Stratford
20 min walkStep-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 2026-10-17
Hammers · #WHUFC · I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
THE MATCHDAY GUIDE · London
Getting to London Stadium
Use Stratford if you are arriving by mainline train, Tube or Elizabeth line. It has the widest choice of connections, but allow around 20 minutes to reach London Stadium and longer when stewards manage the crowds.
Plan a stay at West Ham United ↗BEFORE YOU SET OFF
Put your trip together
01 · Arrive
Your route into London Stadium
Go to Turnstile D for the visiting section, using Bridge 4 on the south side of London Stadium. Pudding Mill Lane is the most straightforward station for this entrance; from Stratford, follow the matchday signs rather than an ordinary walking-map shortcut. Bridge security checks happen before you reach the turnstiles, so aim to be at the stadium at least an hour before kick-off. There is a dedicated visiting-supporter information point opposite Turnstile D, and your ticket remains the final authority for your entrance. For the return, stewards may hold or divert pedestrians to keep the two sets of supporters apart. Do not assume you can retrace the same path towards Westfield immediately after the match.
Visiting London Stadium ↗02 · Reach the away end
After the match
Expect a managed walk away from Turnstile D rather than an unrestricted route back through the Olympic Park. Stewards separate visiting and home supporters, and the usual short path to Stratford may become a much longer diversion after the whistle. If your return is on the DLR, follow signs for Pudding Mill Lane where permitted. If you need Stratford or Stratford International for your train, leave a generous connection margin: London Stadium warns that the pedestrian route to Stratford can take up to 80 minutes after major events. Driving does not guarantee a quick getaway. Westfield’s car parks stay open, but surrounding closures and pedestrian flows can delay departure. Accessible shuttle users should expect buses to wait until the roads reopen.
Accessibility ↗03 · Stay or head home?
Choose your base before your hotel
Stay in Stratford if the match is the main reason for your trip. Hotels around Stratford Station or Westfield put you within a walk of London Stadium and leave several rail and Tube routes available after full-time.
Hotel to compare: The Gantry London, Curio Collection by Hilton · Stratford / East Village
Compare the stay areas →Rail, Underground & tram
Use Stratford if you are arriving by mainline train, Tube or Elizabeth line. It has the widest choice of connections, but allow around 20 minutes to reach London Stadium and longer when stewards manage the crowds.
For the away end, Pudding Mill Lane on the DLR is the neater final stop. Follow the signed route towards Bridge 4 and Turnstile D, about a ten-minute walk from the station. The DLR also makes it a useful alternative to returning through busy Stratford.
Stratford International is another practical arrival point, particularly from St Pancras, with roughly a 20-minute stadium walk. Hackney Wick serves Overground travellers, but its usual route uses Bridge 3, so check the stewarded route to the visiting entrance.
- Main rail interchange
- Stratford: Central, Jubilee, Elizabeth line, DLR, Overground and National Rail; about 20 minutes to stadium
- Best final station for visiting entrance
- Pudding Mill Lane DLR; stadium walk approximately 10 minutes via Bridge 4
- Alternative station
- Stratford International: DLR and Southeastern; approximately 20 minutes to stadium
- Hackney Wick approach
- London Overground, approximately 20 minutes to stadium; signed route normally approaches Bridge 3, away entrance is Bridge 4
- Stratford High Street
- DLR station; approximately 20 minutes to stadium; Bridge 5 is usual stadium route
- West Ham station caution
- West Ham United advises avoiding West Ham station because of matchday crowding; prefer direct connections to Stratford
Station to ground & away entrance
Go to Turnstile D for the visiting section, using Bridge 4 on the south side of London Stadium. Pudding Mill Lane is the most straightforward station for this entrance; from Stratford, follow the matchday signs rather than an ordinary walking-map shortcut.
Bridge security checks happen before you reach the turnstiles, so aim to be at the stadium at least an hour before kick-off. There is a dedicated visiting-supporter information point opposite Turnstile D, and your ticket remains the final authority for your entrance.
For the return, stewards may hold or divert pedestrians to keep the two sets of supporters apart. Do not assume you can retrace the same path towards Westfield immediately after the match.
- Visiting entrance
- Turnstile D, Sir Trevor Brooking Stand visiting section
- Bridge to away turnstile
- Bridge 4; accessible security lane and lift-accessible approach
- Pre-entry checks
- Search on all five bridges; club recommends arriving at least 60 minutes before kick-off
- Away information point
- Visiting supporters liaison point outside Turnstile D (documented in visiting-club guidance)
- Ticket entrance rule
- Use the turnstile printed on your ticket; it will not work at another turnstile
- After-match segregation
- Podium between turnstiles C and E can be closed to through movement; stewards direct away routes
Buses & local travel
For most supporters, take a train or DLR service to Stratford or Pudding Mill Lane rather than a bus right up to the stadium. Stratford Bus Station and Stratford City Bus Station serve numerous routes, but matchday closures can change the final stop or walking approach.
