Arctic Monkeys, Finsbury Park: what everyone going needs to know

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This weekend, Arctic Monkeys perform two huge gigs in North London's Finsbury Park. The AM superstars and Glastonbury headliners are set to turn the unassuming borough into a hotbed of indie as thousands of fans flock to see Alex Turner and co blow the asphalt off Stroud Green Road with their massive collection of classic anthems.

More: the 16 most important gigs of Arctic Monkeys career - so far

More: 7 things you can expect to see when Arctic Monkeys play Finsbury Park

But Finsbury Park isn't the same as a huge gig at London's O2 or any other regular gig venue. In 2013 it was flooded with Stone Roses fans when they played two nights in the same location, many of whom struggled getting in and out of Finsbury Park due to the huge volume of people and the somewhat limited public transport options. So, if you're headed to see Arctic Monkeys perform in Finsbury Park this weekend, here are five things you need to know about the gig and Finsbury Park itself, to make your experience easier and more enjoyable.

Initial set times for gigs on both Friday 23 and 24 shows in Finsbury Park are below:

Doors: 16.00
Royal Blood: 17.30 - 18.00
Miles Kane: 18.30 - 19.10
Tame Impala: 19.40 - 20.30
Arctic Monkeys: 21.00
Curfew: 22.30

1. Getting in to Finsbury Park:
Getting to Finsbury Park shouldn't be too much of a problem. As with any concert venue or location, arrival times will be staggered throughout the day. Finsbury Park is serviced by both the Piccadilly Line and the always-reliable Victoria Line. However, if you are coming from further north on London Underground, it might be worthwhile disembarking at Manor House on the Piccadilly Line, as it is close to a major entrance to Finsbury Park.

2. Drinking options:
Finsbury Park is small, but boasts loads of brilliant drinking venues, mostly centred around Stroud Green Road, the borough's main thoroughfare and high street. Situated close to the station is The World's End pub, but we'd recommend venturing further afield, as this gets extremely busy due to it's proximity to the tube. Close by is The Faultering Fullback, which, while small is one of Finsbury Park's most popular drinking venues with an exceptional beer garden - although it is likely to be extremely busy due to its size. If you are planning on a few swift drinks before the gig, then The Old Dairy and The Stapleton at the top of Stroud Green Road make perfect options. Large, airy and just 10 minutes walk from Finsbury Park, these are two of the area's most spacious drinking venues for locals and, this weekend, gig-goers.

3. Eating options:
Stroud Green Road is also home to a number of decent, reasonable eating options - and it's always best to line your stomach before a massive gig. The Milk Bar offers the best burgers in Finsbury Park, while both La Porchetta and Pappagone are known for their pizza. Jai Krishna is famous London-wide for its insanely cheap (and truly delicious) vegetarian curry menu, but it might not be so advisable before watching Arctic Monkeys. Cats Cafe de Artistes offers reasonably priced Thai Food, while Petek's restaurant offers truly incredible Turkish food. There is also a Nandos, which is, of course - great.

That's for the discerning gig-goers, however. Rest assured, Stroud Green Road is packed with fried chicken shops and kebab houses for the journey home.

4. Shopping in local stores? Beware the prices:
When The Stone Roses performed in Finsbury Park in 2014, Finsbury Park and Stroud Green Road was flooded with thousands of indie fans - and a number of small local stores exploited this with hugely inflated prices on their goods (namely cigarettes and beer) following the show. Smokers are recommended to bring their own supply.

5. Getting out - this is the tricky part:
Thousands of Arctic Monkeys fans will be flooding out of Finsbury Park when the gig closes - and the local tube station is not equipped for a huge influx of people. It struggles greatly on match days due to its proximity to Arsenal and shutters are often closed due to overcrowding. However, Manor House tube station is close by.

Finsbury Park is also serviced by a major bus interchange, and it might be benficial to take a bus to a nearby station to avoid the inevitable queues and delays at Finsbury Park tube. Overground trains are also an option, with regular service from Finsbury Park to Kings Cross. Nearby stations, Crouch Hill and Green Lanes are also an option - but train times should be investigated, as overground trains finish earlier on weekends.

However, there are a number of late-night options in the area, with late licenses at The Old Dairy and also The Silver Bullet by Finsbury Park bus depot - which offers music and beer until the very early hours...