VALE PARK
Port Vale Complete Travel Guide – 2026-27 Season
ℹ️ 2026-27 Season Guide: Port Vale return to Sky Bet League Two for 2026-27 following relegation from League One. This guide has been fully checked for the new season, including an important change to matchday pub advice for away fans – see below. Always check port-vale.co.uk before you travel for the latest ticketing and away allocation details.
🏟️ ABOUT VALE PARK
Vale Park opened in August 1950 and was ambitiously nicknamed “The Wembley of the North”, with original plans drawn up for an 80,000-capacity stadium. Reality proved more modest, and the ground now holds around 16,800.
Sitting 520 feet above sea level in Burslem, one of Stoke-on-Trent’s six historic towns, Vale Park is one of the highest grounds in the Football League. The clay-based pitch can play tricky in winter.
The stadium’s record attendance of 49,768 came against Aston Villa in the 1960 FA Cup fifth round – a Port Vale record that still stands over 65 years later.
Vale Park has four stands: the two-tier Lorne Street Stand (West) with executive boxes, the Railway Stand (East), the Hamil Road Stand (South, now exclusively for home fans) and the Bycars Stand (North), which has housed away supporters since the 2023-24 season.
Port Vale, nicknamed “The Valiants”, were founded in 1876 (some historians say 1879) and moved between several grounds before settling at Vale Park in 1950.
The club’s finest hour came in 1953-54, winning the Third Division North title and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, where they lost to West Bromwich Albion. Their fiercest rivalry is the Potteries Derby against Stoke City, last played in 2002.
Burslem, the “Mother Town” of the Potteries, was the birthplace of Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, honoured today with a statue in the town centre. In June 2026 the club named Stoke-born Robbie Williams as Port Vale Foundation Ambassador and official front-of-shirt partner – a lovely piece of local colour for a genuinely community-minded club.
📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS
| Capacity | Around 16,800 (all seated) |
| Opened | 1950 (75+ years of history) |
| Away Section | Bycars Stand (North Stand) |
| Away Allocation | Typically around 3,353 seats |
| Record Attendance | 49,768 vs Aston Villa (FA Cup 5th Round, February 1960) |
🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP
Vale Park Address: Hamil Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 1AW
🚗 GETTING TO VALE PARK
Vale Park sits in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, with excellent M6 access via Junctions 15 and 16. Public transport takes a bit more planning than the driving route.
Longport station is the closest at under two miles, but has limited services. Stoke-on-Trent station is further away yet has far better connections, so most away fans use it and finish the journey by taxi or bus.
Important for away fans: away parking is now at Dimensions Leisure Centre, not at the ground itself – pre-book via portvaleparking.co.uk (an external booking site, not run by the club).
🚂 BY TRAIN
Most away fans travel to Stoke-on-Trent station, then finish the journey by taxi or bus. Longport is closer to the ground but only has an hourly Crewe-Derby service, plus a steep 30-minute walk uphill.
RECOMMENDED: Stoke-on-Trent Station
Far superior connections from across the country. Take a taxi from the rank outside (around £10-12, 10 minutes) or catch bus 7/7A/7B/7C towards Burslem/Tunstall.
Journey Times to Stoke-on-Trent Station:
🔴 London Euston: 1h 30m (Avanti West Coast, direct)
🟢 Manchester Piccadilly: 45 minutes (frequent direct services)
🟡 Birmingham New Street: 1 hour (regular direct services)
🔵 Crewe: 20 minutes (very frequent, main interchange)
🟣 Derby: Under 1 hour (regular services)
💡 Top Tip: Longport is closer on paper but limited hourly trains make it awkward for matchday timings – Stoke-on-Trent then a taxi or bus is the easier, a more popular choice for away fans.
🔗 Plan Your Journey: nationalrail.co.uk | thetrainline.com
🚗 BY CAR – Excellent M6 Access
Driving to Vale Park is straightforward, with excellent M6 access via Junctions 15 or 16 onto the A500, then the A527 towards Tunstall/Burslem.
Postcode for sat-nav: ST6 1AW.
Away Fan Parking:
- Away supporters can no longer park in the old Hamil Road car park, which is now home-fans only.
- Away parking is at Dimensions Leisure Centre (ST6 4ET), a short walk from the ground.
