Rugby World Cup 2025

Getting to and from Franklin’s Gardens

Top Tip

Northampton has an extensive bus network connecting the town centre with Franklin’s Gardens as well as the surrounding area. With discounted group travel available on match days the bus represents a sustainable and affordable way to get to and from the stadium and avoid match day congestion around stadium car parks. Why not leave your car at home and give the bus a TRY?

🚆 By Train

Top Tip

Fans should note that it is not possible to reserve seats on West Midlands Trains services to/from Northampton. Although it is not possible to purchase advance single tickets on West Midlands Trains services fans planning to travel on connecting intercity train services should book their travel in advance to ensure that they can book seats on their desired service and to secure advance tickets at the most affordable rate. Tickets can be purchased from 12 weeks prior to the date of travel. To book visit the National Rail website

Station: Northampton

Distance from Stadium: 0.8 miles (Approx 18 minutes’ walk)

Destinations served: London Euston, Milton Keynes Central and Birmingham New Street

Frequency of services: 30 minute frequency in each direction

Step free access is available at Northampton station

🚌 By Bus

Buses to/from Franklin’s Gardens offer a convenient, sustainable and affordable way to travel on match days. The Northampton Weekend Group Dayrider in particular offers great value with groups of up to five people able to travel all day on the network for £6.00.

Bus stop: Bingo Hall

Routes served: 9, 9A, 9B, 15, 15A, 87, D2, D3

Frequency: From every 30 minutes depending on the route

Price: Single Journey - £2.50, Northampton DayRider - Adult £5.80, Young Person Day Rider (up to 19 years old) - £4.30, Northampton Weekend Group DayRider - Sat/Sun Only – up to 5 people - £6.00

Buses operating from this stop are wheelchair accessible.

🚌 Match day Shuttles

A dedicated match day shuttle service is in operation from Northampton Town Centre to Franklin’s Gardens calling at Northampton train station on the way. This offers a cheap and easy way to travel to the stadium from the station or Fan Zone in Market Square.

Route: Northampton Bus Station to Franklin’s Gardens

Pre-match pick up locations: Northampton Fan Zone, Northampton Train Station

Pre-match drop off location: Bingo Hall bus stop westbound

Post-match pick up location: Bingo Hall bus stop eastbound

Journey time: Approximately 10 minutes

Frequency: Approximately every 10 minutes

Hours of operation: 2 hours prior to kick off until 1 hour after final whistle

Price: £2 return. Existing Stagecoach tickets, including the Northampton Weekend Group DayRider which allows a group of 5 to travel all day for £6 will be accepted.

Payment method: Contactless payment card or cash upon boarding service

All buses serving this route are wheelchair accessible

🚶 On Foot

A dedicated walking route links our Fan Zone at Market Square to the stadium and takes approximately 25 minutes, passing by Northampton train station on the way. Follow our Rugby World Cup branded directional signage via Gold Street and then onto Mare Fair and all the way down St James Road, and then along Weedon Road to Franklin’s Gardens.

The same route starting at Northampton train station takes approximately 18 minutes.

🚲 By bicycle or 🛴 scooter

Cycle racks are available at Franklin’s Gardens for those fans looking to arrive by bicycle. Make sure to arrive early though as bike racks can fill up fast on match days.

Voi e-scooters can be used to travel to Franklin’s Gardens on match days. Please remember to only ride one person per e-scooter and park them responsibly in locations that will not present a hazard for fellow fans.

🚗 By Car

Top Tip

Fans that have pre-booked parking for fixtures at Franklin’s Gardens must pay particular attention to the location of their designated car park and follow the detailed instructions on their booking confirmation. Fans should avoid simply using Franklin’s Gardens as a destination in their chosen navigation system as this will bring fans to the wrong location at the stadium and require a lengthy diversion back to their designated car park.

Match day parking is available for fans at Franklin’s Gardens on a pre-booked basis only. All parking is sold via the official Rugby World Cup 2025 parking website and must be purchased in advance.

Parking is available at Car Park D and Claret Car Park both accessed via Edgar Mobbs Way. Both car parks offer easy access to Franklin’s Gardens on foot. In addition, match day parking is available to fans at Northampton Town FC’s Sixfields Stadium. Parking is offered as pre-book only via the official Rugby World Cup 2025 parking website and is offered on a park and walk basis with the walk to Franklin’s Gardens taking approximately 20-25 minutes.

Drivers should make sure to use exact postcodes/what3words locations and closely follow directions shared in their booking confirmation and ensure that they display their parking pass in their vehicle windscreen as instructed.

Accessible parking will be available in Car Park D. Parking will be available to purchase for accessible ticket holders via the official Rugby World Cup 2025 parking website. All accessible parking must be purchased in advance.

Northampton has a number of city centre car parks that can be paid for on the day from where fans can walk to the stadium. Details can be found on the West Northamptonshire Council website.

Resident parking schemes are in place in the area around the stadium. Vehicles parked in surrounding streets without the correct permits are liable to receive a fixed penalty notice.

Be Aware!

Fans should be aware that there are other events taking place in the area across the weekend of 23^rd August. As a result you can expect roads in the surrounding area to be busier than usual. Those fans looking to drive to matches in Northampton are urged to allow plenty of time for their journey and should consider whether their journey can be undertaken via another mode of transport to avoid the traffic.

Fans should be aware that they are likely to face congestion on leaving official Rugby World Cup 2025 car parks and on surrounding roads post-match. Please be patient and follow the instructions of stewards and traffic marshals.

🚐 By Private Coach or Minibus

A limited amount of private coach and minibus parking is available at Franklin’s Gardens.

