Stoke City – Britannia Stadium
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Building work commenced on the Britannia Stadium, in late 1996, as a replacement for Stoke’s former (now demolished) Victoria Ground.
With a build cost approaching £15 million, work was completed in August 1997. The all-seater stadium holds 28,383 supporters in four cantilever stands. The main West stand consists of two tiers of seating plus corporate and media facilities. Dressing rooms, offices, boardroom and the club merchandise outlet are positioned between the West and South stands.
Away fans are housed on one side (towards the Players Tunnel and Main Stand) of the South Stand at one end of the ground. Unusually, the teams access the pitch from one corner of the ground, between the South Stand and the West Stand. Subject to Stoke establishing themselves in the Premiership, the ground could be extended to accommodate over 30,000 spectators.
How to get to the Britannia Stadium
By Road:
The Britannia Stadium is located on Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4EG.
Away fans driving from the North should follow the M1 as far as junction 24, exiting onto the A50 in the direction of Stoke. The stadium is clearly signed near the junction with the A500. From the North West, the M6 route is advised, exiting at junction 15 onto the A500. Follow the A500 as far as its junction with the A50. Exit the A50 at the first junction.
Drivers arriving from the South East are advised to follow the M1, exiting onto the A50 at junction 24, following signage for Stoke-on-Trent. From the South West, the M5 / M6 route is advised. Exit the M6 at junction 15, following the A500 as far as the A50 junction. Take the first exit from the A50. In each of the last 3 cases, the ground is visible from just before the A500 dual carriageway.
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By Rail:
The nearest station to the Britannia Stadium is Stoke-on-Trent, on the mainline from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. The station is some 3 miles from the ground, so visiting fans are advised to take a taxi or catch a bus from nearby Glebe Street. On exiting the station, turn right and follow Station road as far as the Roebuck Hotel, turning right into Leek Road. Cross the dual carriageway into Glebe Street. Buses depart at 15-minute intervals from the church on the left. After the match, return buses depart from behind the East Stand. Click here to check the current train timetables
By Air:
The closest airport is East Midlands Airport, some 36 miles from the stadium, while Manchester International is about 44 miles away. Air travellers are advised to use Manchester airport, which offers frequent direct links to Stoke, with a journey time of just over an hour. Click here to check the current flight times
Taxis
There are several taxi companies in Stoke-on-trent 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 Stoke-on-trent Taxi Companies – Why not advertise your company here?.
Where to Park?
Visiting fans should not be tempted to park on waste ground near the Britannia, as the Local Authority is vigilant and a parking ticket is a certainty. For the official South car park, follow the A500 towards Stoke, exiting at the first junction and turning right at the large roundabout towards Stafford (A34). Turn left at the small roundabout and carry on for some 3 miles. Upon reaching a set of lights with industrial units on the right, turn left into Stanley Matthews Way. Limited parking may be found at sites near the old Victoria Ground. Follow the A500 past its junction with the A34 (the stadium is visible on the right). Exit the A500 at the next junction and turn left.
Away Friendly Pubs near the Britannia Stadium
Due to its isolated location, there are few pubs near the Britannia Stadium and most fans recommend getting a drink on the way into Stoke. However, there is a Harvester pub next to the ground, which is “away friendly” and offers reasonably priced parking.
Inside the stadium, alcohol is served at a bar at the rear of the South Stand, though queues can be very long.
Hotels near the Britannia Stadium
The Express By Holiday Inn Stoke-On-Trent, Stanley Matthews Way, Trentham Lakes, Stoke-On-Trent ST4 4EG, located within a stone’s throw of the ground, has attracted excellent guest reviews and offers friendly service, modern facilities and value for money. Free on-site parking is available. 
A little further from the Britannia Stadium (just over 2 miles) The Holiday Inn Stoke on Trent, Clayton Road, Clayton, Stoke-on-Trent ST5 4DL is conveniently situated near junction 15 of the M6. Guest have remarked upon the friendly service, comfortable surroundings, excellent food and value for money. Free on-site parking is available.
Click here to see all hotels near the Britannia stadium
What have other Away Fans said about their trip to the Britannia Stadium?
