AFC Bournemouth – Vitality Stadium

Complete Away Day Travel Guide

🔴⚫ ABOUT THE VITALITY STADIUM

The Vitality Stadium (formerly Dean Court) is one of English football’s most intimate and atmospheric grounds, home to AFC Bournemouth since 1910. Located in the Kings Park area of Bournemouth, approximately 2 miles north of the town centre and beach, this compact 11,307-capacity stadium is the Premier League’s smallest ground but creates a brilliant atmosphere with supporters close to the pitch.

The stadium has been systematically redeveloped over recent decades, with the South Stand (away end) rebuilt in 2001 and further improvements throughout. Despite its modest size, Vitality Stadium has witnessed Bournemouth’s remarkable rise from League Two to the Premier League, hosting top-flight football and creating countless memorable moments. Plans are in place to increase capacity to approximately 20,000 in the near future. The intimate setting means every seat offers excellent views, and the noise can be deafening when the Cherries are in form.

AFC Bournemouth – The Cherries – are one of English football’s greatest success stories, founded in 1899 as Boscombe FC. The club’s remarkable journey from the brink of extinction and administration in 2008 to Premier League status is remarkable. Under Eddie Howe’s management, Bournemouth rose from League Two to the Premier League in successive promotions (2013-15), defying all odds given their tiny stadium and budget.

The famous red-and-black striped shirts have been worn since the 1970s, and the Cherries’ story epitomises the romance of football – proving that passion, smart management, and belief can overcome financial disadvantages. Bournemouth supporters are passionate and loyal, having stuck with their club through near-liquidation. The south-coast location makes this one of English football’s most pleasant away days, combining Premier League football with a beautiful seaside resort.

📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS

🚗 GETTING TO THE VITALITY STADIUM

The Vitality Stadium is located in the Kings Park area of Bournemouth, approximately 2 miles north of Bournemouth town centre and the famous beach. Bournemouth Station has excellent rail connections from London and across the South. The ground is accessible by bus, taxi, or a walk from the station and the town centre. The stadium is also accessible by car from the M27 and A31.

🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP

Vitality Stadium Address: Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, BH7 7AF

🚂 BY TRAIN – The Recommended Choice

Why Trains Work: Bournemouth Station has excellent connections from London Waterloo (under 2 hours), Southampton, and across the South. From the station, the Vitality Stadium is approximately 2 miles – either a 35-40 minute walk (long but pleasant through the town), a 10-minute bus ride (Yellowbus route 1a stops right outside the ground!), or a 10-minute taxi journey. The bus is the best option – frequent, inexpensive, and drops you off at the stadium entrance.

Journey Times to Bournemouth Station:

Getting from Bournemouth Station to the Vitality Stadium

💡 Top Tip: Arrive at Bournemouth Station 3-4 hours before kick-off. Walk down to the beach (15 mins from the station), enjoy the stunning seafront and pier, grab lunch in one of Bournemouth’s many restaurants, have drinks in town centre pubs, then catch the 1a bus to the stadium around 90 minutes before kick-off. Bournemouth combines Premier League football with a beautiful seaside resort – make a proper day/weekend of it!

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

🔗 Yellow Buses: yellowbuses.co.uk

🔗 AFC Bournemouth Official Site: afcb.co.uk

🚗 BY CAR – Very Challenging Parking

⚠️ CRITICAL PARKING WARNING: Parking at the Vitality Stadium is notoriously difficult and extremely limited. The stadium is in a residential area with virtually no official parking and most streets are residents-only on matchdays. The train to Bournemouth and bus 1a to the ground (10 minutes, £2.50) is MUCH easier unless you’re staying locally. Do NOT drive expecting to find parking near the ground – you won’t!

If You Must Drive:

• Directions: From M27, take A31 towards Ringwood/Bournemouth, then A338 Wessex Way into Bournemouth, follow signs to Kings Park
• NO Official Stadium Parking: The club has virtually no parking for away fans. Do not arrive expecting spaces at the ground
• Street Parking: Surrounding streets are residents-only on matchdays with strict enforcement. You WILL get a ticket if you park without a permit
• Kings Park: Free parking in Kings Park itself (the park near the stadium) if you arrive VERY early (3+ hours). Limited spaces, fills up fast
• Town Centre Multi-Storeys: Park in Bournemouth town centre (BH2 Multi-Storey, Orchid Meadow – £8-£12 for 5-6 hours) then bus 1a to the stadium. Much easier!
• Park & Ride: Occasionally available at nearby Littledown – check club website, but unreliable
• Private Driveways: Very limited availability – book well in advance at yourparkingspace.co.uk (£15-£25!)

