Everton – Goodison Park
Jump to: Hotels – Pubs – Parking – Directions – Fan’s comments
Goodison Park, home to Everton FC is an all seater stadium, with a capacity of 40,157.
The south end of the Bullens Road Stand, on the east side of the ground, houses away fans. Designed by celebrated football architect Archibald Leitch, this stand was built in 1926. Originally, the stand had an upper seated area and a lower terrace, known as the Paddock. Seats were installed at the rear of the Paddock in the early 1960s, creating a two-tier all seater stand.
The stadium would lend itself to expansion, but club officials do not consider this financially viable. The proposed “Destination Kirby” project would involve a move to a new stadium in the nearby Borough of Knowsley. However, this project is subject to a public enquiry, the result of which is unlikely to be known until late 2009.
How to get to Goodison Park
By Road:
Goodison Park is located in Goodison Road, Liverpool L4 4EL.
Drivers arriving from both North and South can exit the M6 at junction 26, following the M58 to its end. Turn left at the gyratory system, joining the M57 at junction 7. Leave the M57 at junction 4, turning right onto the A580. Continue on the A580 across Queen’s Drive, entering Walton Lane. Goodison Road is a right turn within a mile.
Alternatively, southbound drivers can exit the M6 at junction 26, following the M58 as far as the gyratory system. Turn left onto the A59, following it until it becomes Rice Lane. Continue straight on at the roundabout, into County Road and follow it for about ¾ of a mile. Turn left into Spellow Lane and left again into Goodison Road. The stadium is located on the right.
Northbound drivers can exit the M6 at junction 21a onto the M62. At the end of the M62, turn right into Queen’s Drive and follow it for about 4½ miles. At the roundabout (junction with A59), turn left into County Road, left after about ¾ of a mile, into Spellow Lane and left again into Goodison Road, where Goodison Park is on the right.
View Larger Map
By Rail:
The closest railway station to the stadium is Kirkdale, which is less than a mile from the ground.
On exiting the station, turn right and cross the railway bridge. Follow Westminster Road as far as the Elm Tree pub, turning left into Goodall Street. Cross the junction at the end into Harlech Street and follow it as far as County Road. Cross County Road at the traffic lights into Andrew Street, at the top of which the stadium is visible.
Sandhills station is also convenient and offers a bus service for an hour or so either side of the game. Liverpool’s Lime Street station is over 3 miles from Goodison Park, so it is advisable to catch a connection to Liverpool Central where regular services operate to both Kirkdale and Sandhills stations. Alternatively, the bus station is only a few minutes walk from Lime Street station and well signposted. Click here to check the current train timetables
By Air:
The nearest airport is Liverpool John Lennon, at a distance of about 10 miles. Liverpool South Parkway station, which serves the airport, offers regular train links to Liverpool City centre. Click here to check the current flight times
Taxis
There are several taxi companies in Liverpool that can take you to and from the stadium. You can always prebook a private hire taxi, or hail a black cab on any highway.
Calling all Liverpool Taxi Companies – Why not advertise your company here?.
Where to Park?
Early arrivals will find on-street parking around the Walton Lane area. Alternative parking is available near Anfield or in Stanley Park, the entrance to which is on Priory Road. Drivers using the M57 / A580 route (see above) will pass Walton Sports Centre, where parking is also available. This avoids the customary traffic snarl ups at Stanley Park and is within 5 minutes of the motorway.
Away Friendly Pubs near Goodison Park
Numerous visiting fans have recommended Liverpool city centre as the best area for a pre-match drink, as it offers a wide range of outlets to suit all tastes. However, fans report that, with one or two exceptions, the nearest pubs to Lime Street station are those to avoid. The Head of Steam, located at the station, is away friendly and listed in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. It also offers a big screen with Sky Sports and Setanta.
Nearer to the stadium, there are a number of recommended away friendly pubs on Walton Road and Walton Lane, only a 10-15 minute walk from Goodison Park. These include the Thomas Frost, a Wetherspoons outlet with a friendly atmosphere and a good mix of home and away fans. Visitors recommend The Spellow, outside the ground, but the Royal Oak is definitely on the list of watering holes to avoid.
Hotels near Goodison Park
Many hotels near Goodison Park have received mixed reviews from guests.
The Britannia Adelphi Hotel (pictured, left), Ranelagh Place, Liverpool, L3 5UL has received mainly good reviews from guests. It offers extensive facilities, reasonable rates, and is with a few minutes walk of Lime Street station. However, disabled access is limited and on-site parking is expensive.
