Some football stadiums are about history.Others are about the future.The Emirates somehow manages to give you a little of both.

It’s modern, enormous and unmistakably Arsenal, but the club’s history follows you everywhere – from the statues outside to the legends wrapped around the stadium and the reminders of Highbury just down the road.

And then there’s matchday.North London turns red.Scarves appear.

The pubs fill up.Thousands of supporters pour out of the Underground and start making their way towards the stadium.

Then you walk up onto the podium and see the Emirates properly for the first time.

If you’re planning your first visit, this Emirates Stadium guide for first-time visitors covers everything you need to know – from getting there and choosing where to sit to stadium tours, bag rules, matchday atmosphere and those little things nobody thinks about until they’re standing outside the turnstile.

First Things First: Where Is Emirates Stadium?

Emirates Stadium is in Holloway, North London, close to Arsenal’s former home at Highbury.

And unlike some football stadiums where getting there involves a complicated combination of trains, buses and optimistic walking directions, the Emirates is relatively easy to reach using London’s public transport.

The stadium is surrounded by residential neighbourhoods, pubs, cafés and the everyday bustle of North London.That’s part of the experience.

You’re not travelling to an isolated sports complex.You’re going to Arsenal.

Getting to Emirates Stadium

For most first-time visitors, the London Underground is the easiest option.

Arsenal Station

Yes.Arsenal has its own Tube station.Very convenient.

Arsenal Underground Station is on the Piccadilly line and is one of the closest stations to Emirates Stadium.

On matchday, you won’t need particularly impressive navigation skills once you get there.

Follow the red shirts.It’s roughly a few minutes’ walk from the stadium, although crowds can make everything take longer before and after a match.

Holloway Road

Holloway Road is also close to the Emirates, but matchday arrangements can affect access to the station.Don’t automatically assume this will be your best option simply because it appears close on the map.

Finsbury Park

Finsbury Park is another popular choice and has the advantage of multiple rail and Underground connections.It’s slightly further away but still an easy walk.It can also be useful after the match when enormous crowds are trying to use the stations closest to the ground.

Highbury & Islington

Highbury & Islington is another option.It’s further from the stadium than Arsenal station, but the walk takes you through an interesting part of North London and can work particularly well if you’re planning to visit Highbury before the match.

Should You Drive to Emirates Stadium?

No.Or, to put that more politely:I really wouldn’t.

Matchday parking is extremely limited, road closures operate around the stadium and the Emirates sits within a busy residential area.Arsenal itself strongly advises supporters against driving to the stadium.

London has one of the world’s most extensive public transport networks.

Use it. Your future self, sitting on the Tube while traffic crawls outside, will thank you.

How Early Should You Arrive at Emirates Stadium?

For a first visit, I’d aim to reach the area at least two hours before kick-off.

Three isn’t ridiculous.Particularly if you want to visit Highbury, walk around the stadium, photograph the statues, browse The Armoury and have something to eat.

For Arsenal men’s matches, the Upper and Lower Tier turnstiles normally open two hours before kick-off, while Club and Box Level opens two and a half hours beforehand. Arsenal Women’s matchday turnstiles normally open two hours before kick-off.

Arriving early also means you aren’t trying to work out which turnstile you need while several thousand people behind you are doing exactly the same thing.

Walk Around the Emirates Before the Match

Don’t arrive and immediately go inside.The exterior of Emirates Stadium is part of the experience.

Walk around it.You’ll find statues, enormous photographs and artwork celebrating Arsenal legends, plus plenty of opportunities for that obligatory first-visit stadium photo.

It’s also a good way to appreciate just how big the Emirates actually is. Television doesn’t quite convey the scale.Your legs will.

Find the Arsenal Statues

You can’t really do a first visit to the Emirates without meeting a few Arsenal legends.

Statues around the stadium celebrate some of the most important figures in the club’s history.

Naturally, Arsène Wenger is among them.There’s also Thierry Henry, captured in one of his famous celebrations, along with other figures who helped shape Arsenal.

