England
Birmingham
Away-day guide
Birmingham is an easy weekend base with strong rail links, plenty of affordable central pubs and a ground that is only a short suburban-train ride away. For Villa Park, drink around New Street or at the designated away pub rather than counting on entry to home venues in Witton.
Public transport
Birmingham city centre is compact enough to walk, but Villa Park is better reached by suburban train. From Birmingham New Street, take a West Midlands Railway service towards Walsall and get off at Witton; Aston station is a useful alternative. Buses accept contactless payment, and day tickets can normally be bought on board or through local ticketing apps. The West Midlands Metro links Edgbaston Village, Broad Street, the city centre and Wolverhampton. For tram travel, use contactless where available or buy through the My Metro app. An nBus day ticket covers participating buses, while an nNetwork day ticket adds local trains and the Metro within the selected zones. Use the TfWM app or website for journey planning and disruption information; separate rail tickets may be better value for airport and longer-distance journeys.
Typical prices
- Beer (0.5L)
- GBP 4.8
- Coffee
- GBP 3.5
- Meal, mid-range
- GBP 18
- Taxi from airport
- GBP 40
- Single transit ticket
- GBP 3
✈ Airports & cheaper alternatives
- Birmingham Airport BHX primary 12 km Use the free Air-Rail Link to Birmingham International station, then take a frequent train to Birmingham New Street. The rail journey is normally about 10–15 minutes. The obvious choice and usually worth paying a little more for on a short match trip because the transfer is quick.
- East Midlands Airport EMA alternative 55 km Take the Skylink bus to Derby railway station, then a train to Birmingham New Street. Allow roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours overall. Ryanair and other budget fares can be cheaper, but the airport has no railway station and the transfer adds considerable time.
- Manchester Airport MAN alternative 100 km Take a train from the airport to Manchester Piccadilly and change for Birmingham New Street. Direct coaches to Birmingham may be cheaper but are usually slower. A useful fallback with a much wider choice of flights, though less attractive for a one-night trip unless the airfare saving is substantial.
🍺 Supporters' pubs
Aston Villa
Home fans: The main home-supporter area is Witton and the streets around Villa Park. Regular choices include The Witton Arms, The Aston Tavern, The Holte Pub, Sacred Heart Club and The Yew Tree. The Witton Arms is generally regarded as the liveliest. The Aston Tavern uses paid matchday admission and a membership system.
Away fans: The Tennis Court on Walsall Road, Perry Barr, has been the police-designated away pub for recent fixtures. In the centre, The Shakespeare near New Street, The Wellington, The Old Joint Stock and The Trocadero are commonly suggested neutral options; Broad Street also has plenty of mixed bars. Avoid relying on pubs immediately around Villa Park: The Witton Arms is strictly home-only, and The Yew Tree and other local venues may refuse away supporters or check tickets. Pub designations can change for European fixtures, so check the visiting club's travel notice and West Midlands Police guidance.
Aston Villa are Birmingham's UEFA Champions League representatives in 2026/27. Away fans are better drinking in the city centre or at the officially designated visiting pub rather than trying home pubs around Witton.
Sourced from supporters' forums — always follow your club's and police advice for the fixture.
Nightlife
Broad Street is the straightforward choice for large bars, late venues and groups who want everything close together. Digbeth has warehouse-style clubs, live music and independent bars, roughly 10–15 minutes' walk from New Street. The Jewellery Quarter suits pub crawls and smaller bars, while Colmore Row and Bennetts Hill have traditional pubs convenient for the station. Hurst Street and the Gay Village offer late bars and clubs south of New Street. Stirchley has excellent independent beer and food spots but is several kilometres out, so it suits groups prepared to use the train or a taxi.
Food & drink
Birmingham's signature dish is the balti: traditionally served sizzling in a thin steel bowl and eaten with naan. Ladypool Road and Stoney Lane around Sparkbrook remain the main areas to look. The city's desi pubs are also worth trying for mixed grills, curries and beer; The Hen and Chickens in the Jewellery Quarter and The Soho Tavern in Hockley are established examples. In the centre, the Chinese Quarter and Birmingham Indoor Market are good for informal meals, while the Jewellery Quarter has traditional pubs and more polished restaurants.
Cheap eats & beer
For cheap central pints, try The Square Peg on Corporation Street, The Briar Rose off New Street or The Figure of Eight on Broad Street. The Wellington on Bennetts Hill has a strong real-ale range, although it is not always as cheap as the chain pubs. Asia Asia Food Hall and the cafés around Birmingham Indoor Market are useful for quick meals, while Ladypool Road has good-value balti, kebab and grill restaurants. Near Villa Park, away choices are limited: The Tennis Court in Perry Barr has recently been the designated visiting-supporters’ pub, but it is around 35–36 minutes on foot from the ground. Most pubs in Witton and immediately around Villa Park cater to home fans, so eating and drinking around New Street before taking the train is generally easier.
Staying safe
The centre and main nightlife districts are busy and generally straightforward, but keep phones and wallets secure around New Street, Broad Street and late-night takeaway queues. Away colours are best kept covered around Villa Park's home pubs and on crowded trains unless police or stewards direct otherwise. Use licensed black cabs, established booking apps or official taxi ranks at night. After the match, follow police directions around Witton station rather than trying to cut through residential streets or home-supporter queues. Agree a central meeting point in case mobile reception becomes poor near the ground.
On matchday
Villa Park's visiting allocation is normally segregated in the Doug Ellis Stand, but use the entrance and turnstile printed on the ticket because arrangements can change. Witton station is closest and becomes heavily congested after full-time, with managed queues and occasional crowd-control measures. Roads immediately around the stadium may close before and after the match, and buses can be diverted. Do not depend on a quick taxi pickup beside the ground. European fixtures can bring different pub designations, ticket checks and policing plans, so read the away club's official supporter information shortly before travelling.