Are you visiting Villa Park as an away fan?

Updated September 2024: This page contains all of the information you need as visiting supporter.

If there is anything not covered or you have any questions, please get in touch (info@villaunderground.com) or send a DM via Twitter.

Where do away fans sit at Villa Park?

If attending a Premier League or Champions League fixture as an away fan, you will be seated in the Doug Ellis stand. You will be divided between an upper and a lower tier, and access via Witton Lane.

View from the away end:

For cup games and where visiting sides are entitled to higher allocations, you will likely take up the entire North Stand, pictured below. You’ll be behind the goal, rather than in the corner when seated in the Upper/Lower Doug Ellis.

(c) Villa Underground – ‘Wycombe Wanderers At Villa Park’.

Traditionally away fans were seated in the Lower North stand (pictured above) but in recent years have been housed in a two tiered section of the Doug Ellis stand.  This move, whilst not changing your vantage point hugely, does give you marginally improved facilities over the more dated North Stand. Disappointingly plans to rebuild this area of the ground have been deferred.

Villa Park is a modern, but traditional stadium with a great atmosphere.  The stadium has a capacity of 42,682, backed by a 30,000 season ticket holders, a number restricted by the club.  Villa currently has a waiting list in excess of 26,000 (July 2024) for season tickets, underlying the strength of support for one of the games founder members.

League Fixtures

Embed from Getty Images

Expect to find yourself housed in the Doug Ellis stand on Witton Lane.

You will have Villa fans to your right, many of whom opted to take up lowest priced season tickets in the ground and who want to get closer to away fans for a little extra atmosphere.  To your left you will be segregated from Villa fans in both upper and lower tiers.

Note that this part of the ground is two tiers and you will be unable to move between concourses.  You will be on the North-East section of the ground, with a maximum allocation of 3100 seats.

The Doug Ellis (more commonly known to Villa fans as The Witton Lane Stand) is a notoriously narrow owing to it’s close promximity to the road behind.  Last over-hauled in 1993, it’s beginning to show it’s age when compared to modern stadia.  However, it does boast impressive unrestricted views of the pitch.

The concourse is particularly narrow in the upper tier and can be a pinch point at half-time.

SEATING LAYOUT

CUP FIXTURES

Away End – The North Stand

Embed from Getty Images

Due to the need to provide visiting teams a greater capacity it’s more common that you will have the entire North Stand (Upper & Lower).  If there is additional demand, clubs have taken a full allocation to include the Doug Ellis tiers mentioned above.

Whilst Villa Park is a generally modern stadium, the North Stand (built in 1977) is now the oldest section of the ground and has facilities which unfortunately reflect this.  Major redevelopment was planned for 2023, but was put on hold after Villa successfully qualified for the Champions League in 2024/25.

However, whilst the amenities and refreshed exterior impression leave a great deal to be desired, the views are unrestricted and offer great vantage points of the pitch.  The centre upper North Stand seating has particularly good viewing, if a choice is to be had.

Villa supporters ordinarily resident in the North Stand for league games are relocated as Cup games dictate.

LEAGUE FIXTURES

Away End – Doug Ellis Stand:

Embed from Getty Images

Whilst a simple seating plan, as an away fan you will be split over 2 tiers if your club has taken their full allocation (3100).

The upper tier has a 64 step stair climb.  Something that’s worth keeping in mind.  The lower concourse is a larger open space, but the upper is a more cramped affair.  All seats have plenty of leg room and decent, unrestricted views.

The lower tier offers good atmosphere with vocal Villa fans who sit in the Lower North Stand in close proximity.  These home supporters mostly moved from areas within The Holte End, taking advantage of lower ticket prices and the prospect of better “banter“.

If you are late, Villa keep 2 turnstiles open for away fans (1 for upper/lower tier).  You will be able to get in until around half time.

Beer: Beware!

If expecting a beer in the ground, we’ve heard that you can sometimes only do so if you are in the lower tier of the Doug Ellis.  The upper tier does not have the room for a bar as its a narrow affair. If you find yourself in the upper concourse, be aware that you will be unable to wander to the lower level. As with all UK grounds, no alcoholic drinks can be taken into the ground or to your seat.

Due to a handful of visiting numpties, there are now a good number of games where alcohol isn’t served at all due to previous incidents of trouble.  These licensing restrictions tend to be applied for local derbies and where conduct of previous visiting clubs has been an issue.  You may need to do your homework on this – speak to your fan liaison or an officer attached to your travelling contingent.

This ban generally extends to all local sides (Birmingham City, WBA, Wolves), but also to an increasing number of returning clubs as well.

