West Ham United are one of East London’s major football clubs, rooted in the old Thames Ironworks side and long associated with the Boleyn Ground before moving to London Stadium. The Hammers have won major domestic and European honours and carry a strong working-class identity. Relegation in 2026 placed them in the Championship for 2026/27.
London Stadium is a very different away day from most Championship grounds. Built originally for the London 2012 Olympic Games and later converted for West Ham United, it is a large, modern multi-purpose stadium inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The scale, open concourses and long approaches make it feel more like a major event venue than a traditional club ground.
The football layout is arranged around the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, Bobby Moore Stand, East Stand and West Stand. The West Stand contains the main hospitality, club and media facilities, while the Bobby Moore Stand is the principal home end. The Sir Trevor Brooking Stand is at the opposite end and includes the visiting supporter section. Views can vary depending on seat height and distance from the pitch, but the stadium is modern, spacious and designed for large crowds rather than tight, old-ground intensity.
A rivalry born from working docks and East End labour competition, later hardened by fierce fan culture and rare but explosive meetings.
An east London fixture linking Orient’s long local roots with West Ham’s bigger East End identity, rare in league play but meaningful when paths cross.
No upcoming rivalry fixture currently listed.
Away supporters are normally located in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, with visiting supporters entering through Entrance D. West Ham accessibility guidance also identifies the away section in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand and notes accessible provision for visiting supporters in that area.
The away section is behind one of the goals and is separated from home areas by the stadium's stewarding and segregation plan. Because London Stadium sits within the Olympic Park, the approach to the away entrance involves a longer walk from stations than at many grounds. Supporters should follow the signed route and any visiting supporter guidance, particularly from Stratford, Stratford International, Hackney Wick or Pudding Mill Lane. Coach parking and accessible shuttle arrangements can also affect the best approach for away fans.
Use the M11 or A10/A406 approaches towards east London and Stratford only if you have a firm parking plan. London Stadium is not designed for normal supporter driving and there is no practical public stadium parking on matchdays. The best option is usually to park at a connected public transport hub or pre-book in Stratford away from the event cordon.
Use the Blackwall Tunnel, Rotherhithe Tunnel or Dartford Crossing routes only with caution, as east London traffic can be very slow around events. If driving, aim for pre-booked Stratford or Westfield-area parking, then walk through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Do not expect to park beside the London Stadium.
Use the A12, A13 or M25 approaches towards Stratford and the Olympic Park. The stadium area is heavily managed on event days, so follow your parking booking instructions exactly. Parking further out and taking the Elizabeth line, Tube, DLR or train to Stratford is often the more reliable plan.
Use the A40, North Circular or central London routes towards Stratford only if traffic conditions make sense. Cross-London driving to the Olympic Park can be slow and expensive. A park-and-rail approach using the Elizabeth line, Central line, Jubilee line or Overground is usually better than trying to drive to the stadium itself.
Stratford is the main station for London Stadium and is the best choice for most West Ham supporters and away fans. It is served by the Central line, Jubilee line, Elizabeth line, London Overground, DLR and National Rail, giving excellent links from central London, east London, Essex and Heathrow via the Elizabeth line.
From the north or national network, connect through London Liverpool Street, King's Cross/St Pancras, Euston or Stratford International depending on route. From the south and west, the Jubilee line and Elizabeth line are often easiest. The walk to the stadium is around 15 to 20 minutes through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and crowd routes are managed after matches.
Stratford International is a useful station for London Stadium, particularly for supporters arriving from Kent on Southeastern High Speed services or using the DLR. It is slightly away from the main Stratford station but still within walking distance of the stadium through the Olympic Park.
Despite the name, Eurostar does not normally stop here, so treat it as a domestic high-speed / DLR station. It can be a good alternative if main Stratford is very busy.
Hackney Wick is a London Overground station west of London Stadium and is a good alternative for supporters coming from north London, Highbury & Islington, Camden Road or the east London Overground network. The walk to the stadium is straightforward across the canal / Olympic Park side.
It is often useful after matches if Stratford is heavily crowded, although crowd routes may direct you along specific exits from the stadium.
Pudding Mill Lane is a DLR station close to London Stadium and can be useful from Canary Wharf, Stratford, Poplar, Greenwich and other DLR connections. It is not always the first recommended station for big events because crowd management can vary, but it is a viable local station for the stadium.
