Newcastle Match Day Guide: Everything You Need for the Ultimate NUFC Experience (2025)

Areet! I assume you are here as it’s your first time coming to watch a football match at St James Park, either Newcastle United NUFC Womens or NUFC Men or for another team or potentially the upcoming Euros. I’m here to help you. Whether you are a die hard Toon Army or you want to experience what proper English football culture is all about, you are in the right place.

This guide covers the basis of what you need to know for your Newcastle United match day, from actually getting your hands on tickets to where the locals go for a pint before kickoff and what you can do before the match itself like where to eat, and what you can do if you don’t fancy a drink, and what you can take inside St James Stadium.

In a Rush? Here are some great Hotels to stay during your Newcastle Stay

⭐⭐⭐ Motel One Newcastle – modern, city centre location, near Grey street, and pet friendly.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Maldron Hotel – Located about 10 minutes from the Stadium, it is near the Gate and also 2 minutes to Eldon Square.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sandman Signature Hotel – stylish, clean and central, and it’s next to the Stadium itself and the Stack is opposite, plus Shark bar is connected.

⭐⭐⭐ Kabannas Newcastle – Clean, simple, hostel with choices of sharing and individual and nice vibes from what I was told, and about 20 minutes walk to the stadium(depends how fast you walk)
⭐⭐⭐ Easy Hotel Newcastle – clean, modern, simple, some has windows and some don’t, they have an accessible room too. By the Quayside, about 10 mins to the monument.

or if you prefer hostels, there are a few hostels in the city centre itself and from what I was told, they are not bad.

Tip: Book early. Prices might rise closer to football match dates.

Also if you are planning to drive, you can check if any of these car rates are suitable for you.

Just a heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Your support helps me continue provide the best information to help you with your travels. Thank you!

Quick St James Park Match Day Essentials:

If you are looking to book your tickets, look them up at least 2-3 weeks ahead, especially for the big games against teams like Liverpool or Manchester United. Get to Newcastle upon Tyne around 2 to 3 hours before kickoff so you can properly soak up the atmosphere at the pubs near the stadium. Turnstiles open 90 minutes from the start of the actual match.

Local Transport gets absolutely heaving after the final whistle, so either walk back to town or wait half an hour before heading to the Metro.

Why Newcastle Match Days Are Different

St James’ Park stadium ground is located quite conveniently in Newcastle Upon Tyne city centre, quite literally next to the RVI hospital and Chinatown.

The stadium holds 52,000 people, making it one of the biggest in the Premier League. It gets loud and it is amazing, when you are anywhere around the city centre mainly on the street by the green or on Northumberland street, you can hear the cheers, boos and the grunts. My thing is to guess if they scored, or maybe it was a penalty kick or a failed kicked just from the sounds (if you are not inside the stadium obviously).

The passion is real for the Geordies. Win, lose, or draw (and let’s be honest, there’s been plenty of all three over the years), Newcastle fans turn up and make noise. It’s so nice to see three generations of families all wearing matching black and white shirts, grandads bringing their grandkids to their first match, creating memories they’ll talk about for years.

Getting Your Hands on Newcastle United Tickets

This can be the trickiest part, not gonna lie. NUFC tickets sell out fast.

Official Ticket Route

Your best bet is the Newcastle United official website. Tickets usually go on sale about 4 to 6 weeks before each match. If you’re planning multiple visits, getting a membership (around £35 for the year) helps as members get first dibs on tickets.

Prices can depend on who is playing against Newcastle United and also where you want to sit. For your average Premier League match, you’re looking at potentially £30-50 for seats behind the goal, going up to £60-70 for better views along the sides. The big matches for example like with Liverpool, Manchester United, the derby against Sunderland which we will have in 2026, those can cost more, sometimes £60-80 for decent seats.

Ticket Resale Options

If the official site’s sold out (which happens a lot), there are authorised resale platforms. The club has its own ticket exchange, or you can try sites like Stubhub. Just be ready to pay over face value for big matches.

Please don’t buy tickets from random people outside the stadium. It is tempting but fake tickets are a thing and you’ll be absolutely gutted paying a lot for a piece of paper that won’t scan. Personally I wouldn’t risk it unless you absolutely sure.

