London’s Sports Calendar

If you’re a sports fan and are coming to London this year, what can you expect to see apart from the regular season football, rugby and county cricket games. Here’s a run down of some of the major games and tournaments in London this year.

3 February Rugby Union England v Scotland at Twickenham
10 February Rugby Union England v Italy at Twickenham
11 March Rugby Union England v France at Twickenham
7 April 153rd University Boat Race Oxford v Cambridge continue the tradition of racing over four and a bit miles up the River Thames, first started in 1829.
22 April London Marathon One of the biggest sporting days in London when 30,000+ runners take to the streets of the capital.
13 May Rugby Union Guinness Premiership final at Twickenham, the finale of the domestic club season.
17-21 May Cricket 1st Test England v West Indies at Lord’s in the first big game of the summer cricket season.
19 May FA Cup Final The developers promise that the new Wembley will be open for this game, if it is this game will be bigger than usual.
20 May Heineken Cup Final The climax of the premier European club rugby competition at Twickenham.
2 June The Derby One of the world’s great horseraces, first run in 1779, is run again over the famous undulating Epsom Downs to the south of London.
11-17 June Stella Artois Tennis Championships The annual Wimbledon warm up grass court tournament for men, held at the Queens Club in west London.
25 June-8 July Wimbledon The title every tennis player wants to win, the championships at the All England Club are the two weeks of the year when everyone in the UK watches tennis.
28 June NatWest Twenty20 Cricket England v West Indies at The Oval.
29 June NatWest Twenty20 Cricket England v West Indies at The Oval.
1 July NatWest series Cricket England v West Indies at Lord’s, one day international.
7-8 July Tour de France The Prologue around the streets of central London and the following day the 1st Stage starts in Westminster and snakes its way out of London into Kent, should be great.
19-23 July Cricket 1st Test England v India at Lord’s, expect a big crowd and a great atmosphere.
9-13 August Cricket 3rd Test England v India at The Oval, last Test of the series.
18 August ECB Trophy Final A highlight of the domestic county cricket season takes place at Lord’s.
25 August Rugby League The Challenge Cup Final is supposed to be another new Wembley showpiece, where ever its played its a great Rugby League occasion.
5 September Cricket England v India One Day International at The Oval.
8 September Cricket England v India One Day International, this one at Lord’s.

If you’re thinking of coming to London for one of this events have a look at Bootsnall’s great hostel and airline ticket options to keep the cost down.