⚽ THE HAWTHORNS

West Bromwich Albion Away Day Travel Guide

Your Complete Guide to Visiting The Home of The Baggies

Welcome to The Hawthorns, home of West Bromwich Albion Football Club since 1900 and one of English football’s most historic grounds! Perched at 551 feet above sea level, this is the highest ground in the Football League – a fact Baggies fans are rightfully proud of. The stadium has witnessed over 125 years of footballing history, from FA Cup triumphs to memorable European nights, all whilst maintaining its unique character and intimate atmosphere.

This is a proper away day in the heart of the Black Country, where football heritage runs deep and the locals are passionate about their team. The Hawthorns underwent a complete modernisation in 2001, transforming into an all-seater stadium with excellent facilities whilst retaining that traditional football ground feel. The away allocation in the Smethwick End typically ranges from 2,500 to 3,000, offering good views and a lively atmosphere. When the famous “Boing Boing” chant gets going, you’ll understand why FourFourTwo magazine once rated this as the best stadium in English football!

Getting here couldn’t be easier – The Hawthorns station is literally a 5-minute walk from the ground, with excellent connections from Birmingham (just 10-15 minutes away). The stadium sits just off Junction 1 of the M5, making it accessible from across the country. West Bromwich itself offers genuine Black Country character, whilst neighbouring Birmingham provides endless entertainment options. Whether you’re here for a midweek floodlit fixture or a Saturday afternoon Championship battle, The Hawthorns delivers a quintessentially English football experience in one of the most famous stadiums in the land.

⚡ QUICK FACTS

🎯 WHAT TO EXPECT

The Hawthorns delivers everything you want from a proper English away day. This is a modern, well-maintained stadium with excellent facilities, unrestricted views from every seat, and an atmosphere that can be genuinely electric when The Baggies are in form. The away end in the Smethwick End offers a generous allocation, decent legroom, and proper facilities underneath. You’re close enough to the action to feel part of the game, and the acoustics mean your voices really carry.

Transport is genuinely brilliant – The Hawthorns station was built to serve the stadium, and whether you’re coming from London, Manchester, or anywhere in between, you’ll find direct trains to Birmingham with quick connections to the ground. The walk from the station takes just five minutes and is straightforward. If you’re driving, the M5 Junction 1 is right there, though parking requires advance booking.

What makes this away day special is the combination of excellent stadium facilities, easy access, and the surrounding area. You’re in the heart of the Black Country with Birmingham just minutes away, meaning you can combine top-quality football with world-class museums, fantastic food (Birmingham’s Balti Triangle is legendary), and genuine industrial heritage. The Black Country Living Museum alone is worth the trip – it’s one of Britain’s finest attractions. This is a hassle-free away day with plenty to see and do!

⚡ TOP TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT

📋 BEFORE YOU GO

🚌 GETTING THERE

🎭 THE BAGGIES EXPERIENCE

🍺 FOOD & DRINK

🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP

The Hawthorns Address: Halfords Lane, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B71 4LF

🚂 GETTING TO THE HAWTHORNS

The Hawthorns benefits from genuinely excellent transport links that make it one of the easiest away days in the Championship. The stadium is served by its own dedicated station – The Hawthorns – which handles both overground trains and the West Midlands Metro tram service. From Birmingham New Street, you can either take a train to Smethwick Galton Bridge and change for The Hawthorns (20 minutes total), or simply hop on the Metro which runs directly from outside New Street to the stadium in just 10-15 minutes. The Metro is particularly convenient and runs every 10 minutes until 19:15, then every 15 minutes.

For those coming from further afield, Birmingham New Street is one of Britain’s major rail hubs with excellent connections from London (just over 1.5 hours), Manchester (1.5 hours), Leeds (2 hours), and everywhere in between. Once you’re at Birmingham New Street, it’s a simple and quick journey to the ground. The walk from The Hawthorns station to the stadium takes literally 5 minutes – just turn left out of the station exit, walk down to Halfords Lane, turn right, and you’ll see the stadium approaching. On matchdays, you’ll be walking with thousands of other fans so you can’t go wrong. It’s genuinely one of the most convenient stadium locations in English football.

🚂 BY TRAIN – The Best Choice ⭐

Why Trains Work Best: The Hawthorns has its own dedicated station just 5 minutes walk from the ground! Built specifically to serve the stadium, it’s absolutely perfect for matchday travel. Birmingham New Street is a major rail hub with connections from across the country, and the onward journey to The Hawthorns is quick and straightforward via either train or Metro. This is genuinely one of the best-connected stadiums in England.

