Parking for Ipswich Town
games and concerts at Portman Road Stadium
Find the best places to park at Portman Road Stadium for matches and concerts
Since 2024, BigParking has provided parking for fans visiting Portman Road on Matchdays, also using the land for parking for Concerts and Events.
Parking is available locally but reaches capacity very quickly. Pre-booking is essential for visiting fans looking to secure car parking.
BigParking's safe and secure offsite parking locations can be pre-booked online or over the phone from £10 at www.thebigparking.co.uk or by calling 024 7538 6631
Portman Road is a football stadium located in Ipswich, Suffolk, and has been the home ground of Premier League Club Ipswich Town, since 1884. The stadium has hosted numerous events, including England youth international matches, a senior England friendly against Croatia in 2003, and Musical Concerts.
- Two Million cars parked
- Over One Hundred Communities supported
- UK and EU Operational area
Attending a match or concert at Portman Road?
Here's all the Travel and Safety information you need to know!
Driving to Portman Road
From the Midlands and NorthRoute: Take the A14.
Starting Points: Join the A14 from the M6, M1, or near Huntingdon from the A1.
Recommendation: The A1 tends to be less congested and offers easier alternatives in case of major delays.
Note: Long-term roadworks between Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket can cause significant delays and overnight road closures.
Travel Time: Allow at least 1-1.5 hours beyond the suggested journey time due to potential delays.
From London, South-East, South-West, and South Wales
Route: Take the M25 to the A12 near Brentwood (Junction 28).
Travel Time: Approximately 90 minutes from the M25 to Portman Road, subject to traffic.
Alternative Route: From the South-West or South Wales, consider driving via Birmingham (M42 to M6), though it is typically 30 minutes slower than the London/M25 route.
Note: Long-term roadworks on the A12 between the M25 and Ipswich may increase journey time and cause overnight closures.
Travel Time: Allow at least 1-1.5 hours beyond the suggested journey time due to possible delays.
From Norwich
Route:
A140: Direct but slow; allow at least 90 minutes.
A11 to A14: Longer but usually no slower.
A11 to Thetford, then A140: Another option.
A12 via Lowestoft: Scenic and often no slower than the A140.
Parking at Portman Road
There is no official stadium car park, but parking is available around the ground.
The nearest option is a car park on Portman Road, right by the away end. However, this car park fills quickly. Due to match-related road closures, Cars are often held for a period of time
Most nearby streets are controlled parking for residents only, so free on-road parking is typically at least a 20-minute walk away.
Car parks closest to the ground can be slow to clear after the game. Parking further away from the ground can help avoid lengthy traffic delays post-match.
Pre-booking Ipswich Matchday parking online is essentially for those unfamiliar with the area
Park at Ranelagh Primary School
Popular with Home and Away fans for its accessibility and location next the McDonalds on Ranelagh Road, parking is available to pre-book at Ranelagh Primary School, Post code IP2 0AN. Parking revenue is shared with the School.It's located a Short walk from Portman Road just over the Gipping River. There are numerous Burger vans, Programme Sellers and Merchandise Peddlars on the quick walk to Portman Road.
Parking costs £10 per car and can be pre-booked at thebigparking.co.uk
Food and Drink Prices in Portman Road
Inside Portman Road, a pint of lager is around £4 and a pie will cost a visiting fan £3.40. Hot Dogs can also purchased for around £3.50. There are plenty of food and drink outlets both inside and surrounding the Stadium.Getting the Train to Portman Road
For those traveling by train, it's just under a 10-minute walk from Ipswich station to Portman Road.There are two main train routes into Ipswich: from London and Peterborough. Norwich is at the start/end of the mainline route through Ipswich to/from London, with regular trains.
Some may find Travelling from Peterborough easier or cheaper, but trains are hourly and limited post-match, with none after evening games.
From London, Greater Anglia offers trains from London Liverpool Street.
Peak times (4pm – 6:30pm weekdays) see very busy trains with restricted railcard use. After evening games, trains back to London are limited.
Check www.greateranglia.co.uk and www.tfl.gov.uk for planned engineering works.
Allow at least an extra hour for your journey due to potential delays. There are ticket checks on all mainline trains and barriers at London Liverpool Street and Ipswich stations.
Engineering works often affect the London-Ipswich route, especially on weekends, requiring rail replacement buses that add about an hour to the journey. These buses generally run efficiently, but occasional issues occur. Club coaches might be quicker and ensure post-evening game travel.
Check www.greateranglia.co.uk for updated times and changes to engineering works. Your club’s visiting fans guide will provide any specific information on planned engineering works affecting your game with ITFC.
Away Fan Pubs
The Station Hotel (formerly the Riverside Hotel), located opposite the train station, serves as the official pub for away fans.
It features a garden and TV screens. Most pubs in the immediate vicinity of the ground cater exclusively to home fans. Additionally, few pubs around town are likely to welcome groups of away fans, particularly those wearing away team colors.
Frequently Asked Questions about Portman Road Stadium
Where is the best place to park at Portman Road?
The best place to park at Portman Road for Ipswich Town Fixtures is any of the sites operated by BigParking.Located just a short walk away and handily placed next to the McDonalds on Ranelagh Road for refreshments.
They are conveniently located for quick access and quick dispatch post-game. Parking can be booked at www.thebigparking.co.uk
Where is the traffic exclusion zone around Portman Road?
Supporters should note that the Portman Road entrance to the Portman Road C car park will be closed from 15 minutes before the final whistle until 15 minutes after full-time for fixtures at Portman Road.Additionally, Sir Alf Ramsey Way and Portman Road will also be closed during this time. These roads are frequently busy with supporters accessing the Magnus Group West Stand and Sir Bobby Robson Stand (North) turnstiles. To ensure the safety of supporters, road closures will be in effect from 90 minutes before kick-off until 30 minutes after the final whistle for first-team fixtures at Portman Road.
How to see the players arrive at Portman Road
The Club has introduced a new matchday experience that allows young supporters to welcome the squad to Portman Road on Saturday matchdays.This experience, which is free of charge, is available to all U12 season ticket holders, along with one parent/carer who has a valid match ticket.
Young fans will greet the team as they get off the coach and head to the dressing rooms, and will also have the opportunity to high-five the players before the game.
Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Supporters who secure a complimentary spot for the experience will be contacted via email by the Club to confirm their attendance.
Successful applicants need to be at the main entrance on Constantine Road at 1:10 PM before 3:00 PM kick-offs.