2024 Soccer in London

Interest in soccer has increased in the United States due to recent World Cup success, more clubs in more U.S. cities, and more games being shown on a variety of cable networks. Americans can now watch both the Premier League and the Champions League. But what’s better than that?

Seeing a game LIVE.

Mix with the local fans. Feel the energy from the crowd and the players. Shout “REFEREE!” and actually be heard. (Well, maybe not, but at least you’ll be shouting at the actual person and not an image on a screen).

It’s easy to get to London, but not easy to get to matches, so we’ll take care of the second part! We’ve scored tickets to three amazing matches.

• Tuesday, April 2nd: Luton Town at Arsenal
  Hospitality package with VIP Padded seats, and casual dining and drinks included
• Wednesday, April 3rd: Manchester United at Chelsea
  Westview stand tickets, which include a match program and two drink vouchers
• Saturday, April 6th: Manchester City at Crystal Palace
  Longside Home section tickets

We’ll also make it easy to get around London by booking a centrally-located group hotel and providing everyone with a five-day Tube pass.

Plus, we’ll do a bunch of other fun stuff together like go on behind-the-scenes tours at stadiums, other kinds of city tours (food, kayaking, bike, the sky’s the limit), or take in other sporting events such as a cricket or rugby match.

This tour is based entirely in London, arriving April 2, and departing April 8. You can view — and download or print if you wish — the most up-to-date itinerary here.

You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.

Ryan Bowles serves as the Athletic Director at St. Olaf College. He has been at St. Olaf since 2015 and oversees the College’s 27 sports, including men’s and women’s soccer. During his time on the hill, the College named new head men’s and women’s soccer coaches, and installed synthetic turf at Rolf Mellby Field. In 2022, women’s soccer earned its first-ever postseason victory, and men’s soccer went to its second-straight NCAA tournament appearance. Prior to his arrival on the hill, Ryan was an Associate Athletic Director at the University of Maryland, working closely with the Division 1 men’s and women’s soccer programs for the Terps. Like many, he has become an avid fan of the Premier League and is excited to share the experience of attending matches with anyone who wants to see some of the best soccer in the world.

Expect an incredibly fun week! We’ll plan some group experiences on several mornings, and have balanced that with built-in free time so that you can experience London according to your interests. We intend to take in three matches and have several group meals together.

Accommodations are at the Club Quarters Hotel Trafalgar Square, a 4-star hotel ideally located in Central London, with easy access to our theaters and activities. The hotel is quiet, with sizable rooms, and amenities such as complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks in the Club Living Room, Wine@5 from 5 to 6 pm every Monday through Thursday, free high speed internet, unlimited chilled bottled water at H2O To Go stations, and self-service laundry and traditional valet service.

London is best experienced on foot. Be prepared for lots of walking! We’ll take the Tube to and from soccer matches, restaurants, and other sites around town. (We’ll provide you with a five-day Tube pass that you can top up if you need to.) Taking the Tube means walking several blocks to the departure station, potentially walking up and down one or more flights of stairs, sometimes walking quite a bit within the underground system, and after arriving at the next station, walking several blocks to the final destination. Alternatively, you may take taxis (at your own expense) — and Uber now provides an accessible and relatively economical cab alternative throughout London. We’ll provide exact addresses of activities in the final itinerary as much as possible.

To fully participate in this tour, you should be able to walk at least a mile at a time and up to five to seven miles per day over possibly uneven terrain (e.g. cobblestones or aged sidewalks), climb stairs that may not have handrails, keep pace with an active group of travelers, deal with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing a different culture, and be a considerate member of the group (prompt, courteous and flexible).

The tour price is $4,443 and will be based on double occupancy. The supplement for single occupancy is $1,082. Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour. Please read the following information carefully.

Inclusions: leadership by Ryan Bowles, accommodations, tickets for three soccer matches, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, admissions for group activities, complimentary high speed internet throughout the hotel, 5-day Tube pass, gratuities to group guides, drivers, and meal servers, and some limited medical coverage while overseas. 

Exclusions: Airfare to and from London is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the tour fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: airfare between your hometown and London, airport transfers, any passport or visa fees, any recommended immunizations or vaccinations, baggage insurance, trip cancellation insurance above $2,000 lifetime coverage, beverages at most group meals, laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature, expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities, lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on tour itinerary.

P.S. This price is higher per day than our average. Premier League tickets are astronomically priced!

This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. Some limited travel insurance is included with your tour fee. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour. See our Travel Insurance page for included coverage and suggestions for researching additional trip cancellation coverage.

Deposit due:                          $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:          Full refund ($500) until September 30, 2023. If the deposit is made after September 30, 2023 there is no refund.

Interim payment due:        $2,000 by October 1, 2023
Refund if you cancel:          $1,000 until January 31, 2024

Final payment due:             February 1, 2024
Refund if you cancel:         None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Make Your Final Payment

Look closely at the Go Message for action items and information on booking your flights.

Find something fun and informative on the Resource List.

Read these legal documents: Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver.

Review the Travelers’ Health recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Browse the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.

Check your passport to ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the tour return date. Should you need to renew, visit the U.S. State Department for instructions.

Take time to prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.