FOLLOW YORK CITY TO EXETER CITY
York City travel to Exeter City with a fixture still months away. The table can change before matchday; plan the trip while the season develops.
THE ROUTE
YORK CITY AWAY DAY / HOTELS
WHERE TO STAY
FOR EXETER CITY
Choose the kind of away trip you want and we’ll show you the strongest base for Exeter City, with the match journey kept in view.
WHERE TO STAY
Where should York City 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
Leonardo Hotel Exeter
Western Way / Sidwell Street / eastern city centre
This is the most football-practical hotel in the current Exeter set without making you sacrifice the city. It sits on the city-centre side of St James Park, so the post-match walk is short, while Princesshay, the High Street and the older centre remain reachable on foot. It is a conventional 4-star chain rather than a character stay, but that predictability is useful on a match trip.
- Tripadvisor's proximity search lists it around 0.3 miles from Exeter City Football Club.
- Western Way puts it between the ground and the main city-centre food/drink area rather than forcing a choice between the two.
Tripadvisor lists the hotel 0.3 miles from Exeter City Football Club. Walking time varies by route and stadium entrance; allow roughly 8-10 minutes rather than treating the straight-line figure as a gate-to-door promise.
The hotel is functional and modern rather than distinctive or boutique.
Compare live rates and room options for your dates.
Hotel Indigo Exeter by IHG
Cathedral / High Street / city-centre nightlife core
Choose Hotel Indigo when the evening matters as much as the football. Catherine Street puts you directly in the old-centre food/drink zone, close to Cathedral Yard and Gandy Street, and the hotel adds its own rooftop bar. The ground remains walkable, but the trade-off is a longer post-match walk and a more uneven recent service/noise record than Leonardo.
- Directly in the Cathedral/High Street core, with Gandy Street's bars and restaurants nearby.
- Its own Becketts rooftop bar gives supporters an immediate post-match drink option without leaving the property.
Third-party hotel mapping places St James Park around 0.6 miles away. It is a sensible walk for most supporters, but it is materially less convenient than Leonardo if getting back to the room immediately after full time is the priority.
Recent Tripadvisor evidence is mixed enough that this should not be presented as a no-caveat premium recommendation.
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 EXETER CENTRE WORKS
Use Exeter centre as your overnight base and plan the journey to St James Park. More time for the football, fewer last-minute decisions.
What to expect at Exeter City
All the key information for York City supporters heading to St James Park — from the ground and atmosphere to food, access, parking and matchday practicalities.
YORK CITYSupporter insights combine the site's existing official guidance, supporter-oriented research and fixture checks.
Travel & parking
Driving, parking and rail planning for York City supporters travelling to Exeter City.
Choose a topic for the full journey advice.
Parking
Driving & road restrictions
Aim for a named Exeter car park rather than the Stadium Way postcode. For arrivals from the M5, the club gives Junction 29, Honiton Road, Heavitree Road and Western Way as the main approach towards St James Park and the eastern side of the city.
The stadium is embedded in residential streets. St James Road, directly outside the away end, is subject to an official no-through-traffic and no-parking order on listed 2026/27 matchdays, between Old Tiverton Road and Well Street. Use the car park’s own entrance in your sat-nav.
Approaches, temporary orders and one-way routes can vary by fixture or roadworks. Check the live Devon traffic-order map for your precise route, particularly for midweek or rearranged games.
- Stadium address
- St James Park, Stadium Way, Exeter EX4 6PX
- M5 route
- Junction 29 via Honiton Road, Heavitree Road, Western Way, Old Tiverton Road
- Away-side restricted road
- St James Road, Old Tiverton Road to Well Street
- 2026/27 closure dates
- 5 Sep 2026; 14 Nov 2026; 26 Dec 2026; 30 Jan 2027; 6 Feb 2027; 3 Apr 2027; 24 Apr 2027; 8 May 2027, as published in notice
- Closure times
- 14 Nov 2026 11:00–15:00; other listed dates 13:30–17:30
- Signed diversion
- Old Tiverton Road, Sidwell Street, York Road and Well Street, or reverse
- Legal parking map
- Devon County Council Traffweb map shows location-specific parking orders; exact permissive street sections not independently confirmed
Parking & park-and-ride
You do not normally need to pre-book parking at Exeter City if you use a public car park, but do not plan on finding free street parking near St James Park. The club confirms there is no supporter parking at the ground, and residential restrictions plus matchday road closures make a speculative search risky.
