With up to 150,000 fans expected to descend on the British capital, both with and without tickets for the showpiece final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday (May 25), bars, clubs and hotels are gearing up for a booming weekend of trade.

London will also play host to the women's UEFA Champions League final tomorrow at Stamford Bridge, home of UEFA Europa League winners Chelsea, as French side Lyon look to complete a hat-trick of successive titles against the third German side competing in London this week, Wolfsburg.

Tourists and locals alike will have the opportunity to absorb the pre-match atmosphere across the city with various events, including the four day UEFA Champions Festival, which will take place adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and an interactive fan zone in Trafalgar Square.


Trafalgar Square has been kitted-out with an astro-turf football pitch which will host freestyle football exhibitions in anticipation for this Saturday's Champions League final




The Champions Festival is due to get underway tomorrow at the International Quarter next to the Olympic Park, and will offer fans and families a wide range of football-related activities, including the opportunity to pose with the men's and women's UEFA Champions League trophy and take part in coaching courses run by professional coaches.

The first day will focus on women's football in the build-up to tomorrow's final with girls' training sessions led by UEFA Women's Champions League ambassadors, including former England and Arsenal Ladies captain Faye White.

There will also be an Ultimate Champions Match five-a-side match featuring past legends from Europe's premier club competition at the Champions Festival site on the day of the men's final (May 25) and the final of the World Freestyle Championships on Sunday (May 26).


Wembley has received its UEFA Champions League Final cladding in preparation for Saturday's final

Trafalgar Square has been transformed to host an astro-turf pitch with freestyle footballers showing their skills, and will also be screening a never-before-seen 3D UEFA Champions League film in the evenings.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: "London is once again gearing up to host two major great sporting events with The UEFA Champions Men's and Women's finals.

"There is a wondrous week ahead for our football mad city with the Champions' Festival in East London and activities in Trafalgar Square.

"This really will be a true celebration of the beautiful game and I'd like to warmly welcome to our German visitors and wish them 'Ich wünsche Ihnen eine wunderbare Zeit hier in London.'"

Tickets for tomorrow's women's UEFA Champions League final are still available for as little as £5 (€6/$7.50), with the men's final set to be a 90,000-capacity sell-out at England's iconic national stadium.

Dortmund's world-famous eccentric fans are sure to create a spectacle at Wembley this weekend
 
Iain Edmondson, Head of Major Events at London & Partners - the official promotional organisation for London- said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Londoners and visitors to enjoy a great day out to the International Quarter, close to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

"The celebrations will combine iconic landmarks Trafalgar Square, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Wembley with community activity - connecting people to football and connecting communities across the world.

"With tickets to the UEFA Women's Champions League Final selling at such a reasonable price it's a great way to see a world-class event in one of London's most iconic football grounds"

German fans travelling to London for the final will be greeted and assisted by German speaking Team London members, who also welcomed visitors from around the world at last summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games, that will be present at major points throughout the city, including Heathrow Airport, St Pancras Station, the International Quarter and at Wembley Stadium.

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