Selhurst Park: Guide for Visiting Fans

The train is the only sensible answer. The nearest railway stations are Selhurst, Thornton Heath, and Norwood Junction — all within a 15-minute walk of the stadium. Direct trains from London Victoria to Selhurst station, or from London Bridge to Norwood Junction, followed by a short walk to the ground, are the easiest ways to travel. The journey from central London takes roughly 25 minutes by train to either station. One crucial warning: Crystal Palace station is two miles from the ground, so it is not advised to travel from there. Despite the name, it will add 30+ minutes to your walk.

Away fans usually prefer using Thornton Heath because there are a few away-friendly pubs on the way to the stadium. As you exit the station, head north and turn right almost immediately onto High Street. After around 500m, turn left onto Whitehorse Lane and you'll see Selhurst Park on the right.

For buses, multiple routes serve the stadium: 468, 75, 157, X68, 50, 198, and 250. Route 75 from Lewisham stops at Selhurst Road/Park Road. From Gatwick Airport (LGW), take a Southern train to Norwood Junction — roughly 30–35 minutes direct. From Heathrow (LHR), allow 60–75 minutes: Elizabeth line to Paddington, then Circle line to Victoria, then Southern to Selhurst.

Driving is not recommended. A Healthy Neighbourhood Scheme is in place around the stadium, restricting vehicle access to Holmesdale Road and Elm Park Road to public transport and permit holders only. Taxis and rideshares usually drop off at the end of Park Road, which is closest to the away end.

Bluntly: there is no stadium parking. There is no available parking at the stadium — Selhurst Park is situated at the heart of a residential area with permit-only streets in every direction on matchday. Local parking enforcement measures are in operation on the streets immediately surrounding the stadium, and vehicles parking in these areas may be fined or removed by Croydon Council.

The one exception: parking is available at St Chad's Primary School, which is a six-minute walk away and managed externally by Big Parking at a cost of £20. It fills early, so if you're determined to drive, arrive at least two hours before kickoff. There are 16 parking bays available to disabled supporters in the Sainsbury's car park located directly next to the stadium, available on a first-come, first-served basis on production of a valid Blue Badge. Sites like JustPark and YourParkingSpace list private driveways in the surrounding streets — pre-booking is essential.

Most visiting fans travelling from outside London are better served staying in central London and commuting in by train — most fans staying overnight tend to stay in hotels in central London for good reason. You'll get better transport connections, more dining options, and flexibility if the match kicks off early or late.

That said, if you want to stay locally, Croydon is the practical base. The Hampton by Hilton London Croydon is a modern option in the town centre, 14 minutes from Gatwick Airport by train. The Croydon Park Hotel is an award-winning 4-star hotel just a 3-minute walk from East Croydon Station — a solid mid-range pick with easy access to the Southern Railway network. For budget travelers, Premier Inn London Croydon South is a reliable mid-range option, and Travelodge has properties including Croydon Central and London Crystal Palace locations. Prices in Croydon run £60–£120/night depending on fixture category, considerably cheaper than Zone 1 London hotels on match weekends.

Here's the honest situation for away supporters: pub options in walking distance are limited and some are firmly home-only. The Prince George in Thornton Heath and the Selhurst Club in Selhurst are the only local pubs that have been confirmed to accept away supporters.

The Prince George (Thornton Heath High Street) is the go-to. It's a small, community-run pub that has reliably welcomed visiting supporters for years. The Prince George is a small family-run pub that welcomes home and away fans. It's busy on matchdays, so get there at least 90 minutes before kickoff. Pints run around £5–£6.

Flora Sands (Wetherspoons, opposite Thornton Heath station) is the no-fuss backup — away fans are best headed toward Flora Sands, the Wetherspoons opposite Thornton Heath railway station. It's Spoons, so you know exactly what you're getting: cheap food, cheap beer, big TV screens, and zero atmosphere — but it's reliable and it won't turn you away.

Tasty Jerk is the food pick. Tasty Jerk is a famous jerk chicken joint just opposite the stadium and genuinely worth the queue. It's local, cheap, and the jerk chicken patties will sort you out before kickoff better than anything on the concourse.

Sapore Vero is worth a detour if you're doing a proper day of it — it's one of the best-rated Italian restaurants in the wider area, serving Neapolitan pizza and quality pasta, a short bus ride or drive from the stadium but well worth the effort.

Note: The Clifton Arms, closest pub to the ground, is home supporters only. Don't bother.

Selhurst Park operates a small-bag-only policy — supporters can bring a bag no larger than A4 size (approximately 21cm × 29.7cm). Bags that are half-full or folded to reduce size will not be accepted. If you're travelling with a larger bag, bags can be left for free at the Information Centre located at Entrance 9, open from three hours before kick-off until 30 minutes after full time.

For all home fixtures, the stadium now opens for general admission ticket holders from 90 minutes prior to kick-off. Selhurst Park is a cashless stadium — food and drink concourses are cashless, so bring your payment card. Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted.

Visiting supporters are situated in the corner of the Arthur Wait Stand next to the Whitehorse Lane End. Supporters collecting tickets can do so from the Visiting Supporter Box Office, located on the corner of Park Road and Holmesdale Road by Entrance 4, open from two hours prior to kick-off. Arrive early — security queues get long close to kickoff and the away entrance can bottle-neck.

There are currently 128 spaces available for wheelchair users, the majority on a raised platform with 14 situated pitchside. Spaces for wheelchair users can be found on a raised platform in the visiting fans' section for opposition supporters. Disabled supporters will be charged the relevant age band rate for their area of the ground, and their personal assistant gains free admission.