Triangle car park, accessed from Clifton Road, is a straightforward paid option near the visiting end. Exeter City Council publishes £7.20 for four hours or £8.40 for five hours, Monday to Saturday. The club and visiting guides also identify Bampfylde Street, Belmont Road and Parr Street as alternatives within walking distance.
The club acknowledges that some limited street parking exists, but I could not confirm a named unrestricted section with legally valid parking for the full visit. St James Road is expressly closed to parking during specified matchday windows. Do not assume nearby Well Street, York Road or Old Tiverton Road have unrestricted spaces.
If Triangle is full, head for another authorised city-centre car park rather than circling the away end. Park & Ride can cut out the city-centre drive, but its bus return and gate-closing time must work for your fixture. Sowton and Matford are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Aim to be parked about 60–90 minutes before kick-off and allow at least four hours overall for a league match. That covers arrival, walking both ways, the match and getting away; add longer for a cup tie or meal. Do not use the customers-only Waitrose parking on Gladstone Road as a football car park.
- Parking verdict
- Use authorised public parking; booking is optional for council car parks. No named free street can be recommended with legal confidence.
- Legal restrictions — St James Road
- No vehicle waiting or through traffic on specified 2026/27 matchdays, Old Tiverton Road to Well Street
- Legal restrictions — nearby residential streets
- Devon County Council restrictions vary by road and section; exact unrestricted 4-hour locations unverified
- Matchday availability — residential streets
- Club says very limited on-street parking; no realistic legal space supply independently established
- Walk — Triangle car park
- Older visiting-club guides describe around 5–10 minutes to stadium; walking time to exact away gate can vary
- Walk — other car parks
- Bampfylde Street, Belmont Road and Parr Street are named by visiting-club guide within walking distance; exact away-gate route varies
- Arrive by — public car parks
- Practical editorial advice: aim to park around 60–90 minutes before kick-off, earlier for a larger fixture
- Paid fallback
- Triangle Car Park (Clifton Road access), plus Bampfylde Street, Belmont Road and Parr Street car parks
- Triangle tariff — Monday to Saturday four hours
- 7.2
- Triangle tariff — Monday to Saturday five hours
- 8.4
- Triangle tariff — Sunday four hours
- 5.4
- Booking recommendation
- Council public car parks are normal pay-to-park options; not a pre-booked allocated matchday space
- Supermarket permission/time limit
- Waitrose Gladstone Road: third-party listing says customers only, two-hour maximum; not an authorised football stay
- Supermarket — Tesco Sidwell Street
- AccessAble states the Tesco Express has no own parking facility
- Total dwell time
- Allow around 4 hours or more including arriving early, both walks, match, stoppage and departure; cup extra time needs more
- Park & Ride parking
- Free to qualifying users, bus fare payable; last-bus locking; no overnight parking
- Sunday/holiday Park & Ride restrictions
- Sowton and Matford closed; check Honiton Road bus timetable and last return
- After the match
- Head back to your chosen car park by the signed pedestrian route; city-centre traffic queues reported by visiting supporters
- Paid parking operator guarantee
- No guaranteed reserved bay established for ordinary council pay-on-arrival car parks
Driving
LNER Community Stadium to St James Park
Plan the stadium-to-stadium drive from LNER Community Stadium to St James Park, then check live traffic before setting off.
Parking
Where to leave the car for Exeter City.
Matchday advice: You do not normally need to pre-book parking at Exeter City if you use a public car park, but do not plan on finding free street parking near St James Park. The club confirms there is no supporter parking at the ground, and residential restrictions plus matchday road closures make a speculative search risky.
