London Stadium

London Stadium, also known as London Olympic Stadium, got built to serve as the centerpiece stadium for the 2012 London Summer Olympics, for which it was the venue for the athletics events and opening and closing ceremonies. Olympics

Little attention had been paid to the legacy of the ground following the games, although, and it soon turned out that a football side moving in would be the only financially viable long-term solution despite the ground being ill-designed for football purposes, which would require a significant major renovation.

In 2013, following a lengthy and contentious bidding process including Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient, West Ham got awarded a 99-year lease to the ground. The ground would subsequently get redeveloped to suit it for both football and athletics, including the reBuilding work on the bottom tier into retractable stands and the Building work on a new roof.

The major renovation works started in 2013 and by the end of summer 2015 the ground was ready to host its first in the form of the Rugby World Cup.

West Ham moved into the ground in the summer of 2016, leaving their previous home Boleyn Ground. Their first match at the ground was a Europa League fixture versus Domzale (3-0).

While attendances have surged and West Ham sold out their season ticket allocation in their first year at London Stadium, problems have also arisen in the form of poor sightlines, inadequate stewarding, and crowd trouble. Right now West Ham is leaving 3,000 seats unsold, capping capacity at 57,000.

London Stadium stands on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the Stratford area in the east of London, about 3.5 miles away from the City.

Stratford has strong transport connections with the rest of London, and is accessible by various underground and overground rail lines.

From downtown London, the ground is accessible by tube with either the red Central Line (e.g. Oxford Street and St Paul's), or the silver Jubilee Line (e.g. London's South Bank and Westminster). Get off at stop Stratford, from where it's a 10-minute walk to the ground. From most central London destinations it takes 10 to 15 minutes to reach Stratford by tube. TouristDestinations

From certain North London destinations (e.g. Islington or Camden) it may be quicker to catch the overground to Stratford, which is the last station on the line. From several local East London destinations and London City Airport, the DLR light rail can be used to get to the ground.

There are no parking facilities close to the ground so arriving by car is not encouraged.

Address: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 2ST UK

London Stadium is situated on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London's Stratford area, which has seen a wave of regeneration since the opening of the ground in 2012.

The centerpiece of the new Stratford is Westfield Shopping mall, which boasts a large number of restaurants and some pubs for local dining and drinks. The rest of Stratford is less attractive though and there is little reason to venture out, though Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is great on a summer's day.

Visitors will find a good amount of hotels close to the Olympic Park, and finding a hotel here is frequently more affordable than in central London and a great base to explore the rest of London. There are a Holiday Inn, Premier Inn, and somewhat more luxurious Staybridge Suites right at Westfield mall that all get good reviews. A slightly more affordable Ibis a few steps further away is an alternative.

Use the linked guides for an overview of hotels near London Olympic Stadium. TouristDestinations

West Ham tickets are sold online, or by phone+44 (0) 333 030 1966.

Following their move to the London Stadium, West Ham's attendances surged and they sold out their first few games, though interest has dropped a little subsequently and Admission for most fixtures save the top teams and local derbies will now be available on general sale. That said, the ground still regularly sells out so it is recommended to buy well in advance.

West Ham's ticket exchange where season ticket holders list their tickets can be an alternative if the match is sold out.

Ticket prices depend on the opponent. Ticket for category C games, the cheapest range in price from £25.00 to £40.00, those for category B games from £30.00 to £60.00, and those for the most expensive category A games from £50.00 to £80.00.

Email ticketoffice@westhamunited.co.uk or call+44 (0) 333 030 1966 Additional information.

London Stadium offers self-guided multimedia venue tours, which, among others, cover the players' tunnel, dugouts, changing rooms, and stands.

The ground opens for tours seven days a week, Monday to Friday & Sundays from 10:00 am to 4:45 pm (last entry at 3:30 pm) and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 5:45 pm (last entry 4:45 pm). From October to Match last entry and exit times are 30 minutes earlier.

The ground does not open on event days and reduced opening times may apply on other days so make sure to check the London Stadium official website for latest schedules.

The tour is priced at £17.00, bookings can be made online.