Amex Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

The train is the clear best option, full stop. Falmer Station is less than five minutes' walk from the Amex Stadium. It's three stops from Brighton Central along the line to Lewes and Seaford, with four trains per hour. Crucially, Brighton & Hove Albion offer home and away fans free travel on buses and trains within the free travel zone — your match ticket covers the journey. If you're flying in, your nearest airport is London Gatwick (LGW). You can travel non-stop from Gatwick Airport to Brighton in just 30 minutes , then hop on the Falmer train from Brighton Central — total door-to-door from Gatwick runs around 45–55 minutes on a good run.

By bus, Brighton & Hove Bus No. 25 can be caught from Cardinal Square stop G and operates a regular service (every 12 minutes) up to the stadium from Central Brighton, as do Bus Numbers 28 and 29. For driving, from the M23, head towards Brighton on the A23; at the roundabout junction with the A27, take the A27 towards Lewes; after four miles the stadium appears on your right — exit at the A27 and take the slip road signposted Falmer (B2123), turn right at the top, and the stadium entrance is on the right. Rideshare drops are generally permitted at Car Park 5 by the University of Sussex campus on match days — don't expect to be dropped on Village Way itself.

Parking directly at or near the stadium is limited and requires advance booking. You can buy a parking space near the ground from the club website, but it's expensive and you have to book well in advance — nothing is available on the day. Even at around £20 per car, it sells out. No local street parking is available for football supporters, as all areas close to the Amex have a residents' parking scheme in operation, and enforcement officers will be on patrol.

The smarter move for away fans is the Lewes option. You can park at Lewes Station (BN7 2UP) for around £6.35 for the day with over 200 spaces, then take the train — just seven minutes to Falmer, and the journey is free with your match ticket. The club also directs fans to three Park & Ride locations: Mill Road (BN1 8ZF), Brighton Racecourse (BN2 9XZ), and Mithras House at Brighton University (BN2 4AT). Mill Road is easiest for away fans from the A23/A27 junction but is the busiest — Brighton Racecourse or Mithras House are quieter alternatives.

Don't try to stay in Falmer itself — there's essentially nothing there. Brighton city centre is your base, and it's a genuinely great one. The seafront and the Lanes are excellent, and you're only a 9-minute train ride from Falmer. The Leonardo Royal Hotel Brighton Waterfront is a 4-star option about 4 miles from the stadium with direct beach access; the Leonardo Hotel Brighton is another 4-star eco-conscious option about 3 miles out. Jurys Inn Brighton sits next to Brighton Railway Station in the city centre and offers reliable access to the stadium via train. For budget travellers, Travelodge Brighton Hotel and Brighton Seafront Hotel are budget-friendly options with easy stadium access. The North Laine neighbourhood — quirky independent shops, good pubs, walkable — is the best vibe if you're spending the night. Book well in advance for Premier League weekends; Brighton is a popular city break destination and hotels fill fast.

Here's the honest reality: there are no pubs open to away supporters anywhere near the Amex. The only pub at Falmer is for home fans only and door security will check your ticket — so if you want a drink, stay in Brighton or go over to Lewes.

The Evening Star (55–56 Surrey Street, Brighton) — one highly recommended pub for real-ale fans, less than five minutes from Brighton's main train station and listed in the CAMRA beer guide. Get here early on a big matchday.

The Lord Nelson (near Brighton Station) — originally built in 1848, it exudes character through its etched windows celebrating Brighton's brewing legacy, and serves a wide array of Harvey's Ales from the nearby Lewes brewery. Relaxed, characterful, away-fan friendly.

The New Oak (a 7-minute drive from the stadium) — a large pub located just 7 minutes' drive from the Amex. It has a dedicated bar for away fans recommended by Sussex Police, holding up to 150 people, and serves a great selection of beers and ciders. Useful if you're driving and parking nearby before heading in.

The Terrace fan zone — on the concourse outside the stadium at the station end, there's the Heineken Fanzone at The Terrace. It was originally designed for home fans only, but ever since it opened it has been 100% welcoming to away fans with no issues wearing your colours, drawing positive feedback from fans of Newcastle, Forest, and Liverpool. A solid pre-match option if you've left the city a bit late.

The club asks that you do not bring bags to the stadium; if you do, the maximum permitted size is A4 (297mm × 210mm). There are no exceptions to the policy and there are no bag storage facilities at the stadium. However, a paid bag drop does exist: fans bringing a bag larger than A4 can deposit it at the bag drop on the East Side of the ground for a fee of around £10.

Gates open two hours before kick-off. Away fans enter via the South Stand. When you arrive at Falmer station you'll find it is adjacent to the north of the stadium — visiting fans are seated in the south stand, some 600 yards from the station. Walk either way around the perimeter. The Amex is a cashless stadium, so make sure you have a cashless payment method. Download your ticket to your phone wallet before you leave — digital tickets are mandatory.

There are approximately 200 disabled-accessible viewing areas and seats, located throughout the North Stand, East Stand (upper and lower), South Stand, and West Stand (upper and lower), as well as all hospitality boxes. Away wheelchair user spaces number 17, all on a raised platform for Premier League away allocations. There are four principal entrances for wheelchair users at each of the four corners of the stadium (gates 1, 3, 4, and 7). Within the stadium, disabled lifts access different levels and concourses — located by gates 1, 2, and 7, plus two further lifts in the East Stand and one in the South Stand.

