City Ground: Guide for Visiting Fans

The most sensible way in is by train. Nottingham Railway Station is just over a mile from the City Ground and takes around 20 minutes to walk. The station is managed by East Midlands Railway and is also served by CrossCountry, Northern trains, and Nottingham Express Transit (NET) trams. The walk is genuinely straightforward and pleasant: exit the station, turn left into Station Street, then left again into Carrington Street, follow to Arkwright Street (which becomes Meadows Way), continue to the bridge on London Road, cross the River Trent, then take a left into Trentside North where the stadium comes into view.

If you'd rather not walk, buses run from Nottingham Railway Station to the City Ground for a roughly 10-minute trip, with routes 5–11 offering the closest drop-off points. The nearest tram stop to the stadium is Queens Walk, which is on the NET network, though most fans find the walk from the main station just as convenient and considerably more scenic. By car from the motorway, exit the M1 at Junction 24, join the A453 towards Nottingham, then follow the A52 East towards Grantham before heading in on the A6011 — the ground comes into view by the River Trent. From East Midlands Airport (EMA), the best option is the Skylink Express bus service to Nottingham city centre, about 35–45 minutes depending on traffic, then walk or get a local bus to the ground. The airport code is EMA and it sits about 15 miles southwest of the stadium.

Bluntly: don't plan your day around driving to City Ground. There is very little parking in the vicinity of the City Ground. The club operates a small car park adjacent to the ground, but it fills fast and is primarily reserved or pre-booked — walk-up matchday availability is not something to count on. Street parking in West Bridgford gets locked down early on matchday Saturday, with residents-only restrictions tightening the closer you get to kick-off. Your best driving strategy is to park on the northern side of Nottingham city centre (pay-and-display around the Meadows area or a multi-storey near the station) and walk or bus the rest of the way. Expect to pay around £5–£10 for a full-day city centre car park, versus hunting fruitlessly for residential street parking closer to the ground. If you must drive, get there 90 minutes before kick-off at an absolute minimum.

West Bridgford itself — the leafy, prosperous suburb directly surrounding the ground — has limited hotel options but is ideal for a short-term Airbnb or serviced apartment. You're a 20-minute walk from the stadium and surrounded by decent restaurants and pubs. For traditional hotels, Nottingham city centre is your base: the area around the station and Lace Market has a solid mix of Premier Inn, Travelodge, and a handful of boutique options. Prices hover around £80–£120/night for a Saturday fixture if you book in advance; expect that to double or worse for a high-profile match. The Lace Market and Hockley neighbourhoods are the best picks for atmosphere — they're walkable to the ground, full of independent bars and restaurants, and give you actual Nottingham rather than a business-park Premier Inn by the ring road.

The Stratford Haven (2 Stratford Rd, West Bridgford) is your most reliable option close to the ground. A charming, traditional pub in West Bridgford, just a short stroll from Trent Bridge and the City Ground, it opened in the late 90s, renovated in a classic style with linked areas around a large wooden bar and a courtyard beer garden, and has a strong reputation for quality cask and keg beer. It does get packed, so arrive early.

The Big Shed at Trent Navigation (Meadow Lane area) has become the go-to outdoor pre-match venue in recent years. It has three outdoor bars and two huge outdoor screens showing Sky Sports and TNT matches, with the main screen reportedly the biggest in the Midlands. Mixed crowds and a festival-ish feel — good for big groups.

The Larwood & Voce (Fox Rd, West Bridgford) sits in the corner of the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground a few minutes from the stadium. A Forest favourite that combines a strong matchday buzz with gastropub-style food. They regularly employ a DJ to play Forest-specific songs in the build-up to a match. Note that this leans home-fan territory, but it's generally civil.

The Broken Wheelbarrow (Meadow Lane, NG2 3HJ) is specifically flagged as welcoming to away supporters. It's a popular choice for travelling supporters, offering a relaxed atmosphere close to transport routes. Also note: The Nest, a fan zone within Notts County's ground, is open exclusively to away-ticket holders from 11am on Saturdays, sits on the direct walking route from the station to the away end, and has indoor and outdoor space with a large screen and street food. That's the inside tip right there.

Only small bags (A4 size or smaller) are permitted inside the stadium. All bags are subject to search upon entry. No backpacks, no holdalls — if it doesn't fit under your arm in a sensible way, leave it at the hotel. Turnstiles usually open 90 minutes prior to kick-off. For the visitors' section, any combination of turnstiles 41–53 will be open to allow away fan access. The away end is the Bridgford Stand, accessible from the southeast side of the ground — follow the River Trent from the bridge and you'll naturally end up in the right place. If you're unsure, look for stewards in pink high-vis bibs: the "Here-To-Help" squad can be found in various locations around the stadium and are there to answer any questions.

The City Ground is entirely cashless, including concessions, the megastore, and the ticket office. Tap or card only — sort this before you get in the queue. Free public Wi-Fi is available throughout the stadium; connect to 'NFFC_Public' and follow the sign-in instructions.