As with most football grounds, the food & drink is overall priced on the high side, with quality/variety leaving a lot to be desired.  However, whilst club was rated 1st for affordability and food in 2021, Villa have become significantly more commercially driven since.  Scepticism aside, the range and offer of food and drink has been developed significantly in recent seasons.  This includes periodic pop-ups from the highly acclaimed Digbeth Dining Club vendors and independent street food options.  These are to be easily found behind the North Stand area of the ground.

AWAY FAN PUBS

There is no dedicated away supporter pub at Villa Park. Those supporters who have attended throughout the years may have been familiar with The Witton Arms, directly by Witton Station. This has since undergone refurbishment and been transformed into a home fan-only pub.

The advice of this blog is if arriving by train into Birmingham New Street, to take advantage of a plethora of pubs/bars in the city centre before taking the short local train out to Witton Station.

Take a chance: If you are not in colours and can do your best Jack Grealish accent, there are pop up bars in ‘fan zones’ behind the Holte End (on the car park) and on the far side of the North Stand (look for the pavilion). These can be busy, particularly in the hour or so before kick off, but offer the only option of a beer outside the ground pre-match. Note there is limited cover in these areas, so you will be crossing your fingers when it comes to the weather.

Alternative away pubs near Villa Park

‘The Bartons Arms’ (144 High Street, B6 4UP),

*RECOMMENDED*

The ‘The Bartons Arms‘ is well worth a visit as a historic landmark in its own right. Re-opened in 2024 after a sudden closure, grown-up away fans not in colours will be welcome to take in this fantastic old pub that also serves great food. It is approximately a 20-25 minute walk to Villa Park from here.

If arriving in Birmingham city centre via New Street train station (now known as “Grand Central”); There are two large Wetherspoons pubs nearby. Avoid the Spoons at the station as that gets very, very busy.  Closest is The Briar Rose but you’ll also find ‘The Square Peg‘ nearby too:

‘The Shakepeare‘ Victorian pub is within very close proximity to the station exit as well and tends to be popular with away fans. They do food but there are nearby fast food joints as well as supermarkets:

Looking for something a little different?  Why not try the subterranean Bacchus Bar.  Highly recommended underground bar and restaurant if you’re looking for a hideaway as a small discreet group. Look for the downward stairs in the Burlington Arcade and you’re on the right path. You’ll get no signal in this bar, so be mindful of that!

Also within walking distance of New Street Station is The Old Joint Stock.  Here you’ll find a great selection of beers and a bar full of character.  This area is circled by bars and eateries, including the popular Albert Schloss. If staying in Birmingham after the game why not try the Digbeth area of the city, and explore places like Hockley Social for casual food/drinks.

If your game should coincide with the festive season, you’ll also have access to the Frankfurt Christmas Market.  I’ve yet to find anyone who buys from their tat stalls, but if steins of beer and footlong bratwurst are your thing, you should stop by.  The market runs from early November until 23rd December annually.

Local Knowledge

It has been known that upon arriving at Villa Park by coach you will be encouraged by the local peace keepers to enter the ground where you can get “a drink”.

Depending on the tier and licensing decision for the fixture you could be out of luck.  The chances are increasingly that you will not be able to get a beer in the ground.

It’s therefore a good idea to take a wander down to nearby off-licenses for refreshments. See above for suggestions.

There is a large Tesco on Aston Lane, as well as numerous off-licenses and takeaways, all on the away end of the stadium.

Flags & Banners

Whilst the club has a policy of not permitting flags or banners being tied or draped, this doesn’t appear consistently enforced.

It’s not uncommon to see flags draped between the tiers or empty seats within the Doug Ellis stand for league games.

For Cup Games (where visiting fans have been moved for a larger allocation), the North Stand has two tiers of executive boxes directly below.  The likelihood is that flags will be removed if obscuring the view below.

In fixtures where netting has been used in the North Stand, the club seems to turn a blind eye to banners being draped across them (as pictured at the top of this page against Wycombe Wanderers).

Villa have netted off the first few rows of the Upper North Stand on occasion, which allows for flags to be draped or tied to the empty blocks.

Villa Park does have a history of removing banners where an anti-club or political message has been displayed.

The latest stance on banners/flags is available via the FSF website and states:

“For away supporters, we are happy to try and help the displaying of your flag and/or banner at Villa Park within the away area at Villa Park. Please email a photograph of your flag and/or banner to lee.preece@avfc.co.uk at least three days prior to your visit. We reserve the right to refuse admission to any flag or banner. Please get in touch in advance so we can confirm arrangements and avoid disappointing you on the day of the match.”

