SCFC2
Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday 21 August 2019 at 19:45
Distance from the Liberty Stadium: 184 miles ~ 3 hours 30 minutes.
Address: Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, London. W12 7PA
Telephone: 0208 743 0262
Web Site: www.qpr.co.uk
What’s Loftus Road Like
Up to 2,500 away fans are allowed in the School End of the stadium. Make sure you get there 30 minutes before kick off as there are many security checks at the turnstiles, and you risk missing the start of the game.
Hot dogs, pies and sausage rolls are sold.
Visiting London
London is the entertainment capital of the country. From theatres to museums to concerts you are spoilt for choice and it is always worth making a weekend of any visit to London to watch the Swans.
As you’d imagine, London has so many options to choose from in terms of accommodation – hostels, hotels, B&Bs, flat or even house rental!
It isn’t the cheapest place in the world to stay but you can get some great deals if you shop around a bit.
The nearest hotels to the ground are in the Shepherd’s Bush area of Greater London.
What’s On in London
As you can imagine there is loads of stuff that’s going on there in the UK’s capital city.
A few things which may be of interest are:
Tours of Buckingham Palace (SW1A 1AA) are available, tickets are £25, seniors pay £22.80 and children pay £14 (5–16, under 5’s free).
Bond in Motion at the London Film Museum (WC2E 7BN) is open every day and is the largest collection of official James Bond vehicles displayed in London. Tickets are £14.50, £9.50 concessions, £38 family tickets.
Every night up to the night of the game, it’s Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House (WC2R 1LA) showing UK premieres, old favourites and Cannes award-winning films. Bring your own picnic or buy food and drink there.
A new show is Only Fools and Horses the Musical at Theatre Royal Haymarket (SW1Y 4HT), tickets are £24.60-£129.15. This is popular so book well in advance.
Something different is The Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (E20 2AD). It’s a 40-second, 15mph ride on the tallest and longest tunnel slide in the world. Speed down the 584 foot tunnel slide that intertwines with the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park sculpture. The Slide has 12 twists and turns, a tight corkscrew and a 164 foot straight run to the ground. Tickets are priced at £16.50, £10.50 for kids and £13.50 for seniors.
Eating and Drinking near Loftus Road
There are no pubs for away fans around the stadium.
Shepherds Bush Green has a number of bars, however most employ doormen checking match tickets on entry and entry is refused to away fans.
Avoid ‘The Springbok’ at all costs, away fans are banned and there will be problems if Swans fans try to gain entry.
One exception is Belushi’s Bar in the Vue Complex (W12 8PH), opposite Shepherd’s Bush Tube Station. It has Sky and BT Sports.
Another pre-match option is to visit central London, which is a short tube ride away.
Uxbridge Road has the most diverse eating experience you could possibly ask for, as part of inner London, nearly every manner of food is available.
You can ear Indian, Chinese, Thai, Lebanese and Indian kebab shops; who sell donar kebabs made with Indian spices.
These along with the usual chippies and cafes sprinkled around the place.
Parking near Loftus Road
There’s very little parking near the ground. You can park on the road in this area (£6.60 for 3 hours), some areas are free after 5pm; be aware there are a number of restricted parking areas around the stadium.
You can also choose from a selection of private car parking spaces near Loftus Road, including around 34 parking spaces which you can reserve for your visit from just £6.00 for the whole day.
You can also park at the Westfield Shopping Centre (W12 7GF) in Shepherds Bush. Parking is £9.80 for up to 24 hours.
Be aware that South Africa Road closes to traffic 90 minutes before kick-off and stays closed until 15 minutes after kick-off.
At the end of the game the road is closed again 15 minutes before the final whistle and in place for an hour.
There are a few pay and display bays in Dorando Close but you’ll have a long wait to get out at the end of the game due to the closure.
Train to London
The nearest tube station is White City on the Central Line, a 5 minute walk away.
Also nearby is the Wood Lane Station, on the Hammersmith & City line, a 7 minute walk from Loftus Road.
Shepherds Bush Market tube stations is on the Central Line, 10 minutes away and Shepherds Bush is on the Hammersmith & City line, 15 minutes away.
The H & C is nearest to the ground which is a ten minute walk. Leaving either tube station turn right and the ground is down on the right.
Note that despite the name, Queens Park tube station is nowhere near the ground.
The nearest train station is Shepherds Bush, next to the tube station.
However, it’s not directly served by any of the major London mainline stations but trains from Watford Junction and Clapham Junction stop there.
Trains take 3 hours from Swansea to Paddington, leaving at 13:29, 14:29 and 15:29.
The only train back to Swansea leaves Paddington at 22:45 getting in at 02:17.
For the Travelling Jacks making the trip – Be Loud, Be Proud and Be Positive!