Wembley Stadium: An arena of important games, history and magic. It is the English national football team's home ground and the largest football stadium in London. Every football lover should visit the overwhelming Wembley, located in the neighbourhood of the same name in the north-western part of the British capital.

Leyton Orient plays its home games on Brisbane Road, located in the eastern middle-class neighbourhood of Leyton/Leytonstone, where David Beckham was born. Brisbane Road is a stadium of dissimilarity: A brand-new main stand with modern facilities on Oliver Road and a nostalgic eastern stand where the paint peels off the walls. The highlights, however, are the apartment buildings in the northern corners from which the residents can enjoy a game from their balconies.

After Sutton United’s (founded in 1898) first-ever promotion to the professional level in 2021, Gander Green Lane needed a renovation. The capacity was extended from 500 to close to 5,000, the artificial pitch was replaced by a natural one and the away supporters got their own end. The rather unique oval stadium has not lost any of its character though and still feels like the home ground of an amateur side.

You will find Barnet FC’s The Hive Stadium in the far north of London. It is the club where Dutch footballer Edgard Davids retired and started his coaching career. The Hive is a modern ground with striking black stands and bright orange seats in Barnet’s secluded training facility. The gates are open daily from 6 am to midnight.

Hayes Lane has been Bromley FC’s home ground since 1938. The club has been playing in the Vanarama National League (fifth tier) since 2014. The stadium, which has a capacity of 5,150, is located in a green area of Bromley, a southern middle-class neighbourhood which does not feel like metropolitan London. Bromley’s home ground, which has an awful new grey stand, is not worth a visit. But if you want to see a Bergkamp, not Dennis but his son Mitchell, play, then you could consider going to Hayes Lane.

On the edge of an industrial zone in the eastern neighbourhood of Dagenham, you will find Victoria Road. It is the home ground of Dagenham & Redbridge FC, which still played in League One (the third tier) in 2011. However, the old stadium, which is not a recommendation for the ordinary football tourist, does not appear to have once been a League One ground.

Close to the last stop of London’s Central Line, you will find Grosvenor Vale in Ruislip, the home ground of fifth-tier side Wealdstone FC. You will not find this stadium in the travel guides either and can easily be skipped. The old blue-white stand has got something about it, but to travel to London’s far west, where there is not much to do anyways, is not worth your time.

Park View Road is one of London’s nicest semi-professional football stadiums. Sixth-tier side Welling United and the amateur side Erith & Belvedere FC share the ground. Both clubs have a separate entrance, changing rooms and canteen on the touchlines. Behind one of the goals you will see the trees of Danson Park, whereas behind the other one, you will see the buildings on Park View Road and a bus stop where a red London bus stops regularly.

The Beveree Stadium is characteristic and has a mix of old and new stands surrounded by trees. It is the home ground of Hampton & Richmond Borough FC, also known as The Beavers. It is the only football club in the wealthy and picturesque Richmond Upon Thames, where many scenes of the hit series Ted Lasso were filmed. The majestic Hampton Court palace and its parks are nearby, as is the famous rugby ground Twickenham Stadium. It is a perfect neighbourhood to explore if you have already seen all the main sights in the city centre.

Dulwich Hamlet is one of the capital’s trendiest semi-professional football clubs. The club, which plays in beautiful pink and dark blue kits, fights against homophobia and fascism. During home games, you will see banners with leftist quotes all over Champion Hill in the hipster East Dulwich. The club is immensely popular and more and more people find their way to Champion Hill.

There are tens of other smaller football stadiums amateur sides use in London. Most of them are not that remarkable, but there are some which are worth visiting if you have the time or are nearby. For example, the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium of Enfield Town, Enfield & Haringey and New Salimis. The stadium is a grade II listed building with a stunning art-deco stand from 1953. King George’s Field, home ground of the Corinthian Casuals, is in a unique location next to a railroad, which can make for some great pictures. Chelsea’s women and academy teams now play in Kingsmeadow Stadium, the former home ground of AFC Wimbledon. And Imperial Fields, the stadium of Kingstonian FC and Tooting & Mitcham FC, has beautiful terracing with a small roof the size of an 18-yard box and a modern main stand.