⚽ ST JAMES PARK ⚽
Exeter City Complete Travel Guide – 2026-27 Season
ℹ️ 2026-27 Season Guide: Exeter are back in League Two for the first time since 2021-22, following relegation from League One. All information has been researched and verified for 2026-27. Always check exetercityfc.co.uk for the latest ticketing and matchday updates before you travel.
⚽ ABOUT ST JAMES PARK
St James Park has been home to Exeter City since the club’s very first competitive match in 1904, making it one of the longest continuous tenancies in English football. With a capacity of around 8,720 following a £3.4 million redevelopment, the ground has a genuinely unusual feature – its own dedicated railway station, St James Park, sits directly alongside the Stagecoach Family Stand, with the club having adopted the station under a community rail scheme and painted its railings in Exeter’s red and white.
The Cliff Bastin Big Bank Stand, named after the Exeter-born Arsenal legend, is a large single-tier terrace housing the loudest home support, while away fans are housed in the St James Road Terrace at the opposite end. The ground blends genuine old-school character with modern touches from several phases of redevelopment over the decades.
Exeter City – The Grecians – were founded in 1901 and have long been one of English football’s most fan-owned success stories, run by the Exeter City Supporters’ Trust since 2003. The club’s proudest footballing moment came in 1980-81, reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals after beating Leicester City and Newcastle United, before narrowly losing away to Tottenham Hotspur. Exeter also famously held Manchester United to two draws in the third round in 2005. Former Arsenal legend Cliff Bastin began his career locally, while Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins came through Exeter’s ranks between 2014 and 2017.
Now back in League Two following relegation from League One, Exeter’s passionate, knowledgeable fanbase remains one of the best-supported in the division relative to the city’s size.
📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS
| Capacity | Around 8,720 (all seated) |
| Opened | 10 September 1904 |
| Address | St James Road, Exeter, EX4 6PX |
| Away Section | St James Road Terrace, accessed via St James Road |
| Away Allocation | Typically around 1,000-1,500 (covered, close to the pitch) |
| Record Attendance | 20,984 vs Sunderland (FA Cup 6th Round Replay, 4 March 1931) |
ℹ️ St James Park (Exeter) railway station sits right next to the ground – but it’s on a local branch line, so most away fans arrive via Exeter St David’s or Exeter Central instead.
🚗 GETTING TO ST JAMES PARK
St James Park sits just north-east of Exeter city centre, an easy walk from either of the city’s main stations. Exeter St David’s is the main hub with connections from London Paddington, Bristol and Birmingham, while Exeter Central is closer to the city centre. Parking near the ground itself is difficult, so public transport is the recommended option.
🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP
St James Park Address: St James Road, Exeter, EX4 6PX
🚂 BY TRAIN
Why Trains Work: Exeter St David’s is the main station with direct services from London Paddington, Bristol, Birmingham and beyond. Exeter Central, closer to the city centre, is around 20 minutes’ walk from the ground. There’s also a tiny local station literally called St James Park, right by the ground, but it’s on a limited branch line, so most fans arrive via St David’s or Central and walk in through the city.
Journey Times to Exeter St David’s:
🔴 London Paddington: Around 2 hours 15 minutes (direct)
🟠 Birmingham New Street: Around 3 hours (direct or change at Bristol)
🟡 Bristol Temple Meads: Around 1 hour 15 minutes (direct)
🟢 Plymouth: Around 55 minutes (direct)
🔵 Exeter Central: Around 5 minutes (direct, connecting service)
Getting from Exeter Central to the Stadium
🚶 Walking (around 20 minutes)
Exit the station onto Queen Street, continue to the High Street and turn onto Sidwell Street, following it up to the crossroads. Turn left onto York Road, cross over, then take a right onto Oxford Road, where the stadium comes into view.
🚌 Bus
Frequent local services run from the city centre towards St James Park on matchdays.
