Away Supporter Information

Directions to The Hawthorns

The Hawthorns is one of the easiest grounds in the country to find

• By Car: From J1 of the M5, take the A41 towards Birmingham. The ground is about half a mile away on the right hand side
• By Train: The closest station to the ground is The Hawthorns, less than 300 yards South down Halfords Lane, but it's a local station for local people and not on the main lines; it's part of the Centro network and it's served by the new Metro line that links the city centres of Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and by another local line that starts in either Stratford or Warwick and goes through the centre of Birmingham before heading out to Worcester, Malvern and Hereford. If arriving from outside this area, catch a train to Birmingham New Street, walk across the city centre to Birmingham Snow Hill and catch the Metro line; alternatively, direct from New Street catch the local service to Smethwick Rolfe Street station, which is about a 15 minute walk from the ground. We'd always advise that you check the details of your journey before travelling as there are random engineering works and closures to contend with...
• By Bus: From Birmingham City centre, take a 74/78/79 straight to the Hawthorns. The 74 picks up in Navigation Street. The 78 and 79 stops are in Bull Street. Walk up Corporation Street (past C&A) and turn left in to Bull Street at first major junction. Remember to carry change as the bus drivers can't give you any

Admission

Visitors have the use of up to 2,800 seats in the Smethwick End Stand. Excellent view with perfect sightlines, modern toilets with hot water and paper towels (unheard of here!) and a Ladbrokes betting office all to hand. Segregation from home supporters used to be two narrow nets and two lines of stewards, but for the 2004/5 Premiership season this was rerlaced by a new metal barrier to avoid wasting hundreds of seats underneath the netting. Sitting in any of the rest of the stands is not advised unless you avoid wearing your team colours and keep quiet as the fifth goal goes in past our hapless defence - there have been one or two almost-ugly incidents recently where away supporters have irked some of the more vocal home lot by sitting next to them, but it's really a matter of using common sense.

Car Parking

The car parks in Halfords Lane are convenient if you don't mind paying £5, getting well blocked in afterwards, and having to go on an unscenic detour to get back to the motorway. There are many other car parks around the ground now, and more are being added all the time - full details can be found on the official web site. Generally speaking, the closer you can park to the M5 junction, the quicker you'll get away after the match. Kenrick Way, just off the motorway island (second exit from roundabout if you're coming South down the motorway, last exit if North) offers free street parking and an almost immediate getaway. It's 10 minutes walk to the ground - straight down the Birmingham Road. There are other areas for street parking on the opposite side of the motorway to the ground.

Anyone fancy a pint?

Then consult our new, updated Pub Guide!

Something for the weekend ?

The City of Birmingham boasts a wide range of shops, clubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres and so on if you fancy extending your stay past the customary 90 minutes. A full description is well outside the scope of this page (i.e. I can't be arsed to write any more). There's a "What's On" section in the Birmingham City Council Web Page where you can find out more, failing that try the Tourist Office (if there is one!) or just turn up and nose around town...