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The Army vs. Navy Rugby Match – Transport Information | The Military Mutual

By April 27, 2016Events

The 30th of April is almost upon us, and before too long, thousands of fans will be flocking to London to witness one of the most highly anticipated events on the services sporting calendar: The annual Army Vs Navy Rugby match at Twickenham.

This grand tradition has been taking place every year since 1907, and always provides a thrilling and hard-fought contest for fans of the sport as well as raising money for charity. This year’s match is sure to be no different, with 2015’s match winners The Army looking to defend their title at all costs. All proceeds from ticket sales will be go to The Royal British Legion, a fine charity that supports those who have served in the armed forces. If you’re lucky enough to have a ticket, there are a number of options for getting there on the day. This handy guide is all you need to make the most of your journey.

If you’re planning to drive

For those driving to the event, Twickenham stadium is located on the northern side of the A316 into London. This route is usually subject to delays on match days, so we would advise that you allow plenty of time for your journey.

Additionally, Whiten Road, Rugby Road and London Road will be temporarily closed on the day of the match, and the other roads around the stadium are likely to become congested before and after. The stadium does have an official car park, but tickets must be bought in advance and are £25. Additionally, admittance to the car park cannot be guaranteed less than 90 minutes before kickoff. Exit from the car park will also be subject to delays due to the road closures and pedestrian traffic.

Traveling by train

The closest train station to the stadium is Twickenham itself, which is located within Zone 5 and can be easily accessed via London Waterloo, Clapham Junction, Reading, Ascot, and Windsor & Eton Riverside. Upon arrival it should be a simple case of following the crowds to get to the venue, but just in case, the full address for the stadium is Rugby Football Union (RFU), Rugby Road, Twickenham, TW1 1DS. After the match, there will be considerable queueing on foot, but the road closures should ease the situation.

By cycle or bus

Alternatively, if you cycle, there are plenty of designated spaces to lock up bikes near the stadium, although the foot traffic leading to the event might mean you’ll have to dismount. There are also three major bus routes that serve Twickenham stadium: the 281, the 481 and the 681, all of which stop very close to the venue.

Pre and post-match ideas

For a pre-match drink, The Cabbage Patch is one of the most frequented pubs on match days, and is just a short walk from Twickenham Station. It’s likely to be bustling before and after the game, and if that appeals to you, it’s well suited to accommodate the crowds, with a number of well-staffed bars and hot food available. There are also a number of other equally “rugby-friendly” pubs in the area, such as The London Road, Three Kings and Misty Moon, with a similar atmosphere. If you’re looking for something a little less crowded, and don’t mind travelling slightly further afield, there are a number of highly-rated gastro-pubs less than 30 minutes’ walk from the stadium and station, such as The Crown on Richmond Road, which offers interesting twists on pub classics, and The Bloomsbury on Staines Road, which often has live music.

We hope this guide has been helpful to you, and whatever you choose to do on 31st April, we wish you a safe journey and a great day of rugby!