Directions to the
New Lawn, Forest Green.

Due to Flooding in July 2007 Gloucester City have entered into a groundsharing arrangement with Forest Green Rovers and will be playing home fixtures at the New Lawn, Forest Green, Nailsworth until further notice.
Scroll further down the page to find travel directions to Meadow Park, but there's not much to see at our 'home' at present....

Directions by Road

From North or South leave M5 at J13 signposted for Stroud A419. Follow A419 to Stroud, and then on entering town take right at roundabout to pick up A46 singposted for Nailsworth & Bath, passing through Dudbridge and then taking right turn at lights to remain on southbound A46.

Follow A46 from Stroud to Nailsworth for 3 miles, passing the Crown Inn on the right. As you enter the centre of Nailsworth you approach a mini-roundabout. Take right turn here into Spring Hill and follow steep hill upwards for nearly a mile as it becomes Nympsfield Road. You will pass new housing on the left (built on site of the old Lawn football ground) and approximately 300 yards reach a roundabout. Turn left here for the New Lawn stadium. The main car park accomodates approximately 250 cars and City will not be charging for parking. There is some additional on street parking in the nearby residential areas to the right or back down the hill, but take care of any cones or signs advising no parking as clampers and police do operate in the area.

Nailsworth town centre mini-roundabout to turn up Spring Hill to Forest Green.
Approach from south is pic on left (take left turn). Pic on right is approach from Gloucester and the north (take right turn).

Alternative Routes:

• From Gloucester or Cheltenham and north.
  Follow old Stroud Road A4173 out of Gloucester via Whaddon, picking up A46 Cheltenham and Painswick road to approach Stroud before
  picking up directions to Nailsworth on A46 above. (NB: Diversions are in place at Salmon Springs just north of Stroud due to flood landslip
  blocking A46 - repairs likely until early 2008).
  
• From Gloucester cross country, not suitable for nervous drivers or large vehicles!
  Leave M5 at J13 signposted for Stroud on A419. Almost immediately take right turn into village of Eastington. Passing through village turn
  right to Frocester and pass again through village heading east up steep hill. At cross roads pass over B4066 following signs to Nympsfield,
  taking first left turn down into village. In Nympsfield pass over staggered crossroads, following signs out of village for Forest Green and
  Nailsworth. This road narrows as it leaves Nympsfield and is one lane with passing places. Continue past large wind turbine until entering
  northern outskirts of Forest Green, New Lawn is on right off roundabout as you approach built-up area.
  
• From South or M4 and East.
  Leave M4 at J18 and follow A46 Bath Road north, passing Old Sodbury and Petty France following signs to Nailsworth. Pass through Nailsworth
  until reaching town centre and mini-roundabout referred to above, take left turn into Spring Hill and follow directions.

For more details click here for alternative internet map with street names from Streetmap

Railway

The nearest train station to Forest Green is in Stroud and still four miles to the ground the other side of Nailsworth.
Bus 93, run by Stagecoach Stroud Valleys, runs from Stroud Bus Station (5 minutes’ walk from the railway station, through the Merrywalks shopping centre) to Nailsworth and Forest Green at 30 minute intervals.
(NB. The 93 also runs from Gloucester bus station, see below).
Note there is no return bus available to get you to the train after an evening game.
Taxi: Around £6-7, journey time 10-15 mins.

Last Saturday afternoon train leaves Glos BR at 13:02 direct to arrive at Stroud at 13:19.
First Saturday afternoon return train leaves Stroud at 18:40 to arrive back at Glos BR for 19:01.
Last evening leaves Glos BR at 17:43 direct to arrive at Stroud at 18:00.
Last evening return train leaves Stroud at 22:20 to arrive back at Glos BR for 22:43.
Return Ticket - £3.90, based on an adult cheap day return price.
(Because the rail system has now entirely disappeared into the rabbit hole it may be cheaper to buy separate singles.)

To check latest train travel advice, times and prices visit National Rail Enquiries online.