The Atlantic Tower by Thistle (Right), Chapel Street, Liverpool, L3 9RE has also attracted predominantly favourable reviews. This 4-start hotel is situated in the city centre, adjacent to the Liver Building, within walking distance of many attractions and some 2½ miles from Goodison Park. An NCP car park is available nearby, but this is expensive.
Click here to see all hotels near Goodison Park
What have other Away Fans said about their trip to Goodison Park?
Many away fans have remarked upon the friendly, relaxed atmosphere within Goodison Park, with home and away fans mixing freely before the game. The standard of stewarding impressed many visiting fans, who noted that they were reasonable and communicative. Fans have been reasonably impressed with the catering facilities, which offer a good range of food and drink at reasonable (at least for a football ground) prices.
However, one major reported disappointment is that the club refuse to serve alcohol to away fans at half-time. Many visitors have remarked on the overall “tired” look of the stadium, though noting the character the ground maintains. The seating in the rear of the lower tier of the Bullens Road stand has been a major cause for complaint, with supporting pillars interfering with the view of play and little legroom.
Stay well away from any pubs near the ground. Very hostile and abrupt home supporters. Matthew street in the city centre is only a 10 minute taxi ride away and excellent array of bars. After the game we had stones through at us from young boys in near by streets and also 2 of my tyres let down. Home fans also thought it was funny to grab my brothers hat and throw it in a drain. Horrible day
You gotta love the scousers, sound as a pound before and after the game, in the city centre at least. I prefer the traditional grounds and this was no different. Stewards let us stand for the whole game and we got beers at half time…you can’t say fairer than that really
Went a few seasons ago . Took the official club coaches there. On the way in we had kids throw bricks and stones at the coach. One hitting a window close to an elderly fans head.
The seats were dated and uncomfortable . However still had a good atmosphere during the game.
On the whole probably wont go there again .
I’d recommend if you do come to Goodison take the coach. You will be parked very near the away end and it gives you the chance to see another premiership ground. There are loads of pubs that will be more than happy to welcome away fans. The main away boozer is the Arkles situated on 1 side of Stanley Park, but it can get very crowded. Depending on your behaviour you experiences may differ. If you behave respectfully ie not singing anto scouse slurs and behave yourself you’ll be more than welcome in the majority of pubs round Goodison. There is usually a large police presence and they’ll will give you decent advice where to get a drink and get food and the such like. Supporters reactions to you dpend on what club you support. If you support either of the Manchester club I’d advise you not to wear colours but most other fans are given a nice welcome when they come to Goodsion and you shoudn’t expect any trouble.
Went there in 2005 when Everton played Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. Decent atmosphere, no trouble but the ground needs modernising in parts and the seats don’t represent a top team, I think Tranmere’s seats are better quality. But overall, good ground and might go back.
I was able to fit in a trip to Goodison on a trip to England and it was the Sunderland game at Everton. What a dreadful place!
I was spat at asking where I could get a ticket, must not have had the right accent. Seat was half missing and the fans nasty. I went to Anfield 2 years ago, it was boring but at least not as horrible an experience.
Are Everton fans all idiots? Or just the 30000 that went to this game?
Mr Kallin what an unfair representation of Goodison! We’re all idiots?? Even when we play Liverpool, our “bitter rivals” its a friendly atmosphere with Kopites in their colours mixing in. The only time i have ever seen trouble (and bear in mind ive had a season ticket since 1994) is when we play Man Utd, this has been combatted by the stewards who hold the away fans back for 10mins after the final whistle. No other team has this restriction! i sit in the same stand as the away fans and i’d definitely agree – avoid the Lower Bullens, but Upper and the paddock are fine! The stewards are all friendly and up for a bit of banter, most are blues but we do have a few reds and neutrals also. The Arkles is traditionally the away pub as it is closer to Anfield, agreed on avoiding the Royal Oak as it gets rowdy, but when we play Newcastle there are always hundreds of Geordies in its beer garden having a sing song. As long as you respect the home fans (and this goes for everywhere not just at Goodison) then they will, on the whole, respect you! I forget the amount of times i’ve directed the away fans to the Bullens road as they’ve become a bit lost. As with every club we have the odd idiot who likes to cause trouble but often you’ll find that these so called fans havent actually been to the game and theyre hanging around on the off chance of a scrap at full time!!
*Walton Lane is shut for a while just before and after the final whistle to allow the fans to disperse safely, Priory Road (where the supporters coaches park) also*
I’d strongly advise anyone travelling to Goodison, home or away fans, to use a supporters coach as Walton Motors charge £10 for parking (right next to the ground) and it is a nightmare to get out of, the car park on Stanley Park is roughly the same price. There are two schools near Anfield which allow you to park on the school yard for £8 a car – All Saints and Four Oaks (formerly Hope Valley), these are secure and manned car parks and a 5min walk from Goodison Park!
