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The Football Fanatic’s Guide To London Stadiums (With Halal Food Nearby!)

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Teh Athira Yusof •  Dec 17, 2015

[UPDATED 11 Apr 2019 - added Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium]

So you’re in London, you’ve been to Oxford Circus, and honestly, as exciting as shopping all day in Primark sounds, you need more out of London. We've got an idea - why not check out the football stadiums around London?

[P.S. If you're visiting London with other cities in Europe, check out our 9D8N London-Amsterdam-Paris itinerary!]

Credit: Giphy

Why would you want to check out football stadiums anyway? Well, you’re in the same city where football legends were made. But if you’re not heading up north to see the Old Trafford then you should spend your time in London wisely. You can try to see all the stadiums in two days (do plan ahead!) and it will make everyone happy - even the shopaholic one in the group.

And if you're concerned about halal food, don't worry as we've got just the perfect guide you'll need to conquer London's stadiums on a full tummy ?

1. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (NEW!)

We'll start with this brand new stadium in London! Where are all the Spurs fans??‍♂️ You'll definitely want to visit this stadium which had its first match not long ago in end-March.

Credit: Tottenham Hotspur on Facebook

Tottenham's new home can sit up to 62,000 spectators - it's the biggest stadium in London and now the second biggest Premier League venue (after Old Trafford). Just imagine your excitement when you step into this stadium to catch a match. There's even an upscale hotel here with plenty of retail and food options. Not to mention a Skywalk where fans can climb 40 metres up the exterior of the stadium ?

Do note that stadium tours and skywalk are not available yet. Check out their website for updates!

Address: 782 High Rd, Tottenham, London N17 0BX, UK

Opening hours:

Shop - 10am - 5pm (Mon - Sat), 10.30am - 4.30pm (Sun)

Nearest tube stations: White Hart Lane and Northumberland Park

Halal food options nearby:

Hilal Restaurant

Need to fill your tummy after visiting Tottenham Stadium? Head over to Hilal Restaurant just down the road! There's a great selection of Turkish dishes here - the meat platter can feed up to 3 people and comes in generous portions of succulent meat.

Credit: @shahanshykh on Instagram

Their chicken shish and lamb stew are worth trying too ? Plus, the restaurant has consistently been commended as having great service and the perfect atmosphere for families. Also, if you need to do your prayers, Hilal has a dedicated prayer space too.

Halal status: Halal-certified (by Halal Monitoring Committee)

Address: 229 - 231 Fore St, Edmonton, London N18 2TZ, UK

Opening hours: 7am - 12am daily

Contact No: +44 20 8807 9821

2. Wembley Stadium

The largest stadium in the UK and not to be missed, you need to know that not only does it host UEFA matches but also NFL (American football anyone?) games as well. We highly recommend going to a match here because the atmosphere before and after any match is priceless!

Wembley-Stadium-London

If you're looking for other attractions specifically for the shopaholics, then head over to the London Designer Outlet. There are brands like Nike, Adidas, Asics and others, with outlet prices of up to 50% off.

#HHWT Tip: The best time to shop is during the festive season so you can enjoy more sales! Also, Wembley hosts concerts, so you might want to check their website for upcoming events.

Opening Hours:

Tours 10am - 12pm, 12pm - 2pm, 2pm - 3pm (last entry at 3pm)

Merchandise store Non-event days:Mon - Fri,10am - 5pm (winter)/10am - 6pm (summer), Sun, 11am - 5pm

*Opening hours vary on event days

Tour ticket price: Adults - £19. Children (under 16), students and seniors (over 65) - £12, Family ticket (4 pax) - £54

Nearest tube station: Wembley Park (Metropolitan Line) or Wembley, London HA9 0WS

Halal food options nearby:

Handmade Burger Co.

While you're at Wembley and feeling hungry, head over to Handmade Burger Co. located on the second floor of London Designer Outlet just opposite the stadium. Try the jerk chicken burger (£7.85) and their sinful banana peanut butter milkshake (£4.50). Do note that only the chicken and beef is halal-certified and needs to be requested. Rest assured, the halal meat is cooked on a separate grill. You can check out this link for more info.

handmade-burger-and-co-london

Credit: Handmade Burger Co.

You’ll also love the freshly baked bread that's made from scratch. The burger is definitely a winner here because it’s the perfect combination of spicy and savoury.

#HHWT Tip: Do call them to ask about halal meat beforehand as supply is limited and you won't want to be disappointed!

Halal status: Halal meat available and it's stored and prepared separately from non-halal meat, alcohol is served in establishment

Address: L2, London Designer Outlet, Wembley Park Boulevard, Wembley, HA9 0FD

Opening hours: Mon-Thur, 12-10pm, Fri-Sat, 11.30am-10.30pm, Sun, 12pm - 10pm, Event days, 11am - 10.30pm

Contact: +44 20 8902 7857

Website 

Nando's Wembley

If you're not into burgers and up for something a little bit spicier, head down to Nando's Wembley. Who could possibly resist Nando's flame-grilled Peri-Peri chicken??