🔗 Train Times & Tickets: nationalrail.co.uk | thetrainline.com
🔗 Exeter City Official Site: exetercityfc.co.uk
🚗 BY CAR
Exeter is accessible via the M5 and A30, with traffic near the stadium often heavy on matchdays.
Parking Options:
- Streets Around the Ground: Almost all residents-only, so don’t expect to find free parking nearby.
- Park & Ride: The club operates a scheme that’s often the sensible option given the residents-only restrictions.
- City Centre Car Parks: Several pay car parks within a reasonable walk of the ground.
💡 Top Tip: Given how limited parking is right by the ground, seriously consider the train or Park & Ride rather than driving all the way in.
🍺 PUBS & DRINKS NEAR ST JAMES PARK
⚠️ Important Advice: Some pubs require colours to be covered, and a small number don’t allow children. On the biggest derby days (particularly against Plymouth Argyle), away fans may be refused entry to the more fiercely home-supporting pubs – the club’s own bars are a safer bet on those occasions.
🍺 At the Stadium
🍺 Centre Spot Bar (inside The Park building, via the fan zone)
The club’s own bar, genuinely welcoming to both home and away fans, serving beers, ciders, wines and spirits plus locally sourced pies and pasties. Also home to FECRACE (the Famous Exeter City Real Ale and Cider Emporium), a volunteer-run real ale and cider bar within the same building.
Distance to Stadium: On the footprint | Price: ££
🍺 Near the Ground
🍺 The Bowling Green (Blackboy Road)
Originally an 18th-century pub called The Ropemakers, this cosy back-street local close to the ground is friendly and welcoming, with a pool table and games. A genuine favourite among visiting supporters.
Distance to Stadium: 15 minutes’ walk | Price: ££
🍺 City Centre & Sidwell Street (Recommended)
🍺 The Duke of York Inn (58 Sidwell Street, EX4 6PH)
A long-standing traditional pub with a wide range of beers and ciders, a genuine go-to for Exeter supporters on matchdays and welcoming to away fans too.
Distance to Stadium: Short walk from the ground | Price: ££
🍺 The Black Horse (near Exeter Central)
Good atmosphere and live football on the big screens, popular with fans arriving by train and heading up towards the ground.
Distance to Stadium: Near Exeter Central, 20 minutes from ground | Price: ££
🍔 Food Options: Old Tiverton Road, east of the stadium, has a KFC, Domino’s Pizza and several chip shops including Paradise Tandoori. Inside the ground, the sausage and bacon baps are reportedly excellent, alongside standard pies, burgers and hot dogs – a full cooked breakfast is even available for early arrivals.
💡 Local Tip: The walk from the city centre stations passes through Exeter’s attractive centre, so grab lunch en route rather than rushing straight to the ground.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY IN EXETER
Exeter is a popular tourist city with genuine Roman heritage, a cathedral and a university, so there’s a good range of accommodation from budget chains to historic coaching inns.
£ Budget Options
Premier Inn Exeter City Centre
Reliable, well-located chain option close to the city centre.
Location: 2 Southernhay Gardens, EX1 1SG | Book: premierinn.com
Holiday Inn Express Exeter – City Centre
Central location with breakfast included, a solid budget-to-mid choice close to the action.
Location: Tudor Street, EX4 3FL | Book: ihg.com
££ Mid-Range Options
Mercure Exeter Rougemont Hotel
A comfortable, well-located hotel on Queen Street, close to Exeter Central station and the cathedral.
Location: Queen Street, EX4 3SP | Book: mercure.com
The City Gate Hotel
A stylish, centrally located boutique hotel with its own pub on site, around 15 minutes’ walk from the ground.
Location: Iron Bridge, North Street, EX4 3RB
£££ Historic & Boutique Options
Historic Coaching Inns & Boutique Hotels
Exeter has several characterful historic hotels dotted around the cathedral quarter, perfect if you want to combine the match with a proper exploration of the city’s Roman and medieval heritage.
