Cricket -- In summer, attention turns to cricket, played either at Lord's, St. John's Wood Road, NW8 (tel. 020/7289-1611; Tube: Jubilee Line to St. John's Wood), in north London, or at the somewhat less prestigious Oval Cricket Ground, The Oval, Kennington, London SE11 (tel. 020/7582-6660; Tube: Northern Line to The Oval or Vauxhall), in south London. During the international test matches between Britain and Australia, the West Indies, India, or New Zealand (as important as the World Series in the United States), Britons go into a collective trance, with everyone glued to the nearest radio or TV.

Football (Soccer) -- The season runs from August to April and attracts fiercely loyal fans. Games usually start at 3pm and are great to watch, but the stands can get very rowdy, so think about reserving seats. Centrally located first-division football clubs include Arsenal, Arsenal Stadium, Avenell Road, N5 (tel. 020/7704-4000, box office 020/7704-4040; Tube: Piccadilly Line to Arsenal); Tottenham Hotspur, 748 High Rd., N17 (tel. 020/8365-5000, box office 087/0011-2222; Tube: Victoria Line to Seven Sisters); and Chelsea, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, SW6 (tel. 020/7385-5545, box office 0891/121-011; Tube: District Line to Fulham Broadway). Tickets cost £21 to £40 ($31.50-$60). The country's most visible site of world-class soccer matches is Wembley Stadium, Wembley, Middlesex (tel. 020/8902-8833; Tube: Metropolitan Line to Wembley Park), about 9.5km (6 miles) north of London's center.

Horse Racing -- Within reach of central London are horse-racing tracks at Kempton Park, Sandown Park, and the most famous, Epsom, where the Derby is the main event of early June. Racing takes place midweek and on weekends, but not continuously. Contact United Racecourses Ltd. (tel. 01372/470-047) for information on the next races at one of these tracks.

Tennis -- Fans from around the world focus on Wimbledon (Tube: District Line to Wimbledon). At Wimbledon's All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, you'll see some of the world's best tennis players. The famous annual championship spans roughly the last week in June to the first week in July, with matches lasting from about 2pm until dark. (The gates open at 10:30am.) Tickets usually range in price from £15 to £60 ($24-$96). Coveted center-court seats are sold by lottery. A limited number of tickets for the outside courts are available at the gate. For recorded ticket information, call tel. 020/8946-2244, or send a self-addressed stamped envelope (Aug-Dec) to the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, P.O. Box 98, Church Road, Wimbledon, SW19 5AE.