Hey all,

I'm going to be taking a holiday in London in December. I'm staying at the Millenium Hotel, adjacent to Stamford Bridge, from December 26-January 2. I have two tickets to both the Bolton and Aston Villa games. I've never been to London before and am very excited. What all do I need to make sure I do while I am there? More importantly, on game days, what bars should I be at before the games and what type of beer should I be drinking outside and inside the stadium?!?!?!

All help would be appreciated.

Hey all,

I'm going to be taking a holiday in London in December. I'm staying at the Millenium Hotel, adjacent to Stamford Bridge, from December 26-January 2. I have two tickets to both the Bolton and Aston Villa games. I've never been to London before and am very excited. What all do I need to make sure I do while I am there? More importantly, on game days, what bars should I be at before the games and what type of beer should I be drinking outside and inside the stadium?!?!?!

All help would be appreciated.

I would recommend a stadium tour while you're there.

If you want atmosphere I would recommend So Bar adjecent to the Britania entrance of Stamford Bridge pre match.

They only serve Fosters if I remember correctly. If you're after a better selction of beers I would recommend the Butchers Hook a bit futher up the street. Also full of Chelsea pre match, but not the atmosphere of the So Bar.

You can learn some songs here: www.fanchants.com if you want to join in on the singing.

Enjoy your trip mate!

Thanks for the help! I believe we're doing the stadium tour the day after the Bolton game...

Cheers

In the hotel itself if you spend some time before kick-off there's usually a few ex-players going about speaking to fans. The current squad and manager also go through the ground floor if it's an autograph you're looking for that's a good bet also!

I'd definitely try the So Bar before a match and post on the "meeting up" part of this site closer to the time so you can see if anyone else will be there!

In the hotel itself if you spend some time before kick-off there's usually a few ex-players going about speaking to fans. The current squad and manager also go through the ground floor if it's an autograph you're looking for that's a good bet also!

I'd definitely try the So Bar before a match and post on the "meeting up" part of this site closer to the time so you can see if anyone else will be there!

Im sorry, you're saying the players will walk through the ground floor of the Millenium hotel prior to kickoff?!?!?!?! And by ground floor do you mean lobby? How long before kickoff do they do this? I would love an autograph or a photo with some of my favorites!

Edited September 22, 201015 yr by usablue325

If it's the Millenium Copthorne hotel you're staying at, adjacent to the Bridge then yes!

The last couple of times I've been to the Bridge I've met some friends at the hotel bar before kick-off. You'll at least see a few ex-players who are still affiliated with the club, ie. Ron Harris, Bonetti, Kerry Dixon.. I had the pleasure of meeting Roy Bentley before the match against Stoke a month or so ago.

There's a wooden gate to the left of the lobby escalators that separates the hotel from the walkway the players take to get to their changing rooms. Sometimes they sign autographs, sometimes they don't.. I saw A.Cole, Ramires, Ancelotti and P.Ferreira go through and a few of the people got some autographs. Also, I spoke to a guy who had his shirt signed by Lampard outside the hotel that morning, as the players arrived in their cars to the ground.. that would have been a good 5 or 6 hours before kick-off though.

I'd leave at least an hour in the so-bar if you want to have a good sing-song and soak up some atmosphere before kick-off.. so give yourself an hour or 2 in the hotel prior to that to try your luck at getting an autograph or a photo.

Make sure you post on the site closer to the match and I'll come share a quality £4.20 pint of Singha with you!

Firstly it’s gonna be cold so wrap up warm !!

If it is your first time in London take a bus tour of the city early on which will cover the major sites and give you an idea on where everything is. You can then take an option on a flexible ticket which allows you to hop on and off at major sites http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/london/custompage.aspx?id=london_sightseeing_tour&gclid=CNXe88y6oKQCFYn-2AodqF-O4w

If not stay on for the whole tour and pick on which attractions you would like to see in more detail .

I would recommend

Buckingham Palace – Changing of the guard is at 11am (changes to every other day in winter so check at the hotel ). Try and get there at 10:45 but don’t stand in front of the Palace you won’t see jack unless you are at the front ! Stand across the road at the bottom of Green Park and you will see the new and old guard arrive.

Westminster Abbey – You can walk through St James’s Park from the above to get there

House’s of Parliament – Across the road from Westminster Abbey

Walk across Westminster Bridge and you will see the London Eye to your left worth a visit

Tower of London – Worth the tour

St Pauls – again worth the tour

If you are going out in the evening in town head for the Covent Garden which contains lots of Bars , Restaurants. You are staying about 30 mins. Tube ride from Central London so non match days the area is very quiet !

Hope this helps PM me if you need anything else