By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ The English Premier League has kicked off for another season, following hot on the heels of this summer’s frenzied World Cup. And with sports tourism (and soccer in particular) on the front foot, the “home of football” is poised to welcome fans from around the world for both games and stadium experiences across the country.
Indeed, Lonely Planet included attending an English Premier League game on its Best in Travel 2026 experience list for its “unique window into the country’s passions and character.”
With this in mind, VisitEngland has curated some of the country’s top football-related experiences, from exclusive stadium experiences and new exhibitions to walking tours and set-jetting sights, designed to give fans – both serious and casual – a host of pitch perfect opportunities to explore their interests.
EXHIBITIONS, EXPERIENCES, AND STAYS
VIP Legend Experience at Arsenal Emirates Stadium, London
Sure to be in hot demand after being crowned Premier League 25/26 Champions, a behind-the-scenes tour of Arsenal Emirates Stadium offers visitors the chance to dive into the club’s rich history. Journey through the stadium with pitch-side commentator Nigel Mitchell offering dressing room tales and back-room anecdotes. The VIP Legend Experience also allows fans to ask questions and spend one-on-one time with Arsenal heroes whilst dining in the Stadium’s elite Diamond Club.
BHA exhibition at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Brighton
As Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, a new exhibition dedicated to the team will debut at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery – telling the story of its rise to fame and success. From the fan-led battle to save the club from extinction in the late 1990s to its ascent to the Premier League and UEFA Europa League in 2023, this is a football story worth telling. Expect lots of team nostalgia, photographs and memorabilia, including trophies, medals, shirts and personal stories.
National Football Museum, Manchester
Offering four floors of football history and memorabilia, the National Football Museum is home to the world’s largest public collection of football objects and archives, including the world’s first international football shirt, the oldest surviving FA Cup trophy, and the Laws of the Game from 1863. A new exhibition, “Head, Shoulders, Knees & Goals,” explores the connection between football and the human body, bringing together hands-on play, sensory experiences and objects that uncover the science behind movement, performance and fandom. The exhibition explores the impact of nutrition, clothing, sights, sounds and smells to go behind the magic of matchday. (Through Nov. 1).
Newcastle United FC Rooftop Tour experience
Head to the iconic St James’ Park to see the stadium and the cityscapes of Newcastle in a new light on a Rooftop Tour, ascending to a walkway 150 ft. above the ground. Visitors will also get the chance to take a behind-the-scenes look at the dugouts and changing rooms and stand pitch side.
‘On the Pitch’ Coaching, Stadium Tours and a Football-Themed Hotel at Old Trafford, Manchester
Manchester United fans can follow in the footsteps of their heroes during a stadium and club tour including gaining access to the players’ tunnel, pitch and dugouts. In addition to the tour, fans can also participate in ‘Take to Pitch’ which re-launched in 2025 – offering a unique coaching experience on the iconic Old Trafford turf.
For those wishing to make a night of it, visitors can stay at Hotel Football Old Trafford, the 133-room hotel which offers unmatched views over Old Trafford. The brainchild of the Class of ‘92; a world-renowned group of players including Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Philip Neville, the hotel offers a one-off experience for football fans.
Take on the Dare Skywalk descent, Tottenham Hotspur, North London
Formed by a gang of schoolboys in the 1880s, the Tottenham Hotspur team have played on the same site ever since. A new stadium opened on the site in 2019 and includes the Goal Line Bar, which, at 65 metres, is the longest bar in Europe.
After enjoying a stadium tour, those with a head for heights can gaze out over the capital on the Dare Skywalk, a chance to climb the stadium and look down on the pitch below. The exhilarating 42-m. controlled descent drops from the top of the stadium to the South Podium below.
NEW HOTEL
Radisson Hotel Group will open The Medlock, a 401-bedroom hotel at Manchester City Football Club’s Etihad Campus this autumn (bookings from Sept. 21. Connected directly to the stadium and steps away from entertainment arena, Co-op Live, the hotel will add a major new hospitality and events hub to east Manchester, enhancing the area’s wider regeneration and offering a range of accommodation for those enjoying the stadium’s varied sports and music events. On match days the pitch-view rooms will transform into hospitality boxes, providing a front row seat to the action, and the Penthouse Suite offers skyline views across the city.
FOOTBALL TOURS: CITIES AND STADIUMS
Explore Sheffield ‘Home of Football’ on a Walking Tour, South Yorkshire
Sheffield is the birthplace of football and home to the world’s oldest club, Sheffield FC – where football began back in 1857. Meanwhile Bramall Lane, the home ground of Sheffield United FC, holds the title of the Oldest Professional Football Ground in the World, being the first ground to ever play a floodlit match. The city’s sporting heritage can be explored via the Sheffield Home of Football Walking Tour, a fun way for football buffs to take in 10 historic footballing hot spots.
For more interactive footie fun in Sheffield, Yard Ball brings to life the nostalgia of street football and offers on-site food and drink. Yard Ball plays homage to the beautiful game with 20 ‘retro football’ challenges to complete, from chipping a ball through a car window to smashing one into the bins.
Insider access and sky-high abseiling with Liverpool Football Club
The Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour at Anfield offers a behind-the-scenes look at the club’s legendary home, including access to the Players’ Tunnel, dressing rooms, pitch side dugout and the famous “This Is Anfield” sign. The tour, which won Bronze in the 2025 Visit England Awards for Excellence ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ category, also includes entry to The LFC Story Museum, which showcases the club’s rich history, and the exclusive Steven Gerrard Collection.
Since 2023, daredevil football fans have also been able to enjoy a 100-ft. abseil down the edge of the Main Stand taking in city views and going past the Club’s huge official crest.
