Get ready for the Ashes
Date released: 2 July 2009
Got your ticket (lucky you) for the Ashes Test at Lord's? We've got some great advice to help you get set for a thrilling day out at Lord's.
Summer 2009 in London has already provided one of the hottest, driest June's on record - July looks set fair too. Perfect cricket weather.
If you were one of the lucky ones to get a ticket for the Ashes Test at Lord's let us talk you through some hints and tips to make the most of your visit to the Home of Cricket:
Get here | Get ready | Bringing the kids?
Get here early
Plan your route to Lord's
The gates at Lord's open at 9:15am each morning of the Test. The crowds for an Ashes Test are like nothing you've ever seen before - so get here early.
Travelling by Tube? Bring some water - even early in the morning it's hot. Be sure to check the Transport for London website too. Engineering works (especially at weekends) may affect your journey.
Far better to walk where you can and enjoy the sunshine. The Lord's interactive map has detailed animated walk-throughs of four different, short walking routes to Lord's.
Get ready...
There's nothing better than watching cricket in the sunshine at Lord's but there's nothing worse than sunburn or sunstroke.
Ashes 2009 t-shirt with exclusive artwork - just £18 Our Australian cousins have a saying: Slip, slop, slap. Slip on a t-shirt; slop on some suncream and slap on a hat.
Not just any t-shirt though... this is The Ashes after all. Show your colours with the Ashes 2009 t-shirt, exclusive to Lord's.
The Ashes artwork - exclusive to Lord's Available in Aussie gold or England white the t-shirt features the Lord's Ashes Test dates and the exclusive kangaroo versus lion design.
Order yours online now, delivered to you in time to wear to the Test!
The Lord's Shop online has also got dozens of hats to pick from - all available to be delivered in time for the Test.
Lord's heritage cap - £15 Might we recommend the Lord's heritage cap?
The motif reads "Lord's Ground Est. 1787" for real Home of Cricket aficionados.
The Lord's sunhat in ivory - £13 Baseball caps not really your thing?
What about this Michael Vaughan-esque floppy sunhat in ivory? You could wear it as a tribute to the last England captain to lift the famous little urn.
Kids at Lord's
Bringing children to Lord's? MCC want all young cricket fans to enjoy a safe trip to The Home of Cricket. Lord's operates a free wristband scheme.
One of the wristbands The wristband is completed with the parent or guardian's contact details and seat number. Then, should the child get lost around the Ground, a Lord's Steward can help reunite them with their parent/guardian.
Youngsters' fun day out doesn't have to wait to start until you reach the Ground either. Why not try some of our travel cricket games to make your journey to Lord's even more entertaining?
The Ashes autograph mini-bat - £12 The Ground will be packed with stars - and not just on the pitch.
Order an exclusive Ashes autograph mini-bat - laser etched with the dates of the Test and the flags of both teams - and collect your favourite players' signatures in style.
Ashes Test matches are a rare and special occasion - we hope you have an enjoyable, safe and fun day out at Lord's.
If you cannot make it on the day or want to follow the rest of the match after your visit be sure to visit Lords.org for our live coverage.
Try us out and follow the match from your home or office - we're sure you'll be hit for six by our coverage and latest match-action photographs.