Credit: @lopezjanet_15 on Instagram

Flavourful and filled with spice, take your pick from 5 different spicy levels. No matter which level you pick, Nando's hearty dishes will delight your tastebuds. Nando's Wembley is one of 73 Nando's outlets in the UK which only serves halal chicken so you eat your fill without any worry!

Halal status: Only halal chicken used

Address: 420-422 High Road, Wembley, HA9 6AH

Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 10.30am - 11pm, Sun, 12pm-11pm

Contact: +44 20 8795 3564

Website 

Sugar Mill

If you're looking for light bites, pop over to Sugar Mill for their mouthwatering desserts! After all, there's always room for dessert right??

Credit: @sugarmillwembley on Instagram

Try their fluffy pancakes or churros which will satisfy those with sweet tooth cravings. The best part is, Sugar Mill's desserts are all alcohol-free.

Credit: @sugarmillwembley on Instagram

If you're hoping to have a more proper meal, you can indulge in their savoury items as their chicken and lamb are halal.

Halal status: Chicken and lamb are halal for lunch and dinner, Weekend breakfasts are not halal, alcohol is served in establishment

Address: 3 Lakeside Way, Wembley, HA9 0BU

Opening hours: Tue-Fri, 11am-11pm, Sat, 10am-12am, Sun, 10am-11pm, closed on Mondays

Contact: +440203 330 0236

3. Stamford Bridge Stadium

stamford-bridge-stadium-london

Credit: Marek on Flickr 

Often referred to as the Chelsea Village, the stadium is situated in London’s posh area. Check out the Centenary Museum where you’ll find memorabilia of the club such as Jose Mourinho’s coat. The two-storey megastore is huge and makes you feel the need to buy their jersey. Also, don’t forget to take a picture at their East entrance wall featuring the latest team line up.

Opening Hours: Tours10am - 3pm (Tours will depart every 30 min). Museum9.30am to 5pm. No tours on home game days.

Ticket prices: Adult (16+) - from £19. Children (under 15) - from £13 *Free admission for under 5. Concession - from £14. Check out the website for schedule

Nearest tube station: Fulham Broadway (District Line) or Stamford Bridge, Fulham Rd, London SW6 1HS

Halal food options nearby:

German Doner Kebab Fulham Broadway

This popular kebab chain took the UK by storm when it opened in 2016 and we can totally understand why! It has every type of kebab you can possibly think of - even quesadilla kebabs ?

Credit: @germandonerkebabuk on Instagram

You can even have kebab burgers and nachos with kebabs. It'll be hard not to love kebabs at this joint.

Credit: @donerkebabqa on Instagram

All of the meat at German Doner Kebabs are halal-certified and it's the same one used in all their other outlets around the world such as the UAE, Qatar and even Sweden. So, time to savour those yummy kebabs ?

Halal status: Halal-certified meats used (from Halal Quality Control, Germany)

Address: 7 Fulham Broadway, London, SW6 1AA

Opening hours: Mon-Sun, 11am - 11pm

Contact: +44 020 7386 9990

Zheng Chelsea

While travelling in London, you might probably miss a taste of home and want to indulge in some comfort food. Well, Zheng Chelsea is the perfect place to if you're missing home. Named after Chinese-Muslim explorer Zheng He, this highly recommended luxury restaurant serves a mix of Malaysian cuisine plus food from other parts of Asia.

Credit: @zheng_chelsea on Instagram

Ah, having familiar dishes like satay and rendang after a cold day out in London is just the perfect way to end your day ? Don't forget to indulge in their drinks and dessert too - such as teh tarik and bubur hitam.

Credit: @zheng_chelsea on Instagram

We hear their crispy roast duck is a must-try too! And rest assured, the food at Zheng Chelsea is all halal. It was opened by husband and wife team chef Izlinda Baharom and Adam Abdullah. So, you should definitely not miss this lovely restaurant when you're in Chelsea!

Halal status: Muslim-owned

Address: 4, Sydney St, Chelsea, London SW3 6PP

Opening hours: Click here to find out more

Contact: +44 020 7352 9890

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Bosphorus Kebabs

Bosphorus Kebabs is located at South Kensington, the next station after Fulham Broadway. This hole-in-the-wall eatery is popular with the lunch and evening crowd. Their selection of Turkish kebabs is just irresistible.

bosphorus-kebab-london

Credit: @saeedeats

The mixed grill kebab (from £6.60) is ideal for sharing and you should have it as take out as the shop is quite small. Bosphorus Kebabs has been highly raved with some people even labelling it as the best kebabs in London. With such high praise, you should definitely make the trip down to try it!

