🔴 London Waterloo: 1 hour 20 minutes (direct)

🟠 Brighton: 1.5-2 hours (change at Portsmouth or Fareham)

🟡 Portsmouth: 30-40 minutes (direct)

🟢 Bournemouth: 30-40 minutes (direct)

🔵 Birmingham: 2.5 hours (direct CrossCountry services)

🟣 Manchester: 4-5 hours (change at Birmingham or London)

Walking Route (15-20 minutes) ⭐

The walk is straightforward and takes you right through Southampton’s city centre:

1. Exit Southampton Central station and turn right onto Blechynden Terrace
2. Continue straight ahead until you reach the main shopping area (Above Bar Street)
3. Turn left and walk down Above Bar Street (pedestrianised shopping street)
4. Continue onto Commercial Road, passing the Bargate (medieval gateway)
5. Keep walking straight – the stadium will come into view on your right
6. Turn right onto Britannia Road for the main entrance

💡 Top Tip: The walk takes you past dozens of pubs, restaurants, and shops – perfect for pre-match food and drinks!

Taxi from Station (5 minutes)

If you prefer not to walk or have mobility issues, taxis are readily available outside Southampton Central. The journey to St Mary’s takes 5-10 minutes and costs around £8-12. On matchdays, expect queues after the game – many fans prefer to walk back through the city centre.

⚠️ Post-Match Return Trains: Southampton Central has frequent services back to major cities, but trains can get busy after matches. Allow extra time for queues at the station, especially for London-bound services.

From London/North: M3 southbound, then M27 westbound. Exit at Junction 5, follow signs for City Centre/Football Stadium

From Portsmouth/Brighton: M27 westbound, exit Junction 5 or Junction 8

From Bournemouth/Dorset: M27 eastbound, exit Junction 3 or Junction 5

From Bristol/West: M4, then M5, then M27 eastbound

Official Stadium Parking

Capacity: Limited spaces for away fans

Cost: £10-15 (pre-booking usually required)

Location: On-site at the stadium

💡 Tip: Stadium parking sells out quickly – book in advance through your club!

City Centre Car Parks (Recommended)

WestQuay Shopping Centre: Multi-storey car park, 10-minute walk to the stadium. £8-12 for evening parking. Large capacity, well-lit, and secure. Postcode: SO15 1QF

Marlands Shopping Centre: Multi-storey car park, 12-minute walk to stadium. Similar prices to WestQuay. Postcode: SO14 7SJ

Southampton Central Station Car Park: Pay and display, 15-minute walk. It can be busy on matchdays. Postcode: SO15 1HG

Street Parking

Some residential streets around the stadium offer free parking on matchdays, particularly in the Portswood area (15-20 minute walk). However, spaces are competitive, and some streets have residents-only restrictions. Check signage carefully and arrive early if attempting to park on the street.

⚠️ Traffic Warning: Southampton city centre can be congested on matchdays, especially 1-2 hours before kick-off and immediately after the final whistle. Allow extra time for your journey and consider parking further out and walking in.

City Centre Hotels (Walking Distance)

Mercure Southampton Centre Dolphin Hotel: Historic hotel in the heart of the city, 10-minute walk to the stadium—mid-range pricing with character and charm.

Novotel Southampton: Modern hotel near WestQuay shopping centre, 15-minute walk to the stadium: good facilities and central location.

Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour: Waterfront location with excellent views, 20-minute walk to the stadium. Higher price point but excellent quality.

Budget-Friendly Options

Premier Inn Southampton City Centre: Reliable budget chain, 15-minute walk to stadium. Good value for money with breakfast included.

Travelodge Southampton Central: Basic but clean and affordable, 10-minute walk to the stadium.

Ibis Southampton Centre: Budget option near the station, 20-minute walk to the stadium. No-frills but perfectly adequate.

Alternative Accommodation

Airbnb/Apartments: Southampton has numerous apartments available in the city centre, often at competitive prices for groups.

Chain Hotels Near M27: If driving, there are several chain hotels (Holiday Inn, Hilton) near the motorway junctions that offer free parking and easy access to Southampton.

🍺 Away-Friendly Pubs

The Red Lion (High Street): Traditional pub near the Bargate, welcomes away fans, good atmosphere with reasonably priced drinks, 10-minute walk from the stadium.

The Standing Order (Wetherspoons): Large Wetherspoons in a converted bank building on the High Street. The usual reliably cheap drinks and food, mixed crowd of home and away fans.

The Platform Tavern: Right by Southampton Central station, perfect for pre-match drinks before walking to the ground. Away-friendly atmosphere.

Slug & Lettuce (Bedford Place): Modern bar with food menu, welcomes away supporters. Suitable for families and mixed groups.