VIP Treatment at St James Park

If you fancy on splashing out, they have hospitality packages which starts around £150-200 per person. With the VIP package, you will get cushioned seats (the regular seats are plastic), you can sit either indoors in the lounge or outdoors, access to lounges with food and drinks included, and the whole VIP treatment.

When to Actually Arrive at St James Stadium for the football match

I wouldn’t suggest arriving 20 minutes before kickoff. I mean you can for the regulars season ticket holders who knows the layout but first timers, maybe not so much unless you are super late by exceptional circumtances.

For a 3pm Saturday kickoff, I’d be getting to Newcastle city centre by around noon time. This gives you time to grab some food, have a few pints, soak up some pre-match atmosphere, and get to your seat without sprinting up Barrack Road or other the other leazes entrances.

The streets around St James’ Park start filling up about an hour before kickoff. By 90 minutes before, the Strawberry and the Stack and the Trent are absolutely rammed with fans drinking, and getting hyped up for the match.

Don’t forget the entrance to the stadium (turnstiles) can be a long line, so also factor this in to your time especially for the major games like the Championship matches.

If you’re coming from outside Newcastle Upon Tyne, factor in extra time. The Metro gets super busy on match days, and trains from other cities can be delayed. I’ve seen people miss kickoff because they thought 30 minutes would be enough time from Central Station. Spoiler: it’s not, especially when you add in security queues.

The turnstiles open 90mins before the match start time.

How to get to St James’ Park stadium

The stadium being in the city centre makes it easy to reach, but match day transport can be hectic.

Taking the Metro

St James Metro station is right next to the stadium, literally a 3 minute walk from the turnstiles. Take the Yellow or Green line to St James and you’re sorted.

A return ticket from Monument station (city centre) costs about £2.80, or grab a Day Saver for £6.20 if you’re planning to use the Metro a few times throughout the day or return (they don’t have a return option). The only catch is after the final whistle, that station becomes an absolute scrum. Imagine hundreds of people trying to squeeze onto trains.

My tip? Walk down to Monument station or Central Station (depending where you want to head to) instead. It’s only 10 minutes away and potentially less crowded than Haymarket.

Driving (Don’t Though)

Look, I’m just going to say it, driving to a match is asking for a headache. Parking around the stadium is either residents-only or costs a fortune (£15-20 for a few hours). After the match, traffic is gridlocked for ages.

If you absolutely must drive, park in one of the city centre car parks like The Gate or Eldon Square if you are there early enough and walk up. You can check DiscoverCars for parking options with better rates than on-site parking.

Or park in Jesmond or near Central Station, and walk into the Newcastle City centre, its about maybe 20 minutes walk from Jesmond depending where you are, or Sandyford Road which is nearer and off street parking.

Walking from Newcastle City centre

It’s a 15-20 minute walk from Grey Street or the Quayside up to St James’ Park. The route takes you up some hills because, well, this is Newcastle Upon Tyne and we don’t do flat, it’s a hilly city especially around Grey Street area. But it’s perfectly safe and you’ll be walking alongside hundreds of other fans all heading the same way.

Just wear comfortable shoes.

Where to Eat and Drink Before or After Kickoff

There’s plenty to visit around the stadium. The pubs around the stadium are packed with fans and the atmosphere is absolutely class. Depending the time of the match, if it’s late then potentially dinner prior to the match. If its earlier, then I reckon people do dinner after or lunch before but definitely almost always drinks.

The Strawberry Pub (The Legendary Must-Visit)

Right next to St James’ Park, the Strawberry is THE iconic NUFC match day pub. It’s been the spiritual home of Toon fans for generations and stepping inside on match day is like entering a black and white shrine.

The pub is busy from about 1pm onwards. Everyone’s friendly, the beer flows constantly, and it gets quite busy (before and after the match).

They do food, standard pub grub like burgers and pies but people go for the atmosphere more than the food. A pint will set you back around £5-6, which is pretty standard for match day pricing in Newcastle.

Get there early if you want any chance of getting served quickly. By 2pm it’s absolutely rammed and you’ll be queuing 15 minutes just for a drink.

