Our List of Great Things to Do in Wembley

Although the Brent neighbourhood is admittedly most famous for Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena, it has a lot more to offer. Yes, we here at Plum Guide can confirm there's a lot more to Wembley than just the stadium and the arena. For starters, it’s one of the most multicultural areas in London, which happens to be one of the most multicultural cities in the world. You’ll find a wonderful mix of ethnicities here, including large Asian and African communities. And with all that diversity comes amazing the food. More on that later… Now, let's kick off our list of the best things to do in Wembley.

Let’s start with the obvious. The famous Wembley Stadium is an iconic football and music venue which has been home to so many major concerts and legendary football matches. It's the best place to stay in London for tourists visiting the city to attend an event there. If you don’t have tickets for an event, don't fret, as you can still take a tour. Wembley Arena is situated right opposite the stadium and is an indoor arena more focused on music and entertainment. It’s smaller than the stadium but still fairly massive. Icons such as Tina Turner, U2, and The Rolling Stones have played here. You can really feel the energy and excitement in the arena air when there’s a huge act on, and it’s well worth booking tickets for an event here, especially if you're staying nearby in a Plum home like The Birdman.

Sometimes referred to as ‘Little India’, Wembley has a plethora of authentic Indian restaurants that you simply must try out. Most are located around the Ealing Road and the High Road, and many have been family-run for years. The settings are modest but the food really does pack a punch. Some of our favourites include Sakonis, which serves up scrumptious vegetarian street food, and Maru’s Bhajia House which often has queues outside waiting to devour their famous crispy bhajia. Finish off with a sugary Indian treat from Prashad Sweets at 222 Ealing Road. Want to try your hand at traditional Indian cooking? There’s an abundance of Indian and Sri Lankan food shops on Ealing Road where you can stock up on spices and ingredients to try and recreate those flavours when you get back to your Plum home.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (commonly known as Neasden Temple) is one of the greatest things to do in Wembley that will instantly transport you out of London and into India from the minute you set eyes on it. This traditional Hindu temple is completely carved from stone and is one of the city’s most breathtaking buildings. We won’t say any more - just go. They offer free guided tours, or you can choose to wander by yourself.

London’s best shopping spots aren’t confined to just the centre of the city. You’ll find two great options to shop to your heart’s content in Wembley. Brent Cross, just a short bus ride away, is one of the city’s biggest shopping centres and home to more than 2000 brands. Also situated right next to Wembley Stadium is the London Designer Outlet. Don’t be fooled by the name though, as they don’t offer high end but have a mix of mid-range and high street brand outlets here. The London Designer Outlet is also a great spot for a pre-show or pre-match dinner, where you'll find a variety of popular restaurants to choose from. Once you get back to your wonderful Plum home, try your new items on and prepare your look for tomorrow.

• Tube: You’re well connected to the rest of the city with Wembley Park Station (Jubilee and Metropolitan lines) and Wembley Central Station (Bakerloo line). Out of the two underground stations, Wembley Park is slightly closer to the stadium and the arena, although both are a quick bus ride away.

• Train: Overground options are available too at Wembley Stadium Station (Chiltern Railways) and Wembley Central Station (London Overground, London Midland and Southern lines), taking you further out of London if you’d like.

• Bus: Like most areas in London, there are multiple and frequent bus services in Wembley. And regular buses taking you from the nearby tube stations to the stadium and arena (and back).

So there we have it, our guide to some great things to do in Wembley. Want to keep reading? Take a look at our 4 day London itinerary next, or perhaps our guide to where to stay in London with family instead.