The majority of visiting fans have been impressed by the imposing, eye-catching appearance of the Britannia Stadium with its hilltop location. The covered South Stand, with windshields at either end has also been a hit with visiting fans. Though some visitors found it a little steep, the vast majority were impressed by the proximity to the playing action, the excellent view and ample legroom.
The proximity of the home fans does not generally appear to be a problem, with friendly banter exchanged between the two sets of supporters. The main complaint from visiting fans has been the lack of stewarding in the car parks after the match, leading to extensive delays in exiting the ground.
There are no good pubs near to the ground but if your arriving by train head to the wheatsheaf wetherspoon pub on church street which is probably the only place to let in away fans and it is only round the corner from the buses which take you directly to the ground.
Stoke fans are famous for there atmosphere and inside the ground is always fairly intimidating but generally a brilliant day out. The concourse is cramped and queeing for beer can be a nightmare but we had a good sing song before the game and at half time and was a bit menatl in the concourse to be fair.
after the game a bus is provided outside the away end to take you right back to the station.
The Brittania Stadium is a strange ground it has the appearence of a typical modern stadium yet the atmosphere created in the ground by Stoke fans is amazing. I travelled by car to this 1 so can’t really comment on getting to the stadium by train. I hear that there is a bus that takes you from the station to the ground for free but I’m not 100% sure. There is quite a lot of parking around Stoke’s ground at the relatively cheap price of a fiver. From these car parks it’s about a 3 minute walk to the away end. You will then end up on a road with a harvester pub which seemed to have a good mix of home and away fans, although it seems to be very busy and hard to get in to. Around the away end there is large fencing and the coaches a crammed into a small holding area near the turnstiles. There are police manning the entrace to this area although nobody checked out tickets when entering. Despite this I didn’t feel threatened and the majority of Stoke fans were freindly enough. There were plenty of Everton fans waliking round with colours without a hint of animosity from Stoke fans, although I would advise you not to wear colours around the ground. I don’t know why there’s such a heavy police presence, all away coaches will be forced to park outside the away end. I don’t know why Stoke seems to be classed as a dangerous away day as I felt reasonably safe. We had a good sing song in the concourse before the game with unfortunately we couldn’t replicate inside the ground. Inside the ground there is a group of Stoke supporters situated to the right on the away fans near the back, by the divide that spend much of the game abusing the away fans. While there wasn’t any menace and it wasn’t really intimidating it can be quite unpleasant at times. There doesn’t seem to be any real stewarding towards the back of the South Stand menaing fans on both sides can get away with quite a lot. I’ve got to say Stoke fans were very loud during the game they make a real racket. They have 2 ends that make a real racket. It was the noisiest away ground I’ve ever experienced. Being Stoke’s last home game the majority of fans stayed in the ground to watch their teams lap of honour. The game ended in a dull 0 0 draw. We weren’t kept in the ground and we made a quick getaway. This may be different on other occasions you may be penned in the away area until the home fans have dispersed. Not as bad as reported but not a ground if you like a drink and some freedom.
We arrived by train and the buses for away fans are outside the station and cost £3 return (I think). The return buses are in the away car park and are great as you get a police escort through the traffic lights to the station. First time we went we did wander around amongst the home fans outside the stadium with no problems at all although a policeman didn’t recommend the home fans bus!
spot on place. we went for a beer in the leisure centre near the ground. home fans friendly and atmosphere in the ground is boss
The britannia stadium is amazing, the stoke fans create one hell of an atmosphere! obviously with the thousands of geordies’ there and the vocal home support the game made for a great occasion, with a rip roaring atmosphere. The game ended 1-1, Andy Carroll came off the bench to score a header, at this point the away end alomost exploded with noise!
But in general stoke is great, probably the best away game i’ve ever been to.
You’re a fantacist. Newcastle haven’t played Stoke in the prem this season or the last and when we do (later today) Andy Carroll certainly won’t be coming off the bench for the mags cos he’ll be training for his game for the hub cap stealers tomorrow against the mackems. Clown!