Even if you aren’t an Arsenal supporter, these are worth seeing.

If you are?Your camera roll is about to become very red.

Look at the Stadium Artwork

One of the things that makes walking around the Emirates interesting is how Arsenal has used the exterior to celebrate the club’s identity.The stadium artwork brings together players from different eras and generations.

It’s a clever way of connecting a relatively modern stadium with a club whose history stretches back well over a century.Take your time looking at it.

You’ll probably recognise more faces than you expect.And you’ll almost certainly end up debating who should have been included.Football supporters enjoy a debate.

Visit Highbury

This is the one thing I wouldn’t skip.Before the Emirates, there was Highbury.

Arsenal played there for more than 90 years before moving to the Emirates in 2006.The old ground has since been transformed into residential apartments, but significant elements of the original stadium remain.

And it’s very close.If you’re interested in football history, walking between Highbury and the Emirates gives you a wonderful sense of Arsenal’s journey from its famous old home to its modern one.

Allow extra time before the match and do both.It’s worth it.

Visit The Armoury

You will enter intending to buy one small souvenir.

This is optimistic.

The Armoury is Arsenal’s main club shop at Emirates Stadium and contains everything you’d expect.Shirts.Scarves.Training gear.Jackets.Gifts.Memorabilia.

And approximately 400 things you didn’t know you needed until somebody put an Arsenal badge on them.

If you want a shirt personalised, don’t leave it until ten minutes before kick-off.

Matchdays get busy.Very busy.

Shop early.Then spend the rest of the afternoon wondering whether you really needed the mug.You did.

What Is the Matchday Atmosphere Like?

The Emirates sometimes gets compared with older English football grounds, which isn’t entirely fair.It’s a different stadium and a different experience.The atmosphere begins long before you reach your seat.

The streets around Holloway and Islington fill with supporters.Pubs become increasingly loud.

Food vendors appear.Scarves come out.Then everyone begins moving towards the stadium.Once inside, the scale of the Emirates becomes much more apparent.More than 60,000 supporters surrounding the pitch makes for an impressive sight.

And when Arsenal are playing well and the crowd gets going, the noise builds very quickly.

The North Bank and Clock End

If you’ve read about Arsenal’s history, you’ll probably recognise the names.At Highbury, the North Bank and Clock End were famous parts of the old stadium.Those names continue to carry meaning at the Emirates.

Then there’s the clock itself.The famous Arsenal clock was such an important part of Highbury that a larger version now sits inside Emirates Stadium.

It’s a lovely link between the two grounds.Modern stadium.

Old traditions.

Where Should You Sit at Emirates Stadium?

This depends on the experience you want.Seats higher up give you a brilliant view of the whole pitch.

You can see formations, movement and everything developing in front of you.Lower seats bring you much closer to the action.

You’ll hear more.You’ll see the players up close.And you’ll discover just how quickly Premier League football is actually played.

Television really doesn’t show that.For a first visit, I wouldn’t become obsessed with finding the supposedly perfect seat.

Getting a legitimate ticket is considerably more important.Once you’re inside, enjoy where you are.

The First Time You See the Pitch

Every stadium has this moment.You walk through the concourse.Find the correct block.Climb the steps.And then suddenly the pitch appears.Bright green.Perfectly cut.

Thousands of red seats rising around it.The clock.The giant screens.And Arsenal’s home spread out in front of you.Don’t immediately reach for your phone.

Look first.Then take the photo.

What Can You Take Into Emirates Stadium?

This is one section to read carefully before matchday.

Arsenal currently allows bags smaller than A4 size into Emirates Stadium, and bags are inspected and tagged by the Safety Team at the turnstiles.Large bags and suitcases aren’t permitted.

The club also prohibits a range of other items, including large umbrellas, glass bottles, cans, selfie sticks and large camera equipment. Small fold-up umbrellas and clear plastic bottles of 500 ml or less are among the permitted items under the current guidance.

My solution? Take as little as possible.

