There is nothing like watching football where it matters most, inside one of the great Premier League stadiums. The walk toward the ground, the noise of thousands chanting in unison and the slow build of anticipation as kick-off approaches. But a weekend football trip is more than ninety minutes. It is the pubs, the music, the museums, the stories you bring home. 

At Celtic Horizon Tours, we arrange the essentials that most fans struggle with: the official match ticket, quality hotel and travel from Ireland. Once you are checked in, the city is yours to explore. Some people head straight for football landmarks, others map out pubs, restaurants or music venues. There is no fixed schedule, no forced activities, just a weekend designed around football and freedom. 

What makes a weekend football trip different from just watching the match? 

A match lasts an hour and a half. A football city stays with you for years. 

Cities like Manchester, Liverpool and London have stadiums with character, but it is the atmosphere surrounding them that completes the experience. The ritual starts early. Fans meet in pubs several hours before kick-off. You hear accents from around the world, but everyone speaks football. 

The next morning, you are free to explore on your own schedule. Grab breakfast somewhere new, visit a stadium museum, browse vinyl shops or take a slow walk by the canal. Football might be the anchor, but the weekend becomes a mini-city break.  

Manchester: Where football and music meet 

If your weekend takes you to Manchester, plan time beyond the Etihad or Old Trafford. Manchester wears its history comfortably. The Northern Quarter has record shops stacked with vinyl from The Smiths, Oasis and Joy Division. Canals run past old warehouses that are now coffee bars and breweries. 

On match day, expect a surge of supporters moving as one through the city centre. Local trams bring you right to the stadium area. Pubs fill early, conversations spark between strangers, and the build becomes part of the experience. 

Celtic Horizon Tours takes care of the match ticket, hotel and travel. You choose how to spend the hours around it. 

Liverpool: Music heritage and match day passion 

Liverpool has a rhythm that is felt long before you reach Anfield. The waterfront, the Beatles Story museum and the live music venues on Matthew Street all make the city perfect for wandering. Cafés spill into the streets, and the skyline mixes history with modern architecture. 

Match day in Liverpool feels emotional. The walk toward Anfield becomes quieter the closer you get, and when You’ll Never Walk Alone begins, the sound travels through the entire area. Singing with thousands of Liverpool supporters is a memory that stays with you. Outside match hours, travellers often explore the docks, Tate Liverpool or the Maritime Museum. None of these are part of a structured itinerary. They are simply part of the city waiting to be discovered on your own terms. 

London: Football, food and neighbourhoods 

London is enormous and made for exploring. Football fans typically head to stadium shops, pubs around King’s Cross or the river, and food halls that stay open late. Each club has its own identity. Arsenal attracts families, Chelsea is polished and Tottenham draws a young crowd. 

If you have daylight to spare, take the Underground to Covent Garden or Camden. Both are packed with markets and pubs. You can walk for an hour and pass street art, cocktail bars and vintage shops without realising how far you have gone. 

What your weekend looks like with Celtic Horizon Tours 

Instead of juggling multiple bookings, you confirm everything in one place. You receive: 

• Official match ticket in the home supporter section 

• Hotel accommodation in a well-located property 

• Travel (flight or coach and ferry, depending on the package) 

What you do outside the game is entirely yours. Some people go sightseeing. Others arrive, check in and make the pub their base of operations for the next 48 hours. Both are valid plans. 

Think of Celtic Horizon Tours as the structure of the trip. The stories you collect in between are yours. 

 Practical tips for a smooth football weekend 

• Arrive early on match day because stadium security queues can be long. 

• Do not wear away colours in the home supporter section. 

• Use trams or underground lines on match days, as they are faster than taxis. 

• Stadium museum tours often require pre-booking.