The Stack

Opposite to the stadium grounds on Pilgrim Street, the Stack is a completely different vibe. The stack is a shipping container area with multiple food vendors, bars, and outdoor seating in the middle. It has a massive screen with plenty of bench seating in front. Sometimes, they even do karaoke nights.

This place is perfect if you’re with a group and everyone wants different food. One person can grab a burger from one vendor, another can get Korean fried chicken, someone else can go for pizza. There’s loads of choice and prices are reasonable, around £8-12 for most meals.

The outdoor atmosphere on a sunny match day is fantastic. You get a proper festival vibe with music blasting, crowds of fans in black and white, and a younger demographic generally but all ages mostly. They’ve got heating lamps for when it’s freezing, which in Newcastle is most of the year to be fair.

I’m quite partial to the wood-fired pizza from Pizza Punks inside the Stack. Massive portions, tasty, and only about £10-12. And of course, Gyros from Acropolis, it’s delicious, big portion and hits the spot.

Other Pre-Match bars and pubs worth knowing

Shearer’s Bar is another match day institution, named after the Newcastle legend himself. It’s attached to the stadium so you can’t get more convenient. Expect it to be absolutely packed though.

The Trent House on Leazes Lane is a good shout. Still busy on match days but you might actually find a table. Or just hangout outside the pub and mingle with the crowd.

For something a bit different, The Dog and Parrot on Clayton Street is about a 10 to 15 minute walk from the stadium and tends to be quieter. They do decent Thai food alongside the usual pub stuff, which is nice if you want an actual meal before the match.

Or Roses Bar by the Chinatown gate, it’s a traditional pub, nice vibe and also close to the stadium.

Or the Magpie pub (which was previously called the Goose) by the Tesco and a taxi ramp, and a free cash point around the corner, located on Percy street. Very close to the stadium and is pretty great inside.

If you fancy eating properly before heading to the pubs, check out my full Newcastle food guide for loads more recommendations around the city centre. Just leave enough time to get to the stadium afterwards.

Also Greggs is always a great option, pizza, steak bake, vegan sausage rolls, potato wedges and more, the one in Eldon Square has seating inside.

Where do Away fans drink in Newcastle?

There are plenty of places, sometimes both teams can mingle in the same pub, if early normally people are generally friendly to one another here as long as its light banter.

There are plenty of pubs to choose from, but most away fans use pubs around the trains station.

The ‘Head Of Steam’ (NE1 5EN) ‘The Lounge’ (NE1 5EN) and ‘O’Neills’ (NE1 5DF) are all recommended, but some will only admit fans if colours are covered and none admit children. Nearby is ‘The Union Rooms’ (NE1 1TT), a Wetherspoons pub called the Miles End.

Closer to the ground and round the corner from China Town is ‘The Newcastle Arms and the Sharks Club.

There’s also the Newcastle Uni Weatherspoon called Luthers which is chill, and as always be sensible and respectable.

Where to watch the game as a solo traveller?

If you are a solo traveller, it depends what you fancy doing, the list I mentioned above works for solo travellers to watch a game. The Stack, the Magpie pub, Strawberry pub and The Trent are good choices either on match days or Euros for example. Also they are great for meeting people as well.

If you fancy a quieter spot, not too rowdy, there are places like The Old George, Akenside Terrace at the Quayside or pubs around Ouseburn, its up and coming and very chill hip vibe, there’s a spot called Ouseburn Garden but it might get cold. And most of these places are safe to my knowledge.

What to Wear to a Newcastle United Match

Newcastle fans are serious about their black and white stripes. The majority of the crowd will be in team shirts, scarves, or at least something black and white.

You don’t have to wear the full kit to fit in, I usually just wear a black jacket myself but definitely avoid wearing the opposing team’s colours around the stadium area. You can of course, people can tell the difference and they won’t do anything, Newcastle Upon Tyne is a friendly city generally, most are lovely, and you can have a random chat. They may take a piss here and there when drunk but most of the time in jest. But like any other city, keep your wits about you.

