Bikepacking to Every Premier League Stadium [PART THREE]

Football. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying it’s the biggest sport in the UK.
With over 40,000 clubs across the country, that’s more football teams per square mile than anywhere else in the world. So naturally I thought it would be a good little fun challenge to cycle to every Premier League football stadium for the 24/25 season

The Ride – https://www.strava.com/activities/14425180519

Find all the routes and gear here – https://www.keepsmilingadventures.com/

Make a route suggestion here – https://www.keepsmilingadventures.com/route-sugestions

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The gear i am currently using

The tent – https://youtu.be/n9GKHSf805E
Framebag – https://youtu.be/6LM3UJKDOEk
Seatpost bag – https://youtu.be/W1E_iWY6Ajo
Jones Handlebars – https://youtu.be/dhPBSdRros8
Gravel bike – https://youtu.be/Gnd_4LgTyrg
plus bike mtb – https://youtu.be/COTUOzLPbGk
gps device – https://youtu.be/BWeMmx62A9M
mtb shoes – https://youtu.be/OYVEnfXwT0k
All the gear from GNT – https://youtu.be/e5oKSoPoMk0
Vest bag – https://youtu.be/01nzgd-t550
Ortleib bar roll https://youtu.be/Uk9fLgS1ioo
Dynamo setup – https://youtu.be/SL7MhjB6Lp0
Questions answered – https://youtu.be/u1q9AEs9flE
Gb divide bike/gear- https://youtu.be/epcZ81wqFCo
Sonder looped bar – https://youtu.be/BqWGTxd2VaQ
Tarpstar tent – https://youtu.be/RcQoBdZSAb8

