FOLLOW WATFORD TO PRESTON NORTH END
Watford travel to Preston North End with a fixture still months away. The table can change before matchday; plan the trip while the season develops.
THE ROUTE
WATFORD AWAY DAY / HOTELS
WHERE TO STAY
FOR PRESTON NORTH END
Choose the kind of away trip you want and we’ll show you the strongest base for Preston North End, with the match journey kept in view.
WHERE TO STAY
Where should Watford fans stay?
Start with our all-round pick, choose a ground-first base, or stay where the pubs and evening are.
Match night · 2 guests · 1 room
Holiday Inn Preston by IHG
City centre / Ringway
The strongest all-round football-trip choice. It is a proper full-service city-centre hotel, only about a 19-minute walk from Deepdale, while still keeping the bus station, central pubs and restaurants within easy reach. The review base is much deeper than the smaller aparthotels, and recent feedback is consistently strong on cleanliness, staff and comfort.
- Deepdale is mapped at about 1.0 mile / 19 minutes on foot, so the stadium is realistically walkable.
- It remains in the city centre rather than leaving supporters stranded in a stadium-only location after full time.
A straightforward city-to-ground walk for most supporters; mapped at about 1.0 mile / 19 minutes.
The hotel's own site describes parking as limited and first-come, first-served.
Compare live rates and room options for your dates.
City Studios Preston
North Road / UCLan edge of city centre
The closest practical recommendation rather than the absolute closest listing. City Studios is mapped at about a 16-minute walk from Deepdale, has a substantial current Booking.com review base and offers modern self-contained studios. A smaller property, 3M Luxury Living, maps about two minutes closer, but conflicting cross-platform quality evidence makes City Studios the safer MatchdayHotels recommendation.
- Deepdale is mapped at about 0.9 mile / 16 minutes on foot.
- Studios have their own kitchens, useful for supporters who do not need a full-service hotel.
Very practical on foot. 3M Luxury Living at 68 Deepdale Road is mapped at roughly 14 minutes, but City Studios was selected as the closest practical recommendation because its much larger Booking.com review base and professional property evidence reduce editorial risk.
It is an aparthotel rather than a conventional full-service hotel and the official site confirms there is no on-site restaurant.
Compare live rates and room options for your dates.
No.10 Preston
Theatre Street / Fishergate / Winckley Square side of city centre
The best choice if the football is only part of the night out. No.10 sits by Fishergate and the Winckley Square side of the centre, with Preston station only about 0.1 mile away, so it works especially well for rail travellers who want restaurants and drinks on the doorstep. The compromise is a longer matchday leg to Deepdale and an aparthotel/self-check-in format rather than a conventional staffed hotel.
- The official site puts Preston station about 0.1 mile / 2 minutes away.
- Its Theatre Street position is better aligned with Fishergate, Winckley Square and central food/drink than the ground-side options.
A longer city-centre-to-Deepdale leg. Expedia gives about 1.4 miles and a 4-minute drive; an exact current walking time was not independently verified.
Deepdale is about 1.4 miles away by current mapped nearby-distance data, so this is the least stadium-focused of the three primaries.
Compare live rates and room options for your dates.
PREFER TO CHOOSE YOURSELF?
BUILD YOUR OWN STAY
Choose your nights, guests and preferred area. Find a stay that fits your away day.
Ground, station and nightlife searches use a location pin and show nearby stays first. Check the map and walking route before booking. Location data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
WHY PRESTON CENTRE / UNIVERSITY EDGE WORKS
Use Preston centre / university edge as your overnight base and plan the journey to Deepdale. More time for the football, fewer last-minute decisions.
What to expect at Preston North End
All the key information for Watford supporters heading to Deepdale — from the ground and atmosphere to food, access, parking and matchday practicalities.
WATFORDSupporter insights combine the site's existing official guidance, supporter-oriented research and fixture checks.
Travel & parking
Driving, parking and rail planning for Watford supporters travelling to Preston North End.
Choose a topic for the full journey advice.