Dress for the weather, I din this most important, as it can be cold, rain and hail in one day depending on which season you are coming to. St James’ Park is an open stadium and the weather can change in literally minutes. I’ve been to April matches where it’s snowed, and October games where I’ve needed sunglasses. Layers are your best friend.

If you’re up in the upper tiers, it gets windy. Bring a jacket even if it looks gorgeous when you leave your hotel. Trust me on this. Unless you don’t mind the cold or the wind.

Can I bring a bag into St James’ Park stadium?

You can bring a bag into St James’ Park for a football match, just keep in mind that bags will be checked by security and make sure it is not larger than an A4 size bag. Also if you have a medical bag, email the stadium about it first and they will be able to assist you.

Inside St James’ Park: What to Expect

The stadium’s showing its age a bit in places but the atmosphere more than makes up for any lack of fancy modern facilities. Also I have another post where you see what St James Park Stadium looks like inside, pictures and the stadium tour.

Food and Drink Inside

The concessions sell your typical stadium fare. Pies (steak, chicken, cheese and onion) for around £4-5, hot dogs, burgers, and chips. The quality is exactly what you’d expect – fine but nothing to write home about.

Beer’s available but expensive (£5-6 for a pint) and you can’t take it to your seat. You have to drink it in the concourse areas, which is always a weird experience.

Honestly, just eat before you arrive. The food’s overpriced and you’ll miss part of the pre-match buildup queuing for a mediocre burger that you could get better anywhere else.

Or get a burger from the burger van outside, cheaper and decent and supports local business.

Tip: St James’ Stadium is cashless, make sure you got your card or Apple pay before going.

Facilities

The toilets are pretty basic and gets so busy by halftime. If you can hold it until after the match, that’s your best bet.

The queues for everything at halftime are absolutely ridiculous. If you need the toilet or want another pint, go at about 40 minutes into the first half before everyone else has the same idea.

The Atmosphere

When the team walks out and “Local Hero” starts playing (our walk-out song), gives you goosebumps with excitement.

Try to learn the words to “Blaydon Races” before you go if you are supporting Newcastle United. Everyone sings it and joining in makes you feel part of something special even if you’ve never been to Newcastle before in your life. Look it up before hand or just wing it, and soak it up with your seat neighbours around you.

The Gallowgate End (behind one goal) is where the most vocal fans sit. If you want the full atmosphere experience, try to get tickets there. The East Stand gives you the best view of the actual football if you’re interested in watching.

Where to Stay for Newcastle Match Day

If you’re travelling from outside Newcastle and need somewhere to crash, book early. Hotels near the stadium fill up fast for big matches.

Hotels Near St James’ Park

The Royal Station Hotel is right next to Central Station, about a 15-minute walk to the stadium. It’s a grand Victorian building with comfortable rooms and brilliant location for exploring Newcastle beyond just the match. Rooms usually start around £80-120 per night depending on when you’re visiting. Check current rates on Booking.com to see what’s available.

Maldron Hotel Newcastle is modern, clean, and a 10-minute walk from the stadium. Slightly cheaper than the Royal Station with rooms around £70-100. The breakfast buffet is decent if you need fuel before spending hours in the pub.

For budget-friendly options, EasyHotel Newcastle has rooms from £50-80 per night. It’s perfectly fine if you just need somewhere to sleep between the match and your journey home. There are multiple locations around the city centre too.

If you want something with more character, Dakota Hotel is a new hotel, it’s considered on the luxury side on the Quayside overlooks the Tyne Bridge and offers boutique-style room. It’s a bit further from the stadium (25-minute walk) but the Quayside location is gorgeous.

Planning to make a proper weekend of it? My full guide to things to do in Newcastle has loads more accommodation suggestions. You could easily combine the match with day trips to Durham (stunning cathedral) or Tynemouth (gorgeous coast) for a proper North East weekend.

Want to compare hotel prices? Agoda often has competitive rates for Newcastle hotels, especially if you book well in advance or you can use the interactive map.

Match Day Budget Breakdown

Let’s talk actual money because this stuff adds up.

