The New England Patriots will be taking on the New York Giants on Sunday

Has there ever been a sport that looks after armchair fans as well as American football? Big fellas slamming in to one another, speed, skill, cheerleaders, all American showmanship, pop stars performing at half time, wardrobe malfunctions and watered down, tasteless beer (ok, perhaps not the last one then).

Super Bowl XLVI (46) is almost upon us and an estimated global audience of over 90 million people will be tuning in on Sunday night to watch the New York Giants battling the New England Patriots for the right to lift the Vince Lombardi trophy and be crowned champions.

With the game being played in Indianapolis and tickets selling for eye watering amounts, it’s probably a fair assumption that you won’t be jetting over the Atlantic to be in the crowd. So if you fancy heading out on Sunday night until the wee small hours to watch the best sporting action America has to offer, here’s a round-up of some of the best Super Bowl events happening around London. Hut hut, 29, 48, hut!”

IndigO2 (The O2)
The official Super Bowl party for NFLUK, Super Bash has been going for years and is immensely popular — which is probably the reason it’s sold out. But if you’re lucky enough to already have a ticket, then you’re in for a good time, with cheerleaders, classic American food and punters in fancy dress.

What to look out for: Cheerleaders, ‘American fare’, four free Budweiser drink vouchers, (Pepsi and Gatorade for those driving/needing to get up to do a day’s graft on Monday).

Costs: Sold out. More info here.

Clapham Grand (Clapham Junction)
Do you get sick of standing at the back of a crowded bar squinting at a tiny screen? Not so here, where you’ll be able to gawp/scream obcenities at the 24 foot screen as well as the many plasmas adorning the walls. This night-club venue (and now home to the infamous ‘The Church‘) should pull in a big crowd so if its a party atmospere you want, this may well be the place for you.

What to look out for: Larger-than-life-size players on the massive screen, American beers, hotdogs and cheerleaders (not neccesarily in that order).

Costs: Standard admission £10 with the first 100 through the door enjoying a free beer. VIP £20 for a table (minimum of 8 people) which includes a hotdog and beer upon arrival. More info here.

Famous Three Kings (also known as ‘F3K’)
This sports-mad boozer, located next to West Kensington tube, is one of London’s stalwarts when it comes to televised sports. It is, therefore, no surprise that it will stay open into the early hours of Monday morning to screen America’s premium sporting event. Tickets can be bought in advance, which secures you a seat and a free beer, or bought on the door (which does not secure you either of the aforementioned seats or free beers).

What to look out for: Swathes of fellow sports fans cheering on the Giants/Patriots (delete as appropriate), beer, staff and punters who are into their sport.

Costs: £10 in advance with guarenteed seat and free beer, £5 on the door. More info here.

Bar Kick (Shoreditch)
A venue that is probably better known for its foosball tables, Bar Kick has shown the Superbowl a few years in a row, and again hosts another party for 2012.

What to look out for: Super Bowl without the tackiness, table football at the end of each quarter and a slightly more discerning crowd.

Costs: FREE! More info here.

The Social (W1)
If you fancy watching the Super Bowl AND raising money for a worthwhile charity, then you could do worse than to head to The Social off Great Portland Street for their party, in aid of the charity Shelter. As the venue usually hosts gigs, expect the audio to be deafening!

What to look out for: DJs before kick-off and the half-time show by Madonna being pumped vigorisly through The Social’s ample sound system (metophorically).

Costs: £6. More info here.

Sports Cafe (Picidilly)
If you were to ask 100 random people to name a bar showing the Super Bowl, the words ‘Sports’ and ‘Cafe’ would crop up pretty often. With so many screens that you literally can’t help but see the game, there’s no chance that an idiot wearing a jester hat will be stuck between you and the goggle box.

What to look out for: TVs, lots of them. Random sporting memoribilia on the walls.

Costs: From £15. More info here.

Roadtrip (Shoreditch)
This rock and roll bar situated in the heart of Old Street is not only showing the game, but is also serving up its usual range of American cuisine to satiate you in to the early hours of Monday morning.

What to look out for: …or should we say what to listen out for? The venue has surround sound so you can hear those tackles come crunching in from all over the pitch.

Costs: FREE! More info here.

Featured image by Only Lines from the Londonist flickr pool.

See also: How to get tickets for October’s NFL game at Wembley.