🚨 Our STRONG Advice: DO NOT DRIVE to Vitality Stadium! Seriously, parking is genuinely terrible. Take the train to Bournemouth (brilliant connections from London Waterloo, 1hr 50mins), enjoy the beach and town centre, then catch bus 1a to the ground (10 mins, £2.50, stops right outside). Driving means hours searching for parking, expensive parking charges, or parking tickets. The train-and-bus combo is much easier and allows you to enjoy Bournemouth properly.

🍺 PUBS & DRINKS NEAR THE VITALITY STADIUM

⚠️ IMPORTANT ADVICE: There are very few pubs immediately around the Vitality Stadium, as it’s in a residential area. The nearby pubs can be Cherries’ strongholds, especially Queens Park. The safest and most enjoyable approach is to drink in Bournemouth town centre or near the beach (2 miles from the stadium), where there are hundreds of excellent pubs, bars, and restaurants, then catch bus 1a to the ground. The town centre is much safer and better for away fans.

🍺 Town Centre & Seafront (Safe for Away Fans)

🍺 Near the Stadium (Exercise Caution)

⚠️ Our Advice: Drink in Bournemouth town centre or beach bars (much safer, better atmosphere, hundreds of options), then catch bus 1a to the ground. Don’t risk pubs immediately around the stadium. The town centre is brilliant with the added bonus of the beach!

🍔 Food Options: Bournemouth has outstanding food – the town centre has every chain and independent you can imagine, the beach has seafood restaurants and fish & chips, and there’s everything from gastropubs to fine dining. Being a resort town, food options are excellent and diverse. Near the stadium, options are limited to a few takeaways. Stadium concourses have pies, burgers, and hot food.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY IN BOURNEMOUTH

Bournemouth offers excellent accommodation across all price ranges. As a major seaside resort, it has hundreds of hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses. Stay near the beach or town centre for the best experience. The seafront hotels offer stunning sea views. Book well in advance for summer fixtures when Bournemouth is busy with tourists.

💷 Budget Options (£50-£80 per night)

💷💷 Mid-Range Options (£80-£150 per night)

💷💷💷 Luxury Options (£150+ per night)

🎭 THINGS TO DO IN BOURNEMOUTH

Bournemouth is one of England’s premier seaside resorts with a stunning 7-mile beach, a beautiful Victorian pier, excellent nightlife, and gorgeous parks and gardens. This is genuinely one of the best away days in English football – Premier League action combined with a brilliant beach town. Make a full weekend of it!

🎭 THE BOURNEMOUTH EXPERIENCE

⚽ THE MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE

💭 FINAL THOUGHTS

Visiting Vitality Stadium is experiencing one of English football’s most remarkable success stories in one of the Premier League’s most intimate and atmospheric grounds. With a capacity of just 11,307, this is the top flight’s smallest stadium, but the compact bowl design creates a brilliant atmosphere with supporters incredibly close to the pitch.

AFC Bournemouth’s journey from the brink of extinction in 2008 to Premier League status is remarkable – rising from League Two to the Premier League in successive promotions under Eddie Howe, defying financial logic and proving that passion, smart management, and belief can overcome significant disadvantages.

The Cherries are one of football’s great underdog stories, and their loyal supporters who stuck with the club through administration deserve every success.

But the Vitality Stadium is just the beginning of a brilliant Bournemouth away day. This stunning seaside resort offers 7 miles of Blue Flag sandy beach (genuinely one of England’s finest!), a beautiful Victorian pier, gorgeous parks and gardens running from town to seafront, excellent restaurants and nightlife, and all the attractions of a major beach resort.

The contrast between Premier League football and relaxing on the beach is genuinely unique in English football. Bournemouth combines top-flight action with a proper seaside holiday atmosphere – fish & chips on the pier, drinks in beach bars with sea views, and walks along the promenade. This is one of English football’s most enjoyable away days, especially on sunny days when the beach is at its best!

The logistics work brilliantly – Bournemouth Station has excellent connections from London Waterloo (1hr 50mins direct!) and across the South. From the station or town centre, catch Yellobus route 1a, which stops RIGHT outside Vitality Stadium (10 minutes, £2.50, every 10-15 minutes).

Our advice? Arrive early, spend 2-3 hours at the beach and pier (15 mins walk from station), grab lunch and drinks in town centre pubs or beach bars (The Moon in the Square Wetherspoons or The Goat & Tricycle are great), then catch the 1a bus to the ground 90 minutes before kick-off. DON’T drive – parking is genuinely terrible. After the match, head back to the beach or town centre for the evening. If staying over, Bournemouth’s seafront hotels offer brilliant sea views and the nightlife is excellent!

Take the train from London Waterloo, enjoy Bournemouth’s stunning beach, catch bus 1a to the ground, experience the intimate Vitality Stadium atmosphere, and discover why this is one of football’s great away days!

🔴⚫ Up The Cherries! 🍒

📞 USEFUL CONTACTS

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