Sports Tourism - London — Departures by Ashleigh Swan

About London:

Located on the river Thames, London is the fierce capital of England and most popular city within the United Kingdom. From its historical monuments to the trends of oxford street, London is a place you don’t want to miss. London is also an icon of culture, as the city holds more than 300 different languages. The variety of activities that London holds for its visitors is unbelievable but, for this tour we will be focusing on the sports destinations within the city. London is home to various sporting facilities including, Queen Elizabeth Olympic park, Webley stadium, the aquatics center, and Wimbledon. Included in this itinerary will be the various activities sports lovers can do when they take a trip to this magnificent city.

Itinerary:

Day One (Travel Day):

April 15th, 2017

Operated by American Eagle:

6:00am Depart Indianapolis for Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Arrive at 6:08am

Operated by American Airlines

9:00am Depart Chicago O’Hare, Arrive in London Heathrow at 10:45PM

Once Landed

· Go through border patrol, collect luggage and go through customs (Estimated time: 30mins)

· Provided that the flight is on time, head to the Heathrow Express Train, which takes 15minutes to get into Central London Paddington Station. Prices is around (37GBP for a return tickets). If flight is late and train is no longer running, grab a taxi which takes around 42 minutes to get to central London. (If hungry there is a 24hr Food store inside the station)

· Check into hotel: Hotel Indigo London Paddington Station (Price: $161/Night).

· Lights out!!

Day 2: April 16th, 2017

*9:00am-10:00am travel to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Stadium (52Minute Tube Ride)

10:00am-11:30am Self-guided Multimedia Tour of Olympic Stadium (Price around 17GBP)

· During this tour you will opportunities to watch goals, races, walk through the tunnel, sit in the stands, lay in the dugout and take lots of unique pictures, at the end of the tour you will receive a personalized certificate.

11:30am-1:00pm LUNCH

Have a bite to eat a Gotto Italian Restaurant located in the northern area of the Olympic Park (Price around 10GBP)

1:00pm-2:00pm head to Lords- Home of Cricket (Tube ride is 1 hour)

2:00pm-3:00pm MCC Museum/Lord Shop

· Check out famous cricket attire and re-watch historical games and then pick up a cute souvenir to take back home!

3:00pm-4:00pm Take a tour of the Lords Cricket Stadium

· Sit in the seats of celebrities, check out the dressing rooms and get a feel what its like to be an England Cricket Player

4:00pm-5:00pm Afternoon Tea at the Lords Cricket Stadium

· After a long day of sightseeing, relax with some like a quintessential Brit. Have a variety of cakes and afternoon teas while looking out onto the cricket pitch.

Day 3: April 17th, 2017

*Travel to Olympic Aquatics Center

9:00am-11:00am

· Swim at the London Aquatic Center, the same place that U.S Swimmers Missy Franklin broker numerous world records!

11:15am-12:15pm Travel to Wimbledon

12:30-1:30pm Lunch at Fox and Grapes Wimbledon

1:30pm-3:30pm Wimbledon Multi-Dimensions Tour

· Get VIP access to restricted locations, the number one court, and the press room, and of course some sneaky pictures, you can pretend to be Andy Murry for the day!

3:30-5:00pm Wimbledon Lawn Museum

· Get feel for the sights and sounds of Wimbledon are like plus, get the history and cool pictures that make Wimbledon the most iconic place for tennis lovers around the world.

Day 4: April 20th, 2017

*Travel to Olympic Park at 9:00am

10:00am-11:00am Group Cycle Class at Studio 2 Copper Box Arena

11:00am-1:00pm Slide at Arcelormittal Orbit

· Stand on top of the world and get a glimpse the London skyline before Sliding down the biggest slide in the U.K. at the end go to gift shop and grab some souvenirs.

1:00pm-2:00pm Travel to Webley

2:00-3:00pm Lunch at Handmade Burger CO.

3:00-4:15PM Tour of the Webley Stadium

· Join the 75-minute exclusive tour of one of the most popular stadiums in the U.K. See the dressing rooms, Press room, walk through the tunnel, chill on the dugout.

4:15pm-5:00pm Gift Shop and Extra pictures

Day 5, April 21th, 2017

*Soccer Crazy Day

9:00am-10:00am Tour of Tottehnham Hotspur F.C. Stadium

· Check out the spurs Stadium, including the directors box, players dressing room, tunnel and the hall of fame. (Price around 20GBP)

10:00AM-10:45am Shop in the Spurs Gift Store

*11:00am-12:00 Travel to Stanford Bridge and then tour of Chelsea F.C Stadium

· Chelsea F.C is one of the most famous soccer teams in the world so check out where the magic happens. Tour the various stands, press room, dressing rooms, walk through the tunnel and experience life as a Chelsea player.

12:00pm-1:00PM Museum and Gift Shop

1:00-2:00pm Lunch at Nandos

2:00-2:45pm Travel to Arsenal

3:00-4:30pm Tour of Emirates Stadium

· End your soccer crazy day by taking a tour of the Stadium home to numerous soccer legends! Check out the press box, the stands, dressing Rooms, museums, and take pictures in unique places!

4:30pm-5pm Additional Pictures and Shop at the gift Store

Day 6, April 22th, 2017

Free Day

Day 7, April 23st, 2017

9:00am-1:00pm Thames River Bike Tour

· Take a four-hour bike ride around central London and check out the London eye, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare Globe and many more attractions along the Thames! (Price around 30 GBP)

1:00am-2:00pm Lunch at Little Wonders Café at Arsenal

2:00pm-5:00pm English Primer League Soccer Game Arsenal V. Sunderland

· You took a hour of the glorious emirates Stadium now spend your Saturday afternoon watch a live English primer league game!

Day 8, April 24th, 2017

2017 Virgin Money London Marathon

· Watch the historical London Marathon take place on Sunday April, 22nd. The best places to view are at tower bridge or at the end which is the Royal Mall near Buckingham palace.

Day 9, April 23rd, 2017

Travel Day

Operate by British Airways

9:40am Depart London Heathrow- 12:25pm Arrive in JFK International Airport

Operated by American Eagle

2:59pm-5- Depart JFK and arrive in Indianapolis at 5:20pm

Conclusion:

This trip is based for an individual or group of individuals who want to see the sports side of London. Included are various stadium tours, fitness activities and then witness famous sporting events. This a great tour for someone who wishes to travel outside of their regular boundaries and still enjoy the beauty of athletics while doing so.

Prices:

Airfare: $1,529.05

Heathrow Express Train: 37 British pounds’ roundtrip

London Underground/Bus Oyster Card: Pay as you go, mostly around 100 British pounds

Hotel Indigo- $161/Night

Olympic Stadium Grand tour: 17 British Pounds

Lunches 200 British pounds for the week

Afternoon Tea at Cricket: 45 British Pounds

Lords Cricket Tour: Free

Wimbledon: 35 British Pounds

Arsenal Soccer Game: $128.3

Cycle class: 25 British Pounds