🍕 Food Options

WestQuay Shopping Centre: Full food court with major chains (McDonald’s, Nando’s, Five Guys, etc.). Perfect for families, 10-minute walk from the stadium.

Oxford Street/Bedford Place: Restaurant row with everything from Italian to Indian to burger joints. Something for everyone.

Above Bar Street: Pedestrianised street lined with cafes, fast food, and casual dining options.

Kuti’s (Thai): Excellent Thai restaurant on Oxford Street if you want something special pre-match. Book ahead!

💡 Insider Tip: The city centre fills up 2-3 hours before kick-off on matchdays. If you want a sit-down meal, book ahead or arrive early. For casual drinks and food, there are plenty of options – follow the crowds from the station!

🚢 Maritime & Titanic Heritage

SeaCity Museum: Fascinating museum telling Southampton’s maritime story, including the Titanic connection (the ship departed from Southampton). Interactive exhibits are perfect for all ages and is just a 10-minute walk from the stadium.

Titanic Engineers’ Memorial: A Moving memorial in East Park commemorating the engineers who died on the Titanic. Free to visit.

Ocean Village Marina: Modern waterfront development with restaurants, bars, and boat trips. Beautiful on a sunny day, 15-minute walk from the city centre.

🏰 Historic Southampton

Southampton Old Town & City Walls: Well-preserved medieval city walls and gates. The Bargate is particularly impressive and right on your route to the stadium.

Tudor House & Garden: Stunning 800-year-old house with beautiful gardens. Offers a glimpse into Southampton’s rich history.

Medieval Merchant’s House: Restored 14th-century townhouse showing how medieval merchants lived.

🛍️ Shopping & Entertainment

WestQuay Shopping Centre: A Major shopping centre with all high-street brands. One of the largest in the South.

Mayflower Theatre: Historic theatre hosting West End shows, concerts, and comedy. Check what’s on during your visit!

Southampton Common: Large park perfect for a pre-match stroll. Over 365 acres of green space near the city centre.

🌲 Day Trips from Southampton

New Forest National Park: 20 minutes by car, famous for wild ponies, beautiful woodland, and charming villages.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: 30 minutes away, home to HMS Victory, Mary Rose Museum, and Royal Navy heritage.

Isle of Wight: Take the ferry from Southampton for a day trip to this beautiful island (though probably not on matchday!).

📍 Away Section Location & Facilities

Section: Northam Stand (North End of the ground)

Allocation: Up to 3,200 seats for away supporters (can be reduced for smaller allocations)

View: Excellent views from all areas. The stand is relatively steep, providing good sightlines.

Facilities: Modern concourse with food kiosks, bars (serving alcohol), and clean toilet facilities. The away section is well-maintained with plenty of refreshment options.

🎟️ Ticket Prices & Booking

Ticket prices vary by competition and opponent, but typically range from £30 to £ 45 for adults in the Championship. Concession prices are usually available for seniors, students, and young adults.

How to Buy: Tickets are usually sold through your own club’s ticket office. Southampton allocate tickets based on the away club’s ticket sales and historical support.

🎵 Atmosphere

St Mary’s can generate a good atmosphere, particularly when the Northam Stand (home ultras section) gets going with “When The Saints Go Marching In.” The away section can be noisy too, with good acoustics helping both sets of fans generate atmosphere. Expect a passionate but generally friendly matchday experience.

🚂 Take The Train: Southampton Central is well-connected, and the walk through the city centre is part of the experience

🍺 City Centre Pubs: Dozens of options between the station and stadium – arrive early to explore!

🚗 Park Smart: If driving, use WestQuay car park and walk – it’s safer than street parking

🏛️ Maritime History: If you arrive early, the SeaCity Museum is excellent and right in the city centre

🍽️ Book Restaurants: Popular restaurants fill up on matchdays – book ahead if you want a sit-down meal

⏰ Post-Match Trains: Expect queues at Southampton Central after the match – or stay in the city for drinks first!

⚓ Titanic City: Southampton’s maritime heritage is fascinating – the Titanic departed from here in 1912

🏰 Historic Walls: Walk through the ancient Bargate on your way to the match – Southampton’s medieval heart

🌳 Green Spaces: Southampton Common is a huge green space perfect for a pre-match walk

🏟️ Modern Stadium: St Mary’s is a quality modern ground with excellent facilities throughout

🍺 Away Concourse: Good selection of food and drink with reasonable prices for a football ground

🎵 Saints Atmosphere: Listen out for “When The Saints Go Marching In” – it’s a proper football anthem!

✅ DO: Enjoy the city center atmosphere • Walk through the historic Bargate • Try the maritime attractions • Respect Southampton’s history • Be friendly with locals • Explore the waterfront

❌ DON’T: Cause trouble in the busy city centre • Miss the train back • Ignore the maritime heritage • Assume all pubs are away-friendly without checking • Drive if you don’t have to