⚖️ MEADOW LANE ⚖️
Notts County Complete Travel Guide – 2026-27 Season
ℹ️ 2026-27 Season Guide: Notts County are back in League One after winning the League Two play-offs in 2025-26. All information has been researched and verified for 2026-27. Always check nottscountyfc.co.uk for the latest ticketing and matchday updates before you travel.
⚖️ ABOUT MEADOW LANE
Meadow Lane has been home to Notts County since 1910, when a fixture-priority dispute with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club forced the club to leave their old Trent Bridge ground and build a new stadium of their own just across the River Trent. Part of the new ground was famously assembled from a stand floated across the river from the old site.
The inaugural match, against local rivals Nottingham Forest, drew an estimated 27,000 spectators. Modernised into an all-seater bowl during the 1990s following the Taylor Report, Meadow Lane now holds 19,841 for league fixtures. Bronze statues of club legends Jimmy Sirrel and Jack Wheeler stand outside the ground, and the away end – the Jimmy Sirrel Stand – is named in his honour.
Notts County – The Magpies – hold a genuinely remarkable claim: founded in 1862, they are the oldest professional football club in the world, and were founding members of the Football League in 1888. Their black-and-white striped shirts are famous beyond Nottingham too – Juventus adopted the same colours in 1903 after admiring a Notts County kit, and still wear them today.
Meadow Lane sits just 270 metres from Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, making this the closest pair of professional football grounds anywhere in England, and the source of one of the country’s fiercest and most local derbies. After a turbulent spell that saw the club drop into non-league football, Notts County won the National League title in 2023 to return to the EFL, and completed the climb back to League One via the 2025-26 play-offs.
📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS
| Capacity | 19,841 (all seated; maximum configuration 20,229) |
| Opened | 1910 |
| Address | Meadow Lane, Nottingham, NG2 3HJ |
| Away Section | Jimmy Sirrel Stand (side stand, covered, along the touchline) |
| Away Allocation | Typically around 1,300 seats, can be higher for bigger followings |
| Record Attendance | 47,310 vs York City (FA Cup 6th Round, 12 March 1955) |
ℹ️ Meadow Lane sits just 270 metres from Nottingham Forest’s City Ground – the closest pair of professional football grounds in England.
🚗 GETTING TO MEADOW LANE
Meadow Lane sits just south of Nottingham city centre, across the River Trent, within easy walking distance of the train station. Nottingham has excellent transport links from across the Midlands and beyond, and the compact city centre means most away fans can walk between the station, the pubs, and the ground without needing a car or taxi.
🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP
Meadow Lane Address: Meadow Lane, Nottingham, NG2 3HJ
🚂 BY TRAIN – The Recommended Choice
Nottingham railway station is well under a mile from Meadow Lane, around a 20-minute walk, and the city is served by fast, frequent services from across the Midlands, the North and London.
Journey Times to Nottingham Station:
🔴 London St Pancras: Around 1 hour 45 minutes (direct)
🟠 Birmingham New Street: Around 1 hour (direct)
🟡 Sheffield: Around 50 minutes (direct)
🟢 Leicester: Around 30 minutes (direct)
🔵 Derby: Around 20 minutes (direct)
🟣 Mansfield (Robin Hood Line): Around 35 minutes (direct)
🚶 Walking Route from Station (around 20 minutes):
Exit the station on the Station Street side and turn left, then take a right onto London Road (A60). Follow this road, then turn left onto Cattle Market Road and cross the bridge over the River Trent. Continue to the junction and take the County Road exit on the right – the stadium comes into view from here.
🔗 Useful Link: National Rail Journey Planner
🚋 BY TRAM
Nottingham’s tram network (NET) runs a park-and-ride event ticket for matchdays at around £2 return, giving a cheap and easy way in from outlying park-and-ride sites if you’re driving part of the way. Trams stop at the railway station too, making a combined train-and-tram journey straightforward.
🚗 BY CAR
From the M1: Exit at Junction 24, follow the A453 into Nottingham, then follow signs for the city centre and Meadow Lane. From the East (A52/A606): Follow the A52 into Nottingham, then the A6011 Radcliffe Road towards Trent Bridge, bearing right onto Lady Bay Bridge, then left at the lights onto Meadow Lane.
🅿️ Parking: The Cattle Market Car Park (NG2 3BL) is the closest to the away end, directly opposite the Jimmy Sirrel Stand – convenient before kick-off, but roads around it (Cattle Market Road and County Road) are typically closed for 15-20 minutes after the final whistle for crowd safety, so allow time to get away. The Victoria Embankment Car Park (NG2 2EH) and Nottingham station’s multi-storey car park are further alternatives, both a short walk from the ground.
💡 Top Tip: Street parking is available around the ground but check restrictions carefully – residents’ zones apply in places.
🍺 PUBS & FOOD NEAR MEADOW LANE
Nottingham is one of England’s best cities for pubs, and several near Meadow Lane are genuinely popular with both sets of supporters. One notable exception to avoid: The Broken Wheelbarrow, just behind the stadium, is home fans only.
