Mike Pennington (via Geograph / Wikimedia Commons)
Getting to Edgbaston and Lord's on match day
The transport options that actually work — and the ones that look fine on paper until 25,000 people try them at once
Two grounds, two cities, two very different travel problems. Edgbaston is a suburban stadium in south Birmingham with limited walking options from the centre. Lord's sits in one of London's quieter residential neighbourhoods with one tube station that everyone uses and several alternatives that most people ignore.
Getting this right matters more than it sounds. An ODI day runs long. If you arrive stressed and late, it takes a while to recover. If you leave and find yourself standing on a platform for forty minutes, the day ends badly. Neither is necessary.
For Edgbaston (1st ODI, 14 July):
The most direct option from Birmingham New Street is the 501 shuttle bus. It runs on major match days from Smallbrook Queensway, right outside New Street, directly to the stadium. Adult fare is £6 return, children £4. Buses run before play starts and after close of play. This is the right option if you're coming in from outside Birmingham by train.
If you're already in south Birmingham — staying near the University, in Moseley, or in Edgbaston itself — the regular bus network is easier. The 45 and 47 run along Pershore Road, a two-minute walk from the ground. The 1 runs through Moseley and stops nearby. Single fares are around £2 with a contactless card.
University station (Cross City Line) is the closest rail stop, but it's a 30-minute walk from there to the ground. The walk isn't unpleasant in good weather, but it's long enough that most people sensibly get the bus. From University station, the 45 or 47 will take you the rest of the way in a few minutes.
Driving is possible but not advisable. Official match day parking requires pre-booking at parkthecar.com and sells out. The streets around the ground have resident permit restrictions. Blue badge holders can call 0121 446 3505 to book limited stadium spaces.
For Lord's (3rd ODI, 19 July):
The official advice is St John's Wood on the Jubilee line, 10 minutes' walk. That's accurate, but the station gets extremely crowded after play. Lord's themselves flag this and recommend alternatives.
The better option depends on where you're coming from. Warwick Avenue on the Bakerloo line is only a 4-minute walk to the Tavern and Allen stands — ideal if you're coming from Paddington or south. Baker Street has a signed walking route (18 minutes) and is considerably less congested than St John's Wood on exit. Marylebone station, a 12-minute walk, is useful if you're on Chiltern Railways from Birmingham after the Edgbaston match — direct train into Marylebone with step-free access and a short walk.
Buses 139 and 189 run along Grove End Road on the west side of the ground, closest to the Grace Gate. The 13 and 113 run along Wellington Road on the east side. All London buses accept contactless payments.
One detail worth knowing: the ground runs a post-match queuing system at St John's Wood to manage the exit crowd. If you leave just after the close of play and walk to Baker Street or Warwick Avenue instead, you'll likely be on a train before the St John's Wood queue has cleared.
Why it's special
Transport information is the most practically useful thing a cricket pack can contain, and it's usually the hardest to find in one place. The official venue pages tell you the options. They don't tell you which ones work when 25,000 people are all leaving at once.
The India series has five T20Is and three ODIs spread across eight venues. For the two ODIs in this pack — Edgbaston and Lord's — the post-match transport situation is meaningfully different and worth knowing in advance.
At Edgbaston, the 501 shuttle is genuinely the right answer for most visitors. It's designed for match days and it works.
At Lord's, the instinct to take St John's Wood is understandable but usually results in a long wait. Baker Street and Warwick Avenue are five minutes further but significantly quieter.
This isn't generic travel information. It's the specific knowledge that separates a good day from one that ends with forty minutes on a hot platform.
Insider tips
- 1
At Lord's, leave via Baker Street or Warwick Avenue after the match rather than St John's Wood — both are 5 minutes further but you'll be on a train before the St John's Wood queue has moved.
- 2
The 501 shuttle from Birmingham New Street to Edgbaston runs after the close of play, so you don't need to leave early to catch transport — stay for the last over.
- 3
Don't assume University station is close to Edgbaston — it's a 30-minute walk. Take the Cross City Line to New Street and get the 501 shuttle, or stay on the 45/47 bus from wherever you're based in south Birmingham.
Practical info
- Hours
- Match day gates typically open 90 minutes before play
- Cost
- 501 shuttle bus £6 return adult / £4 child. London buses approx £2 single (contactless)
- Access
- Edgbaston parking: pre-book at parkthecar.com as early as possible — spaces sell out for ODI days. Blue badge holders call 0121 446 3505 for stadium spaces. For Lord's, no transport pre-booking needed. If travelling Birmingham to London between the two ODIs (14 Jul to 19 Jul), Chiltern Railways from Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone is the cleanest route — book in advance at chilternrailways.co.uk for best fares, and you arrive a 12-minute walk from Lord's.
What to avoid
Don't drive to either ground without pre-booked parking. Edgbaston's surrounding streets have resident permit restrictions on match days, and street parking near Lord's in St John's Wood is effectively impossible.
