Portsmouth FC – Fratton Park
Complete Away Day Travel Guide
⚓ ABOUT FRATTON PARK
Fratton Park is one of English football’s most atmospheric and historic grounds, home to Portsmouth since 1898 – the year the club was founded. This 20,867-capacity stadium is a proper old-school football ground with four distinctive stands and bags of character. The unique Victorian terraced houses backing onto the Milton End create an iconic backdrop that’s instantly recognisable in any photograph. Fratton Park’s traditional design, complete with a genuine railway line running behind one stand and the famous “Play Up Pompey” chant echoing around, makes this one of the most authentic football experiences in the country.
Portsmouth – Pompey – have a remarkable history including back-to-back First Division titles (1949 and 1950), two FA Cup triumphs (1939 and 2008), and being one of only five clubs to have won all four divisions of English football. The club holds the record for retaining the FA Cup for seven years (1939-1946) due to World War II! The famous blue, white, and red colours have been worn since 1912, and the nickname “Pompey” comes from the city’s long naval heritage. The passionate support, bolstered by the Pompey Chimes and that incredible atmosphere, makes Fratton Park a brilliant but intimidating away day. This is a proper football ground with soul, character, and over 125 years of history.
📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS
| Capacity | 20,867 |
| Opened | 1898 (126 years of history!) |
| Away Section | Milton End |
| Away Allocation | Typically 2,000-2,200 seats (can be increased to 3,200 for bigger fixtures) |
| Record Attendance | 51,385 vs Derby County (FA Cup, 1949) |
| Nickname | Pompey |
🚗 GETTING TO FRATTON PARK
Fratton Park is brilliantly located in Portsmouth with excellent transport links. Fratton station is literally a 5-minute walk from the ground – one of the shortest station-to-stadium walks in English football! Portsmouth Harbour station offers connections to the Isle of Wight ferry and is about 20 minutes’ walk. The ground is also easily accessible by car from the M27/M275.
🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP
Fratton Park Address: Frogmore Road, Portsmouth, PO4 8RA
🚂 BY TRAIN – The Recommended Choice
Why Trains Work: Fratton station is literally a 5-minute walk from the ground, one of the easiest away days in England for train access! Portsmouth is well-connected to London, the South Coast, and the Midlands. This is absolutely the best way to visit Fratton Park.
Main Station Options:
🚂 FRATTON STATION (BEST OPTION!)
Distance: 5-minute walk to Fratton Park – one of the shortest in football!
Services: South Western Railway from London Waterloo, Southampton, Brighton
Journey Times: London Waterloo (90 mins), Southampton (30 mins), Brighton (60 mins)
The Walk: Exit station, turn right onto Goldsmith Avenue, left onto Frogmore Road. Fratton Park appears on your right. Absolutely brilliant!
🚂 PORTSMOUTH & SOUTHSEA STATION
Distance: 15-minute walk to Fratton Park
Why Choose: City centre location if you want to explore Portsmouth before the match
Services: Same as Fratton – most trains stop at both stations
⚓ PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR STATION
Distance: 20-minute walk OR 10-minute bus ride to Fratton Park
Why Choose: Stunning waterfront location, Historic Dockyard on doorstep, Gunwharf Quays shopping nearby
Good For: Making a day of it with the Historic Dockyard (HMS Victory!) before the match
🚗 BY CAR
Postcode for Sat Nav: PO4 8RA
Motorway Routes:
From M27 (East or West): Exit Junction 12, follow M275 south towards Portsmouth, exit at A2030 (Eastern Road), follow signs to Fratton/Stadium
From London/North: M3 to M27, then as above
From Southampton: M27 eastbound to Junction 12, then M275 south
Parking Options:
🅿️ Official Stadium Car Parks: Very limited official parking at Fratton Park
Cost: Usually pre-booked season ticket holders only
Note: Not generally available for away supporters
🏘️ Street Parking (Residential Areas): Limited street parking in surrounding residential streets
Cost: Free on some streets but check restrictions carefully – many have matchday zones
Important: Be respectful of residents – don’t block driveways. Arrive early as spaces fill quickly!
🎓 University of Portsmouth Car Parks: Some university car parks near the ground
Cost: Varies, usually £5-8
Distance: 5-10 minute walk to ground
🏙️ City Centre NCP Car Parks: Cascades multi-storey and other city centre options
Cost: £8-12 for matchday
Distance: 15-20 minute walk from city centre
Advantage: Easy access to city centre pubs and restaurants
💡 Top Parking Tip: Honestly, the train is king for Fratton Park! Fratton station is a 5-minute walk – it couldn’t be easier. But if you must drive, arrive very early for street parking or use city centre car parks and enjoy the pubs before walking to the ground.