Accessible entrances are available in the corner where each stand meets, and there is an additional accessible entrance at the Bridgford Stand near turnstiles 57–59. Wheelchair-accessible seating is distributed around the ground, and the club requests that disabled supporters register in advance so the appropriate arrangements can be made. Any disabled visitors are recommended to check the Nottingham Forest page on the Level Playing Field website, and specific queries can be directed to accessibility@nottinghamforest.co.uk. The Here-To-Help squad in pink bibs on matchday are also a first port of call for any accessibility assistance or wayfinding within the stadium.

The away section at City Ground is in the lower tier in the northern half of the Bridgford Stand. Nottingham Forest's away allocation jumped from 2,000 to around 3,000 after promotion in 2022. The facilities and view of the action in the away stand are good, with no obstructed view seats, and the upper tier of the stand somewhat overhangs the lower tier, helping away fans generate noise as it bounces off the underside. That overhang is legitimately one of the better acoustic quirks of any Premier League away end.

If you're buying home-end tickets (neutrally, of course), the Brian Clough Upper — specifically Blocks J, K, L and M — offers the best sightlines in the ground. The Peter Taylor Stand has a low roof that can affect sightlines in the upper tier, and two large pillars in the middle of the stand create restricted views. Avoid the Peter Taylor Stand upper tier if you care about seeing the full pitch — those pillars are genuinely problematic and not always flagged at point of sale.

The atmosphere at the City Ground is one of the best in the Premier League, and the close proximity of Forest fans to the away section leads to plenty of back-and-forth. Nottingham is one of the most popular awaydays for visiting supporters. The ground is small enough that you feel genuinely part of the occasion — not watching from a distant upper tier, but right in it. The one thing no away guide will warn you about: the Bridgford Stand concourse is genuinely tight. The concourse behind the stand is a little tight for space and can get quite crowded. Get your half-time pie within the first two minutes of the whistle or you'll be still queuing when the second half kicks off.

On foot/transit: The post-match walk back to Nottingham Station takes about 20 minutes at a brisk pace. Don't attempt it immediately — the London Road bridge becomes a bottleneck instantly. Wait about 10–12 minutes after the final whistle, let the rush crest, then head out. Once you cross the bridge, you're largely clear and the walk disperses naturally. The city centre is the right direction regardless of your onward journey. Bus services on routes 5–11 run post-match, but they fill up immediately — the walk is honestly faster.

By car: Congestion around the Trent Bridge area clears slowly. If you've parked in the city centre (the smart move), exit on foot toward the station and retrieve your car once the traffic has moved — realistically 30–40 minutes post-final whistle to a moving road. If you parked closer, you may be sitting for 45–60 minutes.

Rideshare: Don't request a car from right outside the ground. Walk 10 minutes north back toward the city centre — the Meadows area or near Arkwright Street — and request there. You'll avoid surge pricing and actually get a driver who can reach you without being stuck in the post-match gridlock. Surge is predictable on big match days; waiting 15 minutes post-whistle before requesting often brings fares back down to near-normal.

The crowd-beating tip: Stay in your seat until about 5 minutes post-final whistle. Sounds counterintuitive, but the first wave of early leavers creates the worst crush at the exits and on the bridge. You lose five minutes but gain 15 on the other side.

How do I get from Nottingham city centre to City Ground? Walk 20 minutes from Nottingham Railway Station following the River Trent route, or take a bus on routes 5–11 from the station for a 10-minute ride. Both are straightforward.

What is the City Ground bag policy?

Only small bags (A4 size or smaller) are permitted inside the stadium. No backpacks or holdalls. All bags are searched on entry.

Is City Ground cashless?

Yes — the City Ground is cashless, and only card payment is accepted for food and drink inside the stadium. Contactless and chip-and-pin both work.

How much does parking cost near City Ground? There's very limited parking close to the ground. City centre multi-storey car parks north of the river cost roughly £5–£10 for a full matchday. Don't count on parking within walking distance of the stadium.

Where is the away section at City Ground?

The away section is in the lower tier in the northern half of the Bridgford Stand. Enter via turnstiles 41–53 on the southeast side of the ground.

What time do the gates open for away fans?

Turnstiles usually open 90 minutes prior to kick-off. The away ticket office opens two hours before kick-off.

Are there pubs near City Ground that welcome away fans? Yes — The Nest fan zone at Notts County's ground is open exclusively to away-ticket holders and lies on the direct walking route from the station to the away end. The Broken Wheelbarrow on Meadow Lane is also consistently cited as away-fan friendly.

When did City Ground open, and what's the capacity?

City Ground has been home to Nottingham Forest since 1898 and has a current capacity of just over 30,000. Significant expansion plans to take it to 45,000+ are in progress, with construction potentially beginning as soon as summer 2026.