Parking
Driving & road restrictions
Set your sat-nav for Deepdale, Sir Tom Finney Way, PR1 6RU, but use your chosen car park’s entrance for the final approach. From M6 junction 31, the club directs drivers along the A59 to the A5085 Blackpool Road, then via Parkside towards Sir Tom Finney Way. Expect queues as traffic converges on the stadium.
Do not follow a sat-nav shortcut into a permit bay, double yellow line or private retail car park. Lancashire publishes permanent and temporary traffic orders, so check the county roadworks bulletin for the fixture date. The council’s 2026 Deepdale Road junction proposals are not, by themselves, proof that restrictions have already taken effect.
- Sat-nav address
- Deepdale, Sir Tom Finney Way, Preston PR1 6RU
- Approach from M6
- Junction 31 → A59 → A5085 Blackpool Road → Parkside → Sir Tom Finney Way
- Road restrictions check
- County traffic regulation orders, event notices and on-street signs
- Deepdale Road / Deepdale Street proposal
- 2026 proposal to extend no-waiting-at-any-time at the junction; enactment not established
- Stadium road traffic
- Expect congestion on approaches and departures
Parking & park-and-ride
You do not have to book a parking space to visit Deepdale, but I would not base the journey on finding free residential parking. Moor Park matchday parking across Sir Tom Finney Way is the simplest pay-on-arrival choice if you are arriving early. The club’s published guide lists £7.50, with spaces taken first come, first served.
If you want certainty before a long drive, ask Preston North End about an advance-booked stadium space. The club guide quotes £15, although a September 2026 away guide quotes £15.50, so confirm the current cost when booking. A legitimate pre-booked space on Garstang Road is another possibility if it suits your arrival and exit route.
Some supporters report parking on Andrew Street, around Lowthorpe Road and Skeffington Road, or on St Thomas’ Road farther west. Those reports suggest free street parking can sometimes be found, but we could not confirm an unrestricted section for the full match. Permit zones cover parts of Deepdale Road and nearby streets, so check the exact bay signs and do not assume a whole street is free.
For a reliable cheaper fallback, use Preston Bus Station car park on Tithebarn Street. It is open 24 hours and costs £4.80 for up to 12 hours, with a walk or number 19 bus onwards. Portway Park & Ride also provides free parking if you take its bus service, but check the last return and closing time.
Allow at least four hours for parking, walking, arriving early, the match and leaving the area. Aim to arrive at a first-come car park around 90 minutes before kick-off, earlier for a large following; that is planning advice, not a promise of space. Do not use Deepdale Retail Park or the nearby supermarket car parks for football: the club says matchday parking is not permitted there.
- Parking verdict
- Free on-street parking is possible according to fans but no specific legally unrestricted bay was verified; use a named matchday or public car park
- Free option — area
- Portway Park & Ride: free off-street parking only for users of the bus service; no verified free residential street
- Legal restrictions — area
- Resident permit zones include DD1 on specified Deepdale Road properties and SP1 around Meadow Street, St Pauls Road and odd-numbered Deepdale Road sections; check signs at the actual bay
- Legal restrictions — named streets
- Permit register includes Deepdale Road; Meadow Street; Shaw Street; Stanleyfield Road; Driscoll Street and St Pauls Road, on listed properties/sections
- Street candidates from supporter reports
- Andrew Street, Lowthorpe Road/Skeffington Road and St Thomas’ Road: availability anecdotes only, not verified legal free bays
- Matchday availability — area
- Moor Park pay-on-arrival is first come, first served; residential competition rises nearer kick-off
- Walk — area
- Moor Park matchday car park is opposite Deepdale, across Sir Tom Finney Way
- Arrive by — area
- Plan to reach first-come parking at least 90 minutes before kick-off; earlier for major fixtures (planning advice)
- Paid fallback
- Preston Bus Station car park, Tithebarn Street PR1 1YT: £4.80 up to 12 hours, £7.20 up to 24 hours
- Paid fallback — central surface
- Hill Street PR1 2BB: £5 up to four hours; £10 for over four up to 24 hours
- Moor Park matchday parking price
