⚽ THE NEW LAWN ⚽

Forest Green Rovers – Your Complete Travel Guide for 2026-27

ℹ️ 2026-27 Season Guide: All information has been researched and verified for the 2026-27 National League season. Always check fgr.co.uk for the latest ticketing and matchday updates before you travel. Forest Green Rovers remain at The New Lawn for 2026-27; the club’s planned move to the new Eco Park stadium near M5 junction 13 has been delayed by ongoing road infrastructure issues with Gloucestershire County Council, with no construction yet underway as of late 2025.

🏟️ ABOUT THE NEW LAWN

The New Lawn has been Forest Green Rovers’ home since 2006, when the club moved from the original Lawn Ground (now redeveloped for housing) just 200 metres away. It’s one of the smallest grounds in English league football, with a capacity of 5,147 (2,000 seated), and it sits at the top of a notably steep hill on the western edge of Nailsworth, a picturesque Cotswold town in Gloucestershire. The exposed hilltop position means the ground catches the weather more than most, so you’ll need to layer up.

The stadium has four stands: the smart Main (East) Stand, all-seated with 1,881 capacity, a cantilever roof and a row of executive boxes, dominates one side and houses the club offices, a banqueting hall and a fitness centre. Opposite is open terracing, with covered ends at both the North and South. Away fans are housed in the West Terrace, with a small covered seated section also available; the typical allocation is just under 1,200, though the basic non-league facilities can struggle to cope when fully utilised.

Forest Green Rovers are, without exaggeration, the most environmentally radical club in world football. Recognised by FIFA as the “greenest football club in the world,” they were the first vegan football club anywhere, no meat products are sold at the ground, so don’t expect a pie. The pitch is organic, mowed by a solar-powered robotic lawnmower, and collects rainwater for reuse around the stadium. Owned by green energy entrepreneur Dale Vince (founder of Ecotricity), the club has built its entire identity around sustainability, right down to the kit suppliers and partner brands.

Founded in 1889, Forest Green play in black and white and are known simply as The Green or the Green Army. They spent five seasons in League Two between 2017 and 2022 before relegation back to the National League, where they finished 3rd in 2025-26. The club’s long-term ambition remains to return to the EFL, and a new wooden, Zaha Hadid-designed 5,000-seat stadium, the Eco Park, has been approved near junction 13 of the M5, although construction has not yet begun due to ongoing infrastructure negotiations, and a move is not expected before 2028 at the earliest.

Nailsworth itself is a genuinely charming Stroud Valleys town with a strong creative and independent retail scene,  a far cry from the typical industrial estate setting of many lower-league grounds.

📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS – 2026-27

🚗 GETTING TO THE NEW LAWN

Nailsworth has no railway station of its own; the nearest is Stroud, around five miles away, which is too far to walk. Most away fans take a taxi (around £15 one way) or a bus from Stroud. By car, the ground sits at the top of a very steep hill above Nailsworth town centre, reached via the A46 from Stroud. There is very limited parking at the stadium itself for away fans; most use nearby school parking, street parking, or the club’s Park & Ride scheme.

🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP

The New Lawn Address: Another Way, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, GL6 0FG | Satnav: GL6 0ET

🚂 BY TRAIN – Via Stroud, Then Taxi or Bus

No Station in Nailsworth: Stroud is the nearest railway station, around five miles from the ground — too far to walk, so plan for a taxi or bus onward. Stroud is on the Golden Valley line with connections to Gloucester, Swindon, Bristol and Cardiff, plus a useful direct service to London Paddington.

Journey Times to Stroud Station:

Getting from Stroud Station to The New Lawn

💡 Top Tip: Given the distance from the station and the steep approach, this is genuinely one of the more logistically tricky National League grounds to reach without a car. Plan your transport in advance and don’t assume you can just wing it on arrival.

🔗 Train Times & Tickets: nationalrail.co.uk | thetrainline.com

🚗 BY CAR – A46 to Nailsworth, Then Up the Hill

The New Lawn sits at the top of a steep hill on the western edge of Nailsworth, reached via the A46 from Stroud. There is no parking available in the club car park for away fans (unless you’re a Blue Badge holder with a pre-booked space), so plan to use one of the alternative options below.

