Trinity Road · Aston · Birmingham B6 6HE · Capacity 42,682
Villa Park: the away day you can do in a day
Every other forty-thousand-seat ground outside London is far enough from Kent that we suggest staying over. Villa Park is not. At a hundred and forty-five miles up the M40 it is the one big away fixture that works comfortably as a single day, and the ground itself is one of the finest in the country.
From north Kent, roughly two and three quarter hours on the M25 and M40. Out at eleven for a three o'clock, home by eight. That is a proper away day rather than an endurance exercise, which no other ground of this size manages from here.
Villa Park is a piece of football history
It has hosted more FA Cup semi-finals than any other ground and it looks the part.
On the same site
One of the oldest continuously used major grounds in England, and it feels it in the right way.
The famous frontage
Rebuilt, but the ground retains the character that made it a semi-final venue for a century.
Residential, north of the centre
Terraced streets and Aston Park around it, with matchday controls throughout.
Witton and Aston
Both a short walk, both busy after the whistle, both on local lines.
Kent to Birmingham
The M25 and M40, and no city driving at either end. The most straightforward long away day we run.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Each way | Home by, 15:00 kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 148 miles | 2h 45m – 3h 30m | 20:00 |
| Dartford & Bluewater | 143 miles | 2h 40m – 3h 25m | 19:55 |
| Bromley & Orpington | 136 miles | 2h 30m – 3h 15m | 19:45 |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 140 miles | 2h 35m – 3h 20m | 19:50 |
| Rochester & Chatham | 158 miles | 2h 55m – 3h 40m | 20:10 |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 154 miles | 2h 50m – 3h 35m | 20:05 |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 182 miles | 3h 20m – 4h 5m | 20:35 |
Getting in and out of Aston
Residential streets with matchday controls, and a ground that empties into them.
| Feature | What it means |
|---|---|
| Trinity Road and Witton Lane | The frontages. Managed on matchdays. |
| Aston Park | Open ground beside the stadium, and where coaches go. |
| Witton and Aston stations | Short walks, and both queue afterwards. |
| The A38(M) Aston Expressway | Close by, and our route out. |
| We collect towards the expressway | Where the roads move rather than towards the terraces. |
A Villa Park away day
This is the away trip that works without a hotel
At two and three quarter hours each way, a Saturday afternoon fixture at Villa Park means leaving Kent around eleven and being home by eight in the evening. Nowhere else of this size manages that from our patch. If your group wants a proper away day at a big ground without committing to an overnight, this is the fixture to pick.
The ground deserves the trip
Villa Park has hosted more FA Cup semi-finals than any other ground and it has the presence to match. It is one of the last of the great pre-war English stadiums still in regular top-flight use, and visiting supporters consistently rate it among the better away days in the division. That is worth something when you are choosing which fixture to travel to.
We collect towards the expressway
The Aston Expressway runs close to the ground, which gives us somewhere to hold that is genuinely moving while the terraced streets around Trinity Road are still full. It is a walk of ten to fifteen minutes and it is what gets you home by eight rather than nine.
Midweek fixtures still work
Even an evening kick-off is manageable here, getting you home around one in the morning rather than the three or four a northern fixture would. It is not comfortable but it is possible, which again is not true of anywhere further up the country.
Villa Park questions
The one long away day that fits in a day.
Can we do Villa Park as a day return from Kent?
Yes, comfortably. About a hundred and forty-five miles and two and three quarter hours each way. Leave around eleven for a three o'clock, home by eight. It is the only forty-thousand-seat away ground where we would suggest that as the default.
What about a midweek evening kick-off?
Manageable, getting you home around one in the morning. Uncomfortable but possible, which is not true of any northern fixture.
Where do you collect afterwards?
Towards the Aston Expressway, ten to fifteen minutes' walk, where the roads are moving while the terraced streets are still full.
Is there parking near the ground?
Matchday controls cover the residential streets around Aston. Aston Park beside the stadium is where coach parking is arranged.
Is it a good away day?
Visiting supporters rate it highly. It is one of the last great pre-war English grounds still in regular top-flight use, and it has hosted more FA Cup semi-finals than anywhere.
Which stations serve it?
Witton and Aston, both a short walk, both busy after the whistle and both on local lines rather than mainlines.
Can you take a supporters' coach?
Yes, up to forty-nine seats, with coach parking arranged at Aston Park. Give us notice for the fixture.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed before travel and unaffected by motorway delays or added time.
Midlands grounds and guides
The away days within a day.