Leyton Orient FC – Brisbane Road
Complete Away Day Travel Guide
🔴 ABOUT BRISBANE ROAD
Brisbane Road (officially the BetWright Stadium for sponsorship reasons, though fans will always call it Brisbane Road) has been the home of Leyton Orient Football Club since 1937, when the club moved to the Leyton area of East London. This intimate 9,271-capacity stadium is one of English football’s most characterful lower-league grounds, tucked away in a residential area of East London with apartment blocks uniquely built into each corner of the ground.
The stadium offers that proper traditional football experience – close to the pitch, brilliant atmosphere when The O’s fans are in full voice, and genuine community feel that makes non-league and lower-league football special.
Leyton Orient – The O’s – are London’s second oldest professional football club, founded in 1881 by members of the Glyn Cricket Club. The club has a fascinating history including spending one season in the old First Division (1962-63), reaching the FA Cup semi-finals in 1978, and their famous FA Cup run in 2011 when they drew 1-1 at home to Arsenal before losing the replay 5-0 at the Emirates.
The club’s name comes from one of the founding members who worked for the Orient Shipping Company. The traditional all-red home kit has been worn for decades, and the nickname “The O’s” is a shortened version of Orient. Leyton Orient supporters are fiercely loyal, passionate about their community club, and create a brilliant atmosphere at Brisbane Road.
The club has experienced financial difficulties and heartbreak over the years but remains a cornerstone of the East London community with devoted fans who never give up.
Brisbane Road itself has undergone significant redevelopment since the late 1990s. The impressive Justin Edinburgh Stand (formerly West Stand, renamed in 2020 to honour the beloved manager who tragically died in 2019) opened in 2007 and now houses the changing rooms and club offices.
The North Stand (Incite Consulting Community Stand) and Tommy Johnston South Stand were built in 2007 and 1999 respectively, whilst the old East Stand from 1956 (originally from Mitcham Stadium) still stands and houses both home and away supporters. The unique apartment blocks in each corner give Brisbane Road a distinctive character unlike any other ground in England.
📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS
| Capacity | 9,271 (all seated) |
| Opened | 1937 (87+ years at Brisbane Road) |
| Away Section | East Stand (southern section) |
| Away Allocation | 500-1,000 seats typically (can be increased for bigger fixtures) |
| Record Attendance | 34,345 vs West Ham United (FA Cup, 1964) |
🚗 GETTING TO BRISBANE ROAD
Brisbane Road is located in Leyton, East London, approximately 7 miles northeast of Central London. The stadium is excellently served by London Underground and Overground services, with Leyton station (Central Line) just a 10-minute walk away. The location makes Brisbane Road one of the most accessible football grounds in the capital.
🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP
Brisbane Road Address: Brisbane Road, Leyton, London, E10 5NF
🚇 BY TUBE/TRAIN – The Recommended Choice
Why Tube is Best: Brisbane Road is brilliantly served by London Underground and Overground. Leyton station (Central Line) is just a 10-minute walk from the stadium – exit the station, turn right down the High Road, take Buckingham Road after Coronation Gardens, and the ground is right in front of you. Leyton Midland Road (Overground) is also a 10-minute walk. This is genuinely one of the easiest grounds to reach in London. Use contactless payment or Oyster card for best fares.
Journey Times to Leyton Station:
🔴 Liverpool Street: 12 minutes (Central Line direct)
🟠 Oxford Circus: 25 minutes (Central Line direct)
🟡 Tottenham Court Road: 20 minutes (Central Line direct)
🟢 Bank: 15 minutes (Central Line direct)
🔵 Stratford: 5 minutes (Central Line direct)
From Major London Stations:
- King’s Cross/St Pancras: 30 minutes (Circle/Hammersmith & City to Liverpool Street, change to Central Line)
- Euston: 30 minutes (Northern Line to Bank, change to Central Line)
- Paddington: 35 minutes (Circle/Hammersmith & City to Liverpool Street, change to Central Line)
- Victoria: 35 minutes (Victoria to Oxford Circus, change to Central Line)
Taxi/Uber Option
- From Central London: £15-25 depending on traffic and location
- From Liverpool Street: £10-15 (15-20 minutes)
- From Stratford: £5-8 (10 minutes)
- Black cabs and Uber readily available – good option if in a group
🚗 BY CAR – Possible But Not Ideal
Postcode for Sat Nav: E10 5NF
⚠️ Important Warning: Driving to Brisbane Road is possible but not ideal. The stadium is in a residential area with limited parking and East London traffic can be heavy on matchdays. There’s no stadium parking for away fans. Street parking is available on surrounding roads but you’ll need to arrive very early (2+ hours before kick-off) and watch for resident permit zones. Honestly, the tube is so easy from anywhere in London that driving doesn’t make much sense unless you’re coming from outside the M25.
