⚽ SIXFIELDS ⚽
Northampton Town Complete Travel Guide – 2026-27 Season
ℹ️ 2026-27 Season Guide: Northampton are back in League Two after relegation from League One in 2025-26. All information has been researched and verified for 2026-27. Always check ntfc.co.uk for the latest ticketing and matchday updates before you travel.
⚽ ABOUT SIXFIELDS
The Sixfields Stadium has been home to Northampton Town since October 1994, when the Cobblers left the County Ground after 97 years. Built on a former landfill site on the western edge of the town, the stadium sits in a natural bowl, giving it a distinctive sunken feel as you descend into the ground.
Following the completion of a new East Stand in 2025, capacity now stands at 8,203 across four stands: the large West Stand (Jackson Grundy Stand, housing the club offices and executive facilities), the North Stand (the LCS Dave Bowen Stand, named after a former player and manager who guided the club from the fourth tier to the top flight in the 1960s), the East Stand (the BEES Family Hive, mostly reserved for home fans), and the South Stand, where away supporters are housed. The stadium sits within the Sixfields Leisure Park, surrounded by retail outlets, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Northampton Town – The Cobblers – take their nickname from the town’s historic shoe-making industry, and traditionally play in claret and white. Founded in 1897, the club has bounced between League One and League Two several times in recent years, winning the League Two title in 2015-16 before back-to-back relegations, and again promotion via the play-offs and title challenges since.
Now back in League Two following relegation in 2025-26, Northampton’s main rivalry is with Peterborough United, in a fixture known as the Nene Derby. The club’s passionate fanbase has stuck with the Cobblers through some genuinely turbulent recent seasons.
📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS
| Capacity | 8,203 (all seated) |
| Opened | 15 October 1994 |
| Address | Upton Way, Northampton, NN5 5QA |
| Away Section | South Stand (behind the goal) |
| Away Allocation | Typically around 1,000, expandable for bigger followings |
| Record Attendance | 8,029 vs Luton Town (25 October 2025) |
ℹ️ If Northampton Saints rugby team are playing at Franklin’s Gardens at the same time, traffic and parking around Sixfields can be significantly busier – check the Saints’ fixture list before you travel.
🚗 GETTING TO SIXFIELDS
Sixfields sits on an out-of-town leisure park on the western edge of Northampton, easily accessible by car but requiring a bit more planning by public transport. Northampton railway station is around 2 miles away, so a taxi, bus, or a longer walk is needed for the final leg.
🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP
Sixfields Stadium Address: Upton Way, Northampton, NN5 5QA
🚂 BY TRAIN
Why Trains Work: Northampton station is on the West Coast Main Line, with direct services from London Euston taking around an hour. The station is around 2 miles from the ground, so plan a taxi or bus for the final leg, or walk via the town centre and its pubs.
Journey Times to Northampton Station:
🔴 Manchester Piccadilly: Around 2 hours (change at Birmingham)
🟠 Birmingham New Street: Around 1 hour (direct or change)
🟡 London Euston: Around 1 hour (direct)
🟢 Milton Keynes: Around 20 minutes (direct)
🔵 Peterborough: Around 1 hour (change at Leicester or Birmingham)
Getting from Northampton Station to the Stadium
🚕 Taxi (around 10 minutes)
The most straightforward option given the 2-mile distance – readily available at the station rank.
🚌 Bus
Local services run from the town centre towards Sixfields Leisure Park.
🔗 Train Times & Tickets: nationalrail.co.uk | thetrainline.com
🔗 Northampton Town Official Site: ntfc.co.uk
🚗 BY CAR – The Easiest Option
Sixfields is easily accessible via the M1, with clear signage into the Sixfields Leisure Park.
Parking Options:
- Stadium Car Park: A fair-sized car park at the ground, priced around £3 per vehicle. Rarely fills completely, but arrive early for the best spot and an easy exit.
- Street Parking: Limited in the immediate vicinity, but available within a 5-10 minute walk if needed.
💡 Top Tip: Check the Northampton Saints rugby fixture list – if they’re playing at nearby Franklin’s Gardens on the same day, traffic and parking will be much busier.
🍺 PUBS & DRINKS NEAR SIXFIELDS
⚠️ Important Advice: Sixfields sits on an out-of-town leisure park, so pub options right by the ground are limited compared to more traditional city-centre stadiums. Some venues can get crowded on matchdays.
🍺 At the Stadium & Leisure Park
🍺 Carr’s Bar (at the ground, entrance behind the Main Stand)
Named after club legend Graham Carr, this bar generally admits away supporters, though it’s worth checking in advance if travelling with a large following.
Distance to Stadium: On the footprint | Price: ££
🍺 The Sixfields Tavern (Walter Tull Way, Sixfields, NN5 5QL)
Named after the historic footballer and soldier Walter Tull, one of Britain’s first Black professional footballers. The main away-friendly pub option right next to the ground, though it can get busy.
Distance to Stadium: Very close | Price: ££
🍺 The Rover
A nice pub around 5 minutes’ walk from Sixfields, towards the Northampton Saints rugby ground.
Distance to Stadium: 5 minutes’ walk | Price: ££
🍺 TGI Fridays / Tenpin Bowling Alley Bar (Sixfields Leisure Park)
Chain restaurant-bars within the leisure park, both licensed and generally happy to admit away fans in moderate numbers – a reliable fallback if the pubs are busy.
Distance to Stadium: On the leisure park | Price: ££
🍺 Town Centre (More Character)
🍺 The Malt Shovel Tavern (33-37 The Drapery, town centre)
A CAMRA-listed real ale pub in the heart of town, well worth the detour for beer enthusiasts. Reached by turning left from the station on St Peter’s Way.
