Stadium tours
Outside matchday, a tour is the way to see the inside of a ground: the tunnel, the dressing rooms and the pitch-side areas that are invisible when the stands are full.
How to choose and book a tour
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Combining a tour with a matchday visit is difficult unless you are in the city for several days, because tours usually stop running in the 24 hours before a home fixture.
If your trip does not include a match, a tour is still worth the entry fee: you see the tunnel, the dressing rooms and the pitch-side areas that are invisible on a normal matchday.
On tickets: buy through the club or the official competition channel. Inflated resale prices are a genuine feature of the biggest fixtures at grounds this size, and they are avoidable.
If you are travelling specifically for the ground rather than the match, midweek league fixtures are usually easier to get into than weekend or European matches.
Prices vary enormously by competition and by stand. A domestic league seat in a side stand is usually the best value; a European night at the same ground can cost several times as much for a comparable position.
What separates a good tour from a poor one
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Dressing rooms and tunnel | The core of almost every tour. |
| Pitch-level access | The most valued stop; sometimes restricted. |
| Museum included | Worth paying for when it is a real exhibition. |
| Technical features | Retractable roofs and pitches define the best tours. |
| Tour timing | Non-matchdays only; check the fixture list first. |
Before you book
- Check the fixture list before booking: tours pause around home matchdays.
- Confirm the stops included: dressing rooms, tunnel, dugouts and pitch level.
- Choose a weekday slot if you can: weekends and holidays sell out first.
- Allow more time than the tour lasts: security and the walk in add to the visit.
- A tour and a match on the same day rarely work at a large ground.