Wembley Stadium

The original Wembley opened in 1923 for the British Empire Exhibition and became known for its twin towers; its first event, the FA Cup final of that year, drew a crowd estimated at up to three hundred thousand into a ground with an official capacity of 127,000, and a policeman on a white horse clearing the pitch gave the match its name. It hosted the 1948 Olympics and the 1966 World Cup final. Demolition began in 2002, and the replacement opened in 2007 with ninety thousand seats, the largest in the country and the second largest in Europe, and a steel arch 133 metres high spanning the roof, which carries all the weight of the northern roof and removed the need for internal pillars. Tours cover the dressing rooms, the tunnel and the royal box.

The main sights

• The arch - 133 metres high with a 315-metre span, carrying the roof and visible across London.
• The players' tunnel - the walk out to the pitch on the tour route.
• The royal box - the presentation area with the trophy steps.
• The 1923 history - the white horse final and the twin towers explained.

When to go

Year-round for tours, which do not run on event days or often the day before. Football and concert schedules are published well ahead and should be checked before booking.

Practical notes

Tours are cancelled around events, which are frequent. Nothing of the 1923 stadium survives beyond artefacts. Wembley is a long way from central London and the surrounding area is a retail development.

Nearby

Wembley Arena and the outlet designer village are alongside; central London is thirty minutes by tube.

Key facts