Birmingham New Street
Step-free access recorded
RAIL station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-10-14Blues · #BCFC · Keep Right On to the End of the Road
THE MATCHDAY GUIDE · Birmingham
Getting to St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park
Use Birmingham Moor Street or New Street for a reliable arrival, then walk through Digbeth or use the matchday shuttle. Moor Street is closer to the ground, while New Street has the widest choice of connecting trains.
Plan a stay at Birmingham City ↗BEFORE YOU SET OFF
Put your trip together
01 · Arrive
Your route into St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park
Head for the Gil Merrick Stand and the away entrance on the Coventry Road side of St Andrew’s. Birmingham City’s stadium plan places the visiting coach park and away ticket collection point beside that entrance. Follow your match ticket and stewards if your allocation or entry arrangements differ. From the city centre, follow the route through Digbeth towards Coventry Road rather than walking round to the home turnstiles on Cattell Road. If you are arriving by shuttle, follow the signed pedestrian approach from its stop on St Andrew’s Road. Give yourself time for turnstile checks and the final approach, particularly when road closures separate pedestrians from traffic around the ground.
Away Fan Guide 2025/26 ↗02 · Reach the away end
After the match
For the smoothest return, leave time to get away from the stadium before expecting to move quickly through traffic. The road layout around Cattell Road and Coventry Road is constrained, and the club has previously operated road closures immediately after matches. Follow the stewards rather than trying to drive through the stadium frontage. The 1875 shuttle back towards Smallbrook Queensway can avoid a long walk to the city centre, but expect demand when the crowd leaves together. Check the current service times before relying on it for a tight train connection. If you booked staffed matchday parking, be back before its stated closing time, generally one hour after full-time. A more distant city-centre car park trades a longer walk for avoiding some of the roads closest to the ground.
Away Fan Guide 2025/26 ↗03 · Stay or head home?
Choose your base before your hotel
Stay on the Bullring or Digbeth side of central Birmingham for the best balance of match access and an evening out. It keeps the main railway stations, food and bars within reach, and gives you a sensible walking or shuttle route towards St Andrew’s.
Hotel to compare: Aparthotel Adagio Birmingham City Centre · Bullring / Digbeth edge
Compare the stay areas →Rail, Underground & tram
Use Birmingham Moor Street or New Street for a reliable arrival, then walk through Digbeth or use the matchday shuttle. Moor Street is closer to the ground, while New Street has the widest choice of connecting trains. Allow extra time for the walk and the roads around the stadium.
Bordesley is physically nearer, with roughly ten minutes to the ground, but its ordinary train service is extremely limited. Extra football trains only run when advertised, so check your actual match in the journey planner before depending on it for either direction.
Bordesley has no step-free access to its platforms. New Street and Moor Street both have step-free station access, although you still need to consider the onward street journey.
- Recommended arrival stations
- Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham New Street; walk via Digbeth or use a matchday bus.
- Closest local railway station
- Bordesley; about 0.6 miles from the ground according to TfWM.
- Bordesley scheduled service
- One train weekly on Saturdays towards Birmingham, with extra football calls when specifically shown on the National Rail journey planner.
- Bordesley station accessibility
- No step-free access to platforms.
- Birmingham New Street platform access
- Step-free access to all platforms.
- Birmingham Moor Street platform access
- Step-free access to all platforms.
- Football extra services
- West Midlands Railway additional Bordesley calls from Whitlocks End/Dorridge are advertised subject to matchday and disruption.
Station to ground & away entrance
Head for the Gil Merrick Stand and the away entrance on the Coventry Road side of St Andrew’s. Birmingham City’s stadium plan places the visiting coach park and away ticket collection point beside that entrance. Follow your match ticket and stewards if your allocation or entry arrangements differ.
From the city centre, follow the route through Digbeth towards Coventry Road rather than walking round to the home turnstiles on Cattell Road. If you are arriving by shuttle, follow the signed pedestrian approach from its stop on St Andrew’s Road.
Give yourself time for turnstile checks and the final approach, particularly when road closures separate pedestrians from traffic around the ground.
- Away stand
- Gil Merrick Stand, away allocation in the stand as indicated by club stadium map.
- Away entrance
- Coventry Road side, beside visitors coach park and away ticket collection point on club plan.
- Main stadium entrance
- Cattell Road, B9 4RL; distinct from away-side entry.
- Away ticket collection
- Shown adjacent to visiting fans’ entrance on the official stadium plan.
- Walking route
- City centre through Digbeth towards Coventry Road, then Gil Merrick visiting entrance.
- Entrance numbers
- Club 2025/26 plan labels visitor entrance 8 / 9A; confirm entry on current ticket.
Buses & local travel
For the simplest ride from the city centre, use Birmingham City’s free 1875 matchday shuttle if it is running for your fixture. Transport for West Midlands confirms a service for men’s home matches, with a valid match or season ticket required to board. Check the boarding stop before setting off.
