When I first moved to London, my life had just flipped upside down — I said goodbye to my job, my relationship, my home, and most of my belongings. What started as one month abroad with my best friend turned into five months of bopping around the city, traveling Europe, and meeting new people. But when fall finally arrived, homesickness hit harder than I expected.
Fall has always been sacred for me. Growing up in a small Southern town, the season meant porches filled with mums and pumpkins, air turning crisp, and Saturdays dedicated to SEC football. Sure, London had its own charms — gorgeous cool weather, cozy pubs, and few-and-far-between pumpkin-spiced treats — but it lacked that familiar fall routine.
And most of all, it lacked college football. If you’re in the same boat, here’s how I combatted my fall homesickness.
Finding SEC Football in London
The biggest comfort I found came through a Philadelphia-themed bar called Passyunk Avenue. With locations around the city (my favorite was Waterloo), this spot became my London home base for football Saturdays. Tucked into an underground tunnel covered in graffiti, the bar is packed with sports memorabilia, college swag, and an all-American menu of wings, cheesesteaks, and Budweiser. It’s technically Philly-inspired, but every time I walked in, I found myself surrounded by fellow college football fans bonded over the love of the game. For a few hours, it felt just like being back in the South… just with different accents.
Other Spots Worth Checking Out
- Bar Kick (Shoreditch): A lively sports bar known for its foosball tables and international vibe. It became our go-to for NFL Sundays and often drew in other expats craving a taste of home and a handful of English folks that were converted to American football fans somewhere along the way.
- Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: Check the NFL International Series schedule before you go. I was lucky enough to watch my Tennessee Titans take on the Baltimore Ravens right here in London. It wasn’t SEC, but standing in the stadium cheering with fellow sportsfans gave me the same chills.
Tips for SEC Fans Abroad
Watching games in London comes with a time difference challenge. Early kickoffs in the U.S. often happen in the middle of the night in the UK, so you won’t catch every matchup live. My advice? Prioritize your team’s biggest games, rally some friends, and lean into the newfound camaraderie.
Why It Matters
Living abroad can be the adventure of a lifetime, but it’s also perfectly normal to miss home. For me, finding SEC football in London offered much more than just cheering on my team and savoring a chicken wing. It became a way for me to honor where I came from, hold onto my traditions, and to remind myself that no matter where I am in the world, fall Saturdays still belong to (American) football.
Find more travel stories from around the South.
