Key facts
| Address | Trinity Road, Birmingham, UK |
| Postcode | B6 6HE |
| Capacity | 42,682 seats |
| Club | Aston Villa F.C. |
| Build Date | 1897 |
| Architect | Archibald Leach |
| Average Attendance | 32,097 (season 2017 – 2018) |
| Record Attendance | 76,588 (2 March 1946, FA Cup 6th round tie against Derby County) |
| Stadium Cost | £16,733 (£25 million in 2019 GBP) |
| Roof | Separate roof for each stand |
| Who is the owner of Villa Park? | Aston Villa F.C. |
| Pitch Size | 105 m × 68 m |
| Where is Villa Park located? | 52°30′33″N 1°53′5″W |
| Nickname | Former name: Aston Lower Grounds |
| Surface | Desso GrassMaster |
Seating plan
For over 120 years, Villa Park has been serving as the home stadium of Aston Villa. Going through numerous stages of redevelopment, the ground was becoming better and cosier each time. The army of the team’s dedicated supporters from all over the Midlands and beyond come to the stadium in large crowds.
The stadium’s seats are split between four stands: the Trinity Road Stand to the west, the Doug Ellis Stand to the east, the North Stand behind the northern goal and the Holte End behind the southern goal where the hardcore Villa fans sit. Trinity Road Stand is currently the only three-tier stand at Villa Park. Its other stands only have two tiers. Here is a quick run-down of the categories of seats present at the stadium (from the most expensive to the cheapest ones):
- Upper-tier central zone seats at the main stands;
- Lower-tier central zone seats and corner zone seats at the main stands;
- Upper-tier seats at the Holte End;
- All other seats at the Holte End and upper-tier seats at the North Stand;
- Lower-tier seats at the North Stand.
The record attendance at Villa Park was 76,588 in 1946. However, after reconstructions and conversion to the all-seater, the stadium only has 42,682 seats. In the nearest future, the venue should increase its capacity to 50 000 and the club has already obtained initial planning permission to upgrade the North Stand.
Tickets
The supporters of Aston Villa are among the most dedicated fans in England. At times, it’s really hard to purchase the tickets for the match of the Villans. My personal lifehack is Ticket Compare. I often use this solution when I want to visit the highly anticipated football match. Although this option is more expensive than the traditional ticket purchasing, Aston Villa tickets are usually reasonably priced at Ticket Compare. Another great thing is that they deliver the tickets to any address and even abroad. Also, whenever Villa Park hosts the events like concerts, boxing, and rugby competitions such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games, those tickets are also available at Ticket Compare.
More traditional ways to buy tickets to the events at Villa Park include:
- The official website of Aston Villa;
- Customer service phone line – 0333 323 1874 (within the UK);
- The ticket offices located at the stadium at Villa Village and in Birmingham City Centre on New Street.
The tickets purchased at the official website and over the phone can be collected in Trinity Road kiosk two hours and less before the kick-off. The regular football game ticket prices at Villa Village currently range from £21 to £59 but are subject to change.
Hotels near
I’ve got some great experience in planning my own football trips. Therefore, I want to share some hotel ideas near Villa Park with you.
Cheapest offers
- Swan and mitre pub – £42 is an incredible price for a cosy old-school hotel in Birmingham. The distance to the football ground is less than a mile. You can also enjoy a complimentary breakfast which is making this deal even greater.
- Prime Lodge – is another £42 per night accommodation located 1.6 miles away from Villa Park. It may look ascetic outside but inside the hotel is quite fine. The furniture is not new but the rooms are clean and well-equipped. There is also free parking provided to every customer.
Highest-rated
- Holiday Inn Express Birmingham Star City – a standard double or twin room costs £93 in this hotel. The price includes breakfast. If you are looking for the most comfortable stay at a distance of 1.7 miles from the football venue in Birmingham, look no more.
- Shanahans B&B with Sports Bar – £59 is a great price for such a nice hotel. Their sports bar is absolutely incredible and the prices are very affordable. They also serve very cheap and tasty breakfasts costing £6.
- Campanile Hotel – Birmingham – this decent and tidy hotel with smiley staff is a real treasure. The price is £80 for the room with a bathtub, ironing facilities, and a kettle. And the rooms even have extra blankets if needed.
How to get to
Villa Park is situated only a couple miles to the north of the city centre. Of course, many of you will choose to stay in downtown to explore the city attractions and to chill in the restaurants. Therefore, you’ll need to get yourself to the sports venue a couple of hours before the starting whistle blows. Here are the instructions valuable for every football traveller in Birmingham.
By Train – this is the easiest way to get to Villa Park quickly from downtown. The trains depart from Birmingham New Street. A ten-minute ride will help you get to Witton Station which is located very close to the stadium.
By Bus – lines 7 and 11 can easily transfer you from the city centre directly to the sports venue. If you are going from Ashton University, take the bus line 65 or 67 and get off at Sandy Lane. You’ll then have to walk for about 15 minutes in the northwest direction.
