The Best Sports Attractions in London

Let’s kick off with the big kahuna of London sporting attractions, the icon of the north London skyline that is the mighty Wembley Stadium. Here’s where England’s legendary 1966 squad lifted the football World Cup following a nail-biting 4-2 finish against West Germany, and where the Lionesses made history with their famous Euros victory in 2022. The stadium has also borne witness to some of the most seismic moments in British popular culture, including stunt rider Evel Knievel’s failed bid to clear 13 double-decker London buses, the Live Aid concerts and the 2019 Spice Girls reunion tour.

Tours of Wembley Stadium are included with The London Pass®, and include access to the players’ tunnel and changing rooms, the Crossbar Exhibition, the Walk of Legends and more.

Pro-tip: The London Pass® can save you up to 50% when visiting top London attractions and also includes tours at several club stadiums, including bitter rivals Tottenham and Arsenal.

Cricket connoisseurs can expect to be hit for six by the quite excellent tours at Lord’s Cricket Ground (known as the home of cricket) and the Kia Oval (known as, well, The Oval). You’ll find Lord’s lording it over north London, just west of Regent’s Park and a short stroll from yet another London icon: the Abbey Road crosswalk featured on the famous Beatles album cover. Take a peek at the legendary Ashes urn, visit the players’ dressing rooms and step onto the hallowed turf itself.

Over at the Kia Oval, take a deep dive into the triumphs and disasters of Surrey County Cricket Club, based here since 1845, and discover the fascinating history of this, the birthplace of the Ashes.

Top tip: the Kia Oval tour is included with The London Pass®.

Synonymous with strawberries and cream, polite ripples of applause and the occasional on-court expletive, Wimbledon’s world-famous All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is as British as tea and crumpets. Also very British are the polite and orderly queues that form outside the gates every July, with early risers (and overnight campers) who missed out on the ballots eager to bag a ticket on the day. And, if all that sounds like too much effort, you can visit the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum year-round for fascinating insights into the tournament’s history, behind-the-scenes access and a chance to bellow ‘foul’ courtside at the iconic Centre Court.

Close your eyes at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and you can almost hear the roar of the crowd from 2012’s ‘Super Saturday’ when British athletes Jessica Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all took Olympic gold within an incredible 44 minutes.

And there’s still plenty of adventure to be had at the East London park. Catch a match starring resident football team West Ham at the park’s flagship London Stadium, or snag tickets to see the London Lions basketball team roar into action at the Copper Box Arena. You can even ride the very same velodrome track graced by Sir Chris Hoy and Dame Sarah Storey back in 2012.

Then, of course, there’s the mighty ArcelorMittal Orbit. If the view from the top of Anish Kapoor’s towering piece of public art doesn’t take your breath away, the 260-foot-tall, 12-loop tunnel-slide back to terra firma almost certainly will!

Discover more fun things to do in East London.

Calling all eggchasers, this one’s for you! Of course, the holy grail here at the home of English rugby is to bag a ticket to major tournaments like the Six Nations. But failing that, a tour of the Twickenham World Rugby Stadium comes a close second. Here’s your chance to ogle the dressing rooms used by the England squad, as well as getting up close to the Calcutta Cup, the world’s oldest international playing jersey and many other rugby-related treasures. Compare the views from pitchside vs the Royal Box and don’t miss the opportunity to try your hand (or, more accurately, voice) at commentating a match.

Skaters have been a fixture of the Queen Elizabeth Hall’s brutalist underbelly since commandeering this South Bank space for their own use back in the 1970s. Indeed, it’s something of a rite of passage for young London skaters to ride the concrete slabs and slopes here among the formidable grey pillars and colorful street art at some point in their lives.

Mosey down for (free!) ringside views as skaters and BMXers showcase their skills. Fancy having a go yourself? Don’t be intimidated! Just bring your board and join the welcoming community of skaters that call the Undercroft home.

If you’re in the market for a super-fun day out that involves hats, horses, hooch and a little bit of hustle, the Royal Ascot racecourse is very likely the place for you. Dress for success, grab some mates and treat yourself to a flutter or two on the horses, then celebrate your win/mourn your loss with a bottle of bubbly or two. Note that there are different dress codes for different zones, so do check the Ascot website in advance to avoid making e.g. a jacket-and-jeans faux-pas in the Royal Enclosure. And remember, kids: always drink and gamble responsibly.

Looking for more things to do in London? The London Pass® can save you up to 50% on nearly 100 top attractions, tours and activities. Hit the buttons below to find out more and to get your pass…