Birmingham 2026 travel options
You can now book your travel to Alexander Stadium for the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships this summer.
There are several different ways to travel to the stadium and we encourage spectators to use the transport options listed below.
A limited amount of accessible parking at the stadium will be available for Blue Badge holders only. A Controlled Parking Zone will be in operation in the local area meaning that no other spectator parking will be available at, or in the immediate vicinity of, the stadium.
City Centre Shuttle Bus – from James Watt Queensway
Travel quickly and conveniently between Birmingham City Centre and Alexander Stadium with our shuttle bus service. Buses will run regularly and take approximately 20 minutes, dropping off just a short walk from the stadium entrance and security screening area.
The shuttle buses will depart from and return to James Watt Queensway, on the corner of Ryder Street. Tickets cost £5 return for adults, while under-16s travel free. Return journeys to Birmingham City Centre are included and operate for up to two hours after each session.
To book a return ticket on the City Centre Shuttle Bus, please click the link below. Please input the starting point of your journey, select the session you are attending, and select 'Pre book your tickets now'.
Your confirmation email acts as your bus ticket, so please keep it safe as you will need it to travel on both your outbound and return journeys.
City Centre Shuttle Bus FAQs
What time does the City Centre Shuttle Bus service start?
Shuttle buses will operate from two and a half hours before the start of each session.
What time does the City Centre Shuttle Bus operate until?
Shuttle buses will operate up to two hours after each session.
Can I buy a City Centre Shuttle Bus ticket on the day?
Yes, but we recommend booking online in advance, to guarantee your place.
Is the City Centre Shuttle Bus included within my event ticket?
No, the shuttle bus service is an add on to the event ticket for each session. Tickets cost £5 for adults and free for under-16s.
Can I ride the City Centre Shuttle Bus as a wheelchair user?
Yes, all shuttle buses will have space for at least one wheelchair on board.
How does the return ticket work?
Each Shuttle Bus ticket includes one journey to the stadium for your session and one return journey back to the city centre on the same day. If you are attending both a morning and afternoon session, or you want to stay around the stadium area after your morning session, you can use your return trip later that day. Return journeys are valid once only, are non-transferable, and can only be used on the date displayed on the email/ticket.
Park and Ride – Bescot Stadium, Walsall
Park and Ride is available at Bescot Stadium, Walsall, WS1 