Regular readers to Cans & Megabus will recall that in the preview to our trip to Reading, your handsome columnist proclaimed the Berkshire club to be the worst away trip in the country. Unfortunately dear reader, I have misled you as I completely overlooked Luton and Luton Town’s quirky, yet deplorable, Kenilworth Road.
If you’ve questioned why you follow football or if all of this is worth it, then just take a moment to thank your lucky stars that you don’t have to visit the ‘stadium’ every week.
How Do I Get There?
If you’re driving down to Luton, then take the A1(M) and M1 to junction 11 then take the A505 and Hatter’s Way towards Kenilworth Road. There’s plenty of car parking spaces around the town so simply find one of those.
Sat nav losers: LU4 8AW
There are regular trains running between London St Pancras and Luton which take around 40 minutes. Luton train station is around a 20-minute walk from the ground.
What’s the Ground Like?
Have you ever wanted to look at someone’s back yard or peer into someone’s dining room as you enter a football stadium? Then you’ve come to the right place. Kenilworth Road is wedged between a load of terraced houses and has probably the most unique away supporters’ entrance in world football.
Squeeze through the turnstile and clamber up the stairs to the Oak Road Stand and gaze out upon the adjoining houses. Marvel at the rows upon rows of washing lines and wonder whether the neighbours ever get annoyed at the thousands of football supporters passing by their house every two weeks.
Kenilworth Road is also the kind of stadium that when they came to renovate it post-Taylor Report, they simply bolted seats onto the existing terracing making the whole stand really uneven. Still, the tin roof provides good acoustics for chanting and the like.
Yer thirsty?
I’ll let you in on a little secret, the last time I frequented Luton the two pubs I stumbled across were both terrible. The first turned out to be a staunch Luton supporters’ pub, and they are not the most accommodating of people, and the other we were told not to sit on one of the barstools because the previous patron had pissed on it. Nevertheless! Here are a couple that might be okay/not terrible, but don’t quote me on this.
Close to Luton train station is The Bricklayers Arms (High Town Road) which is alright if you like a real ale. The Brewery Tap on Park Street also looks pretty passable while The White House on Bridge Street is fine if you like Wetherspoons. However, I must stress, DO NOT quote me on any of these suggestions.
Personally, I would stay in the wonderful McGlynn’s near King’s Cross Station until the very last train to Luton before kick off, but that’s just me.
What’s happening in Luton?
Just don’t bother and get to London, or your own house, as quickly as possible after the match.