Check TfL matchday advice before relying on it, as walking routes and station operation may be managed around major fixtures.
From Stratford, follow the signed event route through Westfield Stratford City and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park towards London Stadium. The walk is usually around 15 to 20 minutes, and crowd-control routes may make it feel longer after the match. This is the main walking route for most supporters and is well signposted on event days.
From Stratford International, walk through the Olympic Park towards London Stadium, following event signs. The walk is usually around 15 to 20 minutes and is useful for Southeastern High Speed and DLR passengers. It can be a good alternative to Stratford, but after matches you may be directed along specific crowd routes.
From Hackney Wick, cross towards the Olympic Park and follow the canal-side / park routes to London Stadium. The walk is usually around 15 to 20 minutes and can be useful from the London Overground. It is often a good post-match alternative to Stratford if crowd routes allow it.
From Pudding Mill Lane, walk west/north-west towards the stadium through the Olympic Park area. The walk is usually around 10 to 15 minutes, but route availability can vary for major events. Check event-day instructions and follow stewarding, as some routes may be held or redirected after full-time.
London City Airport is the best local airport for West Ham United. From the airport, take the DLR towards Stratford or Canning Town and connect into the DLR / Jubilee / Elizabeth line network for Stratford. From Stratford, follow the signed walking route through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to London Stadium.
A taxi from London City is possible but not always faster because of Docklands and event-day traffic. Public transport is normally the cleanest route.
Stansted is a very good airport for West Ham because trains run into London Liverpool Street and also serve Tottenham Hale, both with onward connections towards Stratford. The simplest route is often Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, then Elizabeth line, Central line or National Rail to Stratford.
This keeps the journey on the east side of London and avoids a long road transfer. From Stratford, the stadium walk is well signposted and crowd-managed on matchdays.
Heathrow is viable for West Ham because the Elizabeth line runs from the airport across London to Stratford. This gives a relatively straightforward rail route to the London Stadium area without needing a taxi across the capital.
From Stratford, follow the walking route through the Olympic Park. It is longer than London City Airport, but excellent for long-haul flights and international supporters.
TfL route 388 is one of the useful bus services for London Stadium and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, linking Stratford, Hackney Wick and the City side of east London. It can be useful if you are staying locally or want to avoid the busiest rail platforms, but roads around Stratford and the park are very busy after matches.
Route 308 serves Stratford, Clapton and east London connections and can be useful for the London Stadium area. It is a local bus option rather than a stadium shuttle, so expect delays and possible diversions around events. Check live TfL updates before setting off.
Routes D8 and 339 are useful for the Stratford, Bow, Hackney Wick and Olympic Park side of the stadium. They work best for supporters starting in east London or the Docklands area. Alight close to the park and follow the signed walking routes to London Stadium.
London Stadium operates a complimentary accessible shuttle from Stratford station area for guests with accessible requirements. It is not a general supporter bus, but it is important for visitors who need step-free help from the station to the stadium. Check London Stadium accessibility guidance before travelling.
Addison Lee is a useful private hire option for West Ham, especially from hotels, London City Airport or Docklands. Arrange drop-off and collection outside the heaviest Stratford and Olympic Park pedestrian routes, as event-day road closures and crowds can make close stadium pick-ups difficult.
London Stadium has no public car parking, so Westfield Stratford City is the main practical commercial option if you must drive. It is a large paid car park with a walk through Stratford and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the stadium. Check tariffs carefully, allow plenty of time, and expect long delays leaving after full-time because stadium crowds and shopping traffic mix together.
Stratford International car park is another realistic paid option for London Stadium, usually used as event-day parking for the Olympic Park area. It is closer to the stadium than many alternatives, but can be expensive and slow to exit after matches. Pre-book where possible and check event-day pricing before travelling.
Because London Stadium is designed as a public-transport venue, parking further out on the Central, Jubilee, Elizabeth line, DLR or Overground network is often easier. Use a proper station or commercial car park outside Stratford, then travel in by rail. This avoids Olympic Park road closures and the worst post-match car park queues.
