SOCCER TOURS TO ENGLAND
FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
Everything you need to know about planning a TFE soccer tour to England. Our tours are completely bespoke, so there are no fixed dates, fixed itineraries or one-size-fits-all packages. The answers below explain how our tours work and why we organise them this way.
(Q) How much does a TFE soccer tour to England cost?
(A) Every TFE soccer tour is completely bespoke, so there is no single fixed price.
As a guide, our land-only prices are typically:
7 nights — from $1,575 USD / $2,175 CAD per person
8 nights — from $1,775 USD / $2,425 CAD per person
9 nights — from $1,975 USD / $2,675 CAD per person
The final price will depend on the number of travellers, length of stay, arrival & departure airports, and the experiences your team chooses to include.
WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY
We do not believe in forcing teams into a set package simply because it is easier for us to sell. Every team has different priorities and budgets, so we work with the organising coach to create an itinerary that suits the group.
YOU CHOOSE THE EXPERIENCE — WE BUILD THE TOUR AROUND IT.
(Q) What is included in the tour price?
(A) Your final inclusions will depend on the itinerary we create together, but a typical TFE soccer tour can include minimum 3-star hotel accommodation with breakfast, private executive coach transportation throughout your scheduled itinerary, competitive matches against English opposition, professional training sessions, stadium tours and football experiences, live professional football, sightseeing and excursions.
We organise and coordinate the complete programme in England from your arrival through to your departure.
WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY
Rather than offering one standard package to every team, we allow you to decide what matters most to your players, coaches and families.
Some teams want more matches. Others want more training, professional football experiences or sightseeing.
YOUR TOUR IS DESIGNED AROUND YOUR TEAM — NOT A PRE-SET ITINERARY.
(Q) Are flights included in the tour price?
(A) No. International flights are not included in a TFE soccer tour.
Your team arranges its own flights and, once these are confirmed, we organise the UK programme around your arrival and departure details.
WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY
Leaving flights out of the package gives your group much more flexibility. You can choose your preferred airline, departure airport, flight times and travel dates. Families can use airline points or miles, and anyone wishing to extend their stay before or after the tour has the freedom to do so. It also means you are not restricted to a flight selected as part of a pre-arranged tour package.
Groups are expected to arrive and depart together. Your preferred flights and route can be booked early through an airline’s group booking department, which can help secure suitable options for the whole group. This approach also makes the logistics much smoother, particularly when arranging airport transfers once your group lands.
YOU CONTROL HOW YOU GET TO ENGLAND — WE TAKE CARE OF THE EXPERIENCE ONCE YOU ARRIVE.
(Q) Do TFE tours have fixed dates?
(A) No. We do not operate set tour dates.
You tell us when your team would like to travel and we work from there. Popular periods include Spring Break, Easter, Summer, early September, Fall Break and Thanksgiving, but you can travel anytime of the year, arriving on any day of the week.
WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY
Your tour should fit around your players, coaches, school calendar and soccer commitments — not around dates selected by a tour company.
YOUR DATES. YOUR TEAM. YOUR TOUR.
(Q) Do we have to choose from a set itinerary?
(A) No. There are no set TFE itineraries.
We will discuss what your team wants from the experience and build the programme around those priorities. Your tour could include competitive matches, professional coaching, watching Premier League or EFL football matches, stadium tours, club experiences, sightseeing and a wide range of football-related activities.
WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY
A U13 team travelling primarily for player development may want something very different from a U16 team travelling with a large group of parents and siblings.
We would rather build the right tour for your group than sell the same itinerary to everyone.
(Q) How many nights do you recommend?
(A) Most TFE soccer tours are between 7 and 9 nights.
Seven nights normally provides enough time to create a varied programme without making the tour feel rushed. Teams wanting additional matches, training, sightseeing or more time in different parts of England may prefer eight, nine or more nights.
(Q) How many competitive matches can our team play?
(A) A typical TFE tour includes around three competitive matches, although this can be increased or reduced depending on what your team wants from the tour and how long your tour is.
We arrange opposition based on factors including age, gender and playing level, with the aim of providing appropriate and enjoyable competition. We will discuss this and agree at which level to play against.
WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY
The matches should contribute to the players' experience and development rather than simply filling spaces in the itinerary.
If playing more football is one of your team's priorities, tell us and we can build the programme accordingly.
(Q) Who will coach our training sessions in England?