Phone.Wallet.Ticket.Small power bank.

Warm layer.Done.And always check Arsenal’s latest stadium rules before travelling because policies can change.

What Should You Wear?

If you’re an Arsenal supporter, this is probably the easiest question in the article.Red.But let’s talk about London weather.Dress in layers.

Wear comfortable shoes.Bring something waterproof.You’re likely to spend quite a bit of the day walking, particularly if you’re exploring Highbury and the neighbourhood before the match.

If you’re travelling from South Africa during the English winter, don’t look at the temperature and think:

“That’s not too bad.”Sitting outside for two hours in a football stadium is very different from walking between your car and a Johannesburg restaurant.

Take the jacket.

Buying Arsenal Match Tickets

This is where international visitors need to plan carefully.Arsenal matches can be extremely difficult to get tickets for. Don’t book an entire London holiday around a ticket somebody on social media assures you is “100% genuine, mate.”

Use Arsenal’s official ticketing system or legitimate authorised channels.If hospitality fits your budget, that’s another official route worth investigating.And remember that football fixtures can move.

Television selections, cup competitions and other scheduling changes can alter dates and kick-off times during the season. Arsenal itself advises that fixtures remain subject to change until confirmed.Build some flexibility into your travel plans.

Should You Do the Emirates Stadium Tour?

Yes.Especially if you’ve travelled internationally.

The Emirates Stadium Tour gives you access to parts of Arsenal’s home that you wouldn’t normally see during a match.The regular self-guided experience takes approximately an hour, although Arsenal doesn’t impose a strict time limit. You should allow another 30 minutes or so for the museum.

One of the nice things about the self-guided format is that you aren’t being rushed around in a large group.

You can spend more time in the areas that interest you.Which is exactly what you want when you’ve travelled halfway across the world to be there.

Can You Tour Emirates Stadium on Matchday?

Yes – under certain circumstances.Arsenal currently offers Matchday Tours on home matchdays where kick-off is at 14:00 or later.

Tours operate until roughly two and a half hours before kick-off. The Matchday Tour lasts approximately one hour and currently includes areas such as the Directors’ Entrance, Directors’ Box, Diamond Club, Players’ Entrance, Lower Bowl and home dugout. European fixtures have a slightly different route.

Museum admission is included.One important detail:

No bags are allowed on the Matchday Tour route. Bags are security tagged and placed in a secure cage while you’re touring the stadium, although you can take small personal items such as your phone, wallet and small camera with you.

Visit the Arsenal Museum

Don’t do the stadium tour and then decide you’re too tired for the museum.You’ve come this far.

The Arsenal Museum tells the story of the club from its beginnings in Woolwich through Highbury and into the Emirates era.It’s where the names, shirts, trophies and moments you’ve heard about become part of one continuous story.

Allow around 30 minutes at minimum.Serious Arsenal supporters will probably want longer.And if you’re visiting the museum without doing a stadium tour, separate museum tickets are currently available too.

Can You Visit Emirates Stadium Without Watching a Match?

Absolutely. In fact, if you’re primarily interested in seeing behind the scenes, a non-matchday visit can be easier.

The Stadium Tour and Museum operate throughout the year, generally seven days a week apart from Christmas Day, although stadium events can affect availability.

Do the tour.Visit the museum.

Explore the club shop.Walk around the stadium.

Then head over to Highbury. You can easily turn it into a proper Arsenal afternoon without having a match ticket.

What About Luggage?

Leave it at your hotel.Seriously.

Arsenal currently doesn’t provide general luggage or bag-storage facilities for stadium-tour visitors, and suitcases or items larger than cabin-sized bags aren’t allowed on the tour route or inside the museum.

Dragging a suitcase around London is annoying enough. Dragging one to a football stadium only to discover you can’t take it inside is worse.

Food and Drink Around Emirates Stadium

You’re in North London.You won’t starve.

The areas around Holloway Road, Highbury and Islington have plenty of cafés, pubs, restaurants and takeaways.

