QPR fans head up the M4 on Tuesday night as the R's start their League Cup campaign with a trip to Swindon Town. Here's the usual travel tips and advice for those making the journey.

Ground Name: County Ground
Capacity: 15 728
Address: County Road, Swindon, SN1 2ED
Main Telephone No: 0870 443 1969
Ticket Office No: 0870 443 1894

By Car
It’s an 80 mile trip from Loftus Road this one, heading out of London on the M4. Leave the motorway at junction 15 and take the third exit onto the A419 signposted Swindon. After just under a mkile branch off to the left then take the first exit at the roundabout onto the A4259 signposted Swindon, Hospital. Pass the Holiday Inn and then at the next roundabout stay on the A4259 by taking the third exit signposted for the town centre. At the Drakes roundabout about a mile and a half later take the first exit, again staying on the A4259 and heading for the town centre. Of course when arriving in Swindon by car you face the terrifying prospect of negotiating the Magic Roundabout next to the ground which is a bizarre formation of five mini roundabouts wrapped around one main one – once you’ve tackled that start looking for a parking space, and a stiff drink.

Map:


Parking As usual the earlier arrivals may be best served by looking for street parking although if you’re happy to pay the best bet is the Cricket Club next to the ground which is past the County Hotel. The ‘football parking’ is well signposted.

Trains Swindon is served by First Great Western train from Paddington heading towards Bristol, Cardiff and Plymouth. There are trains every 15 minutes from London and the journey time is around an hour which means for those working on Tuesday the 1730 (arrives 1831), 1745 (arrives 1840) and 1748 (arrives 1853) probably look the best bet. The 1800 and 1815 would also get you into Swindon in time for the match but you’d be pushing it I think. There’s a prospect of extra time and penalties in this one as well which makes planning a return trip difficult to plan – if it’s over in normal time the 2227 (2336 arrival) will be the one QPR fans aim for, if it goes on longer then the last train of the night leaves at 2314 (arrives London 0034). The standard open return fare for this trip is a quite scandalous £98 so don’t turn up and pay at the station – book in advance now where although the outward trip is extortionately priced (£41) the return journey is available for £7.50 so that would save you the thick end of £40.

I walked from the station to the ground last time in the pouring rain and it’s easily doable I think – ten minutes or thereabouts. Come out of the station and head straight on between the Great Western and Queen’s Tap pubs. Turn left at the end of the road and follow Manchester Road through the lights. At the end of the Manchester Road turn right at the junction and marvel at the Magic Roundabout as the County Ground appears on the left.

Pubs
Those looking for a drink near the ground would probably be best served at the adjacent cricket ground that admits fans of both teams and also offers parking for a small fee as stated above. The Merlin on the other side of the magic roundabout also admit both sets of fans. Fans arriving by train would probably be best served drinking in Swindon town centre and then either walking the 15 minutes to the ground or getting a cab from the station – plenty of pubs within spitting distance of the platforms.

Tickets
Most of the advanced ticket sales for this one were dealt with by Ticket Disaster so if you’ve actually received yours in the post well done, if you haven’t start panicking and if you’ve had one of their reference numbers to collect them with on the night best of luck to you. With the oiks in Manchester left in charge many sensibly decided to chance their arm on the night. 400 tickets remain in the covered side stand but Swindon will open the uncovered bank behind the goal for people paying on the night – there are 2000 seats on there, just pray it doesn’t rain.

Tickets in the covered side stand are very, very reasonably priced with adults available for £10, seniors and students £5 and under 16s £1. Wheelchair tickets are available for £5 and that includes a helper. Rangers fans have until noon on Monday to buy these in advance and gain the precious five loyalty points on offer.

Links
Detailed Ground Guide
Official Website

Photo: Action Images

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