Search: booking.com
⚠️ Booking Advice
As a popular tourist destination, Exeter can get busy and pricier during summer and university term-time events – book ahead where possible.
🎯 THINGS TO DO IN EXETER
Exeter is one of the South West’s most historic cities, with genuine Roman roots and a stunning cathedral quarter well worth exploring.
⛪ Exeter Cathedral (Must Visit!)
A magnificent medieval cathedral with the longest uninterrupted stretch of Gothic vaulting in the world – genuinely one of England’s great cathedrals, set in a beautiful green.
Cost: Adults around £8-10 | Info: exeter-cathedral.org.uk | Time: Allow 1 hour
🏛️ Exeter’s Underground Passages
A unique network of medieval passages beneath the city, originally built to carry fresh water – the only such passages in England open to the public. A genuinely unusual attraction.
Cost: Adults around £7-9 | Time: Allow 45 minutes
🚢 Exeter Quayside
A beautiful waterfront area with restaurants, cafes and independent shops housed in historic warehouses – a lovely spot for a Saturday evening after the match.
Cost: FREE to explore | Time: Allow 1-2 hours
🏛️ Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM)
An excellent free museum covering natural history, world cultures and local heritage, housed in a striking Victorian building.
Cost: FREE | Time: Allow 1-2 hours
Nearby Attractions
Dartmoor National Park:
Around 30 minutes by car, offering stunning moorland scenery and walking trails.
Exmouth & the Jurassic Coast:
A short train ride away, with beaches and dramatic coastal scenery.
⛪ THE EXETER EXPERIENCE
🏛️ Roman Roots: Exeter was a major Roman settlement, and remnants of the old city walls can still be seen around town.
🚂 Its Own Station: St James Park is one of the few English grounds with a railway station of the same name right next to it.
🌊 Gateway to Devon: Dartmoor and the Jurassic Coast are both within easy reach if you fancy extending your trip.
⚽ THE MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE
👔 Supporter Owned: Exeter City have been owned by their own Supporters’ Trust since 2003 – a genuinely proud community club.
🏆 FA Cup History: Exeter’s 1980-81 FA Cup quarter-final run, beating Leicester and Newcastle, remains a source of enormous pride.
🍳 Try the Baps: The sausage and bacon baps at the stadium are reportedly some of the best in League Two – don’t skip breakfast if arriving early.
💭 FINAL THOUGHTS
St James Park offers a genuinely charming, authentic English football experience. The away end at St James Road Terrace is covered and close to the pitch, and the club’s own Centre Spot Bar – welcoming both home and away supporters – is a genuine rarity in modern football, especially with the volunteer-run FECRACE real ale bar alongside it.
Exeter itself is a beautiful, historic city with genuine Roman roots, a stunning cathedral, and unique underground passages found nowhere else in England. The Quayside is a lovely spot for an evening after the match, and Dartmoor and the Jurassic Coast are both within easy reach if you want to extend the trip.
Our advice? Get the train to Exeter St David’s or Central, explore the cathedral quarter, grab a pint at the Duke of York Inn or the Bowling Green, then head up to the ground for kick-off. A proper, welcoming League Two away day in one of England’s finest smaller cities.
Get the train to Exeter, explore a genuinely historic city, and enjoy a proper League Two away day!
⚽ Up the Grecians! ⚽
📞 USEFUL CONTACTS
⚽ Exeter City: exetercityfc.co.uk
🎫 Ticket Office: exetercityfc.co.uk/tickets
🚂 National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 | nationalrail.co.uk
🚌 Stagecoach Devon: stagecoachbus.com/devon
ℹ️ Visit Exeter: visitexeter.com
⛪ Exeter Cathedral: exeter-cathedral.org.uk
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⚽ Part of the Football Nonsense League Two Away Days Collection
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John Herman is a Leeds-based, would-be football writer and founder of Football Nonsense. Blending fan passion with sharp opinion, attempting to tackle the game’s biggest debates, from the terraces to the boardroom, with honesty, (attempted) humour, and heart.