Metallica
London Travel Guide
The M72 World Tour lands at London Stadium for two no-repeat nights on 3 & 5 July 2026. Up to 80,000 fans a night — here's exactly how to get in across the Olympic Park, what time they're on, and how to get home without missing your last train.
2 nights
no-repeat setlists on 3 & 5 July 2026 at London Stadium
80,000
capacity per night — plan your exit early
6 lines
serve Stratford — crowds spread across services
~9pm
expected stage time — curfew around 11pm
Event essentials
The quick facts
Artist & tour
Metallica
M72 World Tour
Venue
London Stadium
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 2ST
Doors / on stage
~5pm / ~9pm
curfew ~11pm
Dates
2 nights
3 & 5 Jul 2026
Both dates (3 & 5 July 2026): these are "no repeat weekend" shows — the two nights have completely different setlists and support line-ups. 3 July: Gojira & Knocked Loose · 5 July: Pantera & Avatar. Transport advice below applies to both nights — confirm your exact show time on the official event page.
Getting there
Four ways to London Stadium
The Central, Elizabeth and Jubilee lines all run direct to Stratford. The Elizabeth line is the quiet escape afterwards.
Central line to Stratford
The easiest move from the City and West End. Direct to Stratford from Bank (6 min), Liverpool Street (8 min), Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Circus, then a 15–20 minute walk through Westfield Stratford City and across the Olympic Park to the stadium. Trains run every 2–3 minutes before doors.
Direct · walk through the parkElizabeth line to Stratford
A genuine advantage from west and central London — Paddington to Stratford in around 15 minutes, also calling at Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. Post-show it's dramatically less crowded than the Central line, which everyone defaults to.
Underused after the showJubilee line to Stratford
Best from the south and west — Waterloo (direct, ~18 min), London Bridge, Bond Street, Green Park and Canary Wharf (5 min) all run direct to Stratford. High capacity and a smooth ride, making it a strong option home toward south London via Canary Wharf and the DLR.
Direct from Waterloo & Canary WharfDon't drive — it's public-transport only
There is no public event parking at London Stadium and the surrounding Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a transport-only destination on event days. If you must drive, park out near a Central, Jubilee or Elizabeth line stop and finish the trip by rail.
No parking · plan by TfLTiming & tactics
Beat the crowds
Before the show
- 2+ hrs before: Relaxed — eat at Westfield Stratford City or around the Olympic Park, then walk over to the stadium
- 90 min before: Comfortable — bag checks and 80,000 people take time, get in early
- 60 min before: Getting busy — Stratford and the park paths start to crowd
- 30 min before: Congested — real risk of missing the support acts
- 15 min before: Very congested — you'll likely miss the opening
After the show
- Best option: Elizabeth line from Stratford to Paddington — fast and far less crowded than the Central line post-show
- Option 2: Jubilee toward Waterloo or London Bridge — great for south and west London
- Option 3: Stratford International (DLR + Southeastern) — a calmer concourse just north of the main station
- ⚠ Avoid: Pudding Mill Lane DLR and the Central line — small trains and everyone's default, both clear slowly
Insider tip: split the crowd at Stratford
Stratford's six services mean crowds disperse naturally. Walk an extra couple of minutes past the Central line platforms to the Elizabeth line concourse — it's usually notably quieter the moment the show ends.
Check your last train — especially the Friday night
Stratford's lines run late, but last-train times vary by line and any engineering works — and the Friday (3 July) network is busier than the Sunday (5 July). With a ~11pm curfew you'll usually be fine — just confirm on the night before you head in.
Station by station
Which station to use and when
Stratford
CentralJubileeElizabethDLRStratford International
DLRSoutheasternPudding Mill Lane (DLR)
DLRBefore you set off
Know before you go
The London Stadium rules that catch people out on the night.
Small bags only
A4-size or smaller, and bag drop is limited. Travel light — anything bigger and you risk being turned away or stuck in checks.
It's fully cashless
Card, contactless and phone only at every bar and kiosk inside London Stadium. No cash accepted anywhere.
