Nottingham Forest – The City Ground
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The City Ground is an all-seater stadium, with a capacity of 30,500. It has been the home of Nottingham Forest since its opening in 1898.
The Executive Stand, at the North side of the ground was built in 1980, costing some £2 million, largely from the proceeds of European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980. Following Brian Clough’s retirement, the stand was renamed after Forest’s legendary manager.
The two-tier Bridgford Stand at the East end was rebuilt in 1992, with the lower tier being allocated to away supporters.
The Western Trent End was the most recent stand to be rebuilt, in time for Euro 96. The new stand is a large two-tiered structure with a tinted glass area running across the middle. The much older Main Stand, at the Southern side of the ground, now looks tired in the company of the more contemporary developments.
How to get to the City Ground
By Road:
For satnav purposes, the postcode of the City Ground is NG2 5FJ.
From the North, leave the M1 at junction 26, taking the A610 towards Nottingham and following signage for Melton Mowbray. On crossing the River Trent, the ground is visible on the left. Alternatively, follow signage for “Football Traffic” from the A610. This circuitous route arrives at the City Ground via the A6011.
From the South, leave the M1 at Junction 24, following the A453 towards Nottingham. Take the A52 towards Grantham and the A6011 into Nottingham, on which the ground is located. Alternatively, northbound drivers can leave the M1 at Junction 21a and follow the A46 towards Newark. After some 20 miles, join the A606 towards Nottingham. At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto the A52. Turn left at the next roundabout onto the A6011 and the ground is a about a mile.
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By Rail:
Nottingham mainline station is less than a mile from the City Ground and a 15-20 minute walk. Click here to check the current train timetables
By Air:
The nearest airport is Nottingham, at a distance of just under 3 miles. Click here to check the current flight times
Taxis
There are several taxi companies in Nottingham that can take you to and from the City Ground. You can always prebook a private hire taxi, or hail a black cab on any highway.
Calling all Nottingham Taxi Companies – Why not advertise your company here?.
Where to Park?
The City Ground has a large car park and there is also limited on-street parking. The local authority operates a match day car park on Victoria Embankment, near Trent Bridge cricket ground, just a couple of minutes from the stadium.
Away Friendly Pubs near the City Ground
The majority of the pubs close to the ground are “home fans only.” Several fans have reported experiencing trouble in the area of the station and advise to keep colours covered. The Waterfront complex, which offers some good “away friendly” bars, is a short walk from the station. On exiting, turn right and right again at the top of the road.
For rail travellers arriving early, the Olde Trip To Jerusalem is reportedly worth investigating. Dating back to the 1100s this historic pub serves real ale and quality food. On exiting the station, turn right. Turn left at the top of the road and take the 2nd right into Castle Road. The pub is on the left. The Stratford Haven, on Stratford Road, reportedly serves great beer and food and offers a vibrant atmosphere with both home and away fans. Hooters, on the main A6011, serves good beer and excellent food. Alcohol is also available inside the ground.
Hotels near the City Ground
Jurys Inn Nottingham (pictured left), Waterfront Plaza, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3BJ is within easy walking distance of the City Ground. It apparently offers excellent 3-star accommodation at a budget price and is situated close to the railway station. Nearby parking is available. 
The Holiday Inn Nottingham (pictured, right), Castle Marina Park, Nottingham NG7 1GX is located at the Castle Marina, a mile from the city centre. Guest reviews indicate that this refurbished hotel offers luxury accommodation and excellent service at competitive prices.
Click here to see all hotels near the City Ground
What have other Away Fans said about their trip to the City Ground?
Most visiting fans have enjoyed their trip to the City Ground, but a significant minority have experienced some form of trouble in or around the ground. This has ranged from fights to missiles being thrown from the upper tier by Forest “fans.” Others have remarked upon continual abuse from home supporters in the Main Stand, which they found intimidating. Catering and toilet facilities are reportedly adequate, but lengthy queues form at half-time.
Forest was a great ground to visit – one of the more iconic stadiums that I remember from my youth. Right on the banks of the River Trent, it always had a certain something.