By Car – if you are arriving from another city by car, take exit 6 at the M6 motorway and follow the signs for the A38. Turn right (A5127), and head to Villa Park using the corresponding signs.
By Plane – Birmingham International Airport (BHX) is located 13.5 miles from Villa Park, which is a short distance if you’ll rent a car at the airport. If you’ll use public transport to get there, it will take you about 40 minutes. Take the direct train from BHX to Birmingham New Street and then use the directions provided in “by train” chapter above.
Parking
Secure site parks are available at Villa Park. But the number of car park spots can be insufficient. However, there is always a solution. The approximate matchday paid parking price near the sports venue in Birmingham is £5.
Eating out nearby
In case you didn’t realise, Birmingham is the second-most populous city in the United Kingdom. It has plenty of modern and stylish British restaurants, traditional public houses, Asian eateries, and other notable places for foodies. The city is famous for its local dishes, such as Birmingham soup, Brummie bacon cakes, faggots and peas, etc.
Pubs, bars & cafes
- The Bartons Arms – an amazing public house with a century-long history in Birmingham. If you don’t mind to walk 1 mile from the stadium, you should definitely check-in there. The stunning Victorian architecture impresses every visitor without exception. Probably, it’s one of the best pubs in England.
- The New Adventurers – is a wonderful pub located about 0.5 miles from Villa Park. They have some nice football-themed interior, pool table, and certainly, large TVs to enjoy watching football and other sports events.
- The Witton Arms – is a recommended pub for the away team’s fans. This great drinking place is situated just by the stadium. They have many TVs and sometimes play live music. The only little drawback is that they charge £2 entrance fee.
Restaurants
- Syriana – while the pub options are almost endless near Villa Park, if you are looking for a decent restaurant, it’s better to take a ride to the city centre or walk for half an hour. Syriana is among the best restaurants in Birmingham and you won’t regret choosing this place. It’s specialized in Lebanese, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cuisines.
- Shere Khan – located 1.5 miles away from the stadium this restaurant has a wide choice of Indian and Pakistani dishes presented in a great way. The service is outstanding and they have plenty of vegan options.
- The Lord Clifden – is another amazing eatery in Birmingham. If you are looking for a quick bite of the highest quality not far from the train stop that can quickly bring you to the stadium – this is it. The restaurant has multiple national awards and recognitions such as the one in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2015.
Things to see at the stadium
Villa Park is an epic and cosy sports venue with some of the most dedicated fans. Visiting this stadium is always a great pleasure. The happy atmosphere of a real football fest, some awesome kid-friendly activities in the Family Fun zone, and plenty of food and drink options are always at your service. Exclusive stadium tours are among the other must-do things at the ground.
Tour
Standard Villa Park Tours are very affordable and cost £16 for adults and £10 for persons under 16 years old. Special tours with Sunday lunch are often available at the price of £38 for adults and £32 for youth. The tours should be booked in advance at the official website. Unfortunately, matchday tours are not available. Among the things you may enjoy during the excursion are the main team’s dressing room, interview room, the players’ lounge, the tunnel, and the other memorable places which will tell you a story about the most glorious days of the club.
Fan store
If you have been to the stadium tour, keep your pass and on the same day, you’ll be eligible to get a 10% discount at the Villa Store. This fan store is situated just a few steps to the north from the stadium. Its address is Villa Park, Witton Ln, Birmingham, B6 6HE. Another great way to get a discount for the Aston Villa’s merchandise is to visit the official Villa Store website where they often have special deals cutting the prices up to 50% for the real fans.
Things to do in Birmingham
The soul of Birmingham has started with the Industrial Revolution becoming the forefront of scientific developments. Up until today, the city lures thousands of innovative and creative people from all over the world. The history and the modern cultural tendencies are imprinted in spectacular museums, churches and cathedrals, bright music halls, restaurants with unique traditions and architecture, as well as lovely trails, open spaces, and parks such as mysterious Tolkien Trail, Cannon Hill Park, and Kings Heath Park.
Sightseeing tour
The city is proud of exciting tours that can be enjoyed by a traveller of any age. For example, Birmingham’s bus tours will help you to get acquainted with the city’s heritage. But those tours are quite similar in many other touristic places. A historic themed ghost tour is something absolutely unique you can experience in Birmingham. If you like to jangle your nerves, take this tour and learn lots of spooky things, hear the city’s legends, as well as dark and hidden episodes of its history.
Top 3 places to visit
Birmingham Back to Backs – is one of the top historical attractions of the city which will allow you to step back in time and go through different eras. The excursion gives a touching insight into how poor people used to survive in England in cold slums. This understanding helps to rearrange the things in one’s head and to realize how awesome modern life is.
National Motorcycle Museum – displays hundreds of amazing fully restored British bikes. It’s used as a venue for conferences and banquets among the other things. All bike-lovers must attend this place without exception.
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery – if you like observing the collections of masterpieces, this one is truly magnificent. From the dinosaurs and ancient mummies of Egypt to the local art marvels – everything is totally great about this place.
