How to buy tickets for football games in London – men’s club football

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England is famous for its football (or soccer to certain parts of the world). If you are planning a visit to London and you have a child who is interested in football, then you might be thinking about experiencing the atmosphere of a professional match. London is home to a number of professional football clubs, but getting tickets isn’t always straightforward. With that in mind, we have put together this guide on how to buy tickets for football games in London.

This guide focuses on how to get tickets for home matches of the various London clubs’ men’s teams. Away tickets tend to be much more limited in number and are usually much harder to obtain if you are not a regular attendee and so are not covered in this guide.

If you can’t get tickets for a match, make sure you check out our post on Football-related things to do in London with your child.

The men’s league system

The English men’s professional football league is organised in a hierarchy of leagues. At the top is the Premier League. Below this are three divisions of the English Football League – the Championship League, League One and League Two. These are the top leagues of English football and the teams that play in these leagues are those that will be most familiar to even casual football fans. At the end of each season teams are either promoted or relegated between leagues based on performance and position in the final table of standings.

There are football leagues below these leagues, but for the purposes of this guide, we have focussed on the London clubs that play in the Premier League, Championship League, League One and League Two only.

Men’s professional football clubs in London

Being a large city, London has a number of men’s football clubs within the various professional football leagues. As at the end of 2024:

• the following London football clubs play in the Premier League:
  • Arsenal
  • Brentford
  • Chelsea
  • Crystal Palace
  • Fulham
  • Tottenham Hotspur
  • West Ham United
• the following London clubs play in the Championship:
  • Millwall
  • Queens Park Rangers
• the following London clubs play in League One:
  • Charlton Athletic
  • Leyton Orient
• the following London clubs play in League Two:
  • AFC Wimbledon
  • Bromley FC
• the following London clubs play in the National League:
  • Barnet
  • Dagenham & Redbridge
  • Sutton United
  • Wealdstone

When are matches held?

The English football season runs from August to May. During that time, in addition to the League campaign, there are multiple competitions that run, sometimes concurrently, including the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup. In addition to domestic league games, there are also international competitions for club teams such as the Champions League and Europa League.

Outside of that season, you may find a few pre-season friendlies or outlying matches held in July (for example, the 2024/2025 Europa League kicked off on 11 July 2024).

During the season, matches are typically played on weekends, with some midweek fixtures.

How to find out fixtures for a particular date

If you want to find out who is playing on a particular day, the BBC Sport website is a helpful tool for checking fixtures. For those unfamiliar with football, the team listed first is the home team and the match will be played in their ground, so you are looking for London teams listed first.

Do note that although schedules are released early in the season, some matches may be moved by a day or two to accommodate TV schedules and schedule clashes. This is most likely to happen for Premier League games, it happens much more rarely with lower league matches (although weather and other events may cause postponement). The fixtures are usually set in stone 1-2 months out from the date in question.

General points

Attending football games with children

Most football clubs will welcome children of all ages to their matches. However, you should consider carefully whether attending a live football match is the right choice for you and your child.

The atmosphere at a live football match is very different from the experience of watching a game at home on TV. Aside from the fact that you will be watching the match from a fixed view point, without the angles and the commentary you get on TV, being surrounded by a crowd of fans is a very different experience. Factors to consider in deciding whether or not to take your child to a football game include:

• how well they cope with crowds;
• how well they cope with noise (ear defenders may help to an extent);
• whether you are ok with them being exposed to potentially a lot of swearing and abuse directed at the players, referee and/or opposing fans (particularly if a local derby or a high-risk game);
• how well they will sit in a seat and watch the match; and
• how well they are likely to tolerate the weather conditions both before, during and after the match – this includes the cold and wet.

Most clubs have a family stand where the atmosphere is likely to be more welcoming to younger visitors, but getting any tickets for matches can be difficult and therefore the likelihood of being able to choose to sit in one of these stands is low.

Ticket touts (scalping)

It is a criminal offence for someone to either sell a ticket for certain designated football matches (including those matching involving teams from the Football League, Football Association Premier League, Football Conference, or League of Wales), or to otherwise to dispose of such a ticket to another person, unless authorised in writing to do so by the organisers of the match.

The law criminalising ticket touting was put in place to try and prevent groups of football hooligans from obtaining tickets amongst the opposition fans and causing trouble.

