Away Days - Travel Guide: QPR vs. Cardiff City
City kick off 2018 with a trip to London to face Queens Park Rangers on New Year’s Day.
Travel Tips
Situated in White City within the London borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, Bluebirds fans face roughly a three-hour car journey into West London, via the M4. However, our hosts recommend that fans use public transport to reach the stadium. There is extremely limited on-street car parking close to the stadium, and road closures which are applied prior to kick off will make driving to the ground particularly difficult.
The closest Tube stations to the stadium are White City on the Central Line, or Wood Lane on the Hammersmith and City Line. Both of these stations are approximately a five-to-ten-minute walk away from the ground. Those travelling by train from Cardiff Central and arriving at Paddington should head for Wood Lane on the Hammersmith and City Line to directly reach the stadium. Fans wishing to travel by Bus can take the 283 to Bloemfontein Rad or the 72, 95 or 220 to White City Station.
Away End
Loftus Road is the third smallest stadium in the 2017/18 Championship, with an overall capacity of 18,439. It has been the home of QPR since 1904, and was previously inhabited by now defunct team Shepherd’s Bush FC. The stadium is also the former home of London Wasps rugby team.
The away end at QPR is in the BT School End, with visiting fans situated in the upper tier. City fans should access the away end via Ellerslie Road, Gate 2. Around 1,800 fans can be situated in the away end. The new-look QPR matchday programme, ‘Hoops’ is available from the club superstore or from mobile sellers in front of the turnstiles, priced at £3.
Pies and Pints
The range of food available inside the stadium includes Pukka Pies and Cheese & Onion Slices for £3.50, hot dogs for £3.70 and sausage rolls for £3.10. Alcohol is available from the concourse, although fans are reminded that no alcoholic beverages can be taken in view of the pitch. Whilst there are few pubs in the immediate vicinity of the stadium designated for away fans, Belushi’s Bar in the nearby Westfield Shopping Centre is a popular venue for visiting supporters.
A variety of food and drink options are available, with Sky Sports and BT Sports screening the midday match between Brighton and Bournemouth, as well as the evening fixture between Everton and Manchester United.
Food for Thought
Roughly a fifteen-minute walk from the stadium, Westfield Shopping Centre has a vast range of food options, from small bites in a café to sit down evening meals from one of Westfield’s many restaurants. Recommended options include Apostrophe Café, Byron Burgers and Cabana Brazilian Barbeque.
Those City fans who are looking to sample something off the beaten track should look no further than Uxbridge Road, which is host to a variety of independent eateries with an array of global cuisine. Abu Zaad is a popular location which offers Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, whilst unique Jamaican takeaway Ochi has attracted a number of hungry celebrities in the past. After eating, be sure to check out the renowned Princess Victoria and The Defector’s Weld – two famous pubs with a range of superb drinks.
Tourist Time
There are plenty of New Year themed events taking place across London on matchday - the biggest of which being the New Year’s Day Parade. The event commences from noon, and is free for all to watch. The route begins near Green Park Tube station, and ends near the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Also taking place is the Serpentine New Year’s Day 10k Fun Run in Hyde Park.
Closer to the stadium, be sure to check out Shepherd’s Bush Market which offers stalls with a variety of goods. Also near to the ground is the BBC Television Centre, the corporation’s headquarters until 2013, which is now being redeveloped into a hotel and housing complex.