- Pre-booking is recommended via portvaleparking.co.uk (an external site, not run by the club).
✅ PARKING STRATEGY: Book Dimensions Leisure Centre parking ahead of time on a matchday if driving. M6 access is genuinely excellent from Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and beyond.
🍺 PUBS & DRINKS NEAR VALE PARK
⚠️ IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR AWAY FANS: Burslem town centre pubs, including the famous Bulls Head, and the on-site Tommy Cheadle’s, are now home fans only on matchdays. This is a genuine change from a few seasons ago, so please don’t turn up expecting the old welcome – head to the away-friendly options below instead.
🍺 Away Fans’ Recommended Pubs
🍺 The White Horse, Tunstall
Brownhills Road, Tunstall, ST6 4JU. A friendly, family-run pub that the club itself recommends to visiting supporters. Opens 11 am on Saturday matchdays with seven TVs, a beer garden, its own car park, and a 10-15 minute walk (or five-minute drive) to Vale Park.
Distance: 1.3 miles from Vale Park | Price: ££
🍺 The Pioneer Bar, Smallthorne
Chetwynd Street, Smallthorne, ST6 1PP. A working men’s club that regularly welcomes travelling supporters (Bolton Wanderers, Bristol City and Wrexham fans have all been hosted recently). Darts and pool available. Message ahead on social media if bringing a coach or minibus.
Distance: Around 1 mile from Vale Park | Price: £
🍺 In-ground Fanzone (Bycars End)
A licensed fanzone bar serves the away end, opening at the same time as the turnstiles. Handy if you’d rather not travel between venues before kick-off.
Distance: Inside the ground | Note: Vale Park is a cashless venue – take a card.
Fancy exploring Burslem’s excellent pub scene (The Bulls Head, The Vine, The Park Inn and more) another time? They’re well worth a visit – just not as an away fan on a Port Vale matchday.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR VALE PARK
Stoke-on-Trent offers a good spread of accommodation, from budget chains near the motorway to full-service hotels in the city centre. Burslem itself has very little in the way of hotels, so most away fans base themselves elsewhere in the city and taxi in on matchday.
💷 Budget Options (£50-80 per night)
Travelodge Stoke Talke
The closest Travelodge to Vale Park, just a few miles from Burslem. A reliable, no-frills option with free parking – handy if you’re driving up.
Location: Talke, Newcastle Road (a few miles from Burslem) | Book: travelodge.co.uk
Premier Inn Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley)
A dependable budget option in Hanley, Stoke’s main town centre, with good transport links and plenty of bars and restaurants on the doorstep.
Location: Hanley, Stoke city centre | Book: premierinn.com
💷💷 Mid-Range Options (£80-130 per night)
Holiday Inn Stoke-on-Trent M6, Jct 15
A handy motorway-side base with an indoor pool, spa and free parking. Around three miles from Stoke city centre and well placed for Vale Park, Alton Towers and the Peak District.
Location: M6 Junction 15 | Book: ihg.com
Hilton Garden Inn Stoke-on-Trent
A modern city centre hotel with a fitness centre, restaurant and free parking. Good option if you want to be closer to Stoke’s bars and restaurants.
Location: Stoke city centre | Book: hilton.com
💷💷💷 Luxury Options (£130+ per night)
DoubleTree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent
A full-service four-star hotel adjoining historic Etruria Hall, the former home of Josiah Wedgwood. Indoor pool, on-site restaurant and free parking – the smartest base in the city itself.
Location: Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent | Book: hilton.com
Alton Towers Resort Hotels
Around 30 minutes’ drive away. Themed on-site hotels with waterpark access make this the obvious choice if you’re turning the trip into a family weekend combining football with the theme park.
Location: Alton Towers (30 mins drive) | Book: altontowers.com
⚽ Booking Tip: Stoke city centre or Hanley gives you the widest hotel choice with easy taxi access to Burslem on matchday. Book early for Saturday fixtures, and remember Burslem’s own pubs are home fans only, so plan your trip around Tunstall or Smallthorne instead.
🎯 THINGS TO DO AROUND STOKE-ON-TRENT
Stoke-on-Trent – “The Potteries” – has fascinating ceramics heritage plus modern family attractions. Well worth combining with your away day.
🏛️ The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (Hanley)
Home to the Staffordshire Hoard and the museum’s much-loved Spitfire. The museum is mid-way through a £5 million redevelopment.