Journey Times to Birmingham New Street:

Getting from Birmingham New Street to The Hawthorns:

🚗 BY CAR

The Hawthorns is extremely well-located for drivers, sitting just 500 metres from Junction 1 of the M5 motorway. From the M5 northbound or southbound, exit at Junction 1 and take the A41 signposted Birmingham City Centre. The stadium is immediately visible on your right-hand side after clearing the motorway island. However, matchday parking at The Hawthorns is very limited and MUST be pre-booked through the official website (www.hawthornsparking.co.uk) at around £5-10. Stadium car parks typically cost £5-6.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY

When it comes to accommodation for your West Brom away day, you have two excellent options. West Bromwich itself has decent hotels, particularly near the town centre and around the M5 corridor, but the smart money is on staying in Birmingham city centre. It’s only 10-15 minutes away by Metro, offers infinitely more choice for hotels, restaurants, and nightlife, and you can easily combine your matchday with exploring one of Britain’s great cities. Birmingham has everything from budget chains to luxury hotels, and you’ll be perfectly positioned for getting to and from The Hawthorns.

🏙️ BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE (Recommended)

🏨 WEST BROMWICH AREA

💡 ACCOMMODATION TIPS

• Birmingham is Best: Seriously consider Birmingham city centre – 10-15 mins by Metro, endless restaurant/pub options, combine with exploring a great city
• Book Early: Birmingham hotels fill quickly for big matches and midweek events
• Near New Street: Look for hotels within 10 minutes walk of Birmingham New Street for easiest access to The Hawthorns Metro
• Transport Links: Check your hotel’s proximity to the Metro – makes matchday so much easier
• M5 Corridor: If driving, hotels near M5 Junction 1-2 offer easy access to the stadium
• Make It a Weekend: Birmingham offers world-class museums, Balti Triangle restaurants, Cadbury World, and the brilliant Black Country Living Museum

🍺 EATING & DRINKING

The pre-match eating and drinking situation around The Hawthorns requires a bit of planning. There are very few pubs immediately near the ground, and those that exist tend to operate members-only policies or be home fans only on matchdays. The smart move is to use Birmingham city centre for pre-match drinks and food – it’s only 10-15 minutes away by Metro, offers hundreds of options, and you can then travel to the ground 60-90 minutes before kick-off. Alternatively, the official Fan Zone at The Hawthorns opens from 11:30am and welcomes both home and away fans, offering a safe, welcoming atmosphere with bars, food vendors, and entertainment.

If you’re looking for pubs nearer the ground, The Vine is the traditional away fans’ pub, located about 15-20 minutes walk from the stadium. The Royal Oak on Birmingham Road is another option that welcomes away supporters and is about 10 minutes walk. However, honestly, your best bet is Birmingham city centre – the Broad Street area and Brindleyplace are packed with pubs and restaurants, the Bullring has loads of food options, and it’s all just a quick Metro ride away. Plus, you can enjoy the atmosphere without any hassle!

🍺 PUBS & BARS

🍕 FOOD OPTIONS

💡 EATING & DRINKING TIPS

• Birmingham is Your Friend: Honestly, just use Birmingham city centre – incredible choice, no hassle, 10-15 mins Metro to ground
• Try a Proper Balti: Birmingham invented it! Head to the Balti Triangle for the authentic experience
• Fan Zone Works Well: Opens 11:30am, welcomes everyone, safe and friendly atmosphere
• Limited Options Near Ground: Very few away-friendly pubs immediately around The Hawthorns – plan ahead
• Cashless Away End: Bring card for food and drink inside the stadium
• Timing: Aim to be at the ground 60-90 minutes before kick-off to avoid queues

🎯 THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA

This is where your West Brom away day gets really special. You’re in the heart of the Black Country with Birmingham just minutes away, meaning you’ve got access to some genuinely world-class attractions. The Black Country Living Museum is one of Britain’s finest heritage attractions – an open-air museum spanning 26 acres that brings industrial Britain to life with costumed interpreters, historic buildings, working demonstrations, and even an underground mine. It’s the filming location for Peaky Blinders and has been voted England’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year. It’s absolutely unmissable!

Birmingham itself is Britain’s second city and offers world-class museums (Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is free and brilliant), incredible shopping (Bullring & Grand Central), more canals than Venice, the Jewellery Quarter, Symphony Hall, and some of the country’s best restaurants. The food scene alone is worth the trip – Birmingham’s Balti Triangle is legendary, you’ve got Michelin-starred restaurants, and the diversity of cuisines is extraordinary. Whether you’re here for a day trip or a full weekend, there’s so much to explore!

