Highbury – the Home of Football
How to get there, what to eat, where to drink and what to read whilst your there – everything you will ever need to know about a day at Arsenal.
So where do I get my tickets?
Unfortunately, until we move to a new home, tickets are in rather short supply at Highbury. With only just over 38,000 capacity, of which a proportion will always be away fans, unless you are a season ticket holder or ticket registration member, then it is highly difficult to get hold of a ticket. There are occasions however when you might be lucky, especially for a Worthington Cup tie or if you apply ages in advance, and the official way to get your tickets is this: Go to the box office in the East Stand, apply by post, visit ticketmaster-online, or ring 020 7413 3370. If all else fails you could always pay a ridiculous amount to a tout – but I didn’t tell you that!
Ok. I’ve got my ticket so how do I get there?
You can go by car, but to be honest London and cars are not the best bedfellows, and parking is a mare, so public transport is often the best bet. Arsenal Tube station is literally opposite the North Bank, and being on the Piccadilly Line, it is pretty easy to get to from any of the major train stations in central London. Finsbury Park (on the Piccadilly and Victoria Line) is also very much within walking distance, and is right next to the World of Sport store if you fancy an Arsenal motiffed lighter or suchlike.
If you do choose to go by car then the following should help you on your way:
From the North: From the M1, exit at A1 junction 2. The A1 merges for a stretch with the A406. Keep to the A1 Archway Road and then Holloway Road. Take a left onto Seven Sisters Road and follow it for 1 mile, then turn right onto the A1201 Blackstock Road. Turn right into Albert Park and then right again in Avenell Road.
From the North-West: From the M40 at 1, stay on the A40 for 13 miles. At Paddington turn onto the A501. When the A501 becomes Pentonville Road turn left onto Barron Street. Take the first right onto Lion Street, then left onto the A1. At the Highbury and Islington Roundabout, turn right onto St. Pauls Road, then left onto Highbury Grove. Take another left onto Aubert Park, then right onto Avenell Road.
From the West: From the M4 turn left onto the A406 at Junction 2.At Hangar Lane turn right onto the A40. From here follow the North-West instructions as above.
From the South-West: Stay on the M3 till the end and then continue on the A316 until you get to Hammersmith. Turn right onto the A4 and follow it for just over a mile. Then turn left onto A3220 Warwick Road and then onto the M41. At its end turn onto the A40 and follow the North West instructions as above.
From the East: From the M11 turn off onto the A406 at junction 4, then onto the A503. After Tottenham Hale tube station, turn left onto Broad Lane and then back onto the A503 Seven Sisters Road. Turn left onto the A1201 Blackstock Road and then as for North.
For more detailed instructions check out one of the map sites on the web. For example multi-map.com gives you good directions.
Where can I park my car?
Good question, and not one that is answered very easily. A lot of the residential roads around Highbury are closed off, and the closest places to park are going to be at least a fifteen-minute walk from the ground. There are often spaces around the Stroud Green Road area of Finsbury Park, but be prepared to do some nifty reverse parking manouvures! To be honest, one of the best bets is to park at one of the terminus tube stations like Cockfosters or Uxbridge and take a leisurely tube ride to the stadium door.
I’ve had enough of London driving, where can I get myself a pint?
There is a rough correlation between how packed out a joint is on matchdays and how far away from the ground it is. For example THE GUNNERS on the Blackstock Rd, near the ground is always heaving before and after matches. It is an Arsenal shrine, with programmes and other memorabilia on the wall, and is guaranteed to have an atmosphere but not guaranteed to get you served quickly.
The WORLDS END on the Stroud Green road is at the other end of the spectrum with quick service, laid-back atmosphere and plenty of seats to go round. Sunny afternoons in August and Sepetmber are especially good here with a beer garden in which to sup your drinks.
A little closer to the action is the ARSENAL TAVERN on Blackstock Road. It is huge and has 2 pool tables and rather too comfortable armchairs. Endearing traits include an alsation with an Arsenal scarf and a series of sewing machines, pianos and other eclectic bits and bobs strewn all over the place.
If you prefer your atmosphere to be as hectic as it gets before the big-match, then you could do a lot worse than the HIGHBURY BARN in Highbury Grove. As reputations go, this is probably the pub with the worst as there was a stabbing outside it a few years back, and it has been known to be closed by the Police after getting a bit rowdy. Do not let this put you off as this is the exception to the rule for a pub that is a great place to prepare for a game, and is normally safe as houses.
Now I’ve got the munchies – I want a kebab!
Kebabs may not be that widely available – although the chip shop on the Seven Sisters Rd, just across from Finsbury Park Station, does a mean kebab special – but burgers most certainly are. There is a plethora of burger vans up St Thomas’s and Gillespie Rd, and my particular favourite is one just up St Thomas’s Road five minutes from Finsbury Park Station. £1.20 for a double cheeseburger is not to be sniffed at, although don’t be surprised if the baps taste a little like fairy liquid!
There are also your slightly more permanent food-joints on the Blackstock Road, with Fish and Chips, Chinese, Curries and KFCs all available for those who don’t like watching their food cooked.
I would certainly recommend getting your grub before you get into the stadium as you’ll be looking at paying well over a couple of quid for a rather bland burger or hot-dog inside the ground. Drinks too are a little on the expensive side, but there is no other option for half-times if you really want to queue for ages and miss a goal in the second half (been there done that, shouted at the poor guy behind the counter!).
While we are on the subject of pre-match nibbles, it is the right time to introduce you to an Arsenal legend. A little man stands just outside the West Stand entrance on every game anyone I know has ever been to and tries to tempt you with his peanuts. The immortal line “peanuts salt roasted” which he bellows at unsuspecting Arsenal visitors, is something which will remind me of Highbury forever. The only problem is that I have never seen anyone buy any – maybe I will next game!
What can I read instead of watching a twenty-metre image of Martin Keown on the big-screen?
The official Arsenal programme is not bad as programmes go. It is 2 quid a shot, but is more like a glossy magazine and is a worthwhile read at half-time. They often have good interviews with the players, and is by far the best source for keeping track of the reserves and ladies.
If you want a little more relaxed read, then Highbury on a matchday is fanzine city. The street peddlers will be pleased to sell you a copy for a quid or quid fifty, and they are a great source for pull no punches opinion on Arsenal. HIGHBURY HIGH, ONE-NIL DOWN TWO NIL UP and UP THE ARSE are all well worth getting on your hands on, but in my humble opinion THE GOONER stands just above the rest as a lively and entertaining read.
Right I’m in the ground, what now?
Wait for the game to begin you idiot! But if you are there really early the entertainment on the big-screen is usually worth keeping half an eye on. There is normally an interview with Le Boss as he announces his side, a few clips of past clashes with that day’s opposition and various goals from recent games. All worthwhile stuff while you wait for the real thing to begin. The screens also show half-time and full-time highlights with surprisingly good commentary, as well as instant replays of major incidents during the game. Unfortunately they refuse to show any controversial penalty appeals or red cards just in case the crowd get a little too wound up. Who us? Never.
Now sit back and watch Big Tone lead out the best football team in the world as we steam roll over our latest opponents. Unless you’re an away fan of course, in which case you’d better just shut your eyes!
Enjoy your visit to the Home of Football and make sure you come back for more.
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9 May 08 
Liverpool Football Club