- £7.50 in 2025/26 Preston North End published visitor guidance; reconfirm before the visit
- Moor Park matchday parking booking
- On arrival, subject to available spaces
- Stadium advance parking price
- £15 in club guide; September 2026 Lincoln away guide quotes £15.50 — ask club for current amount
- Stadium parking booking
- Advance booking required, subject to availability
- Booking recommendation
- Optional for most visitors using Moor Park or public parking; advisable if the closest guaranteed access matters
- Pre-bookable Garstang Road alternative
- YourParkingSpace lists an authorised private space with football visitor reviews; check the bookable date and price
- Free park and ride
- Portway parking is free only when using the park-and-ride bus; bus ticket required
- Park and ride Sunday / evening
- Portway is listed as operating Sundays and evenings; site locks after final bus return
- Walton-le-Dale park and ride limitation
- Free parking with bus use, Monday–Saturday only; last Saturday bus from centre listed at 19:26
- Supermarket permission/time limit
- The club states Deepdale Retail Park and nearby Sainsbury’s are not permitted for matchday parking
- Total dwell time
- Allow at least four hours; more for earlier arrivals, bigger crowds or cup extra time
- After the match
- Expect congestion nearest the stadium; farther-out paid parking or Portway bus may suit a relaxed exit
- Blue Badge venue parking
- Accessible away parking must be arranged with Preston North End in advance
- Free stadium parking
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Driving
Vicarage Road to Deepdale
Plan the stadium-to-stadium drive from Vicarage Road to Deepdale, then check live traffic before setting off.
Parking
Where to leave the car for Preston North End.
Matchday advice: You do not have to book a parking space to visit Deepdale, but I would not base the journey on finding free residential parking. Moor Park matchday parking across Sir Tom Finney Way is the simplest pay-on-arrival choice if you are arriving early.
Trains
Rail, Underground & tram
Use Preston (Lancs) railway station for Deepdale. It is the main rail arrival point and the stadium is roughly two miles away, so allow about 30–40 minutes to walk rather than planning a last-minute dash. Preston station has lifts and step-free access to all platforms, but that does not make the entire stadium walk step-free.
If you would rather not walk, Preston Bus service 19 connects the railway station and Deepdale. A taxi is another option, although road congestion and post-match demand can make the return less predictable. Check your actual return train, especially after evening games.
- Recommended rail station
- Preston (Lancs), Fishergate, PR1 8AP
- Rail station to stadium distance
- Approximately two miles by the club walking route
- Walk from rail station
- Allow roughly 30–40 minutes; pace, route and crowds vary
- Preston station step-free access
- true
- Onward bus from railway station
- Preston Bus service 19, via Deepdale
- Return service advice
- Check journey planner for your actual fixture and onward connection
Station to ground & away entrance
Head for the Bill Shankly Kop, behind the goal, where visiting supporters are normally seated. From Preston station, walk along Fishergate into Church Street, continue towards the prison junction, then follow Deepdale Road up to the stadium. Allow extra time to reach the correct end of the ground and find your allocated turnstile.
The club operates barcode-scanning turnstiles, so have your ticket ready before reaching the queue. A previous visiting-club guide used turnstiles 15–25, but the precise blocks and entrances can change with the allocation. Follow your ticket and the stewards rather than relying on historic numbers.
- Away stand
- Bill Shankly Kop
- Stadium postcode
- PR1 6RU
- Walking route
- Fishergate → Church Street → Deepdale Road → away end
- Historic away turnstiles
- 15–25 used for a Tottenham cup tie in January 2023; ticket allocation governs current entrance
- Ticket scanning
- Automated barcode scanning is used
- Accessible visiting entrance
- Historic visiting-club guide identifies pitch-level NX07; reconfirm for the fixture
Rail
Wed, 7 Apr 2027 · 19:45 kick-off
Reach Preston Rail Station by 17:55. Confirm the service before booking.
About 25–30 minutes on foot
This allows for the final whistle, leaving the ground and reaching the station.