Some sellers online purporting to sell tickets will be scammers, but even if the tickets you purchase from an unofficial seller are real, not only are you likely to pay an inflated price for them, but there is no guarantee that you will be able to gain entry using them. If clubs have detected that tickets were purchased to be resold, they may be invalidated and entry to the stadium may be refused.

Home vs Away

An important thing to understand about football is that fans of the home and away teams are segregated within stadiums (both in terms of seating, but also entrances and facilities). This is to limit any trouble occurring between fans of opposing clubs.

If you are a fan of a club you should not purchase tickets for the other team’s section (even if they are cheaper or more readily available). Not only could this provoke a hostile reaction from those around you, but if you are identified as being a supporter of the other team you could be removed from the stadium and potentially banned.

If you are a true neutral then you should be fine to purchase tickets in the home stadium, provided that you don’t openly support the other team (vocal support for the home team will always be welcomed by those around you). Do not wear anything that indicates support of a team other than the home club.

How to buy tickets for Premier League matches

Premier League matches are generally the most in-demand matches and the clubs playing in the Premier League have fans across the world. Therefore, getting tickets isn’t an easy matter as they are so in demand.

Although stadiums have a large capacity, only a limited number of seats will be available to purchase for each game. Most of the seats will have already been sold to season ticket holders, in addition to which, certain sections of seating will be allocated to the visiting team’s supporters. In top of this, sponsors will also have a certain number of seats allocated to them.

In general, Premier League clubs operate on the basis that available tickets are offered first to those with memberships. As a general rule, each membership offers an opportunity to buy one ticket for a game. Having membership does not usually mean that you are entitled to or guaranteed to get a ticket for a particular match. The club’s website will outline the process for obtaining tickets for any particular game but there will usually be a window within which members can either try and buy tickets (along with all of the other members) or enter a ballot in order to have the chance to buy tickets (the ballot being drawn after a particular date and the results being communicated to members).

If, after this period, there are any tickets left available, they may go on general sale, although this would be unusual.

Clubs also generally offer ticket exchanges. These ticket exchanges allow season ticket holders (and, if applicable, members who have been successful in a ballot) who are not able to attend a match to sell on their tickets. These are usually made available to members. Demand for these tickets is often high and getting even single tickets may be difficult.

Below we provide an overview of how to buy tickets for football games in London for each Premier League club.

Arsenal

Tickets for Arsenal home fixtures are sold via a ballot system exclusively for Arsenal Members. There are two levels of membership, for each of which, there is a charge.

Once the ballot has been drawn for a match, the Arsenal Ticket Exchange opens up which allows Season Ticket Holders and Members who are unable to attend a match that they were successful for in the ballot, to post their ticket so that other fans can purchase it. 

Ticket Exchange access is initially limited to Members who were unsuccessful in the ballot. The Exchange may then open to other members ahead of the game – this is communicated on a match-by-match basis via the relevant ticket information page. 

Even as a Member who is able to access the Ticket Exchange, there is no guarantee that you will be able to obtain tickets via the Ticket Exchange or that you will be able to get the number that you require for your party, especially sat together.

Brentford

Brentford’s match ticket sale procedure is operated through the use of ticket windows. The ticket windows are periods of time during which different categories of fans can buy tickets. Brentford categorise Premier League matches based on demand as either Category A or Category B, based on the expected level of demand for tickets, stadium capacities, security arrangements and club rivalries. Category A games are those that are either higher profile or higher risk games.   

To help ensure that loyal fans are able to obtain tickets, Brentford operates a loyalty points scheme whereby attendance at fixtures earns Ticket Access Points (TAPs).

The process for ticket sales for each type of match is different and is set out on the Brentford website.

Brentford offer a ticket exchange where Season Ticket Holders can list their tickets for sale if they are unable to attend a match. Members and Season Ticket holders are entitled to access the ticket exchange to buy one ticket per fixture if they have not already bought a ticket for that fixture. Certain matches require that purchasers have 40+ TAPS.

If you are buying a membership in order to access the ticket exchange (or general sale tickets), note that the membership will become active at 11am on the next working day. To ensure you have immediate eligibility to purchase tickets, Brentford recommend that you purchase your membership before the window opens. 

TOP TIP: The majority of tickets on the exchange are listed the day before matchday so it’s worth looking at this time for the best availability. 