A designated accessible entrance is available in the Arthur Wait Stand, with Disabled Supporter Assistants present in accessible areas. An in-seat order service for access supporters is available within the visiting section's viewing area, where refreshment orders are delivered to supporters' positions. Audio commentary headsets are provided for blind or visually impaired supporters. At Selhurst Park there are two sensory rooms available for use on matchday — one located pitchside (accessible via stairs only) and an enclosed sensory room located in the Whitehorse Lane End. Selhurst and Thornton Heath stations have step-free access to all platforms; Norwood Junction has step-free access to Platform 1 for northbound stopping services only, with no step-free access to Platforms 2–6.

At the north end of the stand in Blocks R, S, and T of the Arthur Wait Stand is where away supporters sit at Selhurst Park — typically up to 2,000 allocated. The Arthur Wait is a single-tier covered stand running alongside the pitch, and that low metal roof actually works in your favour acoustically. Your noise bounces around.

The catch: over 2,000 away supporters can be accommodated here but there are many bad seats to avoid if possible. Seats toward the rear of the stand are wooden with little legroom and have hindered views from an overhanging roof and supporting pillars. Given the choice, sit behind either goal for the best views and to avoid structural pillars — though away fans don't get that option. Within your allocation, aim for the lower rows, centrally. Get tickets in the first 13 rows or you will have a restricted view. The wooden seats toward the back are genuinely uncomfortable and the pillar sightline issue is real, not exaggerated.

Selhurst Park will not coddle you. The home end — the Holmesdale — sits directly opposite the away section and the Holmesdale Fanatics in Blocks A to E bring a continental Ultras-style feel to Crystal Palace matches, with drums, non-stop singing, waving flags, and impressive coordinated displays. They're loud, organised, and will spend the match making your life unpleasant if your team is winning. The Arthur Wait Stand's low metal roof traps sound above away supporters in a way that's unusual for a ground this size — on a sold-out night match you'll be surprised how much noise 25,000 people can generate in a compact ground. The facilities inside the away concourse are dated — don't expect craft beer and pulled pork — but the concourse pies are edible and the beer flows. One honest observation: the walk from Thornton Heath station along the High Street and down Whitehorse Lane is unexpectedly pleasant. Local food shops, market stalls, a lived-in South London neighbourhood that hasn't been sanitised for football tourists. It's a proper ground in a proper community, and that counts for something.

By train: This is the bottleneck. Every other fan has the same idea. Although both Selhurst and Norwood Junction stations will operate a good service after the match, supporters are advised to plan their journey in advance using the Southern Railway website/app and the TfL journey planner. The trick: split the crowd by using Thornton Heath rather than Selhurst. Most away fans instinctively walk back the way they came; if you came via Selhurst, try heading down to Norwood Junction (about 14 minutes on foot) instead. Trains run frequently on the Southern network post-match — usually every 10–15 minutes back toward Victoria or London Bridge — but the platform will be rammed for the first 20 minutes after the final whistle. Waiting 15–20 minutes inside or just outside the ground before walking to the station is the single best thing you can do to avoid a sweaty crush.

By rideshare: Surge pricing is certain for at least 30 minutes post-match. Walk 10 minutes away from the stadium perimeter — toward South Norwood High Street or along Whitehorse Lane toward Thornton Heath — before requesting your Uber or Bolt. You'll cut the surge and get a driver who can actually reach you. Budget £20–£35 back to central London.

By car: Roads around the stadium are closed two hours before kick-off until one hour after the final whistle — so if you've parked at St Chad's, you won't be moving quickly regardless. Realistically, allow 45–60 minutes before you're on a moving road back toward the A23.

Opinionated tip: Stay in your seat until the ground empties by 50% — at Selhurst the post-match crush is genuinely worse than the football. Five minutes of patience saves 20 minutes of standing still on a narrow pavement.

What's the best station to use for Selhurst Park?

The nearest railway stations are Selhurst, Thornton Heath, and Norwood Junction, all within a 15-minute walk of the stadium. For away fans, Thornton Heath is preferred as it puts you past the Prince George pub on the walk in.

Is Crystal Palace station close to Selhurst Park? No. Crystal Palace station is 2 miles from the stadium — don't walk from here, despite what the name suggests.

What is Selhurst Park's bag policy?

Selhurst Park operates a small-bag-only policy. Supporters can bring a bag no larger than A4 size (approximately 21cm × 29.7cm). Free bag drop is available at Entrance 9.

Is Selhurst Park cashless?

Yes — Selhurst Park is a cashless stadium. Food and drink concourses are cashless, so bring your payment card. Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted.

What time do the gates open for away fans?

The stadium opens for general admission ticket holders from 90 minutes prior to kick-off. The visiting supporter box office by Entrance 4 opens two hours before kickoff.

Where do away fans sit?

Away supporters sit in Blocks R, S, and T at the north end of the Arthur Wait Stand. Go for lower rows in the central blocks to avoid pillar obstructions and the cramped wooden seats at the top.

Is there parking at Selhurst Park?

There is no available parking at the stadium. The closest public parking option is St Chad's Primary School at around £20, a six-minute walk away. Blue Badge holders can use bays in the adjacent Sainsbury's car park on a first-come, first-served basis.

Which pubs near Selhurst Park welcome away fans?

The Prince George in Thornton Heath and the Selhurst Club in Selhurst are the confirmed away-friendly options. Most other pubs near the ground are home fans only. Flora Sands (Wetherspoons, Thornton Heath) is a reliable fallback.