Sport

Horse racing
The year is divided into ?Flat Racing,? which takes place between April and September and National Hunt season ? racing with jumps ? between October and April. The former is more popular and Ascot and Epsom are the (flat) horse racing events of the summer for Londoners. Whilst Ascot is renowned for its Royal Meeting in June when the Queen and other aristocrats compete for the most flamboyant and fashionable hat, Epsom?s Derby Day (also in June) is for normal Londoners who are up for watching the horses and doing a bit of harmless betting.
Ascot racecourse, Ascot, Berkshire, SL 7JN, 01344 876876
Train: Ascot (departing from Waterloo)
Epsom Racecourse, Epsom Downs, Surrey, KT18 5LQ, 01372 470047
Train: Epsom (departing from Waterloo or Epsom)

Dog racing
Experience the Londoner?s authentic ?working class? sport. Expect flat caps, and greyhounds. Drink a pint, suck on some jellied eels and place a pound?s bet on a dog.
Where: Walthamstow Dog Stadium, Chingford Road, E4, 020 8498 3300/020 8531 4255, www.wsgreyhound.co.uk
Costs: Around £6
Tube: Walthamstow Central Station, then bus No 97 or 215

London Marathon
If you're visiting the capital you mustn't miss the London Marathon. For most runners it is the spectators and entertainers around the course that help to keep them on the move. Crowds of around half a million line the 26.2 miles offering shouts of encouragement. Pubs on the route link up with charities to provide their own entertainment - the festival atmosphere is added to by an array of bands and street entertainers - it is a 26. 2 mile long street party.
Go to: http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/
When: April 13

Cricket
During the summer, this is one of the best sports to sip Pimms and eat cucumber sarnies. The sportsmen in their ?cricket whites? playing against the bright green field makes a lovely scene and because it?s the epitome of gentlemanly English sport, it?s a great tourist attraction! Lords and Oval host the international and county matches ? the season runs from April to September. Enjoy a quintessentially English sport!
Where: Lord?s cricket ground, St John?s Wood Road, NW8, 020 7289 1611, www.lords.org.uk
Tube: St John?s Wood
Cost: Depends on the match

Tennis
London?s world famous championships, the illustrious Wimbledon runs around June/July. Wimbledon embraces the summer season of strawberries and cream with glasses of champagne! It?s a quaint and easy-going affair. Tickets for centre court matches are available via ballot in September before the competition.
Where: Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis Club, PO BOX 98, Church Rd, Wimbledon, SW19, 020 8944 1066, www.wimbledon.org
Tube: Southfields

Rugby
Twickenham is the home of the English rugby union. It?s virtually impossible to get tickets for the Six Nations Championship matches between January and March, but you might be able to find some for other matches. London supports a variety of teams, with the most famous international players playing for the Harlequins, Saracens and London Wasps. Less important National League games run from August to May. Traditionally matches take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Where: Twickenham Stadium, Whitton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, 020 8892 2000, www.rfu.com
Train: Twickenham

Football
This is the capital?s most popular sport ? people go mad over it. There are 13 clubs that feature in the Nationwide League; tickets for the lower league clubs are fairly easy to obtain. However, the six Premier League clubs ? Arsenal, Chelsea, Charlton, Fulham, Tottenham, West Ham ? where the most exciting games take place are not so easy to get into because they are sold out well in advance to club members.

The match tickets for these top matches cost around £25 and if you're determined to find one, you may be able to haggle with touts outside the gates before the game. Yet, it's not the end of the world if you don?t get in though as you can go on organized tours around the ground and changing rooms in between matches - go to the team's website for more details (see below).

The season runs from September to May. Arsenal based in the Highbury area was league champion in 2001-02 season. Going to the footie is a London institution, it raises sentiment in the capital?s natives as most will nostalgically recollect their childhood with dad taking them to the footie.

Tickets: Around £20-£35
When: Normally Saturdays, sometimes Sunday, Monday and Wednesday

Premier League Clubs
 Arsenal (also known as the Gunners), Arsenal Stadium, Avenell Road, Highbury, N5, 020 7704 4000. More info and news from: www.thisislondon.co.uk/arsenal