Lords Tour
Lord's Cricket Tours
Lord's Cricket Tour Ground,
St. Johns Wood Road,
London NW8 8QZ
Tel: 02076168595/6
About Lord's Cricket Tours
Lords Tour is at the Marylebone Cricket Club's Lords cricket ground on Wellington Road, St. John’s Wood, London. It’s a family attraction that will appeal not only to cricket fans but anyone seeking a family day out with a difference. A ticket to the Lords Tour (with two or three run daily - details at the Lords Tour website) provides visitors with an opportunity to go behind the scenes at one of the world’s great sporting venues and to gain a fascinating and entertaining insight into how great occasions are staged at 'The Home of Cricket'. The Lords Tour takes around a couple of hours, but there’s a whole array of things to see and do besides.
The MCC Museum is the world's oldest sporting museum and home of the Ashes urn. It recounts the 400-year history of the game through paintings, photos and artefacts. Among these are the Wisden Trophy, kits from Mahela Jayawardene, Glenn McGrath, Rahul Dravid, Paul Collingwood, Shane Warne, Victor Trumper, Jack Hobbs and Don Bradman, and a poster for a cricket match staged in 1837. Furthermore, there’s the copy of the Wisden alamanac that helped to sustain cricketer 'Jim' Swanton through a Japanese PoW camp during World War 2, and even the stuffed sparrow 'bowled out' by Jehangir Khan in 1936! Not something you’ll find in your average family attraction!
A fun family day out on the Lords Tour takes in a visit to the Pavilion’s Long Room and art gallery, with portraits of greats including WG Grace, whose achievements are celebrated with busts and memorabilia gathered since 1864.
The Lords Tour surveys the England Honours Boards, featuring those players who scored a century of runs (100+) or took five wickets. Included are Jack Hobbs, Les Ames, Fred Trueman, Derek Underwood, 'Gubby' Allen and Ian Botham. In the Away team visitors' dressing, the Board features Victor Trumper, Viv Richards, Bishen Bedi, Waqar Younis, Keith Miller and Garry Sobers.
The Lords Tour pops into the players' Dressing Rooms, the Tennis Court where Real Tennis is played, and the Indoor Cricket School, with its HawkEye technique analysis and 100mph bowling machines. The Brian Johnston Memorial Theatre enables ticket holders to see footage of some of the great performances, making for a catpivating family day out.
The Lords Tour ticket buys into panoramic views of the Grand Stand, Mound Stand, Investec Media Centre and Lord's Shop, which sells exclusive souvenirs. (Architectural tours are available too).
What’s more, the Lords Tour ticket gains entry to the Brian Lara: His Story Exhibition on the upper floor, paying tribute to his world record highest scores in Test and first-class cricket. The exhibition places him in the context of West Indies cricket and spotlights his childhood, inspirations, batting achievements, three captaincies and his post-cricket life since retiring in 2007. There are items from Lara’s personal collection, including his kit, the bats used to score 375 and 400 runs, a jacket presented by Nelson Mandela and the 1994 BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award.
The display boasts personal photos and recollections, as well as from family, fellow cricketers and commentators, adding an educational and inspirational aspect to this family attraction.
The Lords Tour caters for educational groups and, with full disabled access and facilities, it’s a family day out that everyone can enjoy.