A sporting tour of London

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A sporting tour of London

The city of London is famed for a lot of things; alongside New York it is the greatest city in the world. However, travel pieces on the city have been done to death. We all know the ins and outs of the tourist hotspots in London. Anyone going to the city will already be 'in the know' when it comest to what to do at Oxford Circus, Covent Garden, Hyde Park, and will already have a clear idea of what iconic landmarks they want to go and see.

This article is not for those wanting to look at the tourist sights of the city. If you want to find an article that talks about that then a quick Google search will satisfy. No, this is a piece that celebrates London's iconic sporting culture. The English capital is regarded as the epicentre for sport across the world, and therefore makes it the ideal destination for any sports fan to visit. Of course, drinking usually goes in tandem with sport so we will touch on some of the best bars in the surrounding areas of noteworthy venues.

So without further ado, allow us to give you a crash course in London's ridiculous sporting heritage.

Football

by londonfilmgeek - Wembley Stadium

As the most popular sport in the world, let alone the country, football plays a huge part in British culture. The Premier League, which is the most popular and lucrative football division in the world, is certainly well served in the capital.

It then hit me: I have no idea how to play this game. So I asked one of the dealers if he had a free second to give me a crash course on how to play roulette. -Well, let's start with the very basics- said the croupier, "This large wheel is, of course, the roulette, it has 36 numbers and a 0 where where the ball can land" You give me a bet on where you think this white ball is gonna land" he said pointing at the small white ball held between his index finger and thumb and if you hit your bet, -you could win up to 35 times your original bet- he added. "Or you can try doing smaller bets by just guessing what colour case the ball will land on or if it will be an odd or even number, though that doesn't payout nearly as much. "Beautiful, thank you very much. Can I place a bet to see how it goes for me?" I asked.

-By all means, Sir, what's your pick?- he asked. After giving it careful thought, I blurted "13 black" as I put some chips forward. The dealer spun the roulette, it turned, turned and turned as the ball bumped and ricocheted between the numbers before solidly landing on zero, "I'm sorry, sir, it seems the house wins tonight" as he took my chips.

After a few hours and few quid in the red, I decided to take a little breather to clear my mind, so I took a little detour to one of the outdoor smoking terraces, I'm not much of a smoker myself, but it's the next best thing short of going back on the street. A man in a baseball cap and was in a corner, sipping his drink, but he ignored me. I went over to the railing to watch London's night life in action. On the street, a traffic jam extends for at least a few kilometers, double deckers, compact cars and many taxi cabs honking their horns in a futile attempt to make the other cars go faster. But like myself, they're gonna be here for quite a while, I sincerely don't want to go sleep, at least not yet, I'm feeling pessimistic, but maybe my luck will turn around.

We will start with Stamford Bridge, as it looks likely to be the home of the Premier League champions come May. Although the Bridge is the home of Chelsea FC it is found in Fulham. This hospitable West London venue houses just shy of 42,000 fans on matchday, all of whom have grown expectant of good football. In fitting with the glorious football and surroundings are some of the best pubs in the capital.

by Erik Daniel Drost - Stamford Bridge

Under the Bridge is a fantastic pub to visit before or after a match. Not only is it in close proximity to the ground but it also serves as a live music venue with acts like Kasabian and Professor Green treading the boards recently.

Arsenal are the team to challenge Chelsea's dominion of London. Their stadium, The Emirates, is far more impressive than Chelsea's and is certainly worth having a tour of - especially considering how much match day tickets can be at the ground. A tour of the stadium gets you unprecedented access to the inner workings of the stadium and allows you to actually get your hands on the FA Cup, something that Arsenal are well placed to defend this season.

by Jérémy Couture - The Emirates

This hulking structure is an architectural triumph while the surrounding area is a paradise for any drinker, but to really appreciate the culture and identity of the club then a trip to The Gunners pub has to be on the cards.

North London is also home to Tottenham, Arsenal's most bitter rivals. Their stadium, White Hart Lane, is too small for the fanbase, and therefore rather cramped. However, the confined surroundings help produce a sound of real thunder, a source of intimidation for many a side.

by Martin Hesketh - White Hart Lane

While Tottenham may not possess the same amount of stars as Chelsea or Arsenal, they still put on a good spectacle and are worth checking out. A matchday pint in The Bricklayers will tell you all you need to know about the Spurs faithful.

Over in the east you have West Ham. Now if you wanted to experience what real English football games are about, Upton Park is your destination. These passionate fans are some of the most vociferous in the country. Being part of the masses in the Chicken Run will make the hairs on the back of your neck - the single tier stand practically sees supporters standing on top of each other, it is intimate and immersive regardless of whether you are a regular football fan or simply there on a one-off occasion. West Ham have always been a working man's club, and are often keen to give back to society; something they will be able to do more of considering the new television deal.

The fans are real fans rather than the corporate clients that can make up large sections of the crowd of the three teams mentioned prior. Sadly you are running out of time to experience the delights of Upton Park. The Hammers won the right to take over the lease of the Olympic Stadium and will move there permanently in 18 months time. Although it won't have the bespoke charm of Upton Park, it should still have the undeniable roar of West Ham fans. If you don't mind getting wet, Hammers' fans have a tendency for throwing beer around when they are chanting before matches, then a swift one in the Boleyn Tavern is recommended.