93 Bus

The 93 bus mentioned above runs first from Gloucester to Forest Green via Stroud. The bus joureny takes approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes from the city centre and leaves the Bruton Way Gloucester bus station at 12:00 or 13:00 for Saturday afternoon games, or at 17:10 or 18:00 for midweek evening matches. The route passes through Linden, past St Barnabas roundabout and upper Tuffley on the Stroud Road.

On Saturday afternoons the last bus returns to Gloucester from Foxes Dell at 18:05. The sting in the tail is you can't get back this way from an evening kick-off as the last bus is long departed - but perhaps someone will let you hitch home...

For more details on the bus call Stagecoach on (01453) 763 421 for further information, or alternatively click here for timetable details (opens as a PDF file using Acrobat Reader).

Click here for more details on the New Lawn Stadium and matchday information
or visit the Forest Green Rovers website for further details on the stadium and its history.

Visitors' Extras

Local Pubs

Many people seem to head straight for the ground where the Green Man bar outside the stadium complex is fine for a few pre-match jars, if not exactly at bargain prices. Back down in the town there are a few pleasant enough country town pubs, including the big Britannia hotel (pictured left). Do bear in mind that any drinks in Nailsworth do still leave you with the considerable uphill hike up to Forest Green and the ground.

 

 

Local Food, Facilities & Cashpoints

Best place to stop for food and local amenities is in the small car park behind the main High Street. Following directions above, this is a quick first left after the mini-roundabout taking you up Spring Hill towards Forest Green. There is a Tesco Express store here for sandwiches (or a slightly larger Co-Op a bit further up the road), and the McCoys chip shop for warm food, or an Indian and Chinese also nearby if you have time to stop for a little longer.
The Tesco Express (pictured left) also boasts one of those gloriously promiscuous RBS cash points to make sure you have plenty to spend on City merchandising once you get to the New Lawn. Lloyds and HSBS also have cash points on the main road.

 

Nailsworth town centre itself is also worth a look if you have a spare half an hour. It might not be large enough to satisfy a whole afternoon of alternative entertainment to the football, but it is an old historic wool town and has a fair few spots of prettiness. There also a few diverting shops selling antiques, crafts, old books and organic produce - you kind of get the idea. The town is also well served by restaurants - ranging from the Walkers Fish Bar (pictured right) to a range of seriously rated and posh restaurants that are amongst the best in the county. Strangely Nailsworth always seems to have punched well above its census weight on cuisine and if you want to celebrate a victory there's little need to head back to Stroud or Gloucester for a good meal.

 

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Directions to Meadow Park

Directions by Road

From the North: Leave the M5 at Junction 11 and follow A40 signs to Gloucester, at roundabout turn right (3rd exit) onto dual carriageway following A40 towards Forest of Dean, straight on at first roundabout. At second roundabout take A417 into City Centre bearing right around the Homebase island and follow signs to the Historic Docks along the Quay with River Severn on your right and the prison on your left. Take next right across the swing bridge onto Severn Road and then right again onto Llanthony Road/ Hempstead Lane past the Colin Campbell pub. The ground is signposted second right turn into Sudmeadow Road with Meadow Park and limited car parking on the left.

From the South: From the M5 (Junction 12) following signs to Gloucester, take the second exit at the first roundabout on to the A38 (dual carriageway). At the traffic lights go straight ahead following signs for City centre on the A430 (Bristol Road). At the Peel Centre (with Burger King and Toys 'R' Us on the left) traffic lights continue to follow signs to City centre. The ground is sign posted from the 8th (Eighth) set of traffic lights from the M5, turn left here into Llanthony Road towards Hempstead, over the swing bridge and follow the road around to the left, past the Colin Campbell pub. The ground is signposted second right turn into Sudmeadow Road with Meadow Park and limited car parking on the left.

For more details check the Map (click to enlarge)- .

Petrol

Heading north the best stop is the Esso station on the left of the A417, opposite the dreaded Homebase island. Follow the road beside the river past the prison, and it is about a mile from Meadow Park. If you are going south out of the city there are a number of stations on Bristol Road (A430) once you pass The Avenue pub and Lidl traffic lights. 