You’re rejoining me on part three 
of my ride to every Premier League   stadium for the 2024/25 season.
This all started up in Newcastle, where I set off from St James’ Park and made 
my way down through the Pennines and across the Yorkshire Dales to reach Manchester—visiting 
both the Etihad and Old Trafford. From there, I continued towards liverpool, 
ticking off Goodison Park and Anfield, before heading through the Midlands—visiting 
Wolves, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester City. Then it was across to East   Anglia for stadium number ten: Ipswich Town.
That means I’ve still got ten more to go. And right now, I’m waking up just a few miles outside 
Epping, about to dive into the heart of the capital for the biggest day of the ride—trying 
to visit all seven London clubs in one day. Ahh, the London 7. Today was the 
day I’d been eagerly awaiting—seven stadiums and a good 80 to 90 miles to cover.
So I knew I had to keep moving forward, and unlike yesterday, there’d be less of the dilly-dallying.
Once I arrived in Epping, and after a few miles of busy roads, I managed to get myself onto some 
of the gravel tracks through Epping Forest. Now, Epping Forest is supposedly one of the most 
haunted places in the country—stories of ghostly highwaymen, shadowy figures, and strange whispers 
in the trees have been around for centuries. I cant say i saw any of that… 
however i did stumble across   Wilfrid Toadflax and Primrose Woodmouse 
out enjoying the crisp morning air. But   i was on a mission today and the first stadium 
on my list was Tottenham Hotspur Stadium One of the newest and most high-tech grounds in the 
Premier League, it officially opened in 2019 and has a capacity of over 62,000.the largest club 
stadium in London. The League’s greenest club and the stadium is powered by 100% renewable 
energy, with a zero waste-to-landfill policy, a reusable beer cup scheme and a wide 
range of public transport options. Making my way through the back streets of 
london and along the canal i even found a bit of gravel on my way to the next stadium 
the London Stadium—home of West Ham United, also known as The Hammers. the Hammers used 
to be called Thames Ironworks FC. The team disbanded in 1900 only to reunite once again 
under a new name which is still in use today. Originally built for the 2012 Olympics,   the stadium was later converted for football 
and became West Ham’s new home in 2016. It holds around 62,500, making it one 
of the biggest stadiums in the league. The move from their historic Upton 
Park ground was a huge shift,   and fans still have mixed feelings about it, But 
from the outside at least it looks pretty epic. I had ticked up two of the 7 stadiums this 
morning and next up would be the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal, also known as The Gunners.
Opened in 2006, it’s a sleek, modern stadium with a capacity of over 60,000.
They moved here from the iconic Highbury, which was full of character but not 
quite big enough for modern football.  Arsenal are one of the most successful clubs in 
English football history, with 13 league titles, 14 FA Cups, and a reputation for playing 
some of the slickest football around. With four more stadiums left,   Brentford Stadium was next. This one 
was probably the furthest away though. At one point I found myself riding behind a 
couple of cyclist paramedics—fair play to them, their bikes looked like they weighed a 
tonne carrying a lot more than i was. It wasn’t so much car traffic that 
would slow me down today though. Getting out west toward Brentford wasn’t exactly 
scenic. One of those grim little cycle paths right next to a roaring dual carriageway.
Eventually though, I made it to the Gtech Community Stadium, home of The Bees. 
After spending 116 years at Griffin Park, Brentford moved less than a mile a way to the 
state-of-the-art Gtech Community Stadium in 2020. with a capacity just over 17,000. its one 
of the smaller stadiums in the league. I was wasting no time today though so i got 
back on the crappy cycle path back down to the river thames, becasuse sitting along 
the banks of the thames was my next stadium Craven Cottage, home of The Cottagers, 
is easily one of the most charming grounds in the Premier League. The 
small little entrances for fans,   t’s been here since 1896 With a capacity 
of 24,500. a beautiful old ground that reminds you football isn’t just about the 
money. Three stadiums left in London now. A few back streets and literally just 
a couple miles away this was probably   the quickest stadium to stadium on 
this entire trip. Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea—The Blues. Stamford Bridge is 
one of the oldest football grounds in the country and has been the home of Chelsea Football Club 
since the formation in 1905. six league titles, eight FA Cups, five League Cups. and 
many more in their trophy cabinet. Next up was Crystal Palace, and getting there 
actually felt like I was finally heading out of London in the right direction for once.
The roads were mostly quiet back streets, winding through neighbourhoods. Selhurst 
Park has been Palace’s home since 1924. It’s a proper old-school ground with a capacity 
just over 25,000 t’s also one of those stadiums that’s a bit hard to get a proper look at from 
the outside, surrounded mostly by a big high wall. but n the past Crystal Palace has shared the 
stadium with Wimbledon and a previous partnership with Charlton represented the first ever 
ground-share in English league football history. And with that, I’d finally completed the 
full set of the London 7. Seven stadiums in one day and the biggest 
hoard for this entire trip,   and while it had been a good day, I can’t 
lie… I was glad to be seeing the back of London. I was finally heading back into the 
countryside and out towards the north downs. Today it felt like i was really on the home leg 
it was an exciting day london behind me now and a bit of fun riding through the woods 
first thing and with just 3 stadiums to go brighton would be next. Selecting the 
final stage on my garmin leaving me with just 130 miles to go. To get there though 
i would need to climb over the south downs which was the first real steep terrain i would 
encounter since the Yorkshire dales really. after a bit of a climb or a push up onto the 
South Downs, i would get my first glimpse of the 18th stadium Brightons stadium the American 
Express stadium was just a nice descent away, and with a capacity of just under 32,000 
its looks great from a distance. They moved here in 2011 and it is the second 
largest stadium in South East England, Founded in 1901 and nicknamed the “Seagulls 
Brighton played their early professional football in the Southern League, when they won 
their first and still to this date their only major domestic trophy, the FA Charity Shield 
(later known as FA Community Shield) in 1910 I had a few easy miles to go before the 
hills would start so i decided to stop off and refuel for a bit before 
having to climb for the second   time today back onto the south downs. 
eagerly being watched by the seagulls. Once it was time to get back on the bike though it 
was time to get the legs spinning and the climbing underway. Leaving the sea behind d get some great 
views. Today was starting to warm up but the endless south down trails under the sun are great 
fun but certainly make you work for that fun. There’s something special about the South Downs 
on a perfectly clear day.
The views stretch for miles—rolling hills, Endless chalk trails and
It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down… mostly because the climbs, but 
of course just to soak it all in. t’s beautiful up here. Quiet, 
bright, and really peaceful.  Days like this remind you why you do these rides. When I came out from under the tree cover this 
morning, there was an ominous-looking cloud creeping up behind me. I didn’t hang around to 
find out if it was bringing rain or not. Luckily, as I started descending off the South 
Downs Way, the sun rose up behind me. Most of the morning was downhill,   so reaching the penultimate stadium 
was actually really quite easy. St Mary’s Stadium—home of Southampton 
FC and stadium number 19 on this ride. Opened in 2001, it replaced their much-loved 
old ground, The Dell, which they spent 103 years at. and with a capacity of just over 
32,000, it’s the largest football stadium in the south of England outside of London. 
Southampton, also known as The Saints will be relegated this season finishing in last place 
after 31 games, breaking Derby County’s 2007–08 and Huddersfield Town’s 2018–19 record for the 
earliest relegation in Premier League history My journey across England visiting all the Premier   league football stadiums was coming 
to and end with just one stadium left a quick pedal out of Southampton and one last 
picnic stop before i would start to cross the new forest after nearly 800 miles getting 
back on the familiar trails felt amazing. A little new forest traffic to navigate but after   that it was time to leave the new 
forest and roll into Bournemouth. stadium number 20—Vitality 
Stadium, home of Bournemouth. This one’s the smallest in the Premier 
League, with a capacity of just 11,307, Originally opened in 1910, it’s had 
plenty of upgrades over the years, Formed in 1899 as Boscombe, the club 
adopted their current name in 1971. Nicknamed “The Cherries some people believe 
that because the stadium sits on old cherry orchards but most likely its because 
of the cherry striped kit they play in. You’re rejoining me partway through my attempt 
to cycle to every Premier League stadium during   the 2024/25 season.
So far, I’ve ridden from 
Newcastle—starting at St James’ Park—down through   the Pennines and across the Yorkshire Dales 
to reach Manchester, where I visited both the Etihad and Old Trafford.
From there, I made my 
way to scross to liverppol to tick off Goodison   Park for Everton and Anfield for Liverpool.
That’s five stadiums down, fifteen still   to go.
Right now, I’m waking up 
beside the Trent and Mersey Canal,   ready to get back on the bike and roll into the 
Midlands for the next stretch of the journey. You’re rejoining me on part three 
of my ride to every Premier League   stadium for the 2024/25 season.
This all started up in Newcastle,   where I set off from St James’ Park and made 
my way down through the Pennines and across the   Yorkshire Dales to reach Manchester—visiting 
both the Etihad and Old Trafford. From there, I continued towards liverpool, 
ticking off Goodison Park and Anfield,   before heading through the Midlands—visiting 
Wolves, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest,   and Leicester City. Then it was across to East 
Anglia for stadium number ten: Ipswich Town.  That means I’ve still got ten more to 
go. And right now, I’m waking up just   a few miles outside Epping, about to 
dive into the heart of the capital   for the biggest day of the ride—trying to 
visit all seven London clubs in one day.