Pavilion Road · West Bridgford · Nottingham NG2 5FJ
The City Ground: three hundred yards from another club
Nottingham Forest play on the south bank of the Trent. Notts County play on the north bank. The two grounds are around three hundred yards apart across the river, closer than any other pair of professional clubs in England, and on a day when both are at home the whole riverside is one enormous matchday.
Between the City Ground and Meadow Lane, separated by the Trent and a footbridge. No two English league grounds are closer. It also means the bridges over the river are the pinch point for everything.
Everything here comes back to crossing the Trent
A riverside ground has water on one side, which concentrates the crowd onto a small number of crossings.
Along one whole side
No approach from the north except by bridge. The river halves the directions.
The road crossing
Which carries the crowd and the traffic, and backs up accordingly.
For pedestrians
Which takes a share of the walking crowd towards the city.
Across the water
Notts County. When both are at home the riverside handles two crowds at once.
Kent to Nottingham
The M1 for most of it. Closer than Leeds or Manchester by a useful margin.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Each way | Home by, 15:00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 175 miles | 3h 15m – 4h 5m | 21:00 |
| Dartford & Bluewater | 170 miles | 3h 10m – 4h | 20:55 |
| Bromley & Orpington | 165 miles | 3h 5m – 3h 55m | 20:50 |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 168 miles | 3h 10m – 4h | 20:55 |
| Rochester & Chatham | 185 miles | 3h 25m – 4h 15m | 21:10 |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 181 miles | 3h 20m – 4h 10m | 21:05 |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 209 miles | 3h 50m – 4h 40m | 21:35 |
What else is on this stretch of river
An unusual concentration of sport within a few hundred metres.
| What | Where |
|---|---|
| City Ground | South bank. Nottingham Forest. |
| Meadow Lane | North bank, 300 yards away. Notts County. |
| Trent Bridge cricket ground | A few minutes' walk from the City Ground. |
| The National Water Sports Centre | Holme Pierrepont, a little further east. |
| Nottingham city centre | About a mile and a half north across the river. |
A City Ground away day
The bridges are the constraint
With the Trent along one side, everyone leaving the ground either walks along the south bank or crosses to the north. Both routes concentrate onto a small number of crossings, and Trent Bridge itself carries the traffic as well. We hold south of the river on the West Bridgford side, which means no crossing at all for a Kent-bound return and considerably less waiting.
Check whether Notts County are at home too
Three hundred yards apart is not a rounding error; on a day when both clubs play at home the riverside handles two football crowds simultaneously and the bridges are the pinch point for both. It does not happen every week and when it does it changes the timings meaningfully. We check when you give us the date.
Trent Bridge cricket ground is right there
Which is worth knowing for two reasons. It is a few minutes' walk if you are combining a trip, and it is another reason this small stretch of riverside can be extremely busy on a summer Saturday. The three venues within a few hundred metres of each other is unusual anywhere in the country.
A comfortable day return
At three and a quarter hours each way, Nottingham sits with Villa Park and Molineux as a fixture you can turn round in a day. A three o'clock kick-off means home by nine. It is one of the better long away days from Kent on that basis alone.
City Ground questions
The river, the bridges and the neighbours.
How close is Notts County's ground?
About three hundred yards across the Trent, connected by a footbridge. No two English league grounds are closer, and on a day when both are at home the riverside handles two crowds at once.
Where do you collect?
South of the river on the West Bridgford side, which means no bridge crossing for a Kent-bound return and considerably less waiting than the north bank.
How far is Nottingham from Kent?
Around a hundred and sixty-five to two hundred and ten miles, three to four and a half hours each way. Closer than Leeds or Manchester by a useful margin.
Can we do it as a day return?
Yes, comfortably for an afternoon kick-off. Three o'clock means home by nine, which makes it one of the better long away days from Kent.
What are the bridges like after a match?
The pinch point. With the river along one side, everyone leaving concentrates onto a small number of crossings, and Trent Bridge carries the traffic as well as the crowd.
Is Trent Bridge cricket ground nearby?
A few minutes' walk. Three major venues within a few hundred metres is unusual anywhere in the country.
Do you check whether both clubs are at home?
Yes, when you give us the date. It does not happen every week and when it does the timings change meaningfully.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed before travel and unaffected by motorway delays or bridge traffic.
East Midlands venues and guides
Nottingham, and the M1 corridor.