Discounted tickets, free coaches, cheap trains for Swansea - travel
Tuesday, 11th Nov 2014 23:21 by Clive Whittingham

QPR are discounting match and coach tickets for a Tuesday night trip to Swansea in December, here’s how to take advantage.

Ground Name: Liberty Stadium

Capacity: 20,500 (all seated)

Address: Morfa, Swansea, SA1 2FA

Main Telephone No: 01792 616 600

Ticket Office: 08700 400 004

Car

From London it’s M4 and ‘go west’ all the way into South Wales, then off at junction 45 and onto the A4607 following signs for the city centre. Stay on that road for about two and a half miles and the ground should magically appear before you. In the past we’ve avoided queues at junction 45 by going off one earlier at junction 44, and then following the A48 (first left at the top of the slip road) over one roundabout and past the Dylan Thomas pub (avoid, probably the worst pub in the entire country) to the A4067, then turn left and follow that to the ground. Somewhere around the 185 miles mark from Loftus Road.

Map

Parking

It’s a brand new stadium this, 20,500 seats so guess what? That’s right, no car park for away fans. Permit holders only at the ground and all the guides say it’s residents permit holders only in the streets in the immediate vicinity although we have managed to get parked for free on the street very close to the away end no problem at all on our last three visits so don’t rule it out as an option. You could try for street parking further afield or use the dreaded park and ride facilities at the old Felindre steel works site, which is signposted off Junction 46, shortly after leaving the M4 - £6 a car with separate buses for away fans, expect a 20 minute delay getting out afterwards however. The guide strongly discourages you from parking on the nearby retail park, apparently the ticket issuers are a bit keen. On our last three visits we approached the ground on the dual carriageway, as soon as we saw it we dived off to the right onto Cwm Level Road and parked at the side of a road no problem at all — straight out afterwards as well.

Train

First Great Western direct from Paddington for this one, although being a midweek game there are obviously no options back after the game and you’ll be looking at an overnight stay.

The cheapest outward tickets are at 11.45 (arrives 14.43) for £19.40 and 12.45 (arrives 15.43) for £23.90. After that you’re looking at £43.30 one way and by then you may as well get a standard return ticket for £78.50 and travel when you like.

If you wanted to go on a bit of a bender and travel back through the night then there are trains back to London at 03.52 (arrives 07.32) and 04.58 (arrives 08.02) although — not surprisingly, given they’re clearly business/work related services — the cheapest single tickets are currently £100 on both. Try travelling at 09.28 or 11.28 for £23.90 or 12.28 for £19.40.

The station is two miles from the ground, although you pass it as you arrive. Buses run frequently - 4, 4a, 120, 122, 125, 132 — or you can walk it by turning right out of the station up the High Street, and then right at the lights into Neath Road. Follow that one all the way up to the stadium on your right.

Pubs

LoftforWords ended up in the Dylan Thomas a few seasons ago as it is one of the first pubs you see when you drive in — the food was disgusting, the service was appalling and the place was filthy. If you are arriving by car this year drive right past the revolting hell hole. There are apparently no pubs within walking distance of the stadium that admit away fans on police advice, games in South Wales do always seem to be a bit tasty police and trouble wise.

All the usual Wetherspoons, Yates etc are located on Wind Street in the centre of the city near Castle Gardens, No Sign Bar is the place for real ale enthusiasts. In previous seasons, without colours it must be said, we’ve been in the Harvester right next to the ground. The problem is this is more of a restaurant than a pub so 90 per cent of the space is taken up by tables for people to eat. That means that people there just to drink cram into the tiny bar area around the door as you walk in and are forced to use plastic glasses. For the last couple of seasons we’ve told them we want to eat, waited 30 minutes for a table to become available, and then ordered three courses and coffee to drag out the time we were allowed to sit down before being moved on. I do love the assumption that people there to eat are less likely to cause damage with a glass (and a steak knife) than those simply there to drink. There was some unpleasantness a couple of seasons back when we slowly made our way back to the salad bar for a fifth helping so we could keep the table and the glass. All in all, as usual with new grounds, the choice is narrow and the quality absolutely awful when it comes to places to eat and drink.

Coach

QPR are offering supporters free coach travel to this game, subject to availability and along as it’s booked in advance. The coach leaves Loftus Road at 13.00 and the Target Roundabout at 13.30.

Tickets

QPR have an initial allocation of 455 upper tier tickets and 292 lower tier priced at £25 for adults, £12.50 for seniors, full time students and juniors under 16 — these have been reduced from £35 and £17.50 thanks to QPR subsidising the far for their fans. Ten loyalty points awarded for all tickets booked in advance.

Links >>> Detailed fans' guide to the Liberty Stadium >>> Swansea Official Website

Tweet @loftforwords

Photo: Action Images

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18StoneOfHoop added 02:54 - Nov 12 You make it all sound oh so alluring. I think that's a pass from me.
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dixiedean added 14:32 - Nov 12 hi Clive thanks for the research. Making my first trip to Liberty courtesy of the free coach ( I know I'm going to regret it when I roll in at 3am ) . Surprising that the capacity is only 2000 more than Loftus Rd. . At least I now know which pub(s) to avoid !
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