Visit the New Wembley Stadium on a Wembley Stadium Tour – a must-see 2012 Olympic venue

The new Wembley Stadium – usually just shortened to ‘Wembley’ and known as “the Home of English Football” (soccer) – is a must-see Olympic venue.

It’s well worth a visit, either for an event or match or even for a close-up, behind-the-curtain view, which you can get on a Wembley Stadium Tour – great entertainment for both kids and adults.

The new Wembley Stadium was opened in 2007 and replaced the original Wembley Stadium, which opened for the legendary FA CUP final in 1923 (known as ‘the White Horse final’).

While the original stadium was defined by its Twin Towers, the new stadium – one of the most expensive ever built – is famous for its sliding roof and landmark arch, which can be seen for miles around as it reaches 130m into the sky (more than four times the height of the Twin Towers).

The Wembley site has a fascinating history. Once rolling parkland, the Wembley complex (which includes Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena, another 2012 Olympics venue) has been the site of historic events for almost a century.

In 1924, the British Empire Exhibition opened here, with exhibition buildings dedicated to the countries and the professions of the Empire.

Billed as a Family Day Out, the Empire Exhibition featured lakes and parks alongside buildings dedicated to Arts, Industries and Engineering.

The new Wembley Stadium stood across the road from the Palaces of India, Canada and Australia.

In 1934, the new Empire Pool was constructed at Wembley in the space of just six months. This large public swimming facility boasted two pools and a wave machine, and was used for a host of public events from the 1934 Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games), to Boxing, Ice Hockey, the 1948 Olympics, and music events.

Over time, these music events were to develop into the lifeblood of the Empire Pool, especially when the era of Rock n Roll took hold.

With a temporary cover across the swimming pool and a stage at one end, the venue became famous for hosting the big names of the day, including Petula Clark, Shirley Bassey, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

In 1978 the Empire Pool became Wembley Arena, the most famous indoor concert hall in the world, with a 12,000-seat capacity. Over the years, every big name in pop and rock music has played Wembley Arena, from Cliff Richard to Metallica. The list is endless.

Following a £35m refurbishment the Arena reopened in April 2006, and the superstars have flooded back to play the 'new' Wembley Arena.

The venue is located in north-west London, about six miles from the center of the city, and is easily accessible by public transport.

You can get here easily by train (to Wembley Central station) or by the London Underground (Tube). The nearest Tube station is Wembley Park, which is on both the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines.

On the London Underground map, the Metropolitan line is the purple one and the Jubilee line is colored silver. You can see a map of the London Underground by clicking on the Tube map link below.

Why don't you absorb the legend that is Wembley Stadium while you're in London? Go on a Wembley Stadium Tour!

Read more about Wembley Stadium Hotels here

View a map of the London Underground (Tube) here

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