He means in the 2008/09 season you plank :L When Abdoulaye Faye scored a header for the potters, and as he said Andy Carroll came of the bench to equalize.
A fantastic day out, despite our loss. The stewards and Police wer$e very helpful and friendly. We had a great view from our seats, all be it a little cramped.
I had read reviews that the Stoke fans were very noisy, and the loudest fans in England( it says this on their tickets), this was rubbish, the only singing was coming from the Brighton Fans( even when we were losing), I was very dissapointed with the Stoke fans.
Food inside the ground was not too bad, however it can take a long time to be served.
Overall a very enjoyble experince
went to stoke last sunday, dissapointed that their was plenty of empty seats in the stoke end. (even tho we took over 4500). stoke fans were loud but only after they scored, and at the end when they were about to win.
funny ground, in the middle of nowhere. we found one away friendly pub but there was a que of about 100 people… and they wer’nt selling alcohol in the ground.
after the game the police kept us outside the ground for about 45 mins which was taking the mick, considering we had lost and just wanted to get home.
hope stoke loose to bolton in the semi-final , despite the fact that between the two sides they wont fill one end at wembley.
We got beat 4-0 one of the worst performance’s I have seen, in a summary Stoke fans are loud when they score other than that they dont sing, we were outsinging them at 3-0, the grounds awful it looks like something from the 1980′s, the city’s awful and the people are awful!
Absolute Hole!
went to stoke when we lost 4-0 stayed in a B& B 15 minutes from the ground and found that there was nothing to do when we got outside the ground very little atmosphere in and around the pubs, the only thing good was that the geordies did not stop singing even when they were 3-0 down and it was a nice day, yeh stoke is loud but only when they score and they only have one song that doesnt make sense, and the night out was rubbish so all in all absoloute hole!
A few bitter Newcastle, West Ham and Brighton fans here then! Maybe if you’d looked a bit harder you would have found a bit more to cheer yourselves up and take your mind off the fact you were all outplayed.
On a more adult note, the ground isn’t the best and isn’t in a good location. If you’re sensible and not in a group I’d suggest for a pre-match pint a couple of pubs in Stoke Town Centre – White Star (Titanic Brewery), The Glebe (Joules Brewery) – both a minutes walk from the shuttle buses in Glebe Street (£3 return). If you’re making an evening of it I’d suggest Stoke Town centre for a decent mix of pubs and curry houses,or Newcastle-under-Lyme for a livelier pub/club scene.
For a family, try the excellent Trentham Estate with shops, cafes and (for a charge) excellent formal gardens and lake with large kids play area. There’s a hotel on site there too (Premier Inn). And its only a 45 minute stroll to the ground along the Trent & Mersey canal – nice way to get to the ground. Make a weekend of it and there is also Waterworld the area’s largest indoor water park, Skate City at Hanley Forest Park (the UK’s biggest outdoor skate/board/BMX facility), a Monkey Park (no jokes please), and the largest number of urban parks of any city outside London.
I’m obviously biased, but try a weekend here and ignore the stereotype image of Stoke.
Fyi liam wratten – we did fill our end at wembley, twice! And the noise has died down since the novelty has worn off I must admit! But as for newcastle outsinging us, what happened at st james’ park when we beat you 2-1 it was like a morgue!
There are better parking areas now for everyone on Grove Road which is on the other side of the A50. Just Google it and you’ll see it. Industrial Estates and Schools etc all charging 4 quid. Couple of pubs and clubs in the area too. Plus burger vans. Its a 15 minute walk to the ground over a footbridge.
We sold out our wembley allocation thank you, oh yeah we got extra tickets too
Brighton fan, why would we be loud v brighton! its a bad fixture and interests nobody and from what i can remember your support was just as bad.
West Ham fan, another bitter one, i was in the boothen and heard your fans once, that was when you scored a goal that was a handball.
Newcastle fans, ohh bitter? get over yourself! your stadium looks like its still got scaffolding up it and what a joke that away fans have to walk up a lot of stares to get to their seat!
The Britannia Stadium is a modern day stadium and very good for anyone who wants to come.
Up the Potters