First Time at Emirates Stadium: Complete Matchday Guide

First Time at Emirates Stadium: The Complete Matchday Guide

Turning up at the wrong tube stop, cutting it too close on timing, or standing outside a pub that won't let you in without a ticket. We've identified the small things that separates the a great visit or one that take the shine off a first visit to the Emirates. None of them are complicated once you know them, so going forward throughout the season you know exactly what to do.

This guide covers what a first-time visitor needs: which station to use, when to arrive, what the stadium actually looks like inside, where to eat beforehand, and what to do if match tickets don't come through in time.

Which Tube Stop to Use for Emirates Stadium

Arsenal station on the Piccadilly line is the one built for this, it sits a five-minute walk from the stadium concourse and is the station every home fan defaults to. On matchday it gets busy quickly, but it's the shortest walk by some distance.

Holloway Road, also on the Piccadilly line, is a workable backup around 10 minutes away, useful if Arsenal station is jammed on exit after the final whistle. 

Highbury & Islington, served by the Victoria line and London Overground, sits a similar distance out and is generally the more reliable option if you're worried about post-match Piccadilly line crowding.

There is no matchday parking at the stadium itself. The surrounding streets run under a resident permit scheme on matchdays, so driving in and hoping to park nearby isn't a realistic plan and may result in expensive parking fines. The smartest way to plan an Emirates Stadium trip is to use the fantastic TfL service.

If you're coming from Arsenal station, look for the Clock End Bridge rather than following the main crowd toward the North Bank Bridge. It's a quieter route in and shaves a few minutes off the walk especially useful during UK winter months.

What Time to Arrive on Matchday

General Admission gates typically open around two hours before kickoff. Club Level, Box Level, and Diamond Club areas open earlier, at roughly two and a half hours before kickoff, if you're in one of the more expensive categories.

If you're just coming for the match, arrive at least 90 minutes before kickoff. That's not a cautious overestimate, this will allow a relaxed walk through security and a queue that's still moving when the teams come out. First-timers consistently underestimate how long entry takes on a sold-out matchday in London, and the Emirates Stadium is one of the busiest. Consider this more, following the 2025/26 championship.

Emirates Stadium Seating: The Basics for First-Timers

The Emirates holds 60,704 seats across its stands. The four sides are the North Bank, the Clock End, and the East Stand and West Stand.

If you're choosing between seat categories for your first visit, don't assume you need to be low down and central to get the best of the occasion. Upper-tier seats at the Emirates have clear views across the whole pitch and put you closer to the noise generated by the stand around you. We would recommend Long Side seats for the most enjoyable live football experience at Arsenal.

We've created a detailed guide on the best seats at Emirates. whilst all stands offer great views, there are specific things to consider such as family friendly seats and loudest home fans sections. 

Read the Emirates Stadium Seating guide

Stadium Tour vs Matchday: What to Do If You Can't Get Tickets

If match tickets don't line up with your trip, the stadium tour is an alternative tourists things to do at Arsenal and North London. The standard self-guided tour runs from around £35 for adults, using audio handsets with commentary from Arsenal legends including Charlie George, Lee Dixon, and Nigel Mitchell, plus 360-degree matchday footage played at points around the ground.

The matchday tour, priced from around £45, runs in the hours before kickoff, includes time in the Director's Box and pitchside, and lets you soak up the pre-match buildup. Unfortunately, this does not give you access to the match itself. Both options include the on-site club museum, which is worth building into either visit. However, if you're visiting the Emirates Stadium on matchday, browse Arsenal tickets on LOVE1TICKET so you enjoy the match without a membership to the gunners.

Where to Eat and Drink Before Kickoff

Piebury Corner, near the stadium, is close to a matchday ritual. The pies are named after Arsenal players and a queue that moves fast enough not to eat into your pre-match time. Plus pies are properly British so as a foreign national, you can enjoy two of Britains best things in one day.

For a British pub with food, The Tollington Arms on Hornsey Road runs an English and Thai menu and sits within easy walking distance of both Arsenal station and the ground. The Plimsoll does the gastropub version of the same idea, and The Horatia covers craft beer alongside a smaller food menu. Further out toward Finsbury Park, The Faltering Fullback adds a beer garden and Thai-inspired food to the mix if you'd rather sit somewhere a bit quieter beforehand.

One thing worth knowing before you plan a pub stop: several matchday pubs near the Emirates ask to see a valid ticket or membership card before letting you in when it's busy. Have yours ready so you can enjoy the atmosphere with likeminded Arsenal fans and locals.

What to Expect Inside the Emirates

The concourse runs the full circumference of the stadium, so getting to a food kiosk or the toilets at half-time is more straightforward here than at some older grounds. Card and contactless payments are the only option for kiosks and bars inside, so be sure to have your card or phone charged (fyi you'll need your phone for your digital Arsenal match tickets).

The one thing that actually determines whether any of this happens for you is getting a genuine ticket in the first place. Arsenal's biggest fixtures sell out to members before general sale opens, which is exactly why so many first-time and travelling fans end up on the resale market. We'ere fully aware how fristarting it is trying to get Arsenal tickets and that's why LOVE1TICKET exists so you can buy from a platform that verifies every listing. Do not rely on a social media group as this is often the way for scams and invalid ticket.

Buy Arsenal tickets on LOVE1TICKET

Verified seats by fixture, backed by our FanPromise 100% Buyer Protection guarantee,

Frequently Asked Questions

Which tube station is closest to Emirates Stadium?

Arsenal station on the Piccadilly line is closest, around a five-minute walk from the stadium. Holloway Road (Piccadilly line) and Highbury & Islington (Victoria line and Overground) are both roughly 10 minutes away and useful alternatives if Arsenal station is busy.

How early should I arrive at Emirates Stadium?

At least 90 minutes before kickoff. General Admission gates open around two hours before kickoff, and entry queues build quickly on sold-out matchdays.

Can I park near Emirates Stadium on matchday?

No, there's no matchday parking at the stadium, and surrounding streets operate under a resident permit scheme on matchdays. Travelling by tube is the realistic option.

What's the difference between the standard stadium tour and the matchday tour?

The standard tour is self-guided with audio commentary and runs on non-matchdays from around £35. The matchday tour, from around £45, runs in the hours before kickoff, is guided, and includes time in the Director's Box and pitchside — closer to experiencing the buildup to a real match.

How big is Emirates Stadium?

Emirates Stadium holds 60,704 fan seats, split across the North Bank, Clock End, East Stand, and West Stand.

Related guides:

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5 Must see things at Emirates Stadium

Image By Ronnie Macdonald - Flickr: Arsenal Stadium - The Emirates 3, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20106943