(A) Training sessions can be delivered by experienced, qualified English coaches, including UEFA-qualified coaches, depending on the programme selected. Sessions can take place at professional club facilities or other quality training venues depending on availability and your itinerary.
Your own coaches are also welcome to observe, participate and discuss the sessions with the coaches delivering them.
(Q) Can we watch a Premier League match during the tour?
(A) Yes, whenever the football calendar and ticket availability allow.
Watching live professional football is one of the most memorable parts of many TFE tours, and we can look at Premier League, EFL and women's professional football depending on your dates and preferences.
Premier League fixtures can move for television and other competitions, so some flexibility within the itinerary may be required.
Official hospitality is often the most reliable way of securing Premier League tickets for larger groups.
(Q) Can we visit Old Trafford, Anfield and the Etihad Stadium?
(A) Yes. Stadium tours can be included as part of your itinerary.
Popular choices include Old Trafford, Anfield and the Etihad Stadium, but you do not have to visit all three. If your team would rather use that time for an additional match, training session, professional game or sightseeing experience, we can adjust the programme accordingly.
WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY
The itinerary is yours. A stadium visit should be included because your group wants to experience it — not because it appears automatically in a standard package.
(Q) What other football experiences can we include?
(A) Depending on availability and your travel dates, we can incorporate a wide range of experiences.
These can include professional club training sessions, Manchester United football educational experience, Manchester City educational experience, training at St George's Park, training at professional academy facilities, visit the National Football Museum, Matchday Experiences and other football-related activities.
We can discuss the options that are most appropriate for your team's age and objectives when creating your itinerary.
(Q) Is sightseeing included or is the tour completely focused on soccer?
(A) We strongly recommend allowing some time to experience England and Wales away from the soccer field.
Depending on your tour locations, your itinerary could include places such as London, Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, North Wales, Oxford and other destinations.
Although TFE is based in the North West of England, we can build tours incorporating different parts of the country.
WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY
The soccer is at the heart of the tour, but for many players and families this may also be their first visit to England.
We want them to return home having experienced the country as well as the game.
(Q) Which airport should we fly into?
(A) If your tour is primarily based in North West England and you do not want to spend time in London, Manchester Airport is normally the most convenient option, but it all depends on the itinerary we create.
If London is part of your itinerary, London Heathrow can work particularly well. An open-jaw itinerary — for example arriving into London and departing from Manchester — can sometimes reduce unnecessary travelling and make better use of your time.
We will discuss the most practical options before you book your flights.
(Q) Is transportation included while we are in England?
(A) Yes. Private executive coach transportation is included for airport transfers and the scheduled activities within your TFE itinerary.
Your coach stays with the group for the relevant programme and transports you between hotels, matches, training sessions, stadiums, sightseeing locations and other scheduled activities.
(Q) Which meals are included?
(A) Breakfast is included each day at your hotel. Lunches and evening meals are generally left out of the package.
WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY
We have found that groups appreciate having flexibility over where, when and what they eat. A fixed meal arrangement every day can restrict the itinerary and does not always suit players, parents and families who have different tastes, dietary requirements and budgets.
Leaving lunches and evening meals flexible also allows us to make better use of matchdays, sightseeing days and evening activities.
Our preferred Manchester hotel is located next to the Trafford Centre, which is a great example of why this approach works so well. With more than 60+ dining options under one roof, groups can choose from a wide range of restaurants, cafés and quick-service options to suit different tastes, budgets and dietary requirements, while still keeping everyone together in one convenient location.
(Q) What standard of hotel do you use?
(A) We normally use a minimum of 3-star accommodation with breakfast included. Hotel selection is based on a combination of quality, location, coach access, group suitability, availability and the itinerary we are building. We do not simply choose the cheapest hotel available.
Where possible, we position the group so that travelling times between activities are sensible and the hotel works well for a youth soccer group.
(Q) Can parents and family members travel with the team?
(A) Absolutely. Parents, siblings and other family members are very welcome on a TFE soccer tour. Everyone travelling as part of the TFE group participates in the same tour package and itinerary, which means families share the complete experience with the players and coaches.
For safeguarding and logistical reasons, people who are not booked as part of the tour cannot normally join the private coach, scheduled activities or other group arrangements on an occasional basis.
(Q) Do parents pay the same price as players?
(A) Yes. Our pricing is based on each traveller taking part in the complete tour programme rather than charging separately for players, coaches and accompanying family members.