Buses 388, 308, 339 and 108 serve parts of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park or its edges. Check the live TfL journey planner before travelling, particularly for evening kick-offs when normal traffic and the football crowd overlap.
West Ham also runs a complimentary accessible shuttle from Stratford and Stratford International for supporters with access needs. It requires an advance permit from the club and is not a general matchday shuttle.
- Major bus interchange
- Stratford Bus Station and Stratford City Bus Station, near Stratford railway station
- Olympic Park routes
- 388, 308, 339 and 108 serve parts of Olympic Park or surrounding stops; live route checks needed
- Accessible shuttle
- Complimentary West Ham matchday shuttle for registered supporters with accessibility requirements, subject to advance permit and space
- Accessible shuttle departure time
- Starts two hours before kick-off
- Accessible shuttle Stratford boarding
- Entrance to Jubilee line Platform 13, near Petit Pret
- Accessible shuttle Stratford International boarding
- International Way opposite station, near bus stop 108
Away coaches
If you are on your visiting club’s official coach, use its confirmed drop-off and collection instructions rather than a general stadium postcode. West Ham requires the visiting club to register its coaches at least three days before the match and arranges parking through its supporter liaison team.
Older visiting-club guides describe a coach park by the Pudding Mill Lane approach, with a stewarded return from Bridge 4. That is useful orientation, but it does not establish where your particular coach will wait for the next fixture.
Independent coaches cannot assume they can park at London Stadium. Westfield Stratford City advertises a separate ten-space coach facility requiring advance booking; confirm access, passenger set-down and collection directly with the operator.
- Official coach arrangements
- Visiting club must submit coach information at least three days before fixture; contact supporterservices@westhamunited.co.uk
- Away coach approach historical
- 2022 visiting guide describes coach parking near Pudding Mill Lane, linked to away pedestrian route via Bridge 4
- Unofficial coach parking
- Not permitted at London Stadium; Westfield has a separate bookable coach facility
- Westfield coach facility
- 10 spaces, E20 1GS; pre-booking required; advertised £50 plus VAT for 24 hours
Accessible journeys
Arrange accessible parking or the club’s shuttle before travelling, rather than relying on an ordinary car park near the stadium. West Ham allocates a small number of Blue Badge spaces to visiting supporters; the club’s accessibility team handles requests.
The complimentary accessible shuttle runs from Stratford’s Jubilee line Platform 13 entrance and Stratford International’s International Way bus station. It begins two hours before kick-off, drops supporters at the Stadium Store café and requires a permit; this is not the visiting turnstile itself.
Bridge 4 has an accessible search lane, and Turnstile D has an accessible entrance. Return shuttles can only start once road closures ease, generally around half an hour after full-time. Confirm the precise Blue Badge parking entrance with the club because official site descriptions disagree about its position.
- Visiting Blue Badge allocation
- Six spaces allocated to Blue Badge holders from visiting team at each match; contact accessibility@westhamunited.co.uk
- Total Blue Badge stadium allocation
- 49 West Ham Blue Badge spaces listed per home match
- Away accessible entry
- Turnstile D via Bridge 4; dedicated accessible search lane, accessible stadium entrance
- Shuttle entitlement
- Complimentary, for supporters with accessibility requirements holding advance permit, subject to spaces
- Shuttle Stratford stop
- By Jubilee line Platform 13 entrance, near Petit Pret
- Shuttle Stratford International stop
- International Way, bus station opposite Stratford International Station
- Shuttle stadium drop-off
- Stadium Store café on lower ground; nearest turnstile F; use lifts 12 or 13 to concourse
- Shuttle after match
- Up to 90 minutes after match, starts after road reopens, normally approximately 30 minutes after final whistle
- Accessible parking contact
- accessibility@westhamunited.co.uk or 0333 030 0174
- Station step-free
- West Ham documents step-free platforms at Stratford, Stratford International and Pudding Mill Lane; check status for the day
- Westfield Blue Badge free parking
- Not free under general published car park rules; standard charges apply
After the match
Expect a managed walk away from Turnstile D rather than an unrestricted route back through the Olympic Park. Stewards separate visiting and home supporters, and the usual short path to Stratford may become a much longer diversion after the whistle.
If your return is on the DLR, follow signs for Pudding Mill Lane where permitted. If you need Stratford or Stratford International for your train, leave a generous connection margin: London Stadium warns that the pedestrian route to Stratford can take up to 80 minutes after major events.
Driving does not guarantee a quick getaway. Westfield’s car parks stay open, but surrounding closures and pedestrian flows can delay departure. Accessible shuttle users should expect buses to wait until the roads reopen.