These are matchday planning targets, not confirmed train services. Check the timetable and the last train home before booking.
Check trains for these times →Stations and the onward journey
- Preston (Lancs)
- Check the onward route before travelling. · Step-free access recorded
Station data checked 2026-10-17 - Preston Bus Station
- Check the onward route before travelling.
Station data checked 2026-10-17
Coaches
Away coaches
If you are on an official away coach, the club organiser is the best source for your precise drop-off and collection point. A previous visiting-club guide records coaches setting down by the Bill Shankly Kop and waiting on Bill Shankly Crescent, close to the visiting end. That is a useful guide to the arrival area, not a guarantee for your fixture.
Before leaving the coach, note the vehicle number and confirm whether it will return to the same place. Allow for stewarded departures and heavy traffic around Sir Tom Finney Way. Independent coach operators should agree parking and access with Preston North End rather than assuming space at the stadium.
- Historically documented away coach drop-off
- Outside the Bill Shankly Kop, documented for Ipswich’s February 2024 visit
- Historically documented coach holding area
- Bill Shankly Crescent, documented for Ipswich’s February 2024 visit
- Away coach access arrangement
- Confirm with official travel organiser or host club before travel
- Travel organiser contact
- Preston North End ticket office 0344 856 1966
Buses
Buses & local travel
Preston Bus service 19 is the most useful local route for Deepdale. It links Preston railway station, the bus station and the Football Ground/Moor Park High School stops, so it saves a substantial walk. Check which direction you need: journeys towards Royal Preston Hospital pass the football ground after the city centre.
The separate 19A was absorbed into route 19 in August 2026, so older guides describing both services are out of date. Portway Park & Ride is served by the same network, but you must use the bus if leaving your car at that site. Check the return departures for evening fixtures and Sundays.
- Main bus route
- Service 19: Larches – Preston – Deepdale – Royal Preston Hospital
- Direct railway station connection
- Yes, the current 19 serves Preston Railway Station and Deepdale
- Bus station outbound stand
- Stand 16 shown for service 19 towards Royal Preston Hospital
- Bus stop by ground
- Moor Park HS (northbound) and Football Ground Deepdale (southbound)
- Service 19A status
- Withdrawn as separate designation in the 31 August 2026 revisions
- Portway parking condition
- Only permitted when using park-and-ride buses
- Portway Sunday service
- Council lists service seven days a week, with lower Sunday frequency
Accessibility
Accessible journeys
Arrange wheelchair seating, companion tickets and any accessible parking before travelling through Preston North End or your own club. The Bill Shankly Kop has both pitchside and elevated wheelchair viewing, with accessible toilets and an access steward presence. Do not assume a general stadium or Moor Park parking ticket provides an accessible away bay.
Preston station has lifts and step-free access to its platforms. For the last part of the trip, consider the number 19 or an agreed drop-off rather than assuming the two-mile pedestrian route suits every mobility need. Older sources give different totals for away accessible parking, so ask the club to confirm the actual allocation and drop-off instructions.
- Railway station step-free
- true
- Away wheelchair viewing
- Bill Shankly Kop, pitchside and elevated positions
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible toilets at Deepdale, including provision in away areas
- Changing Places
- One Changing Places facility at the stadium according to access guide
- Away accessible parking booking
- Arrange with Preston North End before the match
- Accessible drop-off
- Club identifies drop-off at Sir Tom Finney Stand and Invincibles Pavilion; away-specific drop-off needs confirmation
- Assistance and stadium accessibility contact
- Preston North End ticket office 0344 856 1966
- Level Playing Field provision history
- Level Playing Field lists five away parking bays; older visiting club guides differ
After the match
After the match
If you have a train to catch, allow enough time to walk back to Preston station rather than counting on an immediate taxi. The ground is roughly two miles away, and crossing the matchday traffic around Sir Tom Finney Way can take longer than before kick-off. Check the return service and leave a sensible margin.
