Lords is Mecca for cricket-lovers. Unlike some other sporting venues (some might go to Ascot for the hats before the racing) the only reason to be there is a passion for the sport. And Lords, on test match days, is expensive. So you need to know you'll get value for all that money.
I went for the second day of the India-England test match. I bought tickets through their ballot system, which is easy to negotiate on their website. If you want shade, or to be sheltered from rain, try the lower levels of the Edrich or Compton stands. I saw a couple of people in wheelchairs so there must be provision for them, though I've no idea what they are.
Transport for London will help you to find the best way to get there – I took a train to Paddington and walked. It was my first contact with the fellow cricket-obsessives striding converging on St John's Wood. Most are men, but I didn't feel at all out of place as a woman. (For once, the queue for the gents was much longer than that for the ladies!). Plans and directions within the ground makes it easy to find your seat.
It's worth making the effort to get there early. I've rarely seen such queues – they move slowly, as bags are checked and everyone is frisked before they go in. And there are limits to how much alcohol you can take in – but then there is no shortage of bars once you are there. And beer is thirst-quenching on a hot day!
The seats – if you concentrate on the cricket you might not notice how uncomfortable they are if you sit for several hours. Some people bring cushions, others get up and walk around for time to time. I was fine, but my brother – with long legs – has to wrap himself up. But it's still far more comfortable than most airlines.
The food corner, during a Test Match, is so crowded it's difficult to find what is there, let alone what you might like to eat. And the choice – burgers, chips, curries, baps – far less up-market than I'd expected. But I managed to get a salad without a problem. Even so, I could see why many people brought picnics. And there are plenty of water fountains – much needed, as it was incredibly hot when I went.
So, that's the practicalities. What is much more difficult to describe is the atmosphere. The collective sigh when Cook was out. Thousands of people rising to their feet when Ballance scored a hundred. Just being there, with other cricket obsessives, makes it a wonderful day out.