If You Must Drive:
- From M11/North: M11 south to Junction 4, follow A406 North Circular towards Ilford, exit at Leyton, follow signs
- From M25/M11: M11 south towards London, exit Junction 4 onto A406, head towards Leyton
- From A12/East: A12 westbound, exit at Redbridge/Wanstead, follow A106 towards Leyton
- Parking: Street parking only on surrounding residential roads – arrive VERY early and check for permit restrictions
- Better Alternative: Park at a tube station outside the Congestion Charge Zone and take the Central Line in!
🏨 WHERE TO STAY
For accommodation, you have two main options: stay locally in East London (Stratford, Walthamstow, or Leyton areas offer budget options), or stay in Central London for easy tube access and more entertainment options. Stratford in particular has transformed massively since the 2012 Olympics with excellent hotels, Westfield shopping centre, and brilliant transport links. Most visitors opt for Central London hotels with tube access to enjoy the full London experience.
💡 ACCOMMODATION TIPS
- Stratford Area: Brilliant option – transformed Olympic area with hotels, Westfield, restaurants, and just one tube stop from Leyton!
- Central London: Stay anywhere on the Central Line (Liverpool Street, Bank, Oxford Circus) for direct tube access
- Budget Options: Premier Inn and Travelodge have hotels in Stratford and Walthamstow (both very close to Brisbane Road)
- Mid-Range: Holiday Inn Express Stratford, ibis Styles London Walthamstow, or countless Central London options
- Book Early: London hotels fill up quickly – book well in advance for best prices
- Transport Links: Prioritise hotels near Central Line stations for easiest access to Brisbane Road
🍺 WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
Leyton High Road has several pubs and takeaways near the ground, whilst the nearby Stratford area (just one tube stop away) offers Westfield shopping centre with countless chain restaurants and food options. For a proper pre-match experience, check out the pubs on Leyton High Road or head to Stratford for more choice.
🍺 PUBS NEAR BRISBANE ROAD
The Birkbeck Tavern
Location: Langthorne Road (5-minute walk from ground)
Why visit: Traditional pub welcoming both home and away fans, good atmosphere, decent food, popular matchday spot
Leyton Orient Supporters Club
Location: At the stadium
Why visit: Welcomes away supporters (£1 entry), traditional supporters club atmosphere, cheap drinks
The Coach and Horses
Location: Leyton High Road
Why visit: Friendly local pub, welcomes away fans, good beer selection, proper matchday atmosphere
The Drum (Leyton)
Location: Leyton High Road (near station)
Why visit: Craft beer pub with good atmosphere, welcomes football fans, near tube station
🍽️ FOOD OPTIONS
Westfield Stratford City
Location: One tube stop away at Stratford
Why go: Massive shopping centre with 70+ restaurants – everything from Nando’s, Wagamama, Five Guys, to Dishoom and proper restaurants
Leyton High Road Takeaways
Location: Walking distance from stadium
Why go: Plenty of chicken shops, kebab shops, and cafés – typical East London multicultural food scene, cheap and cheerful
Inside Brisbane Road
Why go: Standard stadium food – pies, burgers, hot dogs – decent quality for lower-league football
🎯 THINGS TO DO IN EAST LONDON
Brisbane Road is in East London, which offers a fascinating mix of Olympic legacy, multicultural communities, markets, and some of London’s best modern attractions. Stratford (one tube stop away) is the obvious starting point with Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, whilst Central London with all its world-class attractions is easily accessible on the Central Line.
🏛️ TOP ATTRACTIONS
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Distance: One tube stop (Stratford) or 2-mile walk
Why visit: London 2012 Olympic legacy – stunning parkland, Olympic Stadium, ArcelorMittal Orbit tower, London Aquatics Centre, FREE to explore!
Westfield Stratford City
Distance: One tube stop at Stratford
Why visit: One of Europe’s largest shopping centres, 70+ restaurants, cinema, bowling – perfect pre-match destination
Central London Attractions
Distance: 15-30 minutes on Central Line
Why visit: British Museum, Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Covent Garden – all easily accessible on the Central Line!