Trains
Rail, Underground & tram
Use St James Park station if your train connects conveniently: it is immediately beside Exeter City’s ground. Arriving on mainline services at Exeter St Davids, change for a local train towards St James Park and check the return connection before travelling.
Coming from London Waterloo, change at Exeter Central for the local service. Exeter Central is also a sensible alternative if you would rather walk from the city centre than wait for a connecting train.
St James Park station is not fully step-free: the Exeter-bound platform has no step-free access, while the other platform is reached by a steep ramp. Anyone needing step-free rail access should plan around Exeter Central or St Davids and arrange suitable onward travel.
- Best station
- St James Park (Exeter) – immediately beside the stadium
- Mainline change
- Exeter St Davids for passengers from Paddington, Bristol, Birmingham and further north
- Waterloo change
- Exeter Central for local trains to St James Park
- St James Park station accessibility
- National Rail Category B3; Exeter-bound platform is not step-free; opposite direction uses a steep ramp
- Exeter Central accessibility
- National Rail Category A with lifts to all platforms
- Exeter St Davids accessibility
- National Rail Category A with lifts to all platforms
- Frequency and last trains
- Check the date-specific return itinerary; no guaranteed matchday frequency recorded
Station to ground & away entrance
Follow the signs for the away turnstiles on St James Road, rather than the home entrance on Stadium Way. Standing supporters enter the St James Road terrace; visiting seats are in Blocks K and L of the Main Stand, so check which section is printed on your ticket.
From St James Park station on Well Street, follow the pedestrian route to St James Road and the away gates. From Exeter Central, head east towards Sidwell Street and Old Tiverton Road, then follow the matchday signs instead of navigating to the stadium postcode alone.
If you need an away ticket on the day and sales are permitted, the club places the booth next to the away turnstiles on St James Road. Arrive with time to find the correct gate, particularly when the road is closed to vehicles.
- Ground
- St James Park, Stadium Way, Exeter EX4 6PX
- Away entrance
- St James Road
- Away standing area
- St James Road terrace; club guide states up to 1,000 visiting terrace places
- Away seated area
- Nevada Construction Main Stand, Blocks K and L; total away seated allocation up to 380
- Station approach
- St James Park (Exeter) railway station on Well Street adjoins the ground
- St James Road traffic
- Specified 2026/27 matchdays have vehicle and parking prohibition between Old Tiverton Road and Well Street
- Away matchday ticket booth
- Beside the visiting turnstiles on St James Road, when pay-on-day tickets are authorised
Rail
Sat, 6 Feb 2027 · 15:00 kick-off
Reach St James Park (Devon) Rail Station by 13:10. The departure is a rough planning allowance, not a scheduled train.
About 2 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
- St James Park (Exeter)
- Check the onward route before travelling. · Check step-free access with the operator
Station data checked 2026-10-14 - Exeter Central
- Check the onward route before travelling. · Step-free access recorded
Station data checked 2026-10-14 - Exeter St Davids
- Check the onward route before travelling. · Step-free access recorded
Station data checked 2026-10-14
Coaches
Away coaches
If you are travelling on an organised supporters’ coach, use the drop-off and collection arrangements sent by your coach organiser. The visiting entrance is on St James Road, but matchday vehicle restrictions mean drivers must not assume they can approach the turnstiles there.
An older visiting-club guide permitted coordinated coach drop-offs on St James Road and mentioned Haven Banks for longer parking. That does not establish the current arrangement: confirm the designated stopping point, coach parking and post-match collection with the organiser before setting out.
If your coach parks away from the ground, allow for the walk back after full-time and follow the organiser’s instructions rather than gathering on a road affected by closures.
- Visitor-coach arrival
- Follow the visiting supporters’ coach organiser and match-specific steward/police directions
- St James Road closure
- Through-traffic and parking prohibited on listed match dates during specified times, from Old Tiverton Road to Well Street
- Historical coach drop-off
- 2023 Plymouth guide listed St James Road; must not be treated as current unconditional authorisation
- Historical coach parking alternative
- Older visiting-club guidance named Haven Banks Coach Park; current price, spaces and access not confirmed
Buses
Buses & local travel
Take the local train to St James Park if it fits your journey; it saves the last walk from the main stations. Otherwise, Stagecoach buses serve Sidwell Street, Old Tiverton Road, York Road and other stops near the ground, leaving a short walk to the visiting entrance.