Aston Villa Away Ticket Prices

There is some variation in ticket prices for away fans at Villa Park.  However, some fixtures are included in a scheme whereby both clubs subsidise the costs reciprocally.

Ticket prices are generally £30+

Alternatively you can take a major risk on matchday and visit the official ticket office based behind the North Stand where any remaining away tickets may be on general sale.

Obviously, if an away fan you risk ejection/refused entry if using this option to sit in the home end unless attending as a neutral.  Purchase of match tickets is available online via the clubs website and requires a digital membership (free).  Tickets purchased online can be scanned at the turnstile via a QR code or NFC on your mobile phone.

Car Parking

Check out this handy guide.

Directions to Villa Park

Note there are restrictions in and around Villa Park on matchdays.

The ground lies amongst dense residential housing and access/parking in nearby side-streets is limited but clearly marked with the following large signs:

Cars parked in these areas without resident’s permits are easy picking for traffic wardens, so it’s really not worth the gamble.

Villa Park (Aston Villa) Address:

Sat Nav:

Aston Villa,

Villa Park,

Trinity Rd,

Birmingham

B6 6HE

Map:

Public Transport

Train: You can arrive at Villa Park to either Witton or Aston stations, often having connected via Birmingham New Street.  There are very mixed experiences of what is a service that struggles to adequately meet the needs of moving capacity crowds.  This has improved but can be an unreliable local service at times, particularly for evening games and if you are not connecting back towards Birmingham New Street.

Bus: Current bus routes including specials can be found here.

Tram: The Midland Metro does not currently connect to Villa Park.

Underground: There is no underground or subway system in Birmingham!

Taxi: You can use popular ride hailing apps.  It’s best to let the crowds die down and walk outside of the immediate congestion around the ground before doing so.  Note there is an exclusion zone around the ground on matchdays and the immediate exit points outside of this can become gridlocked as car-parks and supporters leave en masse.

GETTING TO VILLA PARK

BY CAR

Exit the M6 at Junction 6 and take the slip road signposted ‘Birmingham (NE)’. Take the fourth exit from the roundabout, towards City Centre/Aston/Star City and follow the signs for Villa Park. At the second set of traffic lights on Lichfield Road turn right on Aston Hall Road, which will take you to the ground.

REMEMBER: There is very little parking in the vicinity of Villa Park. The closest available car park is at the Star City Leisure complex, which is easily a 30 minutes’ walk from the ground.

BY TRAIN

From Birmingham New Street station. Take a connecting train from there to either Aston or Witton train station. We recommend Witton as its closest to the away fans’ entrance. Head left out of the exit of the station towards a roundabout, where you turn left into Witton Lane and the away entrance will appear on your right. It is about a 2 minute walk from Aston station to the ground and extra trains serve the entire route on a matchday.

BY AIR

Birmingham Airport is perhaps the obvious choice for travellers arriving by air. It offers the majority in European and some select international routes. The airport as of 2024 has struggled with positive PR as it continues on a modernisation plan. This is much needed but it has brought disruption to the regions primary airport. Positives are excellent rail connections into Birmingham New Street and in turn Witton. Arrivals can also book a taxi on arrival, albeit at a premium price.

Often overlooked is East Midlands airport, which has very good regional UK airlinks as well as offering a sometimes cheaper option to connect to Dublin via low cost carrier Ryanair. The airport is also often overlooked by supporters arriving from Spain, with Ryanair and Jet2.

Away Disabled Access, Seating & Facilities:

Away supporters with wheelchairs cannot currently be “accommodated” within the away area at Villa Park.

Fans requiring wheelchair access view the game via the Trinity Road stand, the most modern section of Villa Park.

Full details of Aston Villa’s provision for disabled supporters (home and away) can be found via this dedicated page on the official site.

If a supporter requires a Personal Assistant (PA or Support Worker) to aid them in attending the match, they are granted free entry.  This is subject to eligibility criteria.

Level Playing Field promotes good access to grounds for all fans.  It is also an excellent resource for football accessibility information and news in general.

A detailed independent overview of Villa Park’s current accessibility for disabled fans is available here.  This also contains first hand supporter experiences of access, treatment & accessibility from a visiting fan perspective.

Covid-19 (Archived)

**Note that there are currently no restrictions at Villa Park post pandemic** If you were an overseas supporter, either home or away, we maintained updated information on what you needed to know and do following changes to UK government guidance at the time. You can refer to this information to learn about what Covid travel requirements were in place and how Villa Park managed capacity/venue restrictions as government rules dictated.  Click here to read the article.

Anything missing?

If you want to know anything about your visit to Villa Park that isn’t answered here, feel free to get in touch in the comments below or via Twitter.