Match ticket: £35-70 (depends on the opposition and where you sit) Transport: £6.20 (Metro Day Saver) or free if you’re walking Pre-match food: £10-15 (meal at the Stack or pub food) Pre-match drinks: £15-25 (let’s be honest, you’re having at least 3-5 pints) Programme/merchandise: £5-30 (programmes are £4 if you’re into that) Post-match celebration: £20-40 (depends entirely on the result)

Total for the full experience: £90-200

You can definitely do it cheaper if you skip the pre-match drinks and food, but honestly, where’s the fun in that? The whole ritual is part of what makes Newcastle match days special, not just the 90 minutes of football.

If you’re traveling from another UK city, factor in train costs. Book in advance on Trainline for the best fares. Newcastle’s well connected to Edinburgh (1.5 hours), York (1 hour), and London (3 hours by train).

Need a car to explore the wider North East during your trip? DiscoverCars has rental options starting from around £25/day, which makes getting to places like Hadrian’s Wall or the Northumberland coast much easier.

Tips for International Visitors

Coming from abroad to catch a Newcastle United match? Few things to know. Also remember when in doubt, you can always ask anyone in town, or if you want to be extra sure, you can go in a shop and ask the person working there, they will generally help you if asked nicely.

Getting to Newcastle Upon Tyne by Plane

Newcastle International Airport has direct flights from several European cities and connects to major UK hubs. From the airport, just take the Metro straight into the city centre. It takes about 25 minutes and costs around £4 for one way.

If you’re flying into London or Manchester, trains to Newcastle are frequent and comfortable. Just book in advance for cheaper fares. You can use Trainline or LNER or Lumo.

Need reliable data while you’re traveling around the UK? Saily offers eSIM data plans that work across the UK without the hassle of buying a physical SIM card. Dead useful for using maps, booking last-minute tickets, and staying connected during your trip.

Getting to the Stadium if you are arriving by train

The train station is half a mile from the ground and takes ten minutes to walk. Come out of the station, cross the zebra crossings and go up Pink Lane. Cross Westgate Road, go up Bath Lane with the old city walls on your right. Turn right onto Stowell Street (Chinatown). At the end, bear left up St Andrews Street by Rosie’s Bar, under the Chinese arch then left up Gallowgate. The ground is on the right.

Understanding the football Culture

English football culture can seem quite intense if you’re not used to it. The chanting, the tribal mentality, the absolute devastation when the team loses, it’s all part of the experience and genuinely quite emotional.

Join in with the atmosphere though. Even if you don’t know the songs, clapping and cheering along is absolutely welcomed. Newcastle fans are generally very friendly to visitors who show genuine interest in the club and the city.

Geordie words and phrases

These are a few of the local Geordie words and phrases you might come across during your Newcastle Upon Tyne stay.

1. Canny meaning ‘nice’ or ‘pleasant’
2. Howay meaning ‘come on’ or ‘let’s go’
3. Nowt meaning ‘nothing’
4. Oot meaning ‘out’
5. Toon meaning ‘Newcastle’
6. Radgie meaning ‘angry’
7. Scran meaning ‘food’
8. Gan meaning ‘go’
9. Ha’way man meaning ‘come on, man’
10. Divvent meaning ‘don’t’
11. Bait meaning ‘food’
12. Bairn meaning ‘Child’

Is it safe for Children?

Yes, I would say Newcastle Upon Tyne is a very friendly city, it’s not very big and easy to get around. Eldon Square is the main shopping centre and it has multiple entrances from Northumberland street all the way to other end at The Gate or Grainger market. Perfect if its horrible weather.

Pubs maybe not so much for children during match days, there are some which of course are okay like Weatherspoon. There are plenty of restaurants about like Chilli Padi, Chinatown has few spots to have food, the fast food places like Mcd, Burger king, Jollibee, burger and Indian and Italian inside Eldon Square, and also the entertainment like the arcade in the Gate, or mini golf by the Gate.

After the Football Match: Getting Away

The final whistle’s gone. How to get out of St James’ Park stadium.

Avoiding the Metro crowd

St James’ Metro station immediately after a match is one of the most chaotic places I’ve ever experienced. Thousands of people trying to get onto trains creates queues that can take 30-40 minutes.

My advice? Stay in the area for a bit. Have another pint at the Strawberry or the Stack, let the initial crowds disperse, then head to the Metro. You’ll get on a train much faster if you wait 20-30 minutes.