Drivers leaving Moor Park or the stadium should expect a queue as cars merge with the crowd. Preston Bus Station parking or a pre-booked space farther from the ground may make departure more predictable, although neither eliminates traffic. If you use Portway Park & Ride, check the post-match number 19 and the site’s final access time before kick-off.
- Walk to Preston station
- Roughly 30–40 minutes from Deepdale, allowing for matchday crowds
- Road egress warning
- Congestion on Sir Tom Finney Way and other approaches, especially after the match
- Return bus option
- Route 19 serves Deepdale, Preston Bus Station and railway station; check departure
- Portway return risk
- Park-and-ride car park closes shortly after last bus arrives; no overnight parking
- Post-match coach collection
- Ask away coach organiser to confirm exact collection point for the fixture
- Cup match extra time
- Allow longer for extra time/penalties if applicable
Where to stay
Stay near Preston railway station or the city centre if you are making a night of it. Around Fishergate and the station, you can arrive by train, find food and pubs without another journey, and walk or catch the number 19 to Deepdale. It is the strongest all-round base for a football trip rather than simply the closest area to the turnstiles.
The Deepdale and Moor Park area is convenient for the game, but it is primarily residential and less useful for an evening out. For more choice after the match, look towards central Preston and Winckley Square. An overnight stay is particularly worth considering if your late return connections are tight.
- Best all-round base
- Preston station / Fishergate / central Preston
- Food and nightlife
- Preston city centre and Winckley Square area
- Near-stadium option
- Deepdale/Moor Park is convenient for the match but primarily residential
- Ground journey from city-centre stay
- Walk to Deepdale or use bus 19
Choose an area, then view hotel options
Each option uses its own venue, mainline-station, centre or approved driving-area mapping.
Make a night of your Watford away day
Travelling with family, meeting mates or following the team as you do every week? These selected stays are intended to make the trip easier and give you more time to enjoy the destination.
Stay after the final whistle for food, drinks or a relaxed evening, then travel home the next morning without the same rush.Deepdale stadium area
Best for a simple walk or short taxi after full time.
This search uses the mapped destination and radius shown. Mapping confidence 75/100. Last reviewed 2026-08-02. Search dates: 2027-04-07 to 2027-04-08.You can still compare hotels using the correct match dates, guest numbers and preferred area.
Compare hotels for this away dayOpen the permanent near the ground hotel guide
See all hotels in this area
Make a night of your Watford away day
Travelling with family, meeting mates or following the team as you do every week? These selected stays are intended to make the trip easier and give you more time to enjoy the destination.
Stay after the final whistle for food, drinks or a relaxed evening, then travel home the next morning without the same rush.Preston Rail Station station area
Best for National Rail arrivals, late check-in and an easier departure tomorrow.
This search uses the mapped destination and radius shown. Mapping confidence 75/100. Last reviewed 2026-08-02. Search dates: 2027-04-07 to 2027-04-08.You can still compare hotels using the correct match dates, guest numbers and preferred area.
Compare hotels for this away dayOpen the permanent near the main station hotel guide
See all hotels in this area
Make a night of your Watford away day
Travelling with family, meeting mates or following the team as you do every week? These selected stays are intended to make the trip easier and give you more time to enjoy the destination.
Stay after the final whistle for food, drinks or a relaxed evening, then travel home the next morning without the same rush.Preston centre
Best for food, pubs and making more of the away day.
This search uses the mapped destination and radius shown. Mapping confidence 75/100. Last reviewed 2026-08-02. Search dates: 2027-04-07 to 2027-04-08.You can still compare hotels using the correct match dates, guest numbers and preferred area.
Compare hotels for this away dayOpen the permanent city or town centre hotel guide
See all hotels in this area
Make a night of your Watford away day
Travelling with family, meeting mates or following the team as you do every week? These selected stays are intended to make the trip easier and give you more time to enjoy the destination.
Stay after the final whistle for food, drinks or a relaxed evening, then travel home the next morning without the same rush.Preston hotels with parking
Hotels in the wider ground area that list parking as a property facility. This searches for hotel accommodation with parking; it does not sell or reserve matchday parking spaces.