- Away supporters segregation
- Turnstile D podium exit may be segregated; area C–E restricted and directed by stewards
- Stratford return warning
- London Stadium warns that the post-event pedestrian route to Stratford Regional Station may take up to 80 minutes
- DLR alternative
- Pudding Mill Lane is approximately ten minutes from stadium via Bridge 4 under ordinary routing; follow post-match steward instructions
- Driver departure
- Westfield parking remains open, but matchday road controls may affect exit until approximately two hours after final whistle
- Accessibility return shuttle
- Departure after road reopening normally around 30 minutes after full-time, up to 90-minute return operating window
Stratford International
20 min walkStep-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 2026-10-17Pudding Mill Lane
10 min walkStep-free access recorded
MET station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-10-17Hackney Wick
20 min walkStep-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 2026-10-17Stratford High Street
20 min walkStep-free access recorded
MET station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-10-17Pudding Mill Lane DLR Station
dlr station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-08-03Pudding Mill Lane
dlr station recorded in the existing stadium transport mapping. This identifies an arrival option; check your service and the onward route.
Research checked 2026-08-03Hackney Wick 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 Stratford if the match is the main reason for your trip. Hotels around Stratford Station or Westfield put you within a walk of London Stadium and leave several rail and Tube routes available after full-time. Stratford International is a useful alternative for anyone arriving from St Pancras or preferring to park at the northern side of Stratford. Allow for a lengthy return walk after the match, particularly if your hotel sits beyond the station. Hackney Wick suits an evening around the Olympic Park’s western edge, but its usual Bridge 3 stadium approach is not the designated visiting entrance. Choose a central London base only if the wider evening matters enough to justify travelling back across the city.
Visiting London Stadium ↗Choose Stratford/Olympic Park if the match is the main event. It removes the need to cross London after the final whistle and leaves plenty of food and drink around Westfield, the park and nearby Hackney Wick. Choose Shoreditch only when the evening after the match matters enough to justify travelling back west; it has a deeper concentration of independent bars and restaurants while remaining straightforward from Stratford.
For the evening
Hackney Wick and Stratford have enough for a football weekend, but Shoreditch/Hoxton is the stronger choice for a full night out. Visit London's September 2026 guide specifically highlights Shoreditch's food, markets, bars and late-night experiences.
For the train
Stratford is the key transport hub, with Central, Jubilee, Elizabeth line, DLR, Overground/Mildmay and National Rail connections. Hotels around Westfield are particularly easy for both the stadium and onward London travel. Pudding Mill Lane DLR is the closest useful station for Snoozebox.
Hotels to compare
The Gantry London, Curio Collection by HiltonStratford / East VillageAll-round choice
Stratford location keeps the football trip simple without isolating supporters at the stadium.
Bear in mind: It sits in the upper-mid/premium part of the Stratford market and some midweek dates are expensive.
Hotel details checked 2026-10-02Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.More about this choice
Hilton confirms three restaurants, lounges and a rooftop bar, so there is a credible fallback for food or a drink without another journey.
Stratford station is about a five-minute walk according to the hotel, giving excellent London-wide connections.
Current Booking.com and Tripadvisor evidence is strong on cleanliness, comfort, location and overall quality.
Booking.com coverage is directly verified.
The East Village/Stratford evening is convenient rather than comparable with Shoreditch for depth of nightlife.
Recent aggregate review evidence includes occasional comments about noise, room issues, inconsistent service and value at high rates.
Snoozebox Olympic ParkQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park / Pudding Mill LaneFor the shortest ground journey
Official location material describes it as right next to London Stadium and a short stroll from the ground.
Bear in mind: Rooms are deliberately compact and the standard layout includes a double bed plus single bunk.
Hotel details checked 2026-10-02Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.More about this choice
Pudding Mill Lane DLR is roughly one to two minutes away and Stratford is one stop.
Booking.com location and staff scores are strong for a budget/event stay.
Rates are often dramatically cheaper than the full-service Stratford hotels on ordinary midweek nights.
Booking.com coverage is directly verified.
The immediate Pudding Mill Lane area has much less conventional restaurant/pub choice than central Stratford, Westfield or Shoreditch.
Weekend/event demand pushes rates up sharply relative to the sampled midweeks.
A very recent Tripadvisor review reported shower odour, cold water, excessive heat and awkward bunk access, so current maintenance consistency should be watched.
The Hoxton, ShoreditchShoreditch / HoxtonFor the evening
Shoreditch/Hoxton has a much deeper concentration of bars, restaurants and late-night venues than the immediate stadium area.
Bear in mind: Not walkable in practical matchday terms from London Stadium.
Hotel details checked 2026-10-02Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.More about this choice
The hotel itself is designed around social space, food and drink, so it works even if plans stay close to the room.
The hotel states Liverpool Street is about a ten-minute walk and Old Street about three minutes.
Booking.com and Tripadvisor both show strong current ratings for location, cleanliness, atmosphere and service.
Booking.com coverage is directly verified.
Premium pricing, with very large date-to-date swings.
Some reviews mention small rooms and occasional noise; this is a lively hotel in a lively district.
Post-match rail and station queues at Stratford can add time beyond the nominal journey.
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 ↗