Coach and minibus parking must be booked in advance. Parking can be pre-booked on the official Rugby World Cup 2025 parking website. Coach and minibus parking will not be available to book on the day so do make sure to book yours in advance.

The directions shared in the booking confirmation take into account local road restrictions so drivers should make sure to closely follow directions and display their parking pass in their vehicle windscreen as instructed.

🚕 By Taxi

Fans looking to travel to Franklin’s Gardens by taxi or rideshare should instruct drivers to drop off/pick up in the stadium car park (NN5 5BG). Please remember there is no spectator parking in this car park.

Geo-fencing is in place around Franklin’s Gardens on match days which limits the locations that rideshare apps can drop off and pick up passengers.

Travelling to Northampton

🚆 By train

The town is served by London Northwestern Railway with regular direct connections to London Euston (around 1 hour) and Birmingham New Street (approximately 1 hour 10 minutes), with around 2 trains per hour. The main train station, Northampton Station, is conveniently located near the town centre.

If you are travelling from Europe, Eurostar train services operate to/from London St Pancras Station, from where there are trains to Northampton with a change at London Euston.

To plan your train journey, visit National Rail Enquiries website.

🚐 By coach

National Express operates coaches from major cities, including London, Birmingham, and Manchester, to Northampton. The central bus station, North Gate bus station, is situated in the heart of the town, making it easy to access local transport options or walk to nearby destinations.

🚗 By car

Northampton is easily accessible from the M1 motorway, with junctions 15, 15A, and 16 providing convenient entry points. Approximate driving times are 1 hour 30 minutes from London (70 miles via the M1 motorway) and 1 hour from Birmingham (50 miles via the M6 and M1 motorways).

✈️ From the airport

Northampton is located close to London Heathrow, Birmingham, East Midlands and London Luton airports – taking up to 2 hours from Northampton Town Centre.

London Heathrow Airport: The easiest way to reach Northampton from London Heathrow is to take a train via central London. Heathrow Express overground trains and London Underground services connect the airport with central London taking up to 60 mins. You could also get a taxi from London Heathrow which would take around 1 hour 30 minutes, and cost around £100 depending on the time of day and taxi provider.
Birmingham Airport: The most convenient option is taking a direct train from Birmingham International Station, located at the airport, to Northampton, which takes around 50 minutes. You could also get a taxi from Birmingham Airport which would take around an hour, and cost around £70 depending on the time of day and taxi provider.
East Midlands Airport: For the fastest public transport, take the Skylink Derby bus to Derby Station (40–45 minutes) and then a train with a transfer at Birmingham or Milton Keynes, totalling about 2 hours. Alternatively, the Skylink to Long Eaton Station and a train via Birmingham offers similar timing. For a budget option, National Express coaches provide a direct service in around 2 hours 30 minutes. The quickest option is a taxi or private hire, taking about 1 hour and costing £60–£100.
Luton Airport: You can take a direct bus service from Luton Airport to Northampton via National Express, which takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a train from Luton Airport Parkway to London St. Pancras and connect to a train at Euston. You could also get a taxi from Luton which would take around an hour, and cost around £65 depending on the time of day and taxi provider.

Car hire is available at these airports for visitors looking to drive themselves. Several major rental companies operate, and advance booking is recommended during peak travel times.

Getting around Northampton

🚌 By bus

Stagecoach Midlands operates local bus routes in and around the town and neighbouring towns and villages, with frequent services connecting residential areas, shopping centres, and points of interest. Key routes include services to Northampton General Hospital, University of Northampton Waterside Campus, and Sixfields Stadium. Tickets can be purchased on board or via the Stagecoach App for contactless payments and real-time updates.

🚶🏿‍♂️ On foot and 🚲 bike

Northampton is a pedestrian-friendly town, especially in the town centre where many attractions, shopping areas, and restaurants are within walking and cycling distance. There are clearly marked pedestrian routes, and information boards are located throughout the town. Find out more information about Smart Travel here.

🛴 Electric Scooter Rental

Northampton is currently the location of one of a number of national electric scooter (e-scooter) trials in the UK , and Voi e-scooters are available to hire in the town via the Voi app between 4am – 11pm. Please remember to only ride one person per e-scooter and park them responsibly in the correct locations.

🚕 By taxi and rideshare

Taxis are available at Northampton train station, the bus station, and popular locations around town. Amber Cars and Bounds Taxis are two popular local companies, with options to pre-book or hail cabs. Rideshare apps like Uber also operate in the area.

🚗 By car

Northampton has several centrally located car parks, making it easy to access shopping, dining, and local attractions. For convenience, many car parks offer online payment options, and some may provide discounts for longer stays or off-peak parking. Be sure to check online for the latest updates on car park availability and pricing.

To reduce congestion in Northampton’s town centre, please consider using the Sixfields Park and Ride service, located off the A45, this Park and Ride connects quickly to the town centre. Buses run every 10-15 minutes during peak hours from here.

There are EV charging points throughout Northampton, with real-time availability information available on apps like Zap-Map.

Enterprise Car Club is the main car club operator in Northampton, providing a variety of vehicle options and easily accessible locations for members. This service offers an alternative to private car ownership, allowing members to rent vehicles on an hourly or daily basis.

📋 Journey planner

Use your preferred App for planning your journey when in the area. If you wish to plan a journey on foot or by bike then Komoot is a good option.

Northampton

Northampton lies deep in English rugby country and brings hidden gems.

Home of Franklin’s Gardens

Getting to and from Franklin’s Gardens

Travelling to Northampton

Getting around Northampton

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