Birmingham
Stadium: Villa Park (capacity: 40,530). Population: 995,000. Distance from London: 116 miles. Train: from London Euston Station to Birmingham New Street Station (1 hour 50 minutes).
Home of Aston Villa, Vila Park is one of England’s most traditional stadiums. It has been renovated on all four sides for Euro ’96.
Leeds
Stadium: Elland Road (capacity: 38,000). Population: 706,000. Distance from London: 192 miles. Train: London KIngs Cross Station to Leeds (2 hours 30 minutes).
Elland Road is the home of Leeds United, one of England’s top clubs in the 1960s and ’70s. Its recent successes allowed the club to finance the work on converting the stadium to an all-seater.
Liverpool
Stadium: Anfield Stadium (capacity: 44,243). Population: 475,000. Distance from London: 209 miles. Train: London Euston Station to Liverpool Lime Street Station (3 hours).
Anfield is home of Liverpool, one of the greatest clubs in the history of European soccer. The famous Kop has been converted to an all-seater in compliance with security requirements.
London
Stadium: Wembley Stadium (capacity: 76,000). Population: 6,803,000. Distance from London: 9 miles. Train: Jubilee and Metropolitan lines to Wembley Park station (20-25 minutes from central London).
Wembley is the Mecca of international soccer, the most famous stadium in the world. It first hosted the FA Cup in 1923 and served as the site of the memorable 1966 World Cup final between England West Germany.
Manchester
Stadium: Old Trafford (capacity: 44,622). Population: 446,700. Distance from London: 197 miles. Train: London Euston Station to Manchester Piccadilly Station (3 hours).
One of the oldest stadiums in England, Old Trafford suffered heavy damage due to German bombing during World War II. The home of Manchester United has, like many stadiums, been downsized in recent years.
Newcastle
Stadium: St. James’ Park (capacity: 36,400). Population: 277,800. Distance from London: 275 miles. Train: London King’s Cross Station to Newcastle (3 hours).
Newcastle United has played at St. James’ Park for more than 100 years. Located close to Newcastle’s city center, St. James’ Park has undergone extensive modernization with the arrival of Newcastle chairman John Hall.
Nottingham
Stadium: City Ground (capacity: 30,500). Population: 274,900. Distance from London: 127 miles. Train: London St. Pancras Station to Nottingham (1 hour 30 minutes).
Located right on the Trent River, City Ground is the home of Nottingham Forest, one of the dominant teams of European soccer in the late ’70s and early ’80s.
Sheffield
Stadium: Hillsborough (capacity: 40,000). Population: 552,800. Distance from London: 163 miles. Train: London St. Pancras Station to Sheffield (2 hours 30 minutes).
Hillsborough, home of Sheffield Wednesday, is unfortunately best associated with the 1989 stadium tragedy when more than 90 fans were killed at an FA Cup semifinal match. Major improvements have been done since then to several sections of the stadium.