On matchdays you’ll also find the usual football food options and vendors around the area.If you want the traditional pre-match experience, find somewhere filled with Arsenal supporters and embrace the noise.

If you’d prefer a calm lunch and civilised conversation? Eat earlier.Once thousands of supporters arrive, calm becomes somewhat ambitious.There are also food and drink concessions inside Emirates Stadium.

What Happens After the Match?

More than 60,000 people suddenly decide they’d like to use public transport.

Immediately.Unsurprisingly, this creates queues.

Don’t schedule a West End show for 30 minutes after the final whistle. Don’t make a dinner reservation across London that requires a perfectly timed Tube connection.

And don’t become increasingly furious because Google Maps insists the journey should only take 23 minutes.

Google Maps didn’t attend the football match.Take your time.Walk away from the stadium.Enjoy the atmosphere.Let the crowd spread out.

London will still be there.

Visiting Emirates Stadium With Children

The Emirates is a good stadium for families, but a little planning goes a long way.

Arrive early. Make sure children are dressed properly for the weather. Know which entrance you’re using.

Keep your bags small.And don’t attempt to cram every Arsenal-related activity into one exhausting day.

If you’re doing the stadium tour and attending a match, give everyone some downtime in between.

Also:Toilet before kick-off.

This remains the single most universal piece of parenting advice in football.

Arsenal also provides family-friendly toilets in several areas inside the stadium.

Accessibility at Emirates Stadium

Arsenal provides a range of facilities and assistance for visitors with accessibility requirements.

Current provisions include accessible stadium tours, lift access, accessible toilets, audio-description commentary at home matches and a Sensory Room that can be pre-booked for eligible families.

The club also offers Arsenal Access Wristbands for supporters who may need additional assistance on matchday.

If you have specific requirements, contact Arsenal’s Disability Liaison Team before your visit rather than waiting until matchday.

Planning ahead makes everything easier.

A Few First-Time Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t arrive late.

Don’t bring a giant backpack.

Don’t drive unless you genuinely need to.

Don’t buy tickets from somebody you don’t trust.

Don’t assume the match date can never move.

Don’t spend the entire afternoon staring through your phone camera.

Don’t leave before the final whistle simply because you’re worried about the Tube.

And don’t visit the Emirates without making time for Highbury.

You’re right there.

Go.

My First-Time Emirates Stadium Checklist

Before leaving your hotel, make sure your ticket is accessible and your phone is charged.

Check which station you’re using.

Know your entrance and turnstile.

Check the latest bag and prohibited-item rules.

Look at London’s weather forecast.

Then look again.

Take a jacket anyway.

Wear comfortable shoes.

And leave earlier than you think you need to.

Your first visit to Arsenal isn’t something you should rush.

Is Emirates Stadium Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. And not only for Arsenal supporters.

The Emirates is an interesting example of how a football club can move from one of England’s most famous old grounds into a modern stadium without completely abandoning its history.

Highbury is still there.The old names remain.The clock remains.

The legends surround the new stadium.And Arsenal’s history is woven through the entire experience.

The Emirates may not have been Arsenal’s home for a century.But it doesn’t pretend the century before it never happened.That’s what makes the visit interesting.

Final Whistle

My biggest piece of advice for your first visit to Emirates Stadium?

Make it an Arsenal day, not simply an Arsenal match.

Start early. Visit Highbury.

Walk the streets around the old ground.

Head towards the Emirates with the other supporters.

Walk around the stadium.

Find the statues.

Buy the scarf.

Take the photos.

Then go inside early enough to watch the stadium slowly fill around you.

And when Arsenal walk onto the pitch and more than 60,000 people rise around you, put your phone away for a moment.

You’ve seen the Emirates on television.

You’ve watched Arsenal play there.

You’ve probably seen photographs from every possible angle.

But now you’re actually there.

That’s the part you’ll remember.

Well, that and how much you spent in The Armoury.

Probably best not to check.

Enjoy this Magical Stadium and Club

Its Simply Sublime

Swoosh