If You’re Driving:

• From Stroud/A46 (Most Common Approach): Follow the A46 towards Nailsworth. You’ll reach the town centre at the Information Centre,  take the first right at the mini roundabout into Spring Hill, which climbs steeply, signposted Forest Green. The ground is at the top. Turn left at the summit roundabout into the stadium entrance.
• From the M5 (South via Stroud): Leave the M5 and follow signs for Stroud, then pick up the A46 south towards Nailsworth as above.
• From the M4/Bath (South): Approach via the A46 or A433 through Tetbury towards Nailsworth, joining the route into town from the south.

Parking Options:

• ⚠️ Stadium Car Park: Not available to away fans unless you’re a pre-booked Blue Badge holder.
• Nailsworth Primary School (Nympsfield Road): A short distance from the ground, offering parking at £5 per car; the most popular option for away fans.
• On-Street Parking: Plenty available in the area, but be considerate of residents. Free in Nailsworth centre after 6pm, which can work well for evening kick-offs.
• Park & Ride (Renishaw plc, A46 Stroud Road, GL5 5EY): The club operates a Park & Ride scheme from this site, with 200 spaces available. It’s a reliable option if you want guaranteed parking without the hill climb on the return.

💡 Top Tip: If you park in Nailsworth town centre (free after 6pm for evening games), you’ll have the steep walk up to the ground, so allow plenty of time and pace yourself, especially if it’s your first visit.

🍺 PUBS & DRINKS NEAR THE NEW LAWN

⚠️ Check Before You Go: Nailsworth is a small village and not all establishments welcome away football fans, the club itself advises this directly. The Britannia in the town centre has been recommended by visiting fans, and the club operates an Away Fan Zone at the ground itself, which is a safe and welcoming bet.

🍺 In Nailsworth (Recommended)

🍻 At the Ground

🏙️ Stroud (Further Afield)

🍴 Food Options — Vegan Only: ⚠️ Forest Green Rovers do not sell any meat products at the ground — only vegan options. If you’re after a traditional pie, you’ll be disappointed; this is the one ground in English football where the catering is entirely plant-based. The Away Fan Zone food truck offers vegan options. Nailsworth town centre also has independent food shops and cafes if you want to eat before heading up the hill.

🌿 Worth Knowing: Forest Green’s entirely vegan catering policy is a genuine point of distinction — whatever your dietary preferences, it’s an interesting experience and a reminder of just how seriously this club takes its environmental mission.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR THE NEW LAWN

Nailsworth offers a variety of overnight accommodation to suit most budgets, with its setting in the beautiful Cotswolds making it a genuinely appealing place to stay beyond just the football. Stroud, nearby, has a wider range if you want more choice, and the surrounding Cotswolds villages offer some lovely characterful options if you’re making a proper weekend of it.

💷 Budget Options (£55-85 per night)

💷💷 Mid-Range Options (£90-140 per night)

💷💷💷 Luxury Options (£140+ per night)

🎯 THINGS TO DO NEAR NAILSWORTH

Nailsworth is a genuinely lovely Cotswolds town, full of independent shops, galleries and cafes, with the surrounding Stroud Valleys offering some of the most scenic countryside in the National League’s footprint. If you’re combining the match with a wider Gloucestershire trip, you’re spoiled for choice.

Nearby

🌿 THE NAILSWORTH EXPERIENCE

⚽ MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE

💭 FINAL THOUGHTS

The New Lawn is unlike anywhere else in English football. Perched at the top of a steep hill above a genuinely beautiful Cotswolds town, home to the world’s only entirely vegan football club, with an organic pitch tended by a solar-powered robot; this is an away day with a personality all of its own. The ground itself is basic by modern standards, and the climb from Nailsworth town centre is no joke, but there’s a charm to the place that’s hard to find elsewhere in the National League.

Getting here takes a bit of planning, no railway station in Nailsworth itself means a taxi or bus from Stroud, and the steep walk up to the ground catches plenty of visiting fans out. But the reward is genuine Cotswolds scenery, a town with real character and independent spirit, and one of the most talked-about clubs in non-league football for reasons that have nothing to do with results on the pitch.

The Away Fan Zone is a thoughtful touch, and the Britannia in town offers a reliable pre-match pint if you fancy a more traditional setting before tackling the hill. Just remember, no meat at the ground, so plan your food accordingly if that matters to you. Forest Green remain ambitious about their wooden Eco Park stadium, but with construction still not underway, The New Lawn and its very steep hill will be your destination for the foreseeable future.

The world’s greenest football club, on top of a very steep Cotswolds hill. ⚽

⚽ Come on the Green Army! ⚽

📞 USEFUL CONTACTS

⚡ QUICK REFERENCE – THE NEW LAWN

⚽ Football Nonsense — Your complete guide to English football away days

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