Visit Wembley Stadium, the England home, London
The original Wembley Stadium opened its doors in April 1923 and, over the last hundred years, has fixed itself firmly into the nation’s hearts and minds, thanks to hosting some incredible moments in footballing history – including England’s famous World Cup win in 1966 and the nail-biting action of EURO ‘96. Its famous arches are also set to play a starring role hosting the UEFA European Football Championship in 2028.
Visitors can soak up Wembley’s football history, taking in the UK’s largest football stadium on a 90-minute guided tour. Take your picture in Europe’s largest press conference room, find the shirt of your favourite England player in the dressing rooms, and line up in the players tunnel before following in the footsteps of legends and walking out pitch-side.
Behind-the-scenes stadium tours at Everton, Merseyside
Everton FC’s new home ground in Liverpool, the Hill Dickenson Stadium, is granting access to fans to explore behind-the-scenes and become immersed in the club’s history, bringing Everton’s legacy to life. Situated on the banks of the River Mersey, visitors to the new state-of-the-art stadium will gain player dressing room access, follow in the footsteps of Evertonian heroes in a tunnel walk, take the manager’s seat in the press room and enjoy panoramic views of Liverpool’s skyline from the South Stand.
Celebrations in Coventry, West Midlands
Coventry City FC have triumphantly sealed a return to the Premier League after 25 years, and for football fans fancying an ‘away day’ or weekend to the city there’s plenty on offer. The season may be over, but a must-visit for football enthusiasts is a trip to the Coventry Building Society Arena, home to Coventry FC, and a whole program of ongoing events. While Coventry Cathedral is an icon of the city, The Castle Grounds pub is ‘the place’ to watch live sporting fixtures.
All eyes on Ipswich, Suffolk
Ipswich Town FC have rightfully earned their place in the 2026/27 Premier League and a Portman Road Stadium Tour is a sure-fire way to sample the jubilant atmosphere set to engulf the town. Starting at the Three Lions Lounge, before venturing behind the scenes of the ground, visitors will learn about the rich history of the club, have the chance to admire memorabilia as well as many photo opportunities. For those wishing to play with pals during the off-season, Zorb Football is a fun, alternative way to enjoy the beautiful game.
Hurry to Hull, East Yorkshire
National Geographic named Hull one of the world’s best travel destinations for 2026, and the city has added to that accolade with Hull ‘Tigers’ FC roaring their way back into the Premier League for next season. Visitors to the maritime city looking to explore what it’s all about can take in the new-look Spurn Lightship – which has now reopened as a floating museum, along with the newly-revamped Queen’s Gardens. The summer is also set to see the opening of the Arctic Corsair – Hull’s last sidewinder trawler, after undergoing an extensive renovation as part of the five-year £30m Hull Maritime project, including the refurbished Maritime Museum, featuring new galleries and visitor facilities.
Welcome to Wrexham
Since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney launched the fly-on-the-wall “Welcome to Wrexham” TV series, tourists from around the world have been flocking to the long-overlooked northern Welsh city. Boutique hotels are popping up across the city, and series settings like the Racecourse, which is the world’s oldest soccer stadium hosting international matches, and The Turf (for a pint of Wrexham Lager) are must-visit sites for fans.
And opening Sept. 25, the newly redeveloped combo Wrexham Museum/ Football Museum of Wales will offer a state-of-the-art visitor experience in the heart of the city celebrating the stories, heritage, and communities of Wrexham, alongside the nation’s footballing history.
SCOTLAND
For those wanting to explore Scotland’s football heritage, Glasgow is home to Football’s Square Mile, the world’s largest open-air football museum, as well as the Scottish Football Museum and the popular Glasgow Football Tour. Nearby Stirling is also home to the world’s oldest known football, dating back to the 1500s, at The Smith Art Gallery & Museum.
Those looking to venture a little further can also visit Eriskay Football Pitch (photo above), set on a tiny Hebridean island off Scotland’s west coast and recognized by FIFA as one of the eight most remarkable football locations in the world.
FOOTBALL-INSPIRED SET-JETTING
- Dear England: The new TV adaptation of hit stage play Dear England hit screens this spring as a four-part BBC drama. Starring Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate, the series explores the highs and lows of England’s national football team under his eight-year tenure. Filmed in southern England, including Bethnal Green, London, the show provides an intimate look at the pressures, triumphs and cultural impact of modern English football.
- Ted Lasso (Season 4): Jason Sudeikis returns as beloved, moustachioed football coach, Ted, who returns to London to coach AFC Richmond new women’s team. Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple and Brett Goldstein are all back and Crystal Palace FC’s home, Selhurst Park, continues to be the setting for the team’s stadium. Fans also flock to the Prince’s Head pub in Richmond, a key setting in the series.
- Bend it Like Bechkam2: Gurinder Chadha’s sequel to Bend it Like Beckham is in the works. Details are yet to be announced, including whether it will be in a film or TV series format, however the release is expected to mark both the original film’s 25th anniversary and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. With no news on the casting just yet, some well-known football heroes are hoped to make a cameo appearance… (2026/2027 TBC)
COUNTDOWN TO EURO 2028
The UK and Ireland are gearing up to host the UEFA European Football Championship in 2028, which will be the third time that the Euros take place in England, after 1996 and 2021. From June 9 to July 9, matches will be held at London’s Wembley Stadium, London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Manchester’s City of Manchester Stadium (to be renovated), Liverpool’s Everton Stadium (new stadium), Newcastle’s St James’ Park and Birmingham’s Villa Park (to be renovated).
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