Or just walk down to Monument station. It’s downhill, takes 10 minutes, and is nowhere near as crowded. This is what I usually do.

Or leave early, maybe 10 minutes before the match ends. Yes, you may miss the final score or if anything exciting happens in the last 10 mins, but you will get out much quicker.

Safety After the Match

Newcastle’s generally safe but like any big crowd event with loads of people who’ve been drinking for hours, just keep your wits about you. Stick with your group, watch your belongings, and don’t get into arguments with drunk people.

The city centre is very lively after evening matches, especially if there’s been a big win and during the weekend. It’s all good-natured celebration 99% of the time but just be aware you’re surrounded by 50,000+ people who’ve been on the beers since 6am for a lot of them.

And yes 6am, my ex colleagues used to start at that time for a noon match or even a 3pm match. Not everyone does it of course but there will be a few.

Continuing the Celebrations

If Newcastle’s won and you want to keep the party going, head to the Quayside or Bigg Market areas. These are the main nightlife spots and will be absolutely bouncing after a good result. Bigg market is so so more rough, Quayside and Grey Street more posh..

For something more relaxed, Grey Street has loads of nice bars and restaurants where you can grab dinner and discuss the match or just to chill. If you like a nice restaurant after, maybe try booking ahead.

Common Newcastle Match Day Questions

Can I bring a bag into St James’ Park stadium ? Small bags are allowed but will be searched at security. Anything bigger than A4 size isn’t permitted. Best to travel light and just bring what you actually need.

Are kids allowed at NUFC matches? Absolutely, loads of families go to matches. Under-17s get cheaper tickets. Just be aware the language around you might get a bit colourful when things get heated on the pitch.

What if it rains? Most seats are covered but bring a waterproof jacket anyway. This is Newcastle Upon Tyne, rain’s always a possibility even when it looks sunny.

Can I leave at halftime? You can leave but you won’t be allowed back in. Once you’re out, you’re done for the day.

Is it safe for away fans? The away section is completely separate with its own entrances and exits. Thousands of away fans visit every match without any issues. Just don’t wander into home sections wearing opposition colours and you’ll be fine.

What about accessibility? St James’ Park has wheelchair spaces and facilities for disabled supporters. Contact the club in advance to sort out appropriate seating and access.

Making a Weekend of It

If you’re coming specifically for a Newcastle United match, you might as well make a proper trip of it. The city has loads to offer beyond the football.

Spend Saturday morning wandering through Grainger Market for breakfast and people-watching. Walk along the Quayside to see the Tyne Bridge and Millennium Bridge. Pop into Newcastle Castle for a bit of medieval history if that’s your thing.

On Sunday, take a day trip to Durham to see the stunning UNESCO cathedral and castle (just 30 minutes by train). Or head to the coast at Tymeouth for fresh sea air and the brilliant weekend market.

And if you’re a foodie, you absolutely cannot miss Riley’s Fish Shack on the beach at King Edward’s Bay. Fresh seafood grilled right on the sand, it’s become legendary around here. Perfect for a chilled Sunday afternoon after all the match day excitement.

GetYourGuide has various Newcastle tours if you want someone local to show you around between matches or on your rest day.

Final Thoughts on Newcastle Match Days

Look, I could genuinely write another 2,000 words about why match day at St James’ Park is special, but some things you just have to experience yourself.

Whether Newcastle United wins or loses (and supporting this club is an absolute emotional rollercoaster, not gonna lie), the atmosphere, the passion, and the sense of being part of something bigger is genuinely special. It’s one of those experiences that sticks with you.

Book your NUFC tickets early, arrive with plenty of time to spare, embrace the pub culture, and just soak it all in. Even if you can’t tell your offside from your throw-in, the energy of 52,000 people united in hope and passion is something quite moving.

And who knows, you might catch Newcastle on a good day, witness something magical, and understand why this city absolutely lives and breathes football.

Howay the Lads and Lasses!

Planning your Newcastle trip? Save this guide for later and check out my other North East travel posts for more local tips and hidden gems around the region.

Courtney x

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