[takeaways] • The English Premier League runs from August to May every year — 20 clubs competing across 38 matchdays for one of the most coveted prizes in club soccer.
• Only six clubs have been in the Premier League since its founding in 1992 — Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Everton.
• Pre-pandemic, more than 1.5 million visits to the UK annually included watching a live soccer match — much of that driven by the Premier League's global pulling power.
• Tickets for high-profile Premier League matches sell out fast — always book through the official club website and plan well in advance for fixtures involving the biggest clubs.
• A SIMOVO UK eSIM keeps you connected throughout your soccer trip — from navigating between cities to sharing match moments with fans back home. [/takeaways]
The English Premier League is the most watched soccer league in the world — broadcast in over 200 countries and attracting fans from every continent to stadiums across England every season. If you're planning a trip to the UK to take in live Premier League soccer, here's what you need to know about the league, how to plan your visit, and how to stay connected throughout.
What is the Premier League?
The English Premier League is an annual competition between 20 of England's top soccer clubs — with three Welsh clubs (Swansea, Cardiff, and Wrexham) also eligible to compete if promoted. Running from August to May each year, the league involves each club playing 38 matches — home and away against every other team — with three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat. The club with the most points at the end of the season is crowned champion.
The Premier League was founded in 1992 when 22 top-flight clubs broke away from the old Football League First Division to form an independent league. The format was subsequently reduced to 20 clubs, where it has remained ever since.
The Premier League's history and its biggest clubs
Six clubs have been ever-present in the Premier League since its founding in 1992 — Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Everton. Despite this consistency, only a handful of clubs have actually won the title over more than three decades of competition. Manchester City and Liverpool have dominated the most recent era, winning eight of the last nine titles between them — though Arsenal ended that duopoly by winning the 2025-26 title, their first championship since 2003-04. Manchester United, Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers, and Leicester City have also claimed the title across the league's history.
The international composition of Premier League squads is a major part of its global appeal — the best players from Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia represent English clubs, meaning a Premier League match day offers a genuine showcase of world soccer talent.
[tip title="Check the current season's fixture list and standings at premierleague.com"]The Premier League website at premierleague.com publishes the full fixture list for each season as soon as it is released — typically in June. Always check there for current season start dates, fixture scheduling, and live standings before booking your trip.[/tip]
Planning a Premier League trip to the UK
More than 1.5 million visits to the UK annually include watching a live soccer match — a significant portion of that driven by the Premier League's international pulling power. Attending in person is a completely different experience from watching on screen — the atmosphere in English soccer stadiums, from Anfield to the Emirates to Old Trafford, is something that draws fans back year after year.
[warning]Tickets for high-profile Premier League matches — particularly those involving Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United — sell out extremely fast, often within minutes of going on sale. Always book tickets directly through the official club website. Third-party resellers carry a significant risk of fraud and inflated prices. For the biggest fixtures, you may need to join a club's official membership program to access ticket pre-sales. Plan and book well in advance.[/warning] [tip title="Mid-table and newly promoted clubs often offer the best value for first-time visitors"]If you're visiting the UK primarily for the experience of live Premier League soccer rather than a specific club, consider targeting fixtures involving mid-table clubs — tickets are far more accessible, venues are still excellent, and the atmosphere is genuine. Newly promoted clubs in particular tend to have passionate fan bases and sell tickets more readily than the established top-six sides.[/tip] [tip title="Premier League matches are spread across the full weekend — Friday to Monday"]Premier League fixtures are typically scheduled across Friday evening, Saturday (12:30 and 15:00 kickoffs), Saturday evening, Sunday (14:00 and 16:30), and occasionally Monday evening — giving visiting fans considerable flexibility when planning travel and accommodation around specific matches.[/tip]
[esim flag="🇬🇧" label="United Kingdom" data="1GB · 7 days" price="$3" href="/products/united-kingdom" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No roaming charges"]A Premier League match weekend — connected from $3[/esim]SIMOVO UK eSIM plans
A SIMOVO UK eSIM keeps you navigating between cities, sharing match moments, and staying in touch throughout your Premier League trip — without roaming charges from your home carrier.
| Data | Duration | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | $3 | Single match weekend — maps, messages and light browsing |
| 3GB | 30 days | $6.40 | Light use — occasional maps and WhatsApp |
| 5GB | 30 days | $7.10 | Casual use — social media and navigation daily |
| 10GB | 30 days | $8.50 | Most travelers — social media, maps, video calls and browsing ★ Best Value/GB |
| 20GB | 30 days | $14.30 | Heavy users — streaming, hotspot and uploading content |
| 50GB | 30 days | $28 | Heavy users — streaming, hotspot and uploading content ★ Most Popular |
| 50GB | 180 days | $46.10 | Extended stays — 6 months of serious data coverage |