🎫 AWAY SUPPORTER ALLOCATION
| Your Section | Milton End |
| Allocation | Typically 2,000-2,200 seats (can be increased to 3,200 for bigger fixtures) |
| View | Good views from the lower tier, backed by those iconic Victorian terraced houses – proper football atmosphere! |
| Facilities | Basic but functional – Fratton Park is an old-school ground with character rather than modern comforts |
| Atmosphere | Intimidating! The Pompey Chimes and “Play Up Pompey” create brilliant atmosphere – expect proper noise! |
✅ Away Fan Experience: Fratton Park is one of the most atmospheric grounds in England – intimidating but brilliant! The Milton End is a proper away end with those iconic houses behind creating an instantly recognisable backdrop. It’s old-school football with bags of character. Just be prepared for a hostile atmosphere – Pompey fans are passionate!
🍺 PUBS & FOOD FOR AWAY FANS
Portsmouth has a decent pub scene, but many pubs immediately around Fratton Park are home fans only on matchdays. Your best bet is often the city centre (15-minute walk from ground) or Gunwharf Quays waterfront, both of which offer excellent choices and welcome away supporters.
🍻 RECOMMENDED OPTIONS FOR AWAY FANS
Gunwharf Quays
📍 Location: Gunwharf Quays, PO1 3TU (20 min walk from ground)
Why Visit: Massive waterfront shopping/entertainment complex with numerous pubs and restaurants. Weatherspoons, All Bar One, Slug & Lettuce, Pizza Express, Nando’s – loads of choice!
Away Fans: Very welcome – neutral territory, family-friendly, completely safe
The Good Companion
📍 Location: 26-28 Albert Road, Southsea, PO5 2SF
Why Visit: Excellent Weatherspoons in Southsea. Large, good value, and welcomes away fans. About 20 minutes from ground.
Away Fans: Welcome – neutral pub with good atmosphere
Brewhouse & Kitchen Portsmouth
📍 Location: 42 The Hard, PO1 3PT (Gunwharf Quays area)
Why Visit: Great craft beer pub with food. Waterfront location, brilliant atmosphere, and welcomes football fans.
Away Fans: Very welcoming
The Fratton (Near Ground)
📍 Location: 153 Fratton Road, PO1 5EN (5 min walk from ground)
Why Visit: Nearest pub to the away end that sometimes welcomes away fans – but check on the day!
Away Fans: Sometimes welcome – best to call ahead or arrive early
⚠️ Important Note: The Good Southerner, The Milton Arms, The Pompey Centre, The Shepherds Crook, and most pubs very close to the ground are home fans only. Gunwharf Quays or city centre are your safest, friendliest bets with loads of excellent options!
🍽️ FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS
Gunwharf Quays Restaurants
📍 Location: Gunwharf Quays, PO1 3TU
Perfect For: Nando’s, Wagamama, Bella Italia, Las Iguanas, Carluccio’s – all the chains, all welcome away fans!
Pie & Vinyl
📍 Location: 149 Elm Grove, Southsea, PO5 1LX
Perfect For: Brilliant pies (steak & ale, chicken & leek) in a quirky vinyl record shop. Proper Portsmouth experience!
Southsea Fish & Chips
📍 Location: Various locations across Portsmouth
Perfect For: Proper seaside fish and chips – Portsmouth’s a naval city, they know their fish!
Hogshead & Squire
📍 Location: 26 St Thomas Street, PO1 2HA
Perfect For: Great pub food in the city centre. Burgers, pies, Sunday roasts – proper British pub grub!
🏨 WHERE TO STAY IN PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth has excellent accommodation options for all budgets, from budget chains to waterfront hotels. Southsea seafront offers brilliant seaside stays, whilst the city centre and Gunwharf Quays provide convenient locations.
💰 BUDGET OPTIONS (£50-80)
Travelodge Portsmouth
📍 Location: The Plaza, Charlotte Street, PO1 4AH
Distance: City centre, 20 minutes to Fratton Park
Why Stay: Great value, clean rooms, perfect for Gunwharf Quays.
Premier Inn Portsmouth City Centre
📍 Location: Wymering Way, PO6 3NU
Distance: North Portsmouth
Why Stay: Reliable chain, good breakfast, easy M27 access.
💎 MID-RANGE OPTIONS (£80-130)
Village Hotel Portsmouth
📍 Location: Lakeside, Southwick Road, PO6 3TR
Distance: 15 minutes to city centre by car
Why Stay: Modern hotel with pool, gym, good pub/restaurant. Great for families.
Holiday Inn Portsmouth
📍 Location: Pembroke Road, PO1 2TA
Distance: Near Gunwharf Quays, 15 minutes to ground
Why Stay: Waterfront location, perfect for Gunwharf Quays and Historic Dockyard.
