Focused guide · Research checked 2026-10-16 · Match arrangements can change.
BEFORE YOU SET OFF
Put your trip together
01 · Arrive
Your route into The City Ground
Head for the visiting section in the lower Bridgford Stand, on the far side of the ground from Trent Bridge. After crossing the river, continue along Radcliffe Road and follow the signs around towards Colwick Road and the away turnstiles. Do not turn into Pavilion Road expecting to reach the visitors' entrance. Your ticket is the final authority on which turnstile to use. Visiting blocks can be split between entrances, and the separate away ticket-collection point is immediately behind the stand. Allow time for queues and searches: the club normally opens the turnstiles about 90 minutes before kick-off. If approaching from Lady Bay Bridge rather than Trent Bridge, Scarrington Road is the usual stadium-side approach, subject to matchday road controls.
02 · Before the match
The Nest
10-minute walk to the ground. The obvious away meeting point. It sits on the station-to-ground route, admits visiting ticket-holders only and combines bars, big screens and rotating street food before the short walk to the away end. Opening time and free-ticket arrangements are fixture-specific. Check The Nest listing for your match rather than assuming normal pub hours.
03 · Stay or head home?
Choose your base before your hotel
Stay near Nottingham station or the southern edge of the city centre for the easiest football weekend. You can walk to the City Ground over Trent Bridge, get back to your train without a cross-city transfer, and still have a decent choice of places to eat after the match.
Hotel to compare: Leonardo Hotel Nottingham · Station Street / Nottingham Station, southern city centre
Admission can change for individual fixtures. Check the stated restrictions and the current visiting-supporter information before relying on a venue.
street food and bar
The Nest
10 min walkAway ticket requiredAway colours welcomeFamily option
Good for train arrivals · large away groups
The obvious away meeting point. It sits on the station-to-ground route, admits visiting ticket-holders only and combines bars, big screens and rotating street food before the short walk to the away end.
Expect away only · fanzone · big screens
Before you go Opening time and free-ticket arrangements are fixture-specific. Check The Nest listing for your match rather than assuming normal pub hours.
Food & drink
Rotating street-food traders, full bars and live sport; traders change fixture by fixture.
Compare the ground, station and town-centre hotel options for your trip.
Where to stay
Stay near Nottingham station or the southern edge of the city centre for the easiest football weekend. You can walk to the City Ground over Trent Bridge, get back to your train without a cross-city transfer, and still have a decent choice of places to eat after the match. For more of an evening out, look towards Hockley or the Lace Market. Those neighbourhoods have a stronger collection of independent restaurants and bars, but mean a longer walk to the stadium and station. West Bridgford is the alternative if being close to the ground matters most. It has the stadium and Trent Bridge sporting quarter on its doorstep, but there is less reason to stay beside the turnstiles if you also want Nottingham city-centre nightlife.
For most supporters, base yourself between Nottingham Station and the city centre rather than forcing a stay beside the stadium. West Bridgford is useful when being close to the ground is the overriding priority, but its small hotel stock currently involves more quality trade-offs. The station/city-centre corridor gives a straightforward walk over Trent Bridge to the match and a better choice of reliable hotels.
For the evening
For a proper evening after the match, the city centre is stronger. Hockley and the Lace Market are the clearest food-and-drink cluster, with bars, restaurants and late venues, while the Talbot Street/Rock City side of the centre is also strong for live music, bars and late-night activity. A city-centre hotel is therefore a better nightlife base than the immediate City Ground area.
For the train
Nottingham Station is the key rail anchor. Nottingham Forest's own matchday guidance puts the City Ground at roughly a 20-minute walk or ten-minute bus ride from the station, with the walking route continuing over Trent Bridge. Hotels close to the station are therefore unusually useful for this stadium.
Hotels to compare
Leonardo Hotel NottinghamStation Street / Nottingham Station, southern city centreAll-round choice · For the shortest ground journey
About a one-mile practical walking route to the City Ground, so there is no need to depend on post-match taxis.
Bear in mind: Sampled rates sit above Nottingham's budget tier and midweek pricing was quite variable.
Hotel details checked 2026-09-30More about this choice
Around five minutes on foot from Nottingham Station, making arrival and departure unusually simple for a football trip.
Strong current provider feedback: Booking.com around 8.5/10 with more than 8,000 reviews at the time checked.
Check current rates and availability for your dates.
Select your match to carry its date into the hotel chooser.
Hotel prices and availability are confirmed by the provider. We may earn a commission from qualifying bookings. Affiliate disclosure.
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.
Leonardo Hotel Nottingham
Roomzzz Nottingham City