London’s most iconic indoor venues
OVO Arena Wembley is one of London’s most established and versatile indoor venues, located next to Wembley Stadium in North West London. With a capacity of up to 12,500, it sits perfectly between large stadium shows and smaller theatre-style events, making it a favourite for international sports, live music, comedy, esports, and entertainment tours.
For sport, the arena is best known as the long-time home of the PDC World Darts Championship, as well as hosting boxing, MMA, basketball, and exhibition events. Its compact design, steep seating bowl, and strong acoustics create an intense atmosphere that translates exceptionally well for both sport and live performances.
The arena opened in 1934 as the Empire Pool, originally built as a swimming venue for the British Empire Games. Over time, it evolved into one of the UK’s most iconic indoor arenas, hosting everything from Olympic events to legendary concerts.
In the 1960s–80s, the venue became synonymous with major music acts and indoor sport. It later rebranded as Wembley Arena, before becoming The SSE Arena, Wembley, and finally OVO Arena Wembley following a naming rights deal in 2022.
Throughout its history, the arena has hosted historic moments across sport and entertainment, including darts world championships, world-title boxing bouts, NBA exhibition games, and sell-out global music tours. Today, it remains a central pillar of Wembley’s event ecosystem.
Address: Arena Square, Engineers Way, Wembley, London HA9 0AA
Tube:
Rail:
Bus:
Routes 18, 83, 92, 182, 224, 297 serve the Wembley area
Car:
Limited event-day parking; pre-booking strongly recommended
🚇 Travel Tip: Wembley Park station becomes extremely busy after events. Walking to Wembley Central or using Chiltern Railways can be significantly quicker.
Bag Policy:
Small bags only. Large backpacks and suitcases are not permitted. Bag searches are carried out at entry.
Best Seats:
Food & Drink:
Inside: Bars and food outlets on all concourses
Outside: BOXPARK Wembley and London Designer Outlet offer extensive pre- and post-event options
Atmosphere:
One of the loudest indoor arenas in the UK during darts and combat sports events.
Accessibility:
Fully accessible with step-free entry, lifts, accessible seating, and assistance services available.