A practical Stratford pub close to the station and one of the easier options for away supporters using London Stadium. It is not immediately beside the ground, which helps with crowd management, but expect it to be busy on matchdays.
A large bar and games venue inside Westfield Stratford, useful for groups wanting food, drinks and shelter before the match. It is a straightforward walk to London Stadium through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Westfield is the easiest food option for London Stadium, with a huge range of restaurants and fast food close to Stratford station. It is ideal before walking through the Olympic Park to the ground.
Hackney Wick has a strong mix of food, breweries and independent venues on the other side of the Olympic Park. It is good for supporters wanting something less shopping-centre based, but check venue policies on matchdays.
A strong hotel option beside Stratford and the Olympic Park, with excellent transport links and a walkable route to London Stadium. It is one of the best choices if you want to stay close to the match.
A practical budget hotel within reach of Stratford station and London Stadium. It is good for supporters who want local transport, food and a straightforward stadium walk.
London Stadium is best treated as a major-event venue rather than a normal town football ground. Public transport is strongly recommended. Stratford and Stratford International provide the most common routes, but the walk through the Olympic Park can still take time, especially with security checks and crowd-control measures. Hackney Wick and Pudding Mill Lane can also be useful depending on where supporters are coming from.
Driving is generally not practical unless using official coach or pre-arranged accessible arrangements. Away supporters should allow more time than the map distance suggests because the stadium approaches, bridges and security points can become busy. The away entrance is at Entrance D in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand. Supporters should check West Ham's latest visiting supporter information for route advice, bag policy, search points and any restrictions linked to the Olympic Park or stadium event schedule.
Home tickets are sold through West Ham United's official ticketing channels, with pricing, availability and sales criteria depending on the fixture. For a neutral, the East or West Stand usually provides the best side-on view, with the West Stand offering the more premium main-stand experience. The Bobby Moore Stand is the main home atmosphere end, while the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand contains the away section and is not the choice for home neutrals.
Away supporters should buy through their own club once West Ham release the allocation. Visiting tickets are normally for the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand. Collections, duplicates and matchday sales should be checked before travelling, as arrangements at London Stadium can be more tightly controlled than at smaller grounds. Away disabled supporters should arrange wheelchair spaces, easy-access seating and shuttle or parking requirements in advance.
London Stadium operates strict event-venue security and football ground regulations. Supporters should expect ticket checks, search points, stewarding, segregation controls and enforcement of prohibited-item rules. Standard football restrictions apply on pyrotechnics, pitch incursions, throwing objects, discriminatory behaviour and entering areas not covered by the ticket.
Because the stadium is inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, supporters should also follow instructions on walking routes, bridge access, bag policy, coach parking and station-management plans. West Ham publish matchday and accessibility guidance through the club and Hammers Help, and supporters should check the latest information before travelling, especially for fixtures with larger crowds or additional transport disruption.
West Ham United publish detailed accessibility information for London Stadium. Away supporters enter via the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, Entrance D, and accessibility guidance notes visiting supporter wheelchair-accessible viewing spaces at elevated level. Easy-access and amenity seating is also available in general admission areas.
The club also operates an accessible shuttle bus service from the visiting supporters' coach park to assist supporters with access requirements, with drop-off points near the Stadium Store/Cafe or Bridge 4 close to the visiting supporter entrance. Away disabled supporters needing wheelchair spaces, personal assistant tickets, accessible shuttle support or other assistance should arrange this in advance through their own club and West Ham's accessibility team.
London Stadium offers guided stadium tours, including West Ham United-related areas. The official tour booking system advertises a guided 60-minute experience including areas such as the West Ham United dressing room, players' tunnel, pitchside areas and panoramic views, subject to availability and stadium operations.
Tours are bookable separately from match tickets and are not available in the same way on every matchday. Supporters should use the official London Stadium / West Ham stadium tour booking route to check current opening hours, prices, route details and access arrangements before travelling.
The stadium sits inside the Olympic Park, so the park itself is the obvious pre-match visit. It gives open space, waterways and landmarks before heading to the turnstiles.
The Orbit is a distinctive Olympic Park attraction beside London Stadium. It is worth considering if you arrive early and want something directly connected to the stadium area.
Official West Ham United ticketing page for match tickets, membership sales, hospitality, accessibility information and fixture-specific ticket updates.