The operator originally advertised departures from Smallbrook Queensway, with buses reaching St Andrew’s Road and returning towards the centre. Those detailed stop and time arrangements date from the service launch and should be checked for the current game.
Ordinary buses 17 and 60 also serve the ground. They are useful when you do not want to walk, but allow for diversions and heavier traffic after full-time.
- Recommended matchday shuttle
- Free 1875 shuttle for match/season ticket holders to men’s home fixtures; current operation confirmed by TfWM.
- Historic shuttle outbound stop
- Smallbrook Queensway NS7 according to 2024 launch notice; current precise stop requires fixture check.
- Historic shuttle return stop
- St Andrew’s Road to Smallbrook Queensway NS5 according to 2024 launch notice; verify present service plan.
- Ordinary stadium buses
- Services 17 and 60.
- Club away-guide 2025 boarding references
- Service 17 from MS9 and service 60 from MS4; stand assignments may change.
- Tube or tram
- No Tube or tram stop serves St Andrew’s stadium itself; use rail, bus or walking for last leg.
Away coaches
If you are travelling on an official away coach, follow your organiser’s drop-off and collection instructions rather than selecting a public parking site. Birmingham City’s published stadium plan identifies a visitors’ coach park beside the away entrance at the Gil Merrick Stand, reached from the Coventry Road side.
That is the most convenient approach for the visiting turnstiles, but traffic management can change how coaches enter and leave. Confirm the actual collection point with your driver before leaving the coach, and keep enough time after the final whistle for controlled departure.
- Visitors coach facility
- Visiting coach park shown next to Gil Merrick away entrance on Coventry Road side of club map.
- Away-side pedestrian route
- From visiting coach park to adjacent visiting turnstiles.
- Coach road restrictions
- 2025/26 closure operated on Cattell Road towards Coventry Road; latest season and club instructions require check.
Accessible journeys
Arrange accessible matchday parking through your own club’s ticket office before travelling. Birmingham City’s visiting-supporter guide places its accessible visitor spaces in the away car park on Coventry Road and says entry closes one hour before kick-off. Spaces are limited and should not be treated as available without prior confirmation.
The club provides accessible viewing arrangements, commentary headsets and induction loops on request. Speak to the visiting ticket office for seating, parking or assistance-dog arrangements, and ask a steward for the matchday disability liaison officer when you arrive.
Bordesley railway station is not step-free. For rail travellers who need step-free platforms, New Street and Moor Street have them, but a suitable onward route to the away entrance should still be arranged.
- Away Blue Badge spaces
- Level Playing Field identifies five designated accessible away parking spaces, requiring advance contact through the visiting club.
- Away accessible car park
- Coventry Road visitor car park; arrival permitted only up to one hour before kick-off in 2025/26 club guide; confirm current arrangement.
- Accessible parking allocation
- Club guide describes first-come allocation for eligible visitors following prior contact; not guaranteed.
- Commentary for visually impaired supporters
- Headsets can be requested in advance from Birmingham City ticketing.
- Induction loops
- Club offers induction loops on request.
- Assistance dogs
- Contact club ticket office before attending with assistance dog.
- Station step-free distinction
- Bordesley no step-free platforms; Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Moor Street have step-free platforms.
After the match
For the smoothest return, leave time to get away from the stadium before expecting to move quickly through traffic. The road layout around Cattell Road and Coventry Road is constrained, and the club has previously operated road closures immediately after matches. Follow the stewards rather than trying to drive through the stadium frontage.
The 1875 shuttle back towards Smallbrook Queensway can avoid a long walk to the city centre, but expect demand when the crowd leaves together. Check the current service times before relying on it for a tight train connection.
If you booked staffed matchday parking, be back before its stated closing time, generally one hour after full-time. A more distant city-centre car park trades a longer walk for avoiding some of the roads closest to the ground.
- Road closure precedent
- 2025/26 club plan closed Cattell Road before and after matches; current fixture application unconfirmed.
- Stadium-side traffic
- Supporters in August 2026 reported slow car exits and congestion; anecdotal rather than an official traffic guarantee.
- Return shuttle
- TfWM lists free matchday shuttle; 2024 launch route returned from St Andrew’s Road to Smallbrook Queensway.
- Matchday parking closing
- Independent staffed sites generally close one hour after full-time.
- Rail fallback
- Bordesley additional football trains operate only if shown in timetable; otherwise travel via main Birmingham stations.
- Suggested connection planning
- Allow generous buffer for crowd exit, onward walking/shuttle queues, and rail check-in; no guaranteed clearance time verified.