Railway Station

Gloucester is on the main line with regular trains available to London, Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff. The station is about a mile and a half from Meadow Park, opposite the bus station. Head into town and you should find your way onto the 1950s architectural disaster which is King's Square (much improved in recent years, but you'll still know when you've arrived). The square also boasts the city's obligatory Wetherspoons pub in the old cinema. Head towards Debenhams on the far side and walk beside Debenhams to find your way onto Northgate Street, with the Cross to your left.

Visitors' Extras

Local Pubs

Top match pub is the Golden Cross on Southgate Street, although Kings on Northgate Street is also football, if not City, friendly. Nearer to the ground is the docks where Dr Fosters is a popular stopping off point. On Bristol Road adjacent to the docks are two other pubs on many pre-match pub routes, especially The Whitesmiths and The Tall Ships for cheap beer and a pool table.

The nearest pub to Meadow Park is the Colin Campbell on Severn Road which now does lunchtime food and is serviceable and less of a dive after refurbishment. Once here though you may as well head on to the ground and drink in the social club.

Chip Shops and Takeaways

The nearest chip shop is Smileys on Spa Lights. Follow Severn Road over the bridge and past the National Waterways museum to the traffic lights. Smileys is across the road on your right. A drive-in Burger King is past Smileys at the Peel Centre, take right at the next lights after Spa Lights.

For other food head into town by going to Spa Lights (see above) and turning left at the lights, onto Southgate Street. Walk past the docks and you should pass another chip shop, a kebab shop, and a Chinese. For McDonalds follow Southgate Street until the Cross, here turn left down Westgate Street (sorry, no cars). For good kebabs turn right at the Cross onto Eastgate Street, walk for about half a mile until you see Forest Kebabs on your left, just before the leisure centre.

Restaurants

Most city centre pubs do good lunches, but if you want a decent evening meal easiest to find are either the Brasseria (Spanish) on Bristol Road, a few yards down from Smileys chip shop (see above) and right from Spa Lights. Alternatively try Topoly's (Italian) on Southgate Street, left at Spa Lights and opposite the Triangle -better food than the scruffy facade might suggest. If you continue south down Bristol Road by turning right at Spa Lights and passing Burger King you'll find a couple of Indian curry houses too.

 

Shops and Tourist Attractions

Gloucester has become a popular tourist city, all the main shops are found in a compact area around the Cross, about a mile from Meadow Park. The Docks is very popular with visitors, and is close to the football ground. Tall ships are often docked here, while regular attractions include the National Waterways Museum, the PackAge Museum and an antiques centre as well as several shops and pubs. The most obvious Gloucester attraction is the magnificent cathedral that dominates the skyline (visible from the T-End), and the finest in the northern hemisphere.

Evening Entertainment

Gloucester is good for getting bladdered, but not a great deal else. The Guildhall Arts Centre occasionally has good bands and also has an art house cinema. There is a  multiscreen cinema at the Peel Centre, by Burger King, right at Spa Lights, and then right again at next lights. If you want to go to a club there is the recently re-named Liquid off Westgate Street, or The Avenue underneath the Leisure Centre at the end of Eastgate Street. Crackers behind the bus station and near the railway station plays a good range of indie and alternative music. Unfortunately though, much as it pains me to say it, if you want clubs you're better off heading over to Ch#*tenham.

Cash Points:

The best place to head if you need money is the city centre. The HSBC is on the Cross with the Royal Bank of Scotland's sluttish cash point that's unfussy as to whose bank card you give it is opposite on Westgate Street. Barclays machines are in a side alley off Southgate Street, while Lloyds are on Eastgate Street by the old Guildhall.

Weekend Breaks

If you fancy making an away trip to Gloucester part of a longer holiday in the area contact the Gloucester Tourism Webpage for hotels or guesthouses. For further information on the area call in at the local tourist office at 28 Southgate Street or phone (01452) 421188.

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