🏛️ MUST-VISIT ATTRACTIONS

🎨 MORE TO EXPLORE

🎫 THE HAWTHORNS STADIUM GUIDE

🎫 AWAY SUPPORTER ALLOCATION

🏟️ STADIUM FACILITIES

The Hawthorns is a proper modern stadium with excellent facilities throughout. Completed in its current all-seater format in 2001 when the East Stand was built, it offers unrestricted views from every seat, good legroom, and well-maintained concourses. The away section in the Smethwick End provides a generous allocation with proper facilities – kiosks selling pies, burgers, pizza, drinks and snacks (remember, it’s cashless!), clean toilets, and good wheelchair access for disabled supporters.

📚 STADIUM HISTORY

The Hawthorns has been home to West Bromwich Albion since 1900, making it one of the oldest stadiums still in use in English football. It was the first Football League ground to be built in the 20th century, opening in September 1900 after just 4 months of construction work! At 551 feet above sea level, it holds the unique distinction of being the highest ground in the Football League – a record that still stands today.

The stadium’s official record attendance stands at 64,815, set way back in March 1937 for an FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Over the decades, The Hawthorns has witnessed five FA Cup triumphs (West Brom have won the cup five times), European football, and countless memorable moments in the club’s 146-year history. The ground underwent complete modernisation between 1979 and 2001, with the final piece being the construction of the impressive East Stand, which made The Hawthorns a completely enclosed, all-seater stadium.

Outside the East Stand, you’ll find the Jeff Astle Memorial Gates, erected in tribute to the club’s legendary striker. The gates have become an unofficial location for tributes and memorials, including following the death of another Albion great, Cyrille Regis. FourFourTwo magazine once rated The Hawthorns as the best stadium of all 92 clubs in English football, praising how it “combines the best features of a Premier League football ground but still retains its own identity” and noting that “when the ‘boing boing’ chant gets going, the home fans are literally bouncing!”

⚽ MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE

The matchday experience at The Hawthorns is genuinely excellent. The journey from Birmingham is straightforward and quick, the walk from the station takes just minutes, and you’ll be caught up in the pre-match atmosphere with thousands of other fans making their way to the ground. The away section in the Smethwick End offers good views from an elevated position, proper legroom, and decent acoustics that mean your chants really carry around the ground.

The atmosphere can be electric when West Brom are in form, and their famous “Boing Boing” chant – where the entire home end literally bounces in unison – is quite a sight to behold. The Baggies fans are passionate and vocal, creating a proper Championship atmosphere. The stadium announcer keeps things moving, there are big screens showing replays and action, and the whole setup feels professional and well-organised.

After the match, getting away is relatively straightforward once the road closures lift. The walk back to The Hawthorns station takes five minutes, and whilst there will be queues, services run frequently to clear the crowds. Most away fans report being back in Birmingham city centre within 20-30 minutes of leaving the ground. The stewards are generally fair, the facilities work well, and it’s a hassle-free experience from start to finish. This is what a proper away day should feel like – good football, excellent stadium, easy transport, and genuine character!

📊 AT A GLANCE

💭 FINAL THOUGHTS

The Hawthorns delivers one of the Championship’s finest away days, combining a brilliant modern stadium with genuinely excellent transport links and some of Britain’s best attractions right on your doorstep. This is proper English football in a ground that’s hosted over 125 years of history – from FA Cup triumphs to European nights, all at the highest stadium in the Football League. The facilities are spot-on, the views are unrestricted, and when that famous “Boing Boing” chant gets going, you’ll understand why this place has such a special atmosphere.

What makes this away day truly special is everything around it. You’re in the heart of the Black Country with Birmingham just 10-15 minutes away by Metro – meaning you can combine top-quality Championship football with world-class museums, the legendary Balti Triangle, fantastic shopping, and the absolutely unmissable Black Country Living Museum. The transport is genuinely brilliant (The Hawthorns station is perfectly placed), the stadium is modern and well-maintained, and the whole experience just works. Whether you’re staying in Birmingham for a full weekend or just coming for the match, this is an away day that ticks every box!

Take the Metro to The Hawthorns, soak up the atmosphere, visit the Black Country Museum, and discover why FourFourTwo once called this the best stadium in English football!

⚪🔵 Come on you Baggies! 🔵⚪

💬 SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Have you visited The Hawthorns before? Got tips for other away supporters heading to West Bromwich Albion? Drop your thoughts in the comments below – we’d love to hear about your experience!

Whether it’s your first trip to The Hawthorns or you’re a regular visitor, your insights help build a community resource for supporters everywhere. Share your favourite Black Country attractions, where to drink pre-match in Birmingham, transport tips, or any other advice that might help fellow fans make the most of their away day to The Baggies!