Everyone benefits from the accommodation, private transportation, football experiences, sightseeing and other elements included within the itinerary. Rooming arrangements and any specific accommodation requirements can be discussed when we prepare your quotation.
(Q) Is there a minimum group size?
(A) Our guide prices are based on group sizes that allow the cost of hotels, private transportation and activities to be shared efficiently across the group. Smaller groups can certainly travel, but the price per person may increase because many of the major tour costs — particularly the private executive coach — remain broadly the same.
Once you give us an approximate number of travellers, we can provide a much more accurate indication of price.
(Q) Does the organising coach receive a free place?
(A) Yes. Our standard arrangement includes one complimentary land-package place for the organising coach. For particularly large groups, additional complimentary arrangements may be available and will be confirmed when we prepare your quotation.
Flights are not included within complimentary places because TFE does not arrange international flights.
(Q) Who actually looks after our tour in England?
(A) One of the biggest differences with TFE is that you deal directly with the people who organise your tour. There are no sales representatives handing you over to somebody else once the booking has been made.
Ritchie (the founder & owner) and Airan (Ritchie's son) are personally involved in organising TFE tours and accompany groups during their time in England.
WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY
We believe the people promising you the experience should also be there helping to deliver it. It means your group has direct access to the people who know your itinerary, understand the decisions behind it and have been involved in planning the tour from the beginning.
NO SALESPERSON. NO HANDOVER. DIRECT ACCESS TO TFE.
(Q) Does TFE supervise the children during the tour?
(A) TFE organises and coordinates the tour but does not replace the team's own responsible adults. The club or team remains responsible for the supervision and safeguarding of its players throughout the trip.
Coaches, managers and other responsible adults travelling with the group should therefore maintain their normal responsibilities for the players while overseas.
TFE works alongside those adults to deliver the itinerary and ensure the tour operates smoothly.
(Q) When do we need to pay for the tour?
(A) Payment schedules are confirmed with each group when the tour is booked.
Typically, an initial deposit is required to secure the booking, followed by a further payment as the tour approaches, with the final balance normally due around six weeks before departure.
To keep the process simple, the club or organising team normally collects the individual deposits and balance payments from its travellers and then sends TFE one combined bank transfer for each payment stage.
Certain items, particularly professional match hospitality or other experiences requiring advance booking, may require an additional or earlier deposit.
All payment requirements will be clearly explained before your group commits.
(Q) How far in advance should we start planning?
(A) The earlier the better, particularly if your preferred dates fall during popular school holidays or you want Premier League football included. We have successfully organised tours with as little as six months’ notice, while some teams begin planning up to two years in advance.
Starting early gives families more time to budget, fundraise and pay for the tour, gives the organising coach more time to build the travelling group and gives us more flexibility when securing hotels, football activities and other experiences.
You do not need to have every traveller confirmed before starting the conversation. An approximate group size and preferred travel period are enough for us to begin exploring possibilities.
(Q) Do we need to know exactly what we want before contacting TFE?
(A) No. Some coaches contact us with a very clear idea of what they want. Others simply know that they would like to give their players the opportunity to experience soccer in England. We can work through the options together.
A starting conversation normally covers your approximate number of travellers, players' ages, gender and playing level, preferred travel dates, number of nights and the experiences that interest you most.
From there, we can begin shaping the tour.
(Q) What makes a TFE soccer tour different?
(A) TFE specialises in soccer tours to England for teams travelling from the USA and Canada.
We do not try to operate hundreds of different tours to dozens of countries.
Our tours are bespoke, your dates are your choice, your itinerary is built around your team, international flights are left in your control, and you deal directly with the people organising and delivering your experience.
Our focus is not on selling the highest number of tours possible. It is on delivering the right experience for each team that travels with us.
ONE COUNTRY. ONE SPECIALISM. A TOUR BUILT AROUND YOUR TEAM.
Ready to start the conversation?
If you have read through the FAQs and think a TFE soccer tour to England could be a good fit for your team, the next step is simply to have a conversation, but before we get started, please take a look at 'Planning Your Soccer Tour to England' and 'Fundraising' pages
There is no obligation and you do not need to have your dates, traveller numbers or itinerary completely decided.
We can discuss what you have in mind, answer any questions specific to your group and look at what your own tour could potentially include.
Prefer email? ritchie@totalfootballexperience.com