Bend it Like Beckham at the UEFA Champions League

Excitement is building up as the UEFA Champions League Final is scheduled to take place at Wembley Stadium in London on 25^th May. The event is all set to mark the 150^th anniversary of the English Football Association, and promises to be one not to be missed. If that’s not all, London will also host the 2013 UEFA Women’s Champions League in the same week.

Universally known as the Champions League, this is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, with the creme de la creme of European football competing for glory. The tournament has several stages, with knock-out rounds that occur over the preceding months, and the final 16 teams entering the knockout phase, culminating in the final in May. The stakes are high, with the winner of the UEFA Champions League qualifying for the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Head Underground

London is a big city, but it is easy to get around thanks to the London Tube. Wembley Stadium can be reached from three different stations. Wembley Park Station is on the Jubilee and Metropolitan Lines, Wembley Central Station on the Bakerloo and London Overground Lines and Wembley Stadium Station accessible on Chiltern Railways. National Express also runs coach services to the venue.  Whilst you can drive to Wembley Stadium, it isn’t advisable as parking is limited and the traffic can get rather congested.

Tickets to the UEFA Champions League are sold through a ballot system on the official UEFA website. Only two tickets can be allotted per person, but you have to be in it to win it.  If you are part of a fan club of one of the finalist teams you may also be able to purchase tickets directly from the football club. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to get a ticket, you can still explore this famous stadium with the Wembley Stadium Tour which operates daily.  The tour is popular with tourists and locals alike and it is recommended that you book in advance.

 The game of football would be incomplete without its ardent fans. Photo Credit: World of Good / flickr Put Your Feet Up

To make sure you are close to the action, it is worthwhile staying near the stadium. The Premier Inn is a mid-range hotel located opposite Wembley Park station. There are also several well-known chains located nearby, including the Hilton Wembley and Ibis Wembley. If you are willing to spend a little extra you can stay at the Green Man Hotel, which also has a pub and is a great place to celebrate (or commiserate) after the game.

As is English tradition, no football game is truly complete without a chilled pint of beer, and there are plenty of cosy English pubs near the stadium to fulfill your desire. These include JJ Moon’s, which also serves traditional English bar food and has some of the world’s best lagers. If you are looking for a place to watch the game, there are several sports bars in the area with large screens and a jovial atmosphere. Some worth trying include The First Class Sports Bar and the Piri Piri Sports Bar.

With so many choices near Wembley Stadium, there is no excuse for you to miss out on the game. Want to catch the action? MakeMyTrip offers flights and hotels in London.