bet365 Stadium

Stoke City Complete Travel Guide – 2026-27 Season

ℹ️ 2026-27 Season Guide – Important Update: The away end changed in 2024 – visiting fans are no longer housed in the old South Stand section, which is now home fans only. The away section has moved to the south-east corner, with new safe standing rails installed. Always check stokecityfc.com for the latest matchday updates before you travel.

🔴 ABOUT THE BET365 STADIUM

The bet365 Stadium has been home to Stoke City since 1997, when the club moved from their historic Victoria Ground less than a mile away. Originally known as the Britannia Stadium, the ground was renamed in 2016 under a naming rights deal with the Stoke-based betting company. With a capacity of 30,089, this is a proper all-seater bowl with excellent sightlines throughout, though its slightly open design (two corners aren’t fully enclosed) means it can get genuinely cold and blustery in winter – dress accordingly!

The stadium sits on an elevated spot just off the A500, visible from some distance and particularly striking when floodlit at night. Legendary Stoke player Sir Stanley Matthews has a statue outside the ground, and his ashes were buried under the centre of the pitch after his death in 2000 – a lovely touch reflecting how much this stadium is steeped in the club’s history despite being relatively modern.

Stoke City – The Potters – are one of English football’s true pioneers, founded in 1863 and recognised as the second-oldest professional football club in the world still playing today. The nickname reflects Stoke-on-Trent’s famous pottery and ceramics industry, which shaped the whole city. The club won the League Cup in 1972, their sole major trophy, and enjoyed a decade in the Premier League between 2008 and 2018 that brought European football and a memorable FA Cup Final appearance in 2011.

The Boothen End is the spiritual home of the loudest Stoke supporters, and matchdays here are accompanied by a proud tradition of the crowd belting out “Delilah” before kick-off – one of English football’s more unusual but beloved matchday rituals. Expect a passionate, traditional atmosphere with genuine Staffordshire character.

📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS

🚗 GETTING TO THE BET365 STADIUM

The bet365 Stadium sits just south of Stoke-on-Trent city centre, right by the A500 and A50, with good connections from the M6 (Junction 15). Stoke-on-Trent railway station is the nearest mainline station, but at around two miles away, it’s not a realistic walk for most fans – you’ll want a bus or taxi from there. The stadium has decent parking, though it fills up quickly, so arrive in good time on matchdays.

🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP

bet365 Stadium Address: Sir Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4EG

🚂 BY TRAIN – A Short Onward Journey Needed

Why Trains Work: Stoke-on-Trent station is a major stop on the West Coast Main Line, so connections are excellent from across the country. It’s around two miles from the stadium, so you’ll need a bus or taxi to complete the journey, but the train itself is a straightforward way in.

Journey Times to Stoke-on-Trent Station:

Getting from Stoke-on-Trent Station to bet365 Stadium

💡 Top Tip: Don’t attempt the walk from the station unless you’re prepared for a genuine two-mile trek – the bus or taxi is well worth it.

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

🚗 BY CAR – Well-Connected but Can Get Busy

The stadium is easily reached by road, sitting just off the A500, which links to the M6 at Junction 15. Traffic can build up in the immediate area before and after matches, so allow extra time.

If You’re Driving:

• From the M6 (both directions): Exit at Junction 15, follow the A500 towards Stoke-on-Trent, then take the A50 exit towards Derby – the stadium is signposted from there
• From Derby/the East: Take the A50 westbound towards Stoke-on-Trent, following signs for the stadium

Parking Options:

• South Car Park (Sir Stanley Matthews Way): On-site parking available on a first-come, first-served basis – arrive early
• Nearby paid car parks: Several further out with a short walk to the ground
• Street parking: Limited availability within walking distance – check signage carefully

💡 Top Tip: On-site parking fills quickly, so get there in good time, or consider parking a little further out and walking the last stretch to avoid the worst of the post-match congestion.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

Stoke-on-Trent offers straightforward, affordable accommodation for away fans, with several options within easy reach of both the stadium and the city centre. Prices are generally reasonable compared to bigger cities, though it’s still worth booking ahead for popular fixtures.

💷 Budget Options (£50-£80 per night)

💷💷 Mid-Range Options (£80-£130 per night)

💷💷💷 Something a Bit Different

🍺 PUBS & DRINKS NEAR THE STADIUM

⚠️ Important Advice: There are relatively few pubs directly around the stadium itself, and it’s sensible to keep colours covered in the immediate vicinity and Stoke town centre. Most away fans have a better time drinking a little further out or heading into Hanley (the main city centre) first.

🍺 Recommended Options

⚠️ Near the Stadium (Exercise Caution)

🍔 Food Options: The stadium concourse offers decent food and drink, with away fans typically able to enter around two hours before kick-off. Hanley city centre has a good range of chain restaurants and independent options if you want to eat before travelling out to the ground.

🏺 Potteries Tip: Stoke-on-Trent’s pub scene rewards a bit of exploring – some genuinely characterful venues are set in former pottery factories and industrial buildings, reflecting the city’s ceramics heritage.

🎯 THINGS TO DO IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

Stoke-on-Trent – known as “The Potteries” – has a genuinely fascinating industrial heritage built on centuries of ceramics production. There’s plenty to explore beyond the football, whether you’re into history, gardens, or theme parks.

Nearby Attractions

🏺 THE POTTERIES EXPERIENCE

⚽ THE MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE

🤝 HOW TO BEHAVE

📞 USEFUL CONTACTS

🔗 QUICK REFERENCE

💭 FINAL THOUGHTS

The bet365 Stadium delivers a proper traditional away day, even after the recent change to the away end. The new south-east corner section still offers decent views and now comes with safe standing rails, though the atmosphere isn’t quite what it was in the old South Stand section. Wrap up warm – the stadium’s open design means it can be genuinely cold, especially in winter – and enjoy the “Delilah” sing-along that’s become one of Stoke’s most distinctive matchday traditions.

Stoke-on-Trent itself is a city with genuine character, built on centuries of pottery and ceramics heritage. The Gladstone Pottery Museum and Potteries Museum and Art Gallery both offer a real sense of what made this city famous, whilst Trentham Gardens and the Monkey Forest provide a lovely contrast if you fancy some green space. With Alton Towers only 25 minutes away, there’s plenty to build a full day or weekend around beyond the football itself.

Getting to Stoke is straightforward thanks to excellent rail connections on the West Coast Main Line, even if the final leg from the station requires a bus or taxi. Away fans are generally treated fairly, and whilst pub options near the ground are limited, Stoke-on-Trent’s wider pub scene – including some genuinely unique venues set in former pottery factories – rewards a bit of exploring. This is honest, traditional English football in a city proud of its industrial heritage.

Take the train to Stoke-on-Trent, hop on a bus or taxi to the ground, wrap up warm, and enjoy a proper Potteries away day!

🔴⚪ Up the Potters! ⚪🔴

💬 SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Have you visited the bet365 Stadium before? Got tips for other away supporters? Drop your thoughts in the comments below – we’d love to hear about your Stoke-on-Trent experience!

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