It is the most brilliantist day out! We went last night.
Are you going to the evening show or the afternoon? If you are going to the evening one then I'd do the shopping bit first and then about 30 minutes before the end of the afternoon one I'd go and get food and sit yourself in a quiet spot with a book - it gets really mad for a while in the shopping village once the afternoon crowd start mixing with the evening crowd. We got pizza and sat on the floor near the pizza place - but dont sit in front of the fire exit else a security person will move you on. We bought a meal deal for dd and I to share (we have little appetites) then bought icecream from outside block 8 to eat during the first part of the show.
You can take your own food if you like. Not sure about the tube station we use the overground which is about 2 mins walk to the entrance.
Theres not a lot of space for bags in the arena itself you kind of have to tuck them by your legs and its a bit cosy. As long as you dont get a giant in front of you then you get a superb view from all of the seats.
Make sure you can remember which is your best exit for leaving before you settle yourselves down for the show - does get pretty busy in the area just outside the arena when the show finishes, so its good to have a plan.
if you want slightly quieter toilets then just before you enter the shopping village turn right and there are some up some steps. Dont go for the ones on the left, once you are up the stairs, theres hardly any stalls, go for the ones on the right - theres loads.
Thats all i can think of right now. apart from enjoy it - its ace!