An Arsenal fan has run the entire 9km length of tomorrow's parade route and shared his tips on the best places for attendees to stand. Huge swathes of Islington will be closed off tomorrow (Sunday, May 31) as hundreds of thousands of fans line the streets of North London to celebrate Arsenal's Premier League win, along with a potential Champions League win if they beat PSG tonight.
Massive Crowds Expected
More than 500,000 people are expected to attend the victory parade, which brings an end to 22 years without being crowned the champions of England. The club have told fans there will not be a trophy lift along the route as the buses will continuously move due to the sheer number of people expected to attend.
Parade Route Details
The open-top parade will run between Angel, Highbury and Islington, Holloway Road, Finsbury Park and Essex Road with fans encouraged to spread out across the route. Arsenal fan Charles Davie has run the entire trophy parade route, which he says is closer to 10km, to let fans know the best places to go for Sunday's celebrations.
Best Spots for Chaos
For pure chaos, he told followers on X that Holloway Road and Blackstock Road will see the biggest concentration of fans due to the proximity to the Emirates Stadium and huge range of bars and pubs. He added that Angel could provide the best viewing spot because the roads are wider, while there will also be a lot of food and drink options available.
Calmer Areas
For a calmer experience (if even possible) Charles recommends the area between Beresford Road and the start of Essex Road which are further away from transport hubs. This section also offers considerable leaf cover from trees.
Transport and Station Closures
From about two hours before the event Victoria line trains will not stop at Highbury and Islington, while the station will be exit-only for those travelling on the London Overground. Holloway Road, Drayton Park and Essex Road stations will also be shut, while Canonbury will be exit-only. Finsbury Park will be open as normal but will become extremely busy. Fans are advised to use Manor House, Archway, Angel or King's Cross St Pancras to avoid queues. Those needing step-free access are advised to use Finsbury Park.
Toilet Facilities
There will be no toilet facilities available along the route, according to the Arsenal Champions Parade FAQ website. Supporters have been advised public toilets around the borough can be found on: Holloway Road at the junction with Camden Road; Seven Sisters Road at the junction with Fonthill Road; Highbury Crescent near Highbury Pool; Highbury Fields next to the tennis courts near Highbury Grove; in Newington Green; in Islington Green on Essex Road; and on City Road at the junction with Central Street.
Safety Advice
Supporters have been advised not to celebrate outside the Emirates Stadium tonight if they win the Champions League as this could delay vital safety checks ahead of tomorrow. A Met Police spokesperson said: "Preparations for the parade will begin around the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. To support these preparations, the Met and Arsenal Football Club are asking supporters not to gather at the stadium, particularly on Saturday evening, as this could delay essential safety checks and impact the delivery of the parade the following day."
Commander Stuart Bell, leading the Met’s public order operation this weekend, added: "The parade is an opportunity for Arsenal supporters to celebrate, and we want everyone attending to enjoy the day safely. There will be a police presence along the route throughout the event, supporting event organisers and stewarding operations. Officers will respond to incidents where necessary. We expect the vast majority of those attending on Sunday to do so safely and responsibly. However, anti-social behaviour, violence or any other type of criminality will not be tolerated. Officers will take action against anyone attempting to cause disruption or harm."