South of the river is Crystal Palace, who play their games at Selhurst Park and their current trend of poor footballing performances are consistently compensated by their brilliant fans. Some sports writers rank the stadium as the best in the league thanks to the home support, whose drone can be heard for the entirety of the game. By the end of the 90 minutes, thanks to their incessant singing, you will be familiar with nearly all of the chants.

by Richard.Fisher - Selhurst Park

Bars don't make a great account for themselves in this area, but you'll be having that much fun with the fans inside the stadium that you won't be needing a pre match drink; just get to the stadium early and muck around with the supporters in the stands.

Wembley Stadium, the home of the English national side is also in the capital. The stadium, which is regarded as many as the finest stadium in the world, was well worth the wait and the reported �798 million. Catching a game there is difficult due to the limited international fixture list, but the stadium is available for tours on most days.

Darts

by [Duncan] - Alexandra Palace

London is the venue for the two biggest PDC darts events of the year. The Premier League of Darts, which is currently underway, is quickly becoming one of the hottest sporting events in the country. Barry Hearn had the novel idea of taking darts out of clubs and into arenas, giving these live events an even better vibe. Since 2012 the final of the tournament - an evening involving two semi finals and a final - has been held at the O2 Arena. An evening at the darts is like no other. It is a great drinking occasion, so you won't be needing to head to any pubs beforehand, while the jovial atmosphere that is permeated by humorous chanting is hard not to get caught up in. Then there is the actual action itself. Believe it or not, darts is one of the most pulsating sports in the world, and a ticket to the final of the Premier League of Darts final is certainly a rare commodity.

by markescapes - The O2

However, London hosts a far more important darting spectacle at the turn of every year. We are of course talking about the World Championship of Darts, which is held at the iconic Alexandra Palace in North London. The venue is a hybrid of club and arena; it's too big to be classed as the former and too small for the latter, and thus makes for really special occasion. You have the vocal atmosphere of an arena, but you have the proximity that a club allows. Over the years the venue has seen moments of magic. Perennial darts favourite Michael van Gerwen hitting 17 perfect darts springs to mind, as does Gary Anderson's success this year against the mighty Phil Taylor in the final.

Just like in its heyday in the 1980s, darts is once again at the height of British consciousness. It is more than a niche sport now, and once you visit either location you will understand why.

Rugby

by Redruth Rugby - Twickenham

With the World Cup coming up later this year, rugby in the capital has never been more important. The competition will be played in three London venues: the Olympic Stadium, Wembley, and Twickenham. It is the last stadium we focus on as it is the home of English rugby.

Twickenham, located in Richmond, is the largest sole-purpose rugby stadium in the world with a capacity of 82,000. The English fans that walk through the turnstiles bring the same vigour and intensity that you would expect from the boys on the pitch. Once they get a rendition of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot reverberating around the stadium you will be captivated; hell, you'll feel English.

Pints and rugby are nearly synonymous, but the best pub to go to whilst in the area has to be The Cabbage Patch, which the owners believe to be the most famous rugby pub in the world.

There are other rugby stadiums in London which are used by clubs like London Wasps, Saracens, Harlequins and London Irish. However, unless you are a rugby aficionado then there is little point going to a home game.

by BOMBMAN - Lords

Cricket

London is a mecca for most cricket fans. Don't be fooled by what they tell you in Melbourne, Lords is the most famous cricket ground in the world. You don't get the tagline "Home of Cricket" for anything less. When the national side aren't playing here you can indulge in a Middlesex match, and even if there isn't a game going on you still take in the sheer splendour of this cricketing mausoleum. An all-star game held last summer marked the stadium's 200th birthday, meaning it has lived through four French republics, and nine British monarchs. With such a history it is of little surprise that it is home to the oldest sporting museum in the world.

by gareth1953 New Profile - Kia Oval

Across town you have the Kia Oval, which lacks the opulence of Lords but makes up for it by having a far better wicket. Lords really is a special place but the action that is played there is a bit tepid due to the slowness of the pitch. At the Oval, which actually hosted the first FA Cup final, you have a superior playing wicket. It is fast and furious meaning a lot of wickets, rather than just non stop runs.

Sadly for the English public, neither stadium is going to be blanketed in optimism this summer. The national side are returning from what was one of the worst ever World Cup performances, and with a resurgent Australian side the guest for the summer, lambs to the slaughter seems to be the prognosis for the national side... KP we need you.

As Test Match Cricket is a full day event, you won't have time to explore the surrounding area, but if it is sunny you shouldn't care. Sitting in the stands with a nice cold pint, watching some high class cricket, really is money well spent.

For the history go to Lords, but for unbridled cricketing fury head to the Oval.

by Kasim Rashid

- Muswell Hill

Despite the density of the capital city it still finds room for golf courses, which, considering how much money there is in the city, makes sense. There are a few courses that may be of interest. The Royal Blackheath, with a history stretching back to 1608, prides itself on being the oldest golf course in the world. Richmond Park golf course, Muswell Hill, and the Grove, are three other super courses for you to play at.

A nice pint of London Pride in any of these three clubhouses is just the best.

Olympic Village

by chrismaidlow

The Olympic Games of 2012 were considered a roaring success for the country. Despite many of us being sceptical of the merits of the competition, you would be hard pressed to find someone who still holds that view. The legacy of the games is still clear to see in East London. Regardless of West Ham acquiring of the stadium, there is still plenty to see. While at the open air park you can go to the top of Britain's largest sculpture (pictured) or the Copper Box arena, which is still used for boxing events. More recently the Olympic pool has been opened to the public. Honestly, you will never swim in anything quite like it.

The local area is teeming with bars and restaurants that have all been extensively refurbished following the games.

London should be a pilgrimage for any sports fan.