Travel tips and pub suggestions for the QPR fans planning on journeying into deepest South London next Saturday for the away game with Crystal Palace.
Ground Name: Selhurst Park
Capacity: 26 309 (all seated)
Address: Selhurst Park, London, SE25 6PU
Main Telephone No: 0208 768 6000
Ticket Office: 0871 2000 071
An absolute bloody nightmare. It’s far too complicated for me and I’ve never done it myself so I’ll turn it over to the guide on this occasion.
Leave the M25 at junction seven and follow the signs for the A23 to Croydon. At Purley bear left onto the A23 at its junction with the A235 (to Croydon). You will pass roundabouts and junctions with the A232 and A236 as you pass Croydon, after which the A23 bears left at Thornton Heath (at the Horseshoe pub roundabout). Here you must go straight over, into Brigstock Road (B266), passing Thornton Heath Station on your left and bearing right on to the High Street. At the next mini roundabout, (Whitehorse Road/Grange Road) go left into Whitehorse Lane. The ground is on your right.
An alternative route for fans coming from the North, is to leave the M25 at Junction 10 and follow the A3 towards London. After about ten miles you will reach the Tolworth roundabout at which you turn right onto the A240 towards Epsom. After about three miles turn onto the A232 towards Sutton. Follow the A232 through Sutton and Carshalton and just before reaching Croydon, turn left onto the A23 north towards Thornton Heath'. Where the A23 bears left at Thornton Heath (at the Horseshoe pub roundabout). Here you must go straight over, into Brigstock Road (B266), passing Thornton Heath Station on your left and bearing right on to the High Street. At the next mini roundabout, (Whitehorse Road/Grange Road) go left into Whitehorse Lane. The ground is on your right.
Click map to visit Multi Map site and zoom in/out or tour round.
Almost as irritating as actually driving to the place but not quite. There is plenty of street parking although expect residents permit holder schemes to spread far and wide and where those aren’t in place there may be a four hour waiting limit, although that should be fine for most supporters. There is a supermarket behind one of the stands but I don’t know what the parking situation is there – I suspect if it has a car park at all they look out for people using it for the football. Any tips gratefully received, use the comment facility below.
It may be a pig to drive to but Selhurst Park is served pretty well by public transport. Thornton Heath and Selhurst stations on the Clapham Junction line and Norwood Junction on the London bridge line are all a ten minute walk away from the away end turnstiles. Apparently Oyster cards are now accepted on these lines. Journey time from London Bridge to Norwood Junction ranges from twelve minutes to more than half an hour depending on whether you get a stopper or not and there are eight trains an hour in either direction. A return from London Bridge will set you back £6.20. From Norwood come out of the main entrance and walk up to the main road between the two pubs. Turn left and then follow the crowds down the main road and right to the ground. Ten minutes top whack.
Selhurst is slightly further to walk, although no harder to find, and trains from Clapham are less frequent – although there are still six direct trains an hour with a twenty minute journey time. A return ticket from Clapham costs £4.50. From Selhurst come out onto the main road and turn left, then follow it for about half a mile up the hill and turn left for the ground – once again, follow the crowds.
Geoff Gibbs from the QPR 1st Supporters’ Trust kindly got in touch with some more information as he works in the area.
The good news - since the new London Overground has opened Sarf of the River there is an easy way over to these parts using the Hammersmith and City line and changing at Whitechapel on to the Southbound Overground which goes direct to Norwood Junction (four trains per hour) You can also pick up the same trains at Canada Water by changing from the Jubilee line (see above). Alternatively get a train from National Rail Shepherds Bush and change at Clapham Junction then catch a train to Thornton Heath, Selhurst or Norwood Junction. You can also pick the same trains up at Balham by changing from the Northern Line on to National Rail. As always don’t make the mistake of going to Crystal Palace Station as it is two miles from Selhurst Park.
We always drink in town and head out late but for QPR fans looking for a drink around the ground there is no shortage of options. The Alliance and the Wetherspoons near Norwood Junction are always popular, likewise the Wetherspoons near Thornton Heath. For Rangers fans who usually drink around London Bridge, be aware that Millwall are at home to Burnley and police presence is likely to be high in the area. Basically there are loads, take your pick.
QPR fans find themselves at the other end of the Arthur Wait Stand this year which sadly means we will no longer be able to laugh at Palace’s hilarious “Ultras” at close quarters. QPR can have up to 3,000 tickets priced £30 for adults (that’s not a typo!) £18 for seniors, students, under 24s and £15 for under 16s. Disabled tickets are £18 for a pair. Tickets are on general sale until next Friday when any remaining will return for sale on the day – although with our current form I would advise early purchase for this one.
Links >>>Transport for London >>>Detailed fans' guide to Selhurst Park >>> Official Palace website >>> Awayday Review