Yet another Tuesday night up north - Travel Guide
Monday, 15th Feb 2016 20:25 by Clive Whittingham

If you're actually certifiable, and you're going to Hillsborough next Tuesday to watch QPR, then here's some information on where you can seek medical help.

Ground Name: Hillsborough

Capacity: 39 812 (all seated)

Address: Hillsborough, Sheffield, S6 1SW

Main Telephone No: 0870 999 1867

Ticket Office: 0871 230 1867

By Car:

Straight up the M1 for this one so watch out for the dreaded average speed checks as you go past Nottingham. There are two ways to get to the ground once in the Sheffield area. The easiest way, but longest, is to go up the M1 past Sheffield to junction 36 and then follow the A61 into Sheffield, sign posted ‘Sheffield North’. This will bring you directly to the ground and avoid all the nonsense in the middle of town, but it’s a good 15 miles longer than option two which is junction 34 at Meadowhall then the A6178 signposted for Sheffield.

Go straight on past TGI Fridays on your left and the shopping centre on your right until you reach arena square with Sheffield Arena on your left and some chain pub or other on your right. Follow signs for the city centre, taking a right turn over the humped river bridge by the forge mill. At the next roundabout/traffic light junction go straight on following signs for the Northern General Hospital, under the railway on the A6102. Stay on the 6102 through the traffic light junction at the hospital as it becomes Herries Road and then winds it’s way up a hill and through a housing estate. After five miles or so it heads down under a viaduct and the ground is directly ahead of you. If I’ve made that sound complicated it’s really not.

Option three is junction 33 and into the centre of Sheffield on the 'Parkway'. As you go past Matalan on the left join the two lanes to the right signposted for Barnsley, mind the speed camera just inside the 40 limit, and fork right at the traffic lights. Then basically follow that dual carriageway straight to Hillsborough through a million sets of traffic lights.

Option four is to park at Meadowhall for free at junction 34 and get a yellow line tram from there towards Middlewood, that stops at Leppings Lane which is right behind the away end but will take a good 40 minutes. Trams leave every ten minutes.

Map:

Parking:

No official car parking at the ground but with plenty of street parking, businesses offering their car parks, and the nearby greyhound stadium and casino having an ample car park as well you should not really be struggling. As I said earlier if you want to park by the M1 and ride in then leave your car for free at Meadowhall and get a yellow line tram heading towards Middlewood as far as Leppings Lane.

By Train

Two options for this, direct to Sheffield from St Pancras or with a change at Doncaster from Kings Cross. Obviously though, being a Tuesday night match, no train back afterwards so it would require an overnight stop.

Some £30 tickets available direct to Sheffield on the Tuesday (try the 14.59, arrives 16.59) and a £22.50 on the way back on Wednesday (11.29 arrives 13.31). Shave some money off the trip there by going to Doncaster on the 13.48 (arrives 15.25) for £18 and then getting a local ticket to Sheffield (30 mins, four trains an hour) from there.

Coaches

The official coach leaves Loftus Road at 13.30 and the Target Roundabout at 14.00. Prices are £32 for adults, £21 for disabled, over 60s and under 21s and £19 for under 18s. Season ticket holders get the usual £2/£1 concessions.
No news on an LSA coach.

Pubs

A lot of the pubs around the ground are away fan unfriendly but if you are coming in from junction 36 down the A61 try the New Bridge Inn which is a decent place. Most QPR fans drink in the city centre before these games and get a tram out later — the pubs on West Street are pretty poor and mostly packed with students, avoid the Cavendish, it’s a hell hole, but on the adjacent Division Street you’ll find the Frog and Parrott and then across the green is the Devonshire Cat with a wide selection of real ale. The standard Wetherspoons, RSVP, Lloyds etc are all at the end of Division Street near John Lewis. Many QPR fans arriving by train use The Howard or The Globe which are directly opposite the station, or the Old Monk and The Graduate next to the Crucible.

Tickets

Given that, as we all well know, that away end can hold 8,000 fans if needs be, there shouldn’t be much problem getting a ticket for this one. Buy in advance for £30 adults, £20 over 65s, £15 under 17 and £12 under 11s. Nine disabled spots priced as above with a free carer.

Links >>> Detailed fans' guide to Hillsborough >>> Official website

The Twitter - @loftforwords

Pictures — Action Images

Photo: Action Images

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