This search uses the mapped destination and radius shown. Mapping confidence 75/100. Last reviewed 2026-08-02. Preston hotels with parking is close to Deepdale stadium area; the search remains distinct through its area label and 5.0 km radius. Search dates: 2027-04-07 to 2027-04-08.You can still compare hotels using the correct match dates, guest numbers and preferred area.
Compare hotels for this away dayOpen the permanent parking hotel guide
See all hotels in this areaMake a night of it
Stay near the ground, the station or the city centre and enjoy the away day without rushing straight home.
The return journey could not be confirmed, so the planning estimate remains available alongside hotel options.
- The return journey could not be confirmed, so the planning estimate remains available alongside hotel options.
- There is more time for a post-match meal without rushing straight home.
- Staying over breaks up the longer journey and avoids a late trip home.
Watford at Preston North End
Wed 07 Apr 2027
2 nights · 2 people · 1 room
Recommended area: City centre
£100 per person · £200 for 1 room · 2 nights
Stay over. Enjoy the away day properly.
Use the verified away-guide cards to plan a pre-match stop without guessing at venue names.
Staying over gives you time to eat without rushing for the last train or a long drive home.
Choose a city-centre stay and make more of the trip before travelling home.
A station-area stay can make arrival and the next-morning journey easier.
Pubs & food
at Preston North End
A focused shortlist of where to drink and where to eat around Preston North End, combining established destination research with only relevant current pub and food signals.
PRESTON NORTH END
Pubs & bars
Established pub and bar recommendations for the destination — no filler, just places retained by the research.
Alcohol: 18+ · Please drink responsibly Drinkaware
Before you head to the ground
Read full overview Hide full overview
Preston works best as a city-centre rail away day, with the station around 30 minutes on foot from Deepdale. The Old Vic and The Station are the easiest meeting pubs straight off the train; if beer quality matters more, The Moorbrook is worth the detour before the final walk. Closer to the ground, Royal Consort has a strong current away-fan reputation and the White Hart was being used as the designated away pub for Lincoln’s September 2026 visit. PNE’s own guide warns that designated pubs can change by fixture, so colours should never be assumed from a general away-friendly label. Food is better than the usual retail-park fallback: Redmans in Preston Market and Round & Sons are strong butter-pie stops, Chaii Stop gives a substantial Deepdale breakfast or street-food option, and Lune Street Fish & Chips works for an early city-centre lunch. Inside the Bill Shankly Kop, food and alcohol are sold cashlessly, but some fixtures are declared alcohol-free. For overnight stays, station/city-centre hotels are the best fit for rail users; M6/M55-edge hotels suit drivers.
The Old Vic
White Hart Fulwood
The Station Preston
Royal Consort
The Moorbrook
Food & quick bites
Where to grab a bite, have a proper meal or try the local matchday favourite.
Redmans of Preston - Market Hall
The cleanest city-centre way to try Preston’s signature butter pie before the football. Redmans has a current market counter and a broad traditional pie-and-deli range, so it works for groups wanting something genuinely local.
Chaii Stop - Preston Deepdale
A strong non-pub option in Deepdale itself: proper desi breakfast, chai and street-food dishes rather than generic retail-park food. It opens early enough to work for lunchtime and standard Saturday kick-offs.
Deepdale - Bill Shankly Kop away concourse
The reliable fallback after the turnstiles: PNE’s current guide gives a proper away-concourse menu with pies, hot dogs, snacks and alcohol. The one big caveat is that some fixtures are made alcohol-free.
Round & Sons
A proper local bakery stop for supporters willing to detour from the straight station route. Preston locals repeatedly recommend its butter pies, and current food coverage still treats Rounds as one of the city’s defining pie shops.
Lune Street Fish & Chips
A useful old-school city-centre chippy for supporters who want a quick meal before the walk. Current 2026 listings still show straightforward fish, chips, gravy and curry at low prices.
Deepdale · Darren Haddock · CC BY-SA 2.0