Audio description commentary receivers and assistive hearing receivers are available from the ticket office, window one. The stadium is fully covered by a radio-based assistive hearing system for fans with Telecoil hearing aids on the 'T' setting. For fans who struggle with sensory overload, the Inclusion Room is a safe space where supporters who may struggle to sit within the main stands can enjoy the game — fans of any age and any disability are welcome, and the club has hosted people with dementia, autism, mental health conditions, epilepsy, and ADHD. Falmer station has step-free access through the side gate to each platform, with step-free routes between platforms, and every train has ramp access capability.

The South Stand is the away end, behind one goal, with a capacity of around 2,575 for the standard allocation , though for Premier League fixtures the away section holds roughly 3,300 fans. Something worth noting: the away end contains padded seats, a genuine rarity in English football. If you're a seasoned away fan you'll likely be standing for most of the match anyway, so the only time you'll fully appreciate them is before kickoff or at half-time — but it's a nice touch. The stand has a single tier of seating and the sightlines are great — a totally unobscured view of the pitch. Mid-tier blocks centrally in the South Stand give you the best angle across the pitch; the corners can feel slightly side-on for attacks on the far goal but you'll never feel far from the action in a ground this size.

Brighton fans are generally one of the more reasonable home supports you'll encounter in the Premier League — they're passionate, they're loud in the North Stand, but the atmosphere isn't hostile in the way Millwall or Leeds can feel on a bad day. Security is generally fairly light-touch unless it's a high-profile match, entry is usually quite speedy as long as you're there in reasonable time, and the police presence is rarely intimidating. What catches first-time visitors off guard is the geography — the stadium really is embedded into a chalk hillside, and the walk around the outside from Falmer station to the South Stand involves more undulation than you'd expect. Inside, you'll find hand-pulled Harvey's real ale alongside burgers, pies, and drinks of generally quite good quality, and by Brighton standards reasonably priced — though given Brighton is expensive, that's relative. The real ale on draught in an English football ground is not something you get everywhere, and it's genuinely good. The away bars remain open after the final whistle and away fans are usually welcome in the North Stand until around 8pm, with screens showing late kick-offs — worth staying for if you don't have a tight train to catch.

By train: This is where the Amex experience gets real. After the game there is always a long queue at Falmer station, which can take up to 50 minutes to clear. However, the away end South Stand concourse stays open for an hour after the match and the North Stand bar is open to both home and away fans after the match — this is genuinely the best strategy: have a pint, let the platform queue die down, leave 30–40 minutes after the final whistle. There is a frequent train service calling at Falmer from Brighton station with a well-organised queuing system, but the trains are always packed — you may well not get on the first or even second train after you arrive at the station.

By bus: On the return, the No. 25 leaves from a stop near the away fans' entrance through the coach park. It runs regularly back to Brighton but expect it to be rammed immediately post-match — same advice applies: wait it out with a drink.

By car: The buses back to the Park & Ride are close by, and even with post-match traffic, the journey is manageable — within about 20 minutes of the game ending you can realistically be back on the A23. The Lewes parking option actually clears faster than the Mill Road P&R because there are fewer people heading that direction. One opinionated tip: if you parked at Lewes, wait in the stadium until the first train wave passes (about 20 minutes post-whistle), then walk to Falmer station and get a quieter train east to Lewes. You'll be in the car in under 40 minutes total.

How do I get to Amex Stadium from Brighton city centre?

Falmer is three stops from Brighton Central along the line to Lewes and Seaford, with four trains per hour. The journey takes about 9 minutes. Your match ticket covers the fare within the free travel zone.

What is the bag policy at Amex Stadium?

The maximum permitted bag size is A4 (297mm × 210mm). There are no exceptions and no bag storage facilities at the stadium. A paid bag drop is available on the East Side for around £10.

Is Amex Stadium cashless?

Yes — the Amex is a cashless stadium, so ensure you have a cashless payment method. All major debit and credit cards are accepted, as is contactless.

How much does parking cost at Amex Stadium?

Parking must be booked well in advance via the club website — nothing is available on the day. Even at around £20, it sells out quickly. The Lewes Station car park is a much more reliable alternative at around £6–7.

Where do away fans sit at Amex Stadium?

Away supporters are in the South Stand, behind the goal, with a capacity of around 2,575 for standard allocations , expanding to approximately 3,300 for Premier League games. The away end has padded seats — a rarity in English football.

What time do gates open at Amex Stadium?

Gates open two hours before kick-off. The concourse kiosks serving food and drink open at the same time.

What airport should I fly into for Amex Stadium? London Gatwick (LGW) is your best option. Travel non-stop from Gatwick Airport to Brighton in just 30 minutes , then take the East Coastway Line train from Brighton Central to Falmer (9 minutes). Total travel time: around 45–55 minutes with connections.

Can I get a pint before the game near the stadium?

There are no pubs open to away supporters anywhere near the Amex. Your best bet is to drink in Brighton city centre before heading out, or use The Terrace fan zone on the stadium concourse, which has been welcoming away fans since it opened in spring 2025.