Halal status: Muslim-owned

Address: 59 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington SW7 3J

Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-11.30pm, Sun, 12-11pm

Contact: +44 20 7584 4048

4. Emirates Stadium

Emirates-stadium-outdoor

Being the third largest stadium in England after Old Trafford and Wembley, you should visit Arsenal’s Emirates stadium. What’s interesting about this stadium is the historical statues built all over the stadium. The merchandise store, Arsenal Armory, is worth checking out too. Get your smartphones ready, as the area is an Instagram-worthy place, with their tribute tiles in front of the store.

Tribute-tiles---Arsenal

Opening times: Stadium tours10am - 5pm (Mon - Fri), 9.30am - 6pm (Sat), 10am - 4pm (Sun), last entry is 1 hour before closing time

Arsenal Armoury9pm - 6pm (Monday to Saturday), 10am – 4pm (Sundays)

Tour ticket price: Adults - £25. Children (Under 16) - £16. Concession - £20. Find out more here.

Nearest Station(s): Arsenal (Piccadilly Line) – three minute walk, Finsbury Park (Victoria and Piccadilly Lines) – 10 minute walk, Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line) – 10 minute walk or Emirates Stadium, Hornsey Rd, London N7 7AJ

Halal food options nearby:

Roosters Piri Piri

Just a walking distance away from the Emirates Stadium is Finsbury Park - where there's a mosque, Islamic centre and numerous halal shops in the area. One of them is Roosters Piri Piri which sells a variety of grilled meat with different spice levels, a la Nando's.

Credit: @a.hwang_ on Instagram

Take your pick from their different sauces ranging from Piri Piri, Lebanese, Mexican and Tikka. Each has its own distinct flavour and you can choose the one which suits your taste buds. Warning though, the Piri Piri sauce is really hot!

Halal status: Halal meat used

Address: 2-8 Stroud Green Rd, Harringay, London N4 2DF

Opening hours: Sun-Wed, 11am-11pm, Thur, 11am-1.30am, Fri-Sat, 11am-3.15am

Contact: +44 20 8809 3938

Website

Uyghur Restaurant Finsbury Park

We've covered Middle Eastern, Western and even Malaysian food in London. Now, did you know that you can find halal authentic Uyghur cuisine in London as well?? Here's your chance to try something new!

Credit: Andre Kriegler on Facebook

The food here is as authentic as it gets! If you love your food spicy, make sure you try their Big Plate Chicken.

Credit: Haloodie Foodie on Facebook

A must-try dish at Uyghur Restaurant will definitely have to be their leghmen pulled noodles. This dish is a crowd pleaser and you know you'll want to come back for more.

Halal status: Muslim-owned

Address: 27 Blackstock Rd, London N4 2JF

Opening hours: 11am - 11pm (Mon - Fri), 11am - 11.30pm (Sat - Sun)

Contact: +44 7510 779209

Website | Facebook

5. Loftus Road Stadium

Home to the Queens Park Rangers, this stadium is located in the West London area. As QPR is planning to move to a new stadium in years to come, this is the best chance for you to visit this iconic stadium.

queens-park-rangers-fc-london-stadium

Credit: Football Tripper

It is the perfect place to visit as it is close to Westfield Shepherd’s Bush so you can meet up with your friends after the match or tour.

Opening hours:

Stadium tours are only available on certain days. Check out the full schedule here.

Shop – 10:00am to 5:00pm

Tour ticket prices: Adults - £15. Young adults (18-21), Seniors (over 60), Juniors (under 18) - £7.50

Nearest tube stations: White City (Central Line) - 5 minute walk, Wood Lane Station (Hammersmith & City line) - 7 minute walk to Loftus Road or Queens Park Rangers Football & Athletic Club, Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, W12 7PJ

Halal food options nearby:

Comptoir Libanais

Around the Westfield shopping centre, there’s a variety of halal options. I’ve tried the Middle Eastern restaurant called the Comptoir Libanais and had a Lamb Kofta Wrap. Priced at £5.95, the spiced minced lamb hummus complete with pickled cucumber and tomato wrap is the perfect meal for those who have had a long journey or have done sprints around the mall.

Comptoir-Libanais-london

Credit: Comptoir Libanais

A good tip during this trip is to not get stressed out if you get lost. I went with my brothers and we fought a lot trying to find the tube stations. However, try to talk to the locals if you can’t find your way around and they’ll be happy to help. Just don’t be shy. It’s a good idea to plan ahead, as tour tickets prices might be slightly higher over the counter than online.

Halal status: Halal-certified

Address: 1 Ariel Way, White City, London W12 7SL, UK (this branch is currently closed due to refurbishment, do check their website for updates!)

Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-10pm, Sun, 11am-7pm

Contact: +44020 8811 2222

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Now that you've got a complete guide of all the halal food around stadiums in London, you can go stadium-hunting and fill your tummy at the same time? With so many different cuisines to choose from, you can have a variety of halal food while in London.

So, enjoy and have fun!