St James Park (Exeter)
Not 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 2026-10-14
Grecians · #ECFC
THE MATCHDAY GUIDE · Exeter
Getting to St James Park
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.
Plan a stay at Exeter City ↗BEFORE YOU SET OFF
Put your trip together
01 · Arrive
Your route into St James Park
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.
Away Fans’ Guide ↗02 · Reach the away end
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.
Away Fans’ Guide ↗03 · Stay or head home?
Choose your base before your hotel
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.
Hotel to compare: Leonardo Hotel Exeter · Western Way / Sidwell Street / eastern city centre
Compare the stay areas →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
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
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
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
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
Exeter Central
Step-free access recorded
RLY station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-10-14Exeter St Davids
Step-free access recorded
RLY station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-10-14St James Park (Devon) 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 2026-07-29Exeter Central 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 2026-07-29Polsloe Bridge 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 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.
Away Fans’ Guide ↗For the cleanest football-trip compromise, base yourself on the eastern side of the city centre around Western Way, Sidwell Street or Princesshay: the ground is walkable and the High Street/Cathedral quarter is still close enough for food and drinks. Move deeper towards Cathedral Yard/Gandy Street if the evening after the match matters more than shaving a few minutes off the stadium walk.
For the evening
Gandy Street/Castle Quarter and the Cathedral/High Street core are the strongest compact evening areas for bars, cocktails and restaurants. The Quayside adds waterside pubs but is further from the ground.
For the train
St James Park station is right by the stadium. Exeter Central is the handiest main city-centre station for the Cathedral/Gandy Street hotel cluster, while Exeter St Davids is further west and less convenient for a walk-to-the-ground hotel base.
Hotels to compare
Leonardo Hotel ExeterWestern Way / Sidwell Street / eastern city centreAll-round choice · For the shortest ground journeyTripadvisor's proximity search lists it around 0.3 miles from Exeter City Football Club.
Bear in mind: The hotel is functional and modern rather than distinctive or boutique.
Hotel details checked 2026-09-29Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.More about this choice
Western Way puts it between the ground and the main city-centre food/drink area rather than forcing a choice between the two.
Booking.com live searches repeatedly returned availability and a verified guest score around 8.4/10 from more than 6,000 reviews.
Recent Tripadvisor reviews repeatedly praise room cleanliness, comfortable beds, location and helpful staff.
Air conditioning is useful because recent reviewers note that road noise is more noticeable with windows open.
Recent reviews are not uniformly strong: some mention inconsistent front-desk/service experiences and variable breakfast execution.
A late-2025 review described damp/water ingress in one room; it is not enough evidence to generalise across the hotel, but it is worth retaining as a maintenance caution.
Parking is nearby rather than hotel-owned/on-site in the traditional sense.
Hotel Indigo Exeter by IHGCathedral / High Street / city-centre nightlife coreFor the eveningDirectly in the Cathedral/High Street core, with Gandy Street's bars and restaurants nearby.
Bear in mind: Recent Tripadvisor evidence is mixed enough that this should not be presented as a no-caveat premium recommendation.
Hotel details checked 2026-09-29Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.More about this choice
Its own Becketts rooftop bar gives supporters an immediate post-match drink option without leaving the property.
Booking.com live searches repeatedly returned availability and a verified guest score around 8.5/10 from 2,700+ reviews.
Rooms and design receive repeated praise in recent reviews.
The stadium is still walkable at roughly 0.6 miles straight-line / around 12-18 minutes depending on route and entrance.
Noise has been reported from internal doors and some external city-centre activity.
Several 2026 reviews mention inconsistent service, breakfast delays or air-conditioning problems.
No on-site parking; central pedestrianised access can also make direct vehicle drop-off less convenient.
Usually more expensive than Leonardo in the sampled weekend market.
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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 ↗