Mayor urges Londoners cheering on England in Euros final to plan ahead

· Thousands of England fans expected to travel to central London to watch final against Spain  

· TfL urges fans to plan their routes home before setting out  

·  More than 300,000 people apply for tickets to London’s biggest finals screening at The O2  

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has advised Londoners wanting to cheer on the England team in one of central London’s fantastic choice of bars, pubs and venues on Sunday to plan ahead. 

The capital is expected to be exceptionally busy on Sunday as England fans gather to watch the Euro 2024 final. Central London’s wide array of bars and venues are sure to be a popular destination, so fans are encouraged to plan in advance for both where they will watch the match and how they will get home afterwards. 

The Three Lions made it to their second European Championship final in three years with victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday night and will be hoping to go one step further this time against Spain after their heartbreak at Wembley in 2021.  

More than 300,000 people entered a City Hall ballot for free tickets to watch the game at The O2, with hospitality venues across the capital expecting a similar surge in interest and a welcome boost to sales. Almost half (46 per cent) of Londoners have spent more time at pubs, bars and restaurants during Euro 2024, according to research from payments company Dojo.  According to UKHospitality figures the final is set to generate £120 million in additional sales for hospitality businesses across the UK, as part of an overall £800m boost delivered by the whole tournament.

Transport for London (TfL) advise that a normal Sunday service will be in operation on the Tube and buses, with most services winding down before midnight. Trains and buses are expected to be very busy and journeys may take longer than normal so fans are urged to plan their travel before setting off using the TfL Go app and check for service updates during the evening. 

London is in the midst of a fantastic summer of sport, recently hosting the Champions League final, Major League Baseball and Diamond League Athletics, with test match cricket and Wimbledon currently underway. This will be followed by Olympic warm up events and the excitement of the Paris Games, with Formula E and the NFL set to return too.  

Meanwhile, London’s status as a world-leader for music was confirmed as Taylor Swift brought her record-breaking The Eras Tour to Wembley Stadium – with tourists attending her eight performances boosting the capital’s economy by £300m. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: "Sunday has the potential to be one of the greatest nights in the history of the England men’s team.   

“Wherever you are watching the match, whether that be at The O2, in one of our fantastic pubs, clubs and venues or with family and friends at home, be sure to plan ahead so you can enjoy the night safely.   

“We all believe football is coming home, but make sure you know how to get home too.”  

Chief Operating Officer at TfL, Claire Mann said: “We are excited to welcome football fans to our network this Sunday to cheer on The Three Lions in the Euros final. Our colleagues are fully dedicated to providing a safe travel experience for all fans making their way to The O2 or other venues across London to watch the game. 

“We strongly encourage customers to plan their journey home ahead of time, as the match may run late into the night and we expect our services to be very busy.”  

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, said: “We want football fans that are visiting London to enjoy this occasion and for them to be able to celebrate safely.

“We will have more officers working over the weekend across London and we are working with our partners to keep people safe.

“If you are planning to visit to the Capital, we would urge you to plan your journey to and from London carefully and to take care of yourself and your personal possessions.

“If you have any concerns, please speak to our officers who are there to help you.”

Chief Executive of the New West End Company, Dee Corsi said: “The England men’s team making it to the final of the Euros is just yet another highlight in London’s fantastic summer of sport.

“Like venues across the capital, the West End is ready to welcome supporters on Sunday evening for a pre-match bite to eat or drink and, of course, to enjoy what is sure to be an incredible atmosphere during the game.”

Chief Executive of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls said: “London’s pubs, bars and fan zones are going to be packed this Sunday, with fans stood shoulder-to-shoulder cheering on England in the Euro’s final.

“The capital’s world-leading hospitality sector will deliver an incredible atmosphere as always and we anticipate the enormous support will deliver a 50% boost in sales, benefitting businesses and the London economy alike.

“Fans will also be able to take advantage of licensing hours being extended until 1am for the final, hopefully to celebrate an historic victory for England.”