⭐ UPMARKET OPTIONS (£130+)
The Royal Maritime Hotel
📍 Location: Queens Street, PO1 3HS
Distance: Portsmouth Harbour, 20 minutes to ground
Why Stay: Boutique luxury in historic building opposite HMS Warrior. Brilliant location!
Florence House Boutique Hotel
📍 Location: 2 Malvern Road, Southsea, PO5 2NA
Distance: Southsea seafront
Why Stay: Stylish boutique hotel near the beach. Perfect for a seaside weekend!
🎭 THINGS TO DO IN PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth is Britain’s premier naval city with stunning maritime heritage. The Historic Dockyard alone is worth the trip – home to HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, and the Mary Rose! Add Southsea seafront, the Spinnaker Tower, and brilliant pubs, and you’ve got a fantastic weekend destination.
⚓ Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
📍 Location: Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, PO1 3LJ
What: World-class maritime museum. HMS Victory (Nelson’s flagship!), Mary Rose (Henry VIII’s warship), HMS Warrior, National Museum of the Royal Navy. Absolutely brilliant!
Cost: £42 adults (Ultimate Explorer ticket – ALL attractions) / £28 children
🗼 Spinnaker Tower
📍 Location: Gunwharf Quays, PO1 3TT
What: Portsmouth’s iconic 170-metre tower with stunning 360° views. Glass floor Sky Walk, viewing decks. Brilliant on a clear day!
Cost: £13.50 adults / £10.50 children
🏖️ Southsea Seafront
📍 Location: Southsea, PO5
What: Beautiful pebble beach, Victorian pier, Southsea Castle, D-Day Story museum, great cafes and pubs. Perfect for Sunday morning walks!
Cost: Beach FREE / D-Day Story £12.50 adults
🛍️ Gunwharf Quays
📍 Location: Gunwharf Quays, PO1 3TU
What: Massive designer outlet shopping centre with 90+ stores. Waterfront location, cinema, bowling, loads of restaurants and bars.
Cost: Free to browse
🎨 Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery
📍 Location: Museum Road, PO1 2LJ
What: Portsmouth’s history from Roman times to present day. Excellent Victoriana collection and fine art gallery.
Cost: FREE!
⛵ Harbour Tours
📍 Location: Portsmouth Harbour
What: Boat tours around Portsmouth Harbour and Solent. See the historic ships, naval base, and Isle of Wight ferry traffic.
Cost: From £10 adults
⚽ MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE
⚓ Pompey Chimes: Listen for the famous bell-ringing Pompey Chimes – one of football’s most distinctive and passionate anthems!
🏟️ Old-School Atmosphere: Fratton Park is proper traditional football – four distinctive stands, railway line behind one end, Victorian houses backing the Milton End. Pure character!
🔵⚪🔴 “Play Up Pompey”: Expect brilliant noise and a hostile (but fair) atmosphere – Portsmouth fans are passionate about their club!
🚂 Perfect Access: Fratton station is a 5-minute walk – genuinely one of the easiest away days for train access in English football!
🤝 HOW TO BEHAVE
✅ DO: Show your colours proudly • Use Fratton station – it’s brilliant • Visit the Historic Dockyard (HMS Victory!) • Try fish and chips in Southsea • Explore Gunwharf Quays • Climb the Spinnaker Tower • Respect the passionate atmosphere • Enjoy the maritime heritage
❌ DON’T: Try drinking in home pubs near the ground • Cause trouble – this is a passionate derby for many teams • Rush away – Portsmouth’s maritime history is world-class • Miss Gunwharf Quays and the waterfront • Drive when the train is so easy • Forget Portsmouth-Southampton rivalry is serious!
📗 QUICK REFERENCE
| Stadium Postcode | PO4 8RA |
| Away Allocation | 2,000-2,200 seats (Milton End, can increase to 3,200) |
| Nearest Train | Fratton (5 min walk – one of the best in England!) |
| Best Transport | Train to Fratton station + 5 min walk (couldn’t be easier!) |
| Parking | Street parking (arrive early!) or city centre NCP (£8-12) |
| Must Try | Southsea fish & chips, Pie & Vinyl, Gunwharf Quays restaurants! |
| Must Visit | HMS Victory, Mary Rose, Spinnaker Tower, Southsea seafront, Gunwharf Quays! |
⚡ TOP TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT
📋 BEFORE YOU GO
🚂 Book Early: Trains from London/Southampton book up quickly – get advance tickets for best prices
🎫 Digital Tickets: Have tickets ready on your phone and arrive 60-90 minutes before kick-off
🍺 Check Pubs: Many pubs near Fratton Park are home fans only – Gunwharf Quays is safest bet!
🚶 GETTING THERE
🚂 Fratton Station: Absolutely brilliant – 5-minute walk, well-signposted, one of the easiest in football!