🍺 TRENT NAVIGATION INN ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why It’s Great: Right on the corner near Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, this is the standout pre-match pub for away fans – a genuinely friendly atmosphere, varied food menu, a big screen for early kick-offs, live music, an outdoor bar and BBQ on matchdays, plus a large beer garden.
Details: Meadow Lane, Nottingham, NG2 3HS • Short walk from the ground
Why Go: Consistently rated the best pre-match pub near Meadow Lane by visiting supporters of many different clubs.
🍺 THE SOUTHBANK BAR ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why It’s Great: On the other side of Trent Bridge from the ground, with good food, plenty of TV screens for sport, and real ales including a local Mallards Brewery option.
Details: Nottingham, NG1 6DQ • Around 15 minutes’ walk from the ground
🍺 THE VAT AND FIDDLE ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why It’s Great: Sits right next to the Castle Rock Brewery, so the beer selection is excellent. A traditional, welcoming pub across from the station down Queensbridge Road.
Details: Nottingham, NG2 1NB • Near the railway station
🍺 THE WATERFRONT (CANALSIDE)
Why It’s Great: A stretch of pubs and bars along the canal near the station, mixing familiar chains like Wetherspoons with more local, independent venues – plenty of choice within a few minutes of each other.
⚠️ ONE TO AVOID
The Broken Wheelbarrow, tucked just behind the stadium, is home fans only. There’s also a Meadow Lane Sports Bar inside the Haydn Green Family Stand which opens pre-match, but whether away fans are admitted is generally decided on a match-by-match basis, so don’t rely on it.
🍽️ FOOD
Nottingham city centre is a short walk from both the station and the ground, and has a huge range of restaurants, cafes and takeaways to suit any budget. Inside the ground, standard football fare is available on the away concourse.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY IN NOTTINGHAM
Nottingham is a major city with a huge range of accommodation to suit every budget, and its excellent transport links make it a genuinely good overnight away-day destination – many supporters combine the match with a proper night out in one of the Midlands’ best cities for pubs and nightlife.
£ BUDGET & MID-RANGE OPTIONS
Premier Inn Nottingham City Centre (multiple locations)
Several Premier Inn sites across the city centre, all within easy walking distance of both the station and Meadow Lane. Reliable, budget-friendly, and well placed for the city’s pubs and restaurants.
🔗 Booking: premierinn.com
Travelodge Nottingham Central
Budget chain option in the city centre, a short walk from both the railway station and Meadow Lane.
🔗 Booking: travelodge.co.uk
🎯 THINGS TO DO IN NOTTINGHAM
Nottingham is a fantastic away day destination in its own right – a compact, walkable city with genuine history, brilliant pubs and enough attractions to fill a full weekend.
🏆 TOP ATTRACTIONS
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
One of England’s oldest pubs, carved into the rock beneath Nottingham Castle, with claims dating back to 1189. A genuinely unique pub experience and a must-visit for any beer-loving away fan.
Nottingham Castle & City of Caves
The castle grounds and museum sit above a network of sandstone caves carved beneath the city over centuries – genuinely fascinating and unlike most other city-centre attractions in England.
The Lace Market
Nottingham’s historic lace-manufacturing quarter, now a characterful district of independent shops, bars and restaurants housed in beautifully preserved Victorian warehouses.
Wollaton Hall & Deer Park
A grand Elizabethan mansion set in a large deer park on the edge of the city – a lovely spot for a walk, and free to explore the grounds.
⚽ MATCHDAY TIPS
🏟️ Closest Derby in England: Meadow Lane sits just 270 metres from Nottingham Forest’s City Ground – look out for both grounds’ floodlights and stands from either side of the river.
🏆 Oldest Club in the World: Notts County were founded in 1862, making them the oldest professional football club in existence – their black-and-white stripes inspired Juventus to switch to the same colours in 1903.
🚗 Post-Match Traffic: Roads around the Cattle Market car park close for 15-20 minutes after the final whistle for crowd safety – build this into your plans if driving.
💭 FINAL THOUGHTS
Meadow Lane is a proper football pilgrimage. Notts County are the oldest professional football club on earth, founding members of the Football League, and the club whose black-and-white stripes inspired Juventus. Add a stadium just 270 metres from their fiercest rivals, and you have one of the most historically rich away days in the entire EFL.
The away end in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand offers proper covered seating along the touchline with good views, and Nottingham itself is an outstanding away-day city – the Trent Navigation Inn’s matchday BBQ, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem’s medieval cellar, the castle’s caves, and the Lace Market’s independent bars all make this well worth arriving early for.
Our advice? Get the train to Nottingham station, walk the 20 minutes to the ground via the Trent Navigation Inn, and afterwards explore a city with genuinely few rivals for history and hospitality among League One away days.
⚖️ Up the Magpies! ⚽
📞 USEFUL CONTACTS
⚖️ Notts County: nottscountyfc.co.uk
🚂 National Rail: nationalrail.co.uk
🚋 Nottingham Express Transit (Trams): thetram.net
ℹ️ Visit Nottingham: visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk
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⚖️ Part of the Football Nonsense League One 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, attempting to tackle the game’s biggest debates, from the terraces to the boardroom, with honesty, (attempted) humour, and heart.