Currently: the Spitfire Gallery, theatre and café reopened in stages from 28 March 2026, with managed entry while work continues elsewhere in the building. Free admission.
Website: stokemuseums.org.uk
🏭 Gladstone Pottery Museum (Longton)
The last complete Victorian pottery factory in the country, with bottle ovens, working demonstrations and hands-on pottery experiences. Allow 2-3 hours.
Please note: the museum is closed to the public on additional days between August and November 2026 for an external project, so check ahead if visiting around the start of the season.
Cost: Adults £9.10, children £6.30, concessions £7.40 | Website: stokemuseums.org.uk
🏺 World of Wedgwood (Barlaston)
Factory tours, museum exhibits, pottery-throwing workshops and an award-winning tea room, all dedicated to Josiah Wedgwood’s 260-year-old ceramics brand. Allow 3-4 hours.
Website: worldofwedgwood.com
🎨 Emma Bridgewater Factory (Hanley)
Factory tours, a paint-your-own pottery workshop and factory shop for the popular polka-dot ceramics brand. Book workshops ahead as they fill quickly.
Website: emmabridgewater.co.uk
🎢 Alton Towers Theme Park
Around 30 minutes’ drive from Vale Park. Home to Oblivion, Nemesis, The Smiler and Wicker Man, plus CBeebies Land for younger visitors. Book online ahead for the best ticket prices.
Website: altontowers.com
🌳 Trentham Gardens & Monkey Forest
A 725-acre estate with Italian gardens, lakeside walks, a large shopping village and Trentham Monkey Forest, home to free-roaming Barbary macaques. Great for a relaxed morning or afternoon.
Website: trentham.co.uk
🌿 Burslem Park & Lemmy Statue
Burslem Park is a Grade II listed Victorian park right near Vale Park, free to enter and perfect for a pre- or post-match stroll. In the town centre, don’t miss the statue of Lemmy Kilmister, the Motorhead frontman born in Burslem.
⚽ ESSENTIAL AWAY FAN TIPS
🏟️ The Away End (Bycars Stand): Single-tier, fully covered stand with around 3,353 seats. Some supporting pillars can restrict the view, so try to sit centrally.
🍺 Pub Advice Has Changed: Burslem town centre pubs and Tommy Cheadle’s are home fans only now. Head to The White Horse (Tunstall) or The Pioneer Bar (Smallthorne) instead.
🚗 Away Parking Has Moved: Book ahead at Dimensions Leisure Centre (ST6 4ET) via portvaleparking.co.uk – the old Hamil Road car park is home fans only now.
💳 Cashless Venue: Vale Park operates on card payment only inside the ground, so make sure you’ve got a card with you.
🥞 Try Staffordshire Oatcakes: The unique local speciality – a savoury pancake filled with cheese, sausage, bacon or chilli. Well worth seeking out while you’re in the Potteries.
💭 FINAL THOUGHTS ON VALE PARK
Vale Park is a proper traditional away day. Originally dreamt up as an 80,000-capacity “Wembley of the North”, today’s 16,800-capacity ground feels more intimate but keeps its sense of history.
The Bycars End gives decent views and good atmosphere potential, and M6 access makes this a very driveable ground from across the Midlands and North.
The one thing every away fan needs to know before travelling: Burslem’s famous pub scene is now for home fans only. Head to The White Horse in Tunstall or The Pioneer Bar in Smallthorne instead, and you’ll still get a warm Staffordshire welcome.
Combine your trip with Alton Towers, the Potteries’ ceramics heritage, or a Staffordshire oatcake, and this is a genuinely underrated League Two destination.
💛 Come On You Valiants! 🖤
📞 USEFUL CONTACTS
🏟️ Port Vale FC: 01782 655 800 | port-vale.co.uk
🚗 Away Parking Booking: portvaleparking.co.uk (external site)
🚂 National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 | nationalrail.co.uk
🍺 The White Horse, Tunstall: Brownhills Road, Tunstall, ST6 4JU
ℹ️ Visit Stoke: visitstoke.co.uk
🎢 Alton Towers: 0871 222 3330 | altontowers.com
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© 2026 Football Nonsense. All rights reserved. All information correct at time of publication. Always check with venues directly before your visit.
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.