⚓ Portsmouth Harbour: Lovely waterfront walk BUT 20 minutes – better for exploring Historic Dockyard first
🚗 If Driving: Arrive early for street parking or use city centre NCP and walk
⚓ PORTSMOUTH EXPERIENCE
🚢 Naval Heritage: Historic Dockyard is world-class – HMS Victory alone is worth the trip! Book ahead for best prices.
🏖️ Seaside Charm: Southsea seafront is beautiful – perfect for Sunday morning walks before heading home
🛍️ Gunwharf Quays: Brilliant for pre-match – loads of pubs/restaurants, shopping, and the Spinnaker Tower!
⚽ MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE
⚓ Pompey Chimes: Distinctive bell-ringing anthem – proper football heritage! Intimidating but brilliant atmosphere
🏟️ Old-School Ground: Fratton Park has bags of character – Victorian houses, railway line, proper traditional football!
💙 Passionate Fans: Portsmouth supporters are devoted – expect hostile atmosphere but generally fair and welcoming post-match
💭 FINAL THOUGHTS
Visiting Fratton Park is one of English football’s most atmospheric experiences. This isn’t a modern bowl or a soulless stadium – it’s a proper old-school ground with 126 years of history etched into every stand. The Victorian terraced houses backing onto the Milton End create an iconic backdrop that’s instantly recognisable, whilst the railway line running behind the Fratton End adds to the unique character. Four distinctive stands, each with their own personality, create an intimidating amphitheatre where the famous Pompey Chimes and “Play Up Pompey” chants echo around. This is traditional English football at its finest – and with Fratton station just a 5-minute walk away, it’s one of the easiest grounds to reach by train in the country.
Portsmouth – Pompey – have a remarkable story. Back-to-back First Division titles in 1949 and 1950, FA Cup triumphs in 1939 and 2008, and the unique distinction of holding the FA Cup for seven consecutive years due to World War II. The club has won all four divisions of English football – one of only five to achieve this feat – and despite financial difficulties in the 2010s, the Pompey Supporters’ Trust rescued the club and built them back up. That community ownership and fighting spirit makes Fratton Park special. The blue, white, and red colours represent Britain’s premier naval city, and the passionate fanbase creates an atmosphere that genuinely intimidates visiting teams.
But Fratton Park is about more than just football. Portsmouth is Britain’s only island city, home to the most complete collection of historic warships anywhere in the world. The Historic Dockyard houses HMS Victory – Nelson’s flagship at Trafalgar – the Mary Rose (Henry VIII’s warship raised from the Solent in 1982), and HMS Warrior. It’s genuinely world-class maritime heritage. The Spinnaker Tower offers stunning 360° views across Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent, whilst Southsea seafront provides a beautiful Victorian seaside experience. Gunwharf Quays – a massive waterfront shopping and entertainment complex – offers brilliant pre-match options with numerous pubs and restaurants that welcome away fans.
The location couldn’t be better for away fans. Fratton station is a mere 5-minute stroll from the Milton End – you exit the train, walk down Goldsmith Avenue, turn onto Frogmore Road, and the floodlights appear. It’s brilliantly simple! Portsmouth Harbour station offers the Historic Dockyard and Gunwharf Quays on the doorstep, though it’s a 20-minute walk to the ground. The train connections from London (90 minutes), Southampton (30 minutes), and Brighton (60 minutes) make this an accessible away day from across the south. Yes, parking can be tricky and many local pubs are home fans only, but Gunwharf Quays provides excellent neutral options.
Our advice? Arrive Saturday morning, visit the Historic Dockyard (book ahead for best prices – the Ultimate Explorer ticket covers everything), climb aboard HMS Victory and walk the same decks Nelson commanded at Trafalgar, explore the Mary Rose Museum, then head to Gunwharf Quays for lunch and pre-match drinks with brilliant waterfront views. Take the easy 20-minute walk or quick bus to Fratton Park, soak up that intimidating but brilliant atmosphere from the Milton End, then either explore Portsmouth’s nightlife or stay Sunday to enjoy Southsea’s seafront and Victorian charm before heading home. This is proper football heritage combined with world-class maritime history – an away day that delivers on every level!
📞 USEFUL CONTACTS
⚓ Portsmouth FC: 0345 646 1898 | portsmouthfc.co.uk
🎫 Ticket Office: 0345 646 1898
🚂 National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 | nationalrail.co.uk
⚓ Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: 023 9283 9766 | historicdockyard.co.uk
ℹ️ Visit Portsmouth: visitportsmouth.co.uk
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📍 Part of the Football Nonsense Championship 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, he tackles the game’s biggest debates—from the terraces to the boardroom—with honesty, humour, and heart.