Hackney Marshes
Distance: 1 mile from Brisbane Road
Why visit: Massive open space with 88 football pitches – grassroots football heartland, great for walks
Walthamstow Wetlands
Distance: 15-minute bus from Leyton
Why visit: Europe’s largest urban wetland, beautiful nature reserve, brilliant for walks, FREE entry
⚽ MATCHDAY TIPS
🚇 Transport is Easy: Brisbane Road is one of London’s most accessible grounds – Leyton station is 10 minutes away on the Central Line
🏟️ Intimate Ground: Brisbane Road is proper traditional football – close to the pitch, good atmosphere, unique with apartment blocks in the corners
🎫 Away Section: Away fans in the East Stand (southern section) – decent views, covered seating, separate entrance in SE corner
🍺 Friendly Welcome: Orient fans are generally welcoming – pubs on High Road accept away fans, supporters club at ground welcomes visitors (£1 entry)
🏙️ Explore Stratford: One tube stop away with Westfield, Olympic Park, countless restaurants – perfect for pre/post-match!
🌆 THE EAST LONDON EXPERIENCE
🏟️ Olympic Legacy: Stratford transformation is spectacular – Olympic Park, Aquatics Centre, Orbit tower all within 2 miles!
🛍️ Westfield Stratford: One of Europe’s biggest shopping centres – 70+ restaurants, cinema, everything you need
🚇 Central Line Magic: Direct tube to Liverpool Street (12 mins), Bank (15 mins), Oxford Circus (25 mins) – explore Central London easily!
🔴 THE BRISBANE ROAD EXPERIENCE
🏟️ Traditional Ground: Brisbane Road is proper old-school football – intimate, characterful, unique apartment blocks in corners
💙 Community Club: Orient are East London through and through – survived financial disasters, loyal fans, genuine community feel
⚽ FA Cup Giant-Killers: Famous 1-1 draw vs Arsenal at Brisbane Road in 2011 (lost replay 5-0 at Emirates) – O’s love a cup upset!
💭 FINAL THOUGHTS
Visiting Brisbane Road offers a true experience of traditional English football in an intimate and characterful setting, distinct from modern stadiums. The unique apartment blocks surrounding the ground contribute to its charm. Leyton Orient, London’s second oldest professional club founded in 1881, has survived financial challenges while maintaining its identity and community ties. The club’s notable achievements include a season in the old First Division and a memorable FA Cup semi-final in 1978, along with a famous draw against Arsenal in 2011. Orient’s passionate and loyal fans create an exceptional atmosphere despite the ground’s modest size.
The Justin Edinburgh Stand (renamed in 2020 to honour their beloved manager who tragically passed in 2019) is a moving tribute to a man who meant everything to Orient fans. The ground itself has that proper lower-league charm – the old East Stand from 1956 (originally bought from Mitcham Stadium!), the new West Stand from 2007, and those unique corner apartments. Away fans get a decent view from the East Stand, and the atmosphere is always good when The O’s fans get going. Brisbane Road represents everything that’s great about lower-league English football – community, tradition, passion, and survival against the odds.
But the logistics couldn’t be easier! Leyton station (Central Line) is just 10 minutes from the ground – exit right, down Leyton High Road, turn at Coronation Gardens into Buckingham Road, and you’re there. From Liverpool Street it’s 12 minutes, from Oxford Circus 25 minutes.
The location makes Brisbane Road one of the most accessible grounds in the capital. Stratford (one tube stop away) has been transformed by the Olympics with Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Westfield shopping centre with 70+ restaurants, and brilliant facilities. The Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre, and ArcelorMittal Orbit tower are all within walking distance. Or stay in Central London and explore the British Museum, Tower of London, Covent Garden – all easily accessible on the Central Line.
Our advice? Get to Stratford early morning if travelling from outside London, explore Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (stunning and FREE!), grab lunch at Westfield’s countless restaurants, have pre-match drinks at pubs on Leyton High Road (The Birkbeck welcomes away fans), take the 10-minute walk to Brisbane Road through the residential streets, experience proper lower-league football at its finest, then either head back to Stratford for evening entertainment or jump on the Central Line into Central London for the full Saturday night experience.
Take the Central Line to Leyton, experience traditional football at Brisbane Road, explore Olympic Park and Stratford, and discover why Orient fans love their community club!
🔴 Come On You O’s! 🔴
📞 USEFUL CONTACTS
🏟️ Leyton Orient FC: 0871 310 1881 | leytonorient.com
🎫 Ticket Office: leytonorient.com/tickets
🚇 TfL Journey Planner: tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey
🚂 National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 | nationalrail.co.uk
ℹ️ Visit London: visitlondon.com
💬 SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE
Did this guide help you? Have you been to Brisbane Road? Share your away day stories and tips!
Find us on social media: #LeytonOrient #BrisbaneRoad #AwayDays #TheOs #LeagueOne #LOFC #FootballNonsense
📍 Part of the Football Nonsense League One Away Days Collection
For more away day guides, visit footballnonsense.co.uk
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.