Weedon Road · Northampton NN5 5BG · Capacity 15,249
Franklin's Gardens: the easiest Premiership away day
Of every Premiership rugby ground outside London, Northampton is the one you can reach from Kent without thinking hard about it. A hundred and ten miles up the M1, off at Northampton, and there. No other club ground in the competition is that straightforward from here.
From north Kent, around two and a quarter hours on the M25 and M1. That makes Franklin's Gardens a comfortable day return even for an evening kick-off, which is not true of Gloucester, Bristol or Exeter.
Why this is the least difficult rugby away trip
Compare it with the western grounds and the difference is obvious.
110 miles, M1
Two and a quarter hours. Day return for any kick-off time.
150 miles, M4 and M5
Three hours. Friday nights get late.
145 miles, M4
Three hours, and the Bristol approach adds to it.
200 miles, M5
Four hours. A genuine expedition from Kent.
Kent to Northamptonshire
Round the M25 and straight up the M1. About as simple as a long journey gets.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Each way | Home by, 15:00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dartford & Bluewater | 106 miles | 2h 5m – 2h 40m | 19:45 |
| Bromley & Orpington | 104 miles | 2h 5m – 2h 40m | 19:45 |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 111 miles | 2h 15m – 2h 50m | 19:55 |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 108 miles | 2h 10m – 2h 45m | 19:50 |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 120 miles | 2h 25m – 3h | 20:05 |
| Rochester & Chatham | 124 miles | 2h 30m – 3h 5m | 20:10 |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 148 miles | 2h 55m – 3h 35m | 20:40 |
Around the ground
A club ground in a residential part of Northampton, with the town centre close and the M1 closer.
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Weedon Road | The main approach, managed on matchdays. |
| Residential streets around | Matchday parking controls, as at every club ground. |
| Northampton town centre | About a mile and a half, with the pubs and food. |
| The M1 at junction 15A or 16 | A few minutes away, which makes the exit quick. |
| We collect towards the ring road | Ten minutes' walk, straight onto the motorway afterwards. |
A Northampton away day
Any kick-off time works
This is the practical point. An evening fixture at Gloucester or Exeter means getting home at one or two in the morning. At Northampton it means half midnight at worst, and an afternoon kick-off has you home by eight. That flexibility is why this is the Premiership away ground we get asked about most from Kent.
Straight onto the M1 afterwards
The motorway junctions sit a few minutes from the ground, which means once you are in the vehicle you are effectively on your way. We hold towards the ring road, ten minutes' walk, and the run home starts immediately rather than after twenty minutes of Northampton's streets.
Rugby timing still applies
As at every rugby ground, the crowd does not leave at the whistle. Bars stay open, people stay in them, and a collection booked for immediately afterwards will usually be waiting. Tell us roughly how long you intend to stay and we will set it properly rather than optimistically.
A good first rugby away trip
If your group is starting to travel to away fixtures, Northampton is the sensible first one. Short enough to be comfortable, straightforward enough to need no planning, and a proper Premiership ground with a good atmosphere at the end of it.
Franklin's Gardens questions
The simplest rugby away day we run.
How far is Northampton from Kent?
Around a hundred and five to a hundred and fifty miles, two to three and a half hours each way. Round the M25 and straight up the M1.
Does an evening kick-off work?
Yes, which is unusual. It gets you home around half midnight at worst, against one or two in the morning from Gloucester or Exeter.
Where do you collect afterwards?
Towards the ring road, ten minutes' walk, which puts you onto the M1 within a few minutes of setting off.
When should we book the return?
Later than the final whistle. Rugby crowds stay in the bars, and a collection booked for immediately afterwards will be waiting. Tell us roughly how long you plan to stay.
Is there parking near the ground?
Matchday controls cover the residential streets around Weedon Road, as at every club ground. Being dropped avoids it.
Is Northampton town centre nearby?
About a mile and a half, with the pubs and food. An earlier drop there costs nothing extra when built into the quote.
Is it a good first away trip?
The best of the rugby ones from Kent. Short, simple and a proper Premiership atmosphere at the end of it.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed before travel and unaffected by motorway delays or how long you stay.
Rugby venues and guides
The Premiership grounds from Kent.