using the lifts.
- Food: a coffee shop on the lower level of the store is open before and after tours.
How does it compare with other clubs' tours? It is one of the cheaper options in London. Wembley's tour costs £28, Stamford Bridge £34 pre-booked and the Emirates from £34. Our guide to stadium tours across London compares them in detail.
Watching West Ham in the 2026/27 season
West Ham finished 18th in the Premier League in 2025/26 and were relegated, so this season they play in the Championship. Home opponents in the second half of 2026 include Queens Park Rangers (Friday 9 October, 20:00), Southampton (Saturday 24 October, 15:00) and Norwich City (Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December, 15:00). Kick-off times can change for television, so always check the latest fixture list on the London Stadium events page.
For a visitor, the Championship has advantages. Tickets may be easier to find than for a Premier League match, and the atmosphere in a large crowd fighting for promotion can be excellent. If you want top-flight football during your trip, the six London clubs in the Premier League this season are Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur; our Premier League guide for visitors explains how to get tickets.
Buy West Ham tickets only from the club. Tickets for home matches are sold through West Ham United's official ticketing, reached from whufc.com, and club members normally get the first chance to buy. Selling football tickets without the club's authorisation is illegal in the UK, and tickets from street touts or unofficial websites may be cancelled at the gate.
Prices and sale dates differ from match to match and are published in the ticketing section of the club's website. Look there a few weeks before the game you want, and be ready to create an account before tickets go on sale.
Match-day rules to know
- Do not bring a bag larger than A4. All bags are searched, large bags are refused and there is no left luggage. Our guide to left luggage in London lists places to leave cases before a match.
- Open your coat and remove your hat at the search area.
- Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not allowed anywhere in the stadium.
- Alcohol may not be drunk in view of the pitch during football matches, and drinks may not be taken off the stadium island.
- Sit only in your ticketed seat and keep your ticket with you.
Stadium bars are busy before kick-off and at half-time. If you plan to drink in a pub near the ground, our notes on how British pubs work will help, and remember that some pubs near stadiums admit home fans only on match days.
Concerts, athletics and other events
Outside the football season the stadium is one of London's biggest concert venues. Summer 2026 brought Take That for three nights and two Metallica shows. The first big concert announced for 2027 is Fontaines D.C. on Friday 9 July 2027, and the 2027 Novuna London Athletics Meet is on sale with tickets from £27 for adults and £7 for under-16s, plus booking fees. At the 2026 meeting Josh Kerr set a world record for the mile here.
Concert tickets are sold by each event's promoter, not by the stadium, so follow the link from the official events page rather than searching for tickets online. For smaller shows, clubs and theatres, see our guide to live music venues in London.
Getting there on event days
The stadium sits on its own "island" surrounded by waterways in the south of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. There is no public car parking, apart from a small number of Blue Badge spaces, so everyone arrives by public transport or on foot.
| Station | Lines | Walk to the stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Stratford | Central, Jubilee, Elizabeth line, DLR, Overground, Greater Anglia, c2c | About 15-25 minutes; the recommended route for crowds |
| Pudding Mill Lane | DLR | About 10 minutes |
| Stratford International | DLR, Southeastern high-speed | About 15 minutes |
| Hackney Wick | Overground (Mildmay line) | About 15 minutes |
The stadium recommends Stratford, which is the station best able to handle large crowds, with around 58 trains an hour. Stewards and signs guide you along the route, and roads around the stadium close about three hours before kick-off or the start of a concert. There is no access to the stadium island for people without tickets on event days. Stratford is in fare zones 2 and 3; our explanation of London's travel zones shows what you will pay.
Leaving by Hackney Wick or Pudding Mill Lane can save time. After a big event the walk back to Stratford station can take up to 90 minutes because of crowd control. The stadium uses hold-and-release points to manage the crowd, so if your journey allows it, walking to one of the smaller stations may get you home sooner.
For guests with accessibility needs, the stadium runs a free accessible shuttle from inside Stratford station, near the Jubilee line at platform 13. After the match, black cabs wait at a temporary rank on Pool Street; our guide to taxis and ride-hailing in London explains the options. Before you travel, check for planned closures and industrial action on our page about getting around during Tube strikes, and for step-free routes see accessible transport in London.
Making a day of it in the Olympic Park
The stadium is right beside the rest of the park's attractions. The ArcelorMittal Orbit and its Helix slide is next door, and the Olympic pool at the Aquatics Centre is about five minutes' walk away. A tour in the late morning, lunch on Aquatics Walk and an afternoon in V&A East Museum make an easy, good-value day. Our guide to Stratford covers the area around the station.
On match days, the Orbit and the park stay open, but the area near the stadium is crowded and some paths close. If you are not going to the game, visit on another day. Large crowds anywhere attract pickpockets, so keep your phone and wallet out of back pockets; our advice on staying safe in London applies here too.
Frequently asked questions
Is West Ham in the Premier League in 2026/27?
No. West Ham United were relegated at the end of the 2025/26 season and play in the Championship, the second tier of English football, in 2026/27. Their home matches are still at the London Stadium in Stratford.
How much is the London Stadium tour?
An adult ticket costs £22 booked online in advance or £24 on the day (September 2026). Children cost from £14 when booked in advance, and under-5s go free with an infant ticket. Students and concessions get a discount.
How long does the London Stadium tour take?
The guided tour lasts 60 to 75 minutes. The stadium suggests allowing up to an hour and a half in total, so you have time for the coffee shop and the club store, where the tour starts.
Which station is closest to the London Stadium?
Pudding Mill Lane on the DLR is the closest, about 10 minutes' walk. Stratford is the main station and the one the stadium recommends on event days, but the walk takes 15 to 25 minutes and much longer after a match.
Can I bring a bag to a match at the London Stadium?
Only a small one. Bags larger than A4 are not allowed, all bags are searched and there is no left luggage at the stadium. Leave suitcases at your hotel or a left-luggage service before you travel.
Sources
- London Stadium Tours - FAQs (checked September 2026)
- London Stadium - All events and West Ham fixtures (checked September 2026)
- London Stadium - Getting here (checked September 2026)
- London Stadium - Guest services (checked September 2026)
- London Stadium - About the stadium (checked September 2026)
- London Stadium - Fontaines D.C. summer 2027 (checked September 2026)
- Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - London Stadium (checked September 2026)