[title]
There’s nothing quite like the FA Cup. The oldest competition in football reaches its conclusion this weekend, as Crystal Palace take on Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
Crystal Palace will attempting to win the competition for the first time in their history, having lost in the final in 1990 and 2016, while seven-time winners Manchester City will be hoping to salvage a disappointing season which has seen the club suffer its earliest exit from the Champions League in twelve years, and miss out on the Premier League title for the first time since 2020.
RECOMMENDED: How to watch the FA Cup final on TV this weekend: channels, pundits, kick-off time and more.
Who are the favourites to win the FA Cup 2025?
The sky blues are still the bookies’ favourite to lift the trophy on Saturday afternoon, with bookies giving them around a 73 percent chance of winning, but with Pep Guardiola’s team having struggled for form all year, there’s every chance the south Londoners could cause an upset.
When is the FA Cup Final 2025 and what time is kick-off?
The FA Cup Final takes place on Saturday May 17 at the home of English football, north-west London’s Wembley Stadium. The match kicks off at 4.30pm and should be finished by around 7.30pm at the latest, even if it ends up going to extra time and then penalties.
Keen to catch the big match but not got a ticket to Wembley? London’s pubs and bars will be stepping up to the occasion with all the giant screens and pub grub you could hope for. Here are the best options for cheering on your chosen challengers.
Where to watch the FA Cup Final in London
Crystal Palace Fan Park: Boxpark Croydon
Being relatively close to Selhurst Park, it’s no surprise that Boxpark Croydon is hosting one of the official fan zones for Palace fans. It’s also no surprise that tickets for the screening have sold out already, but if you’re quick about joinint the waiting list you may get lucky.
99 George St, CR0 1LD. From £10, advance booking necessary.
Crystal Palace Fan Park: Boxpark Wembley
Eagles fans have lucked out in being allocated the west side of Wembley, which most would argue gives them the better choice of pubs and bars in which to pre-game before the match. Boxpark’s Wembley is pretty unbeatable for soaking up the pre-match atmosphere; the venue will be open from 9am, but you’ll need to pre-book, and present a match ticket on entry.
Olympic Way, HA9 0JT. From £10, advance booking necessary.
Manchester City Fan Park: Bat & Ball Covent Garden
Cityzens keen to watch with a home crowd can head to the Covent Garden branch of Bat & Ball, which has partnered with City sponsor Asahi for its screening of the big game. Fans will receive a special token with each pint of the Japanese lager purchased at the venue, allowing them to try their hand at Japanese arcade game Pachinki for a chance to take home some exclusive City-themed prizes.
50 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LJ. Free, booking advised.
Big Penny Social
As the largest beer hall in the UK, Walthamstow’s humongous Big Penny Social is always a solid choice when there’s footie on, offering ample seating, one of the biggest screens you’ve ever seen in its main space, a range of well-priced in-house beers and a huge menu of pub grub.
1 Priestley Way, E17 6AL. Free, booking advised.
Boxpark Shoreditch
We’ve all seen videos of England fans celebrating goals at the original Boxpark, and this might be one of your last chances to experience its iconic, pint-throwing, shirts-off goal celebrations; the venue is due to close in September to make way for new developments.
2-10 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6GY. Free-£16.16 (for guaranteed entry and a drink).
Vinegar Yard
If the weather’s good, Vinegar Yard’s open-air courtyard is a great option for fans who want to bask in the sun while shouting expletives at the referee. And you can munch on slices from Bad Boy Pizza Society, and massive sarnies from Japanese Chicken Shop while you watch, too.
72-82 St Thomas St, SE1 3QX. Free, booking advised.
Bat & Ball Stratford
Settle in for the game at Bat & Ball and you can try your hand at some sporting endeavours yourself once the final whistle’s blown. We’re not suggesting you try to emulate Erling Haaland or Eberechi Eze, but the venue’s beer pong, darts, and pool table all count as sports, right?
2 Mountfichet Rd, E20 1EJ. Free, booking advised.
Belushi’s
Belushi’s has five locations across the city – in Camden, Hammersmith, Greenwich, London Bridge and Shepherd’s Bush – where spectators can expect classic sports bar grub, ice-cold beers and numerous huge screens with great sound quality, all of which makes for a great atmosphere for big matches like this one.
Various London venues. Free, booking advised.
Flat Iron Square
With sixteen screens including an enormous 16ft jumbotron, a mixture of indoor and outdoor areas and a rotating line-up of street food vendors, Southwark’s Flat Iron Square is a great shout whatever the weather.
45 Southwark Street, SE1 9HP. Free, booking advised.
Sports Bar And Grill
Sports Bar And Grill calls itself ‘London’s ultimate football destination’. You can say why – it boasts wall-to-wall HD screens, meaning you won’t miss even the sneakiest of fouls. The menu offers burgers, fries and other stuff that’s easy to shovel into your gob without taking your eyes off the screen for a second.
19-25 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6DQ. Free, booking advised.
Between the Bridges
Come to Between the Bridges for its atmospheric riverside courtyard, stay for the ample bars and fabulous roster of London street food legends on Time Out Eat Street, a mini food market curated by our own Food and Drink Editor, Leonie Cooper.
The Queen's Walk, SE1 8XX. Free, booking advised.
Tank and Paddle
Come to Tank and Paddle for the giant screens showing all the action in the final, stay for the great range of craft beers, yard-long pizzas and ample post-match gaming opportunities. This Bishopsgate spot has everything you need to hunker down and really make an afternoon of it.
201 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3AB. Free, booking advised.
Fancy some more options? Here are London’s best football pubs
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.