It was easy enough to find using the satnav, and having parked up in an industrial estate opposite Forest’s rivals Notts County’s Meadow Lane ground, it’s a mere five minute walk over the river to the ground.
The Forest fans we met were all good natured and friendly, even though this was the season they were relegated from the Championship and we had just beaten them 3-0. The atmosphere within the city ground was tense, more I felt from the crowd’s nervousness and realisation that relegation was becoming a real possibility.
As a City fan who grew up in Nottingham I’ve been to Forest as both an away fan and with mates who support them.
If you’re arriving in Nottm by train and it’s a sunny day then you should head over to the waterfront for a couple before the game. There are about 5 bars next to the canal with plenty of outdoor space. Come out of the station, turn right and then left at the traffic lights at the bottom. The entrance to all the bars is about 50 yards down. My recommendation would be The Canal House, which has part of the canal running through the pub.
For the real ale afficianados, try the Vat and Fiddle. Left out of the front of the station and bear right, it’s about 50 yards away, you’ll see the blue sign as you come out the station. It’s adjacent to the local and well renowned Castle Rock brewery and has a great selection of ales.
Of course you have Hooters, on London Road next to the station. Bit overpriced but worth it to annoy the Mrs by telling her you’ve been there.
Heading down towards the ground, the best pub in the area is The Southbank but that is staunchly home only on match days as is the quaint little Hubble Bar round the corner. If you’re hanging round for a while after the game, once everything has died down I’d recommend Southbank as they usually have live music on every night.
As you walk down London Road, on the left over the canal is The Trent Navigation. Recently done up it’s now supposed to be worth a visit again and should welcome away fans.
On the corner of London Road and Radcliffe Road, adjacent to the cricket ground is The Trent Bridge Inn. Has a bit of a rough reputation and is predominantly a home pub. Turn left at the TBI and follow the cricket ground round down Hound Road and you have the Larwood and Voce which is good for away fans and is a nice little boozer.
If you do stay around for a while after the game, either head back into town or for a bit of a quieter night out head into West Bridgford town centre. Out of the ground and turn right, left and left again after the TBI and keep walking. A few nice pubs/bars here depending on your frame of mind, and not as full on as town.
The Stratford Haven is a Castle Rock pub and has a great range of ales. Fire and Ice is a good place for a more laid back, exclusive pint and the Monkey Tree is nice on a summers day too.
A good write-up by Matt B, I would just like to add that the Larwood and Voce has become a home fans only pub. I believe The Meadow Club at Notts County’s ground is the away pub nearest the ground, not the best place in the world but you’ll get few pre-match beers. To get to the away end from here, turn left when you walk out, down to the traffic lights, and across Lady Bay Bridge (big blue metal arched bridge) and the away end is just on your right. Should take about 10 minutes.
We took the train into Nottingham and had a walk around the city centre before heading to the Olde Trip to Jerusalem for a tourists pint. We only stayed for one – too small for the purposes of a match day pint and too full of american robin hood tourists taking photos of a ‘quaint’ english pub on the day I was there! We then chose to head over towards the ground and was directed by a policeman into ‘the away pub’ which was a bar in one of stands at nearby Meadow Lane… it was like walking into the Gate in Newcastle on a Saturday night… very messy!
we crossed Lady Bay Bridge and headed for the away end… couldn’t find a programme seller anywhere, which I thought was strange! we took our places under a large red net… presumably to stop the locals in the top tier from throwing things at their visitors. The atmosphere in the ground was excellent which was to be expected from two teams that are better followed than many in the premier league. I especially liked the applause that the home fans gave following the ‘there’s only one Bobby Robson chant’ – much respect! Forest won and the fans went on to celebrate like they’d won the cup – good luck to them, they have certainly suffered more than most in recent years!
No problems at all. Drove up & parked inside the ground (bit steep at £10) managed to get out after the game & away before traffic built up at the exits. Stewards were ok too, even when most of our lot would not sit down, the stewards gave up asking after ten mins.