Distance to Stadium: Town centre, taxi/bus to ground | Price: ££
🍺 O’Neill’s (town centre)
A spacious, good-value pub in the heart of town, popular with away fans wanting a relaxed pre-match drink before heading out to the ground.
Distance to Stadium: Town centre, taxi/bus to ground | Price: £
🍔 Food Options: The leisure park has TGI Fridays, Old Orleans, Bella Italia, Frankie & Benny’s, and standard fast food chains including McDonald’s and Burger King. Inside the ground, the concourses serve burgers, hot dogs, sausages and pies.
💡 Local Tip: If you fancy a proper pub with more character, the Malt Shovel Tavern in town is worth the extra journey rather than settling for the leisure park chains.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY IN NORTHAMPTON
Northampton offers a good range of accommodation to suit all budgets, with several options close to Sixfields itself given the leisure park setting.
£ Budget Options (£45-70 per night)
Travelodge Northampton Central
A straightforward budget option in the town centre, handy for exploring before heading out to the ground.
Book: travelodge.co.uk
Premier Inn Northampton West/Sixfields
Reliable chain comfort close to the leisure park and stadium – genuinely convenient for matchday.
Book: premierinn.com
££ Mid-Range Options (£75-110 per night)
Holiday Inn Northampton
Comfortable chain hotel with a restaurant and bar on site, a solid mid-range option in the town.
Book: ihg.com
Park Inn by Radisson Northampton
Centrally located with good facilities, an easy walk from the town’s pubs and restaurants.
Book: radissonhotels.com
£££ Premium Options (£120+ per night)
Hilton Northampton
Around three and a half miles from Sixfields, with a restaurant, bar, health club with indoor pool, garden and conference space – a genuinely comfortable, well-appointed option if you’re making a weekend of it.
Book: hilton.com
⚠️ Booking Advice
Check the Northampton Saints rugby fixture list before booking – hotels near Sixfields can fill up quickly if both teams are playing at home on the same weekend.
🎯 THINGS TO DO IN NORTHAMPTON
Northampton has some genuinely excellent, often overlooked attractions, from a unique piece of design history to beautiful historic parkland.
🏠 78 Derngate (Must Visit!)
The only house in England designed by legendary Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, remodelled in 1916 and considered one of his finest works. A genuinely unique attraction with a lovely on-site café and design shop.
Cost: Adults around £10-12 | Info: 78derngate.org.uk | Time: Allow 1-1.5 hours
🏰 Delapré Abbey
A beautifully restored 12th-century former monastery set within 500 acres of parkland, with a heritage centre, café and tranquil walled gardens – a lovely spot for a pre or post-match wander.
Cost: Grounds free, house tours charged | Time: Allow 1-2 hours
👞 Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
Recently refurbished, with a unique Shoe Gallery reflecting the town’s historic footwear industry alongside broader art and history collections.
Cost: FREE | Time: Allow 1 hour
🏛️ Northampton Guildhall
A striking Victorian Gothic building designed by Edward William Godwin in 1861 – an architectural highlight of the town centre.
Cost: FREE to view exterior | Time: Allow 20-30 minutes
🌳 Abington Park
One of Northampton’s oldest parks, dating back to the 15th century, with buildings that have stood for over seven centuries, two lakes, and a small museum in a 500-year-old building.
Cost: FREE | Time: Allow 1-2 hours
Nearby Attractions
Althorp Estate:
The Spencer family’s ancestral home, a short drive from Northampton, with house and garden tours during the summer months.
👞 THE NORTHAMPTON EXPERIENCE
👞 Shoe Town: Northampton’s historic shoe-making industry gives the club its nickname and features prominently at the town museum.
🏙️ Design Heritage: 78 Derngate is a genuinely unique attraction – the only English house designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
🏉️ Rugby Town: Northampton Saints share the town’s sporting spotlight – check their fixture list before you travel to avoid clashing crowds.
⚽ THE MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE
🎵 Liquidator: Northampton’s players walk out to the song “Liquidator” – a proper matchday tradition at Sixfields.
🏟️ Sunken Bowl: The stadium’s unusual sunken design, built on a former landfill site, gives it a distinctive feel as you descend towards the pitch.
👔 The Nene Derby: The rivalry with Peterborough United is the club’s fiercest local fixture.
💭 FINAL THOUGHTS
Sixfields is a compact, modern venue with excellent sightlines from all areas, recently expanded with a new East Stand in 2025. The South Stand gives away fans a decent, unobstructed view, and the leisure park setting means food and chain-restaurant options are plentiful even if traditional pub choice is more limited than at some grounds.
Northampton itself has some genuinely underrated attractions – 78 Derngate is a unique piece of design history, Delapré Abbey’s grounds are lovely for a wander, and the town’s shoe-making heritage runs through its museums. It’s well worth arriving early to explore rather than heading straight for the leisure park.
Our advice? Get the train to Northampton, take a taxi or bus into town first to explore 78 Derngate and grab a pint at the Malt Shovel Tavern, then head out to Sixfields for kick-off. A convenient, well-organised League Two away day with some genuine hidden gems on the doorstep.
Get the train to Northampton, discover a unique piece of design history, and enjoy a modern, well-run League Two ground!
⚽ Come On You Cobblers! ⚽
📞 USEFUL CONTACTS
⚽ Northampton Town: ntfc.co.uk
🎫 Ticket Office: ntfc.co.uk/tickets
🚂 National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 | nationalrail.co.uk
🏠 78 Derngate: 78derngate.org.uk
ℹ️ Visit Northampton: westnorthants.gov.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.