Mobile tickets · no re-entry
Load your ticket into your wallet before you arrive — signal dies in the crowd. Once you leave you can't come back in.
Local knowledge
Insider shortcuts
Take the Elizabeth line, skip the Central crush
Everyone defaults to the Central line post-show. The Elizabeth line concourse at Stratford is usually far quieter and just as fast to west and central London.
Stratford International is the calm exit
Just north of the main station — DLR and Southeastern services run from a far less crowded concourse after the show.
Tap a contactless card you actually own
Daily/weekly capping means you rarely need a paper ticket. One card per person — don't share, it breaks the cap.
Arrive 90 minutes early to enjoy it
Bag checks and 80,000 people take time. Get in early, grab food inside, and you'll be relaxed before they're on.
Eat at Westfield Stratford City first
Right by Stratford on the walk over with hundreds of restaurants — far easier than queuing for kiosks once you're inside.
Screenshot your route home before you go in
Phone signal dies with 80,000 people around you. Know your platform and last-train time in advance.
Quick journeys
Plan your route to the show
Liverpool Street → Stratford
Central line → Stratford
Bank → Stratford
Central line → Stratford
Oxford Circus → Stratford
Central line → Stratford
Tottenham Court Road → Stratford
Elizabeth line → Stratford
Bond Street → Stratford
Elizabeth line → Stratford
Canary Wharf → Stratford
Jubilee line → Stratford
Warm up for the show
Get in the mood
Press play on the journey up. Stream Metallica's biggest tracks before you hit London Stadium.
Accessibility
Step-free & assisted travel
Common questions
Metallica London FAQ
What's the nearest station to Metallica at London Stadium?
Stratford is the main hub for London Stadium — a 15–20 minute walk through Westfield Stratford City and across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the gates. Stratford is served by the Central line, Jubilee line, Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground and National Rail, making it one of the best-connected stations in east London. Pudding Mill Lane (DLR) is closer at a 5-minute walk, but DLR trains are tiny and fill instantly after the show.
What time does Metallica start at London Stadium?
Stadium doors typically open in the late afternoon, with the two support acts from early evening and Metallica expected on stage mid-evening. A stadium curfew usually means the show finishes by around 11:00pm. Always confirm exact times on the official London Stadium event page before you travel — they differ slightly across the two nights.
How do I get home after Metallica finishes?
The Elizabeth line from Stratford to Paddington (around 15 min) is fast and far less crowded than the Central line post-show — most fans default to the Central line, so the Elizabeth line is a genuine advantage. The Jubilee line toward Waterloo and London Bridge is also excellent, and for south London you can take the Jubilee to Canary Wharf then the DLR. Avoid Pudding Mill Lane (DLR) on the way out — the small trains clear very slowly.
What time are the last trains from Stratford after the concert?
Stratford's six services run late, but exact last-train times vary by line and any engineering works — and the Friday night (3 July) sees a busier network than the Sunday (5 July). With a curfew around 11:00pm you'll usually be fine, but always check TfL and National Rail on the day, especially if you're heading out of London.
Is London Stadium accessible for the concert?
Yes — London Stadium has accessible viewing areas, accessible toilets and step-free access. Stratford station has excellent step-free access throughout with lifts to all platforms, and the Westfield route across the park is fully accessible. It's one of east London's most accessible transport hubs. Contact the venue's accessibility team in advance to arrange assistance for the Metallica shows.
What's the difference between the two Metallica nights?
Metallica's M72 shows are 'no repeat weekend' dates — the two London nights have completely different setlists and different support line-ups. On 3 July the supports are Gojira and Knocked Loose; on 5 July they're Pantera and Avatar. The transport advice is the same for both, but the Friday (3 July) network is busier than the Sunday (5 July).
Ask Roamer
AILive trains, fastest routes and last-train timings for the Metallica shows — ask anything.
Popular questions
Going to more events at the ground?
Full London Stadium guideLive status from TfL · stage times are indicative — always confirm on the official event page before travelling.