Birmingham Moor Street
Step-free access recorded
RAIL station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-10-14Bordesley
10 min walkNot step-free
RLY station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-10-14Adderley Park
Not step-free
RAIL station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-10-14Bordesley Rail Station
RLY station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-07-29Adderley Park Rail Station
RLY station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-07-29Small Heath Rail Station
RLY station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-07-29Would an overnight stay help?
Check your return services, then compare a station, stadium or town-centre stay.
Where to stay
Stay on the Bullring or Digbeth side of central Birmingham for the best balance of match access and an evening out. It keeps the main railway stations, food and bars within reach, and gives you a sensible walking or shuttle route towards St Andrew’s. There is little advantage to sleeping immediately beside the ground unless proximity matters most. Digbeth has a useful choice of independent pubs, restaurants and late venues around the Custard Factory and High Street. For a railway-led trip, staying near New Street or Moor Street is just as practical, especially if your train home leaves soon after the final whistle. There is no need to book a hotel solely for the football. If you are travelling a long distance for an evening match, check the last useful train before deciding.
Digbeth in Birmingham ↗For most supporters, base yourself around the Bullring, eastern city centre or Digbeth rather than immediately beside the stadium. You can walk out towards the ground with the matchday crowd, then return to a much wider choice of pubs, bars, restaurants and late venues. A New Street/Southside hotel makes sense if rail and nightlife matter more than shortening the stadium walk; a Bordesley-side room only wins if price or proximity is the priority.
For the evening
Digbeth is the strongest football-trip compromise for independent bars, food and late venues, with the Custard Factory area, The Old Crown, NQ64 and other venues clustered east of the Bullring. Southside/Chinatown and John Bright Street are stronger if the priority is a broader city-centre night out, but they put you a little farther from the ground.
For the train
Birmingham New Street is the main arrival point for most national rail journeys, with Moor Street useful for Chiltern and regional services. Hotels on the Bullring/Digbeth edge keep both main stations within a manageable walk while also taking roughly half a mile or more off the walk to St Andrew's compared with the western city centre.
Hotels to compare
Aparthotel Adagio Birmingham City CentreBullring / Digbeth edgeAll-round choice · For the eveningOn the correct side of the city centre for St Andrew's, avoiding the extra distance of Broad Street/Brindleyplace hotels.
Bear in mind: It is not a turnstile-side hotel: allow roughly 25-30 minutes on foot to the ground depending on route, crowds and road crossings.
Hotel details checked 2026-09-27Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.More about this choice
Digbeth's independent bars, food and late venues are close enough to use before or after the match.
Booking.com was actively returning the property for the sampled 2026 dates and showed a current 8.8/10 score from more than 4,000 reviews.
TripAdvisor was 4.5/5 from roughly 600 reviews, with recent 2026 stays repeatedly praising location, cleanliness, space, staff and comfortable rooms.
The official property page confirms double and twin studios, kitchens, air conditioning, 24-hour reception and proximity to New Street/Bullring.
The matchday walk is through busy urban Digbeth/Bordesley rather than a pedestrianised centre.
The aparthotel model is less full-service than a conventional four-star hotel; the official site describes weekly housekeeping for longer stays.
A detailed June 2026 TripAdvisor review alleged discriminatory and unprofessional treatment. That is a serious complaint worth recording, but it is not a recurring pattern in the wider current review evidence.
The Moseley ArmsDigbeth / Highgate sideFor the shortest ground journeyAround two-thirds of a mile from the stadium as the crow flies, making it a realistically short matchday walk.
Bear in mind: This is budget pub accommodation, not a polished full-service hotel.
Hotel details checked 2026-09-27Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.More about this choice
Booking.com actively returned it on multiple sampled 2026 dates and currently scores it 7.7/10, with value, staff and cleanliness among the stronger sub-scores.
Recent TripAdvisor evidence includes clean/value-focused stays and a football-specific review saying it worked well for an away match.
Free on-site parking and a pub downstairs can suit supporters arriving by car or wanting a simple one-night football stay.
It is still close enough to walk into the main Digbeth/Bullring area rather than being isolated beside the stadium.
Noise is the main risk: the hotel's own site advertises live entertainment every Saturday night, and older/mixed review evidence repeatedly mentions music, road noise, thin walls and creaking floors.
Some reviews mention hot rooms, occasional bathroom/drainage smells and maintenance inconsistency.
The hotel's own site says reception closes at 23:00 while Booking.com lists a 24-hour front desk; supporters arriving late should confirm the actual after-hours procedure directly before relying on it.
Bordesley station is nearby, but its service pattern is limited and should not be treated as a substitute for staying near New Street/Moor Street.
Check current rates and availability for your dates.
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Sources, limitations and matchday changes
Reviewed transport publication. This permanent guide uses the existing approved research; admission, opening hours, services and parking controls may change for each match.
Station mappings identify arrival options. They do not guarantee a walking route, step-free access or a train timetable. Confirm current club guidance and your actual service.
Official club guidance ↗