For drivers avoiding the centre, Devon’s Park & Ride links Honiton Road, Sowton and Matford with central Exeter. Honiton Road uses the 4 service, Sowton the PR1 and Matford the B according to the county council; check the live timetable before making a matchday return plan.
The sites have no overnight parking and are locked after the last bus. Sowton and Matford close on Sundays and public holidays, so they are not suitable fallbacks for those fixtures. Bus fares and route labels have changed in older published guides.
- Bus boarding areas
- Sidwell Street, Old Tiverton Road, York Road, Union Road, Pennsylvania Road and Prince Charles Road all listed by club as nearby stops
- Honiton Road Park & Ride
- EX2 7NL; route 4 to central Exeter; 2.1m height restriction
- Sowton Park & Ride
- EX2 5GL; route PR1; closed Sundays and public holidays; 2.1m barrier
- Matford Park & Ride
- EX2 8FD; route B; closed Sundays and public holidays
- Park & Ride parking charge
- Parking free for qualifying Park & Ride use; pay bus fare
- Sowton PR1 adult return
- £3.50 published by Devon County Council; verify for fixture
- Park & Ride closing rule
- Sites open for first bus and locked after last returning bus; no overnight parking
- Bus route caution
- Stagecoach promotional text differs from the county council current route list; use latest official operator timetable
- Bank holiday restrictions
- Sowton and Matford closed on public holidays
Accessibility
Accessible journeys
Contact Exeter City before travelling if you need an accessible parking space or wheelchair place: stadium parking is very limited, and away accessible tickets should be arranged through your own club. Do not arrive expecting an available bay beside the away entrance.
The club identifies an accessible visiting entrance on St James Road for both the Main Stand and away terrace. It lists away wheelchair places in the Main Stand and St James Road end, alongside adapted toilets and a Changing Places room elsewhere in the stadium. Ask the club which facilities can be reached from your allocation.
St James Park railway station is not a fully step-free option. Exeter Central and Exeter St Davids both have step-free access to all platforms, but the onward journey to the away gate still needs planning.
- Accessible parking availability
- Very limited; contact club reception or Disabled Supporters Liaison Officer in advance
- Club reception phone
- 01392 411243
- Disabled liaison email
- disability@ecfc.co.uk
- Away accessible entrance
- St James Road, for away terrace and Main Stand
- Away wheelchair spaces
- Club disability page lists 8 away wheelchair spaces across Main Stand and St James Road end; exact fixture allocation by club
- Changing Places
- Changing Places room in Adam Stansfield Stand; confirm usable route and equipment requirements
- Audio commentary
- 10 headset units total for home and away; booking recommended
- St James Park station step free
- false
- Exeter Central step free
- true
- Exeter St Davids step free
- true
After the match
After the match
If you need a train, decide your return connection before kick-off. St James Park station is beside the ground but local departures are not a turn-up-and-go guarantee, so leave time for the crowd, a possible wait on the platform and the change at Exeter Central or St Davids.
Drivers should walk back to their chosen public car park rather than arrange collection on St James Road. The official temporary order prevents through traffic and waiting on that road during specified match windows; visitors have also reported some queues leaving the city-centre car parks.
Park & Ride passengers must check the last return bus before the match, particularly for evening games. The sites lock after their final bus and do not allow overnight parking, so a city-centre car park or rail is safer if that return is uncertain.
- Rail return
- Check exact last and connecting trains at St James Park, Exeter Central and Exeter St Davids before travelling
- Crowd/exit experience
- 2025 visiting supporter review reports some city-centre car-park queues; anecdotal, not a reliable delay estimate
- Roadside pick-up caution
- St James Road vehicle access and waiting prohibited during listed matchday windows
- Park & Ride return
- Final bus determines site locking; no overnight parking
- Cup extra time
- Leave extra time for any cup tie and possible penalties; bus and train return must cover actual full-time
Where to stay
Stay in central Exeter if you want the easiest all-round football trip. Sidwell Street, Western Way and the Princesshay side of the centre keep you within walking distance of St James Park and give you food and pubs before or after the match.
