If you love the beautiful game, then these five experiences will undoubtedly satisfy your football fix
With the European Cup coming to an end, and renewed focus towards the start of the new English Premier League season, there’s never been a better time for football fans. 2016 has certainly delivered a tonne of action for the beautiful game and if you still haven’t gotten enough of a footy fix yet, rest assured there’s plenty to do and experience in the U.K. when it comes to football.
CATCH A LIVE GAME
Regardless where you decide to visit in England, there’s always a live Premiere League game going on during the season, which starts from 13 August 2016. Getting tickets does require a bit of planning beforehand as they can get scarce, especially for big club derbies. Outfits like Thomas Cook Sport and sites like StubHub.com carry tickets for most Premier League games. Book them early and you could be well on your way to realising your dream of watching your favourite club in a live match.
CAFÉ FOOTBALL
Opened in 2014 by former Manchester United players Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, Café Football serves up a delicious array of dishes and meals curated by two-Michelin star chef Michael Wignall. Housed at Westfield Stratford City in East London, the restaurant has scored highly among critics and customers. The menu is themed around football, which fits into the overall theme of the restaurant.
HOTEL FOOTBALL
Themed hotels are commonplace around the world and rest assured, there’s one that is targeted specifically towards football fans. Hotel Football in Manchester allows fans to immerse themselves fully in the world of football. The hotel’s location also augurs well for fans of both Manchester City and Manchester United as the city is home to these two immensely popular clubs.
GET YOUR GAME ON
Café Kick and Bar Kick are the best places for skilled football players – table football that is. Bar Kick is in East London's trendy Shoreditch neighbourhood and is where football meets delicious food and cocktails, which you can enjoy in between games on French Bonzini Tables, while Café Kick in London's Exmouth Market also has the same fantastic footy tables.
EXPLORE FOOTBALL HISTORY
You can go behind-the-scenes at your favourite team's stadium. Most premiership clubs carry out behind the scenes tours offering fans access to dressing rooms, press rooms and the legendary players' tunnels that the pros run through before the big game. Some stadiums like Old Trafford and Anfield also have an on-ground mini museum, which highlights the club’s glorious history. These stadium tours can be booked directly from each club's homepage or at the VisitBritain shop.