I’ve been to Everton about 7 times and it has always been a good day out. Have usually headed to the Arkles, the only downer is that they have a limited number of bar staff and the old bill chuck you out around 2.30 (probably a good idea as it takes 10-15 to walk across Stanley Park to get to Goodison anyway!). Only ever seen one instance of sillies but most people just walked away an the crowds dispersed.
Been to everton many times, the ground is very old and there is not much atmosphere coming from the home fans. I have had my good days and bad days at everton, if you’re going to a pub then i recommend you go into the town all the pubs near the stadium are crowded with everton fans and some passionate one’s as well.
As a first time visitor to goodison a few weeks back, i came back disappointed, and not just with the result. Getting there was extremely easy, basically just straight down the east lancs road no more than 45mins, finding a parking spot wasnt. Most of the car parks in the area were full, and one even wanted 9 pounds..for a 90 minute game? Dont think so. Anyway we parked about a 15-20 min walk away. Once inside the stadium i noticed the away concourse was a bit more cramped than id expected, and looked somewhat ancient. Queing for a beer and a pie took no more than 5 mins, which is reasonable, but 3 pounds for a small warm plastic bottle of carlsberg is not. And, coming from wigan, i know a good pie..there werent any here. I chose a ‘scouse’ pie, with the promise it was just like our meat and potato..it wasnt, it was huge chunks of potato encased in soft dry pastry. Needed a good few sachets of ketchup to liven it up. Im running out of characters here so il continue my review below.
-continued- on entering the away stand (think i was in the paddock), i couldnt beleive how little space there was, im a tall bloke and was cramped throughout. Stadium was decent, if old, and the view of the pitch was quite good. Disappointed with the home support, 31,400 attendance..yet only the 1500 travelling fans seemed in high spirits. We lost 3-1 and tbh i didnt hang around, went before the whistle to avoid crowds. On the way back to the car i went into a local pub to use the toilet and was promptly told to ‘cover that shirt up round ere mate’..charming eh. Overall, for me, it just didnt cut it, i wont be attending this away fixture again.
We travelled by train and walked from Kirkdale Station. We arrived early and had a full English in a great cafe next to the ground. Everybody we met was civilised and friendly and the highly enjoyable banter began with a couple of customers in the cafe. The friendliness of Everton fans continued with their staff and we had a good chat with the souvenir sellers, stewards and even the police. Inside the ground it was a slightly different story with the Everton crowd failing to get behind their team and when Norwich took the lead against the run of play a couple of hundred fans in the Park End stand adjacent to us got up and left their seats. Incredible! The Everton fans only started to get behind the fans in the last 10 minutes but even after scoring they were a bit muted.
The stadium itself is definitley past it. The away fans sit on old wooden seats that are tiny and cramped but with decent legroom. It you were a couple of seats to my left (in seat 26) your view of the goal is completely obstructed by roof supports. There is an open gap to the left of the away stand and a cold draught blew across us for the whole game making it pretty cold. Even the view is a bit weird with the pitch like a mound, sloping down to the touchline all round the pitch and it’s hard to see the ball on the ground from so low down when it’s near the touchline. We had a pint and a scouse pastie inside the ground. The beer was a drab lager which we began to regret buying but the pastie was great. After the game we headed into Liverpool City and drank at the Ship and Mitre on Dale Street which is a top real ale pub. Friendly banter continued inside the pub and we got a Norwich City fans table together for a good old chat. We managed to sneak in with my 16-year-old nephew but Liverpool pubs are generally not children friendly. It was a great day all in all but Goodison Park needs a major overhaul or knocking down and starting again.
Our whole experience was very good at Goodison park. We aimed to park at the local leisure centre, costing only £5 and only being a 15 min walk, but on approach found ample parking in the road outside the leisure centre which was free.. Bonus!
Being my first experience of watching Norwich play away, i was unsure of what to expect by the locals/home fans, but i have to say everyone we spoke to were friendly and pleasent and even made sure we knew the way back to the car after the match! … Nice people!
The stadium itself was shabby and very tired but it just made us appreciate our home stadium more.
The only single negative thing that i would warn anyone is ‘ watch out for the dog poop’! Lots of it on all the pavements on route to the stadium..
On the whole though, a great experience and i would return.
Match score 1-1
The actual ground is really run-down (as is the local area) but it is a ‘real’ ground. Very limited home vocal support, but that;s typical of pretty much everywhere these days. OK outside, coach is the way to get there and they park a couple of streets away. Merseyside Police seem like a good bunch!