For a fuller evening, look nearer the High Street, Cathedral Yard or Gandy Street. You will have more choice for a meal or drink, while the ground is still accessible on foot or by a short local train connection from Exeter Central.
A hotel by Exeter St Davids suits long-distance rail travellers but is farther from the turnstiles. There is little need to choose a motorway hotel solely for football, unless your priority is parking or breaking a long road journey.
- Recommended stay area
- Central Exeter: Sidwell Street, Western Way and Princesshay for walkable matchday access
- Evening area
- Exeter High Street, Cathedral and city-centre food/drink areas
- Rail-focused stay
- Near Exeter Central for city-centre base; near Exeter St Davids for long-distance train convenience
- Stadium area
- Traditional inner-city ground within short walk of central Exeter, not an out-of-town motorway location
- Hotel tariff
- No current hotel rate verified for a specific fixture; compare dated rates when booking
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 York City 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.St James Park 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: 2027-02-06 to 2027-02-07.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 York City 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.St James Park (Devon) 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. St James Park (Devon) Rail Station station area is close to St James Park stadium area; the search remains distinct through its area label and 1.2 km radius. Search dates: 2027-02-06 to 2027-02-07.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 York City 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.Exeter 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: 2027-02-06 to 2027-02-07.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 York City 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.Exeter 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. Exeter hotels with parking is close to St James Park stadium area; the search remains distinct through its area label and 5.0 km radius. Search dates: 2027-02-06 to 2027-02-07.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.
- Staying over breaks up the longer journey and avoids a late trip home.
- Staying near the station can make the next-morning journey home easier.
York City at Exeter City
Sat 06 Feb 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 Exeter City
A focused shortlist of where to drink and where to eat around Exeter City, combining established destination research with only relevant current pub and food signals.
EXETER CITY
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
Exeter is one of the easier rail away days once you use the local train: mainline arrivals at St Davids should change for St James Park, which sits beside the ground; Waterloo passengers can change at Exeter Central. If meeting before that final hop, Farmers Union works near Central, while St Anne’s Well is the closest proven away-friendly pub. At the ground, Centre Spot and the Fan Zone normally welcome visiting supporters and are the safest mixed-fan choices, with local beer, cider and matchday food. That changes on higher-police games and local derbies. Away fans use the covered St James Road terrace plus seats in the Nevada Construction Main Stand. Alcohol inside the away section is only sold when the visiting crowd is below 700. For food, Kin Khao is an excellent tiny Thai stop beside the ground; Oh My Kimchi suits quick groups; Old Firehouse works for the city centre. City centre is the best overnight base, with St Davids useful for early mainline departures.
Centre Spot Bar
St James Park Fan Zone / Thatchers Bar
St Anne's Well
The Black Horse
Farmers Union
Old Firehouse
Food & quick bites
Where to grab a bite, have a proper meal or try the local matchday favourite.
Kin Khao Cafe
The standout independent meal beside the ground. It is tiny and walk-in only, but current local opinion strongly backs the Thai cooking.
Oh My Kimchi
A strong quick-food choice near the ground: self-service keeps the turnover moving, while the menu runs well beyond burgers and pies.
St James Park Away-End Concourse
A reliable fallback once through the turnstiles, with pies, pasties and sausage rolls. The interesting choice is the local-style pastry rather than generic fast food.
St James Park Fan Zone Food Kiosk / Grecian Grill
The practical ground-side food option before entry, with hot local produce and chips. The facility has been upgraded for 2026/27.
Dinosaur Cafe
A useful non-pub meal near Exeter Central: breakfast, mezze and Turkish dishes give early arrivals more choice before walking out to the ground.
St James Park - Away Terrace.JPG · Rowan Massey at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5