Tottenham Hotspur Stadium · Wembley Stadium · Autumn fixtures
NFL London: a four-hour event, not a football match
An NFL game in London runs to about four hours from kick-off, on top of a couple of hours of build-up before it. The crowd is mixed, families are everywhere, nobody is segregated and a large share of people are wearing the shirt of a team that is not even playing. It is not a football booking.
Of game time, once stoppages and the half-time break are counted, on top of the build-up beforehand. A three-thirty kick-off does not finish at five past five, and that is the single most common misunderstanding on these bookings.
What NFL London is actually like
If you have booked us for a Spurs or England game, adjust every expectation.
At all
Fans of both teams, and of thirty others, sit together throughout. It changes the whole feel.
Four hours of game
Plus build-up. Arrive early, and do not book a collection for two hours after kick-off.
A large share
Which makes for a good-natured crowd and a slower, gentler exit.
Tottenham or Wembley
Different postcodes, different closures, different collection points. Check your ticket.
Which stadium
Games are split between two venues, and they are nothing alike to get out of.
| Venue | Postcode | Exit |
|---|---|---|
| Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | N17 | Purpose-built for the NFL, with the retractable pitch. Dense residential streets around |
| Wembley Stadium | HA9 | Wide closure ring, and the longest walk out of any London venue |
| Which you have | On your ticket | Tell us. They are seven miles and two entirely different plans apart |
How the day actually runs
Built around a typical afternoon kick-off, which is the most common London slot.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 3 to 4 hours before | Gates open. A large part of the crowd arrives early for the build-up |
| 14:30 | Kick-off |
| Around 15:30 | Half time, and it is a long one |
| 18:15–18:45 | Game ends. Four hours is normal, not unusual |
| Then a slow exit | Good-natured, unhurried, and with a lot of families |
| We collect from 19:00 | Well outside the closures, 15 to 25 minutes' walk |
Planning an NFL London trip
Do not book the return for two hours after kick-off
This is the mistake we see most often, made by people applying football timings to a completely different sport. Four hours of game time is normal. A half past two kick-off finishes closer to half past six than to half past four, and a vehicle booked on football assumptions will be sitting there for two hours. Tell us the kick-off and we will set the return properly.
Check which stadium you are at
London games are split between Tottenham and Wembley, which are seven miles apart in different parts of north London, with different road closures and different collection arrangements. Tottenham was rebuilt with the NFL in mind and has its own approach; Wembley has the widest closure ring of anywhere we operate. Your ticket will say which.
The crowd makes it a good group day
No segregation, a great many families, and supporters of teams that are not even playing, all mixing without any of the edge you get at a big football fixture. That means groups can be collected together regardless of allegiance, children are genuinely welcome, and the exit, while slow, is entirely good-humoured.
Arrive earlier than you think you need to
A large share of the crowd turns up two or three hours before kick-off for the build-up, which is part of the occasion rather than an afterthought. It also means the approach roads are busy long before a football crowd would be arriving. We plan the drop-off on that basis unless you tell us otherwise.
NFL London questions
Two venues, four hours, no segregation.
How long does an NFL game last?
About four hours from kick-off once stoppages and the long half-time break are counted, on top of a couple of hours of build-up beforehand. It is much longer than a football match.
Which stadium will our game be at?
Either Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in N17 or Wembley in HA9. They are seven miles apart with different closures and different collection points, so check your ticket and tell us.
When should we book the return?
Well after kick-off plus two hours. A half past two start finishes closer to half past six. We set the collection from the real finish time, not a football assumption.
Is there segregation?
None. Supporters of both teams, and of many others, sit together throughout. It makes for a good-natured crowd and means groups travel together regardless of allegiance.
Is it suitable for children?
Very. Families make up a large share of the crowd and the atmosphere is nothing like a big football fixture.
What time should we arrive?
Earlier than for football. Much of the crowd arrives two or three hours before kick-off for the build-up, and the approach roads are busy well in advance.
Where do you collect?
Well outside the road closures at either venue, which means a fifteen to twenty-five minute walk to a road that is moving.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking and unaffected by how long the game runs or by the exit queues.
London stadiums and guides
The big venues and how to leave them.