Brentford have a Family Area and in order to purchase a match ticket in the Family Area, you must be accompanied by a junior. Most of the tickets in the Family Area have been sold to season ticket holders but access to the Family Area is available when purchasing on the ticket exchange.  

Chelsea

Tickets for Chelsea home games go on sale 42 days before the fixture. Per the Chelsea website: “For domestic home cup fixtures, tickets will be on sale first to season ticket holders who can purchase their own seat, then on sale to members – one ticket per person. Should tickets still be available after this, we will go on sale to season ticket holders and members who can purchase extra tickets. If the game is still not sold out after this period, tickets will become available to non-members, subject to availability”.

Note that some matches are sold on a loyalty point basis. This means that only members with sufficient loyalty points obtained through attendance at other matches may buy tickets. The matches that will be sold on a loyalty point basis include domestic cup finals, FA Cup semi-finals, match tickets for games against Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham. The final home match of the season will also be sold on a loyalty-point basis. Chelsea may also apply the use of the loyalty-points process to the buying of match tickets for any other fixture.

Chelsea also operate a ticket exchange that allows members to purchase any unused ticket that a season ticket holder has released for sale.

TOP TIP: If you decide to buy a membership, do so around a week before tickets are released for sale. Purchase of a membership either online or over the phone entitles you to cancel the membership within 14 days, provided it has not been used to purchase match tickets (see the terms and conditions). Purchasing a week in advance allows the membership chance to activate and also allows you time to cancel for a refund if you are unsuccessful in obtaining tickets.

Note that the family section at Stamford Bridge is located in the East Stand lower tier. 

Crystal Palace

In order to purchase a ticket for Crystal Palace, supporters must have a Season Ticket, Season Ticket+ or Membership.

The dates on which home tickets go on sale for 2024/2045 can be found here. For each fixture Gold Members, Junior Gold Members and Season Ticket+ holders enjoy an exclusive 72-hour priority window to secure their tickets before they go on sale to all other members. After that, if there are any tickets available, supporters are able to purchase guest tickets.

International Members have the ability to reserve tickets for one match before they go on sale. Due to high demand, exclusive ticket reservations are only available for the following 2024/2025 fixtures: Everton, Aston Villa, Ipswich Town, Brighton & Hove Albion, AFC Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers. This can be done within the Member Hub.

Crystal Palace operate a Ticket Resale platform that allows Season Ticket holders to list their seat for resale in the event they are unable to attend a home fixture. Season Ticket holders or Members are able to purchase resale tickets.

Fulham

Tickets go on sale for Fulham home games approximately six weeks prior to the date of the game. Information on the Fulham website will confirm for each match:

• Onsale date for Season Ticket Holders
• Onsale date for Members
• Maximum number of tickets per applicant
• Loyalty Points (Loyalty Points will be used by the Club as a means of administering the sale of tickets for ‘in demand’ games)

Often a General Sale date will also be included in the ticket information announcement. Any general sale will be subject to availability after the Season Ticket Holders’ & Members’ periods of sale.

Unlike other Premier League clubs and except where loyalty points are used as a means of determining eligibility to purchase tickets, Fulham allows members to purchase two tickets for a home match (excluding home matches which are categorised as category A+ and category A where each member has the right to purchase one ticket for each home match) during a specified period prior to each home match. 

TOP TIP: Cup games are generally easier to get tickets to as for these games Season Ticket Holders are required to repurchase their seats and, as a result, many decide not to do so, which frees up more tickets.

The Fulham Ticket Exchange gives Season Ticket Holders the opportunity to list their seats to be purchased by other supporters, if they are unable to attend a specific home league fixture. Season Ticket Holders can make their ticket available on the Ticket Exchange once the match has sold out.

Family Area Tickets must be purchased over the phone.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham have two membership tiers – One Hotspur and One Hotspur +. One Hotspur + Members receive all the benefits of One Hotspur membership plus additional ticketing priority and a position on the Season Ticket Waiting List.

Tottenham operate on-sale windows during which tickets for two or three matches at a time will be released for sale (matches are sold individually and not as packages).

Each fixture goes on sale first to One Hotspur + and One Hotspur Members. There will be a 24-hour priority window for One Hotspur + Members to purchase tickets. Tickets are then released to all Members the following day.

If there are tickets remaining then they will go on general sale to non-members, although this is unlikely.

