NFL in London: how to do the weekend

Every autumn the NFL ships a handful of regular-season games across the Atlantic to London, and they've become one of the best sports weekends going — a genuine NFL spectacle wrapped inside a city break in one of the world's great cities. You don't need to be a die-hard to love it; the show, the tailgate atmosphere and the novelty carry the day.

Here's how to do it properly.

When and where

The London games run as part of the NFL's International Series, typically across October (dates shift year to year, so check the schedule when it's announced). They're played at two venues:

• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — purpose-built with an NFL mode, including a retractable pitch revealing an artificial surface underneath. The slickest NFL experience in the city.
• Wembley Stadium — the bigger, iconic national stadium, used for some fixtures.

Both are excellent; Tottenham is the more bespoke NFL setup, Wembley the grander occasion.

Getting tickets

• Buy through official channels — the NFL's official ticketing and the stadiums' own sales. London games are popular and sell well, but they're far easier for a neutral to get into than a sold-out US home game.
• Book when the fixtures are announced (usually spring/summer for the autumn games) for the best choice and price.
• Hospitality packages exist if you want premium seats and food sorted.
• As always, steer clear of dodgy resale — official sources protect you from invalid tickets.

What the day is like

• It's a full event, not just a game. Expect a long pre-game build-up, a fan zone, music, and a crowd that's a mix of curious Brits and travelling American fans — friendly and festive rather than tribal.
• Games are long (three-plus hours with stoppages) and loud in the best way. Even casual fans get swept up.
• Both stadiums are easy to reach by public transport — the Tube and rail serve them well; don't drive.

Build the weekend around it

The beauty of an NFL London trip is that the game is the centrepiece of a great city break:

1. Arrive Friday or Saturday, settle in, enjoy London. 2. Game day Sunday — get there early for the pre-match atmosphere and the fan zone. 3. Stay central (good Tube links to the stadium) so the post-game journey is painless, and you've got the rest of London on your doorstep. 4. Extend it — London rewards a few days: take in the sights, the food, a West End show, whatever's your thing.

Practical tips

• Book tickets and a refundable hotel early — autumn is busy in London and stadium-date weekends fill up.
• Use the Tube/rail, not a car — parking near either stadium is a non-starter on game day.
• Dress for British autumn: layers and a rain jacket; Tottenham's roof helps, Wembley less so.
• Bring your team's colours — the London games are good-natured, with fans of every franchise mingling.
• Non-UK visitors: check entry requirements for the UK before you book.

An NFL game plus a few days in London is a near-perfect sports weekend: a world-class spectacle and a world-class city, sorted in one trip.