Once tickets sold by Tottenham have sold out, the Ticket Exchange platform opens to Members to offer an opportunity to purchase tickets that have been released by season ticket holders for purchase by members. If a game goes on general sale, then the Ticket Exchange platform will be open to all supporters.

West Ham United

For Premier League home matches, Members of West Ham are given an exclusive sales period in which to purchase a ticket. After the period of sale to Members has passed, if there are still tickets left then the game will go on general sale to supporters subject to meeting any qualifying sales criteria and restrictions.

For home cup matches, Bondholders have first option on ticket purchases. After that, tickets will then go on sale to Season Ticket Holders not registered to the Home Cup scheme. Members will then be given an exclusive sales period in which to purchase a ticket. After the period of sale to Members has passed, and should tickets remain, the game will go on General Sale to supporters subject to meeting any qualifying sales criteria and restrictions.

West Ham operate a Ticket Exchange that allows Season Ticket Holders who are unable to attend to resist their ticket for sale. Unlike with some other clubs, the West Ham Ticket Exchange is not restricted to club members.

Alternative options for buying Premier League club tickets

If you can’t get general admission tickets directly from the club, there are a number of possible options for getting tickets.

Hospitality tickets

All of the Premier League clubs offer hospitality packages which are a premium way to experience a football match. These packages include tickets and a number of perks, which can include seats in prime viewing areas, pre-match meals or food, complementary drinks, access to lounges and sometimes other benefits.

Hospitality packages are significantly more expensive than regular tickets and as such, are not normally purchased by regular fans. Demand for these tickets is usually lower and therefore, even when a match is otherwise sold out, hospitality tickets are likely to be available via a club’s website. Purchasing hospitality tickets takes a lot of the stress out of purchasing tickets, but you will pay a premium for them.

Approved resale sites

As noted above, resale of tickets without permission of the match organiser is a criminal offence. In addition to which, there is no guarantee that tickets available online are authentic or valid.

There are some authorised resale sites online. The tickets available via these sites may be more expensive than those available from the clubs, but may offer a route to obtaining tickets if you cannot get them direct. P1 Travel is one example of such a reseller.

To ensure that you are purchasing from an authorised reseller, clubs often offer online lists or tools by which you can check the legitimacy of a reseller (for example, see Arsenal’s tool).

Approved resellers will also sell hospitality or travel packages (see for example Champions Travel).

International supporters’ clubs

If you are a supporter that is based abroad, check whether there are any supporter clubs in your country and whether they get any allocations of tickets or can offer any other support in obtaining tickets.

Alternatively, it may be worth emailing the box office of your chosen club, explaining that you are an international fan to see whether there is any help they can offer in obtaining tickets. Whilst there is no guarantee they will be able to do anything for you other than helping you understand your options, in some cases they might be able to help you directly in obtaining tickets.

How to get tickets for Championship League club matches

If you are unable to get tickets to a Premier League club match, consider watching a Championship or League One or Two game instead. These lower-league matches often offer a more lively experience, are usually cheaper, and tickets are much easier to obtain.

Millwall

Tickets for Millwall home games can be purchased online without the need for membership.

Queen’s Park Rangers (QPR)

Tickets for QPR home games can generally be purchased online without the need for membership (although members will get access to member pre-sales). For certain games, ticket purchases may be restricted to supporters registered on the QPR database by a specified date.

QPR have a dedicated Family Stand, which offers a more family-friendly atmosphere and certain other facilities for families.

How to get tickets for League One matches

Charlton Athletic

Tickets for Charlton Athletic can be purchased online here.

Charlton Athletic’s Family Stand is located in the North-East quadrant of the stadium. For more information on visiting as a family, see here.

Leyton Orient

After a priority period of sales to Season Card Holders and Members, tickets for Leyton Orient home games go on general sale online.

The Incite Consulting Community Stand is Leyton Orient’s designated Family Stand. For more information on visiting as a family, see here. 

How to get tickets for League Two matches

AFC Wimbledon

Tickets for AFC Wimbledon can be purchased online here. Membership offers priority ticket access, including £3 off for one home league game match ticket, per fixture.

AFC Wimbledon also operate a ticket resale platform.

Bromley

Tickets for Bromley can be purchased online here.

Have you enjoyed attending a football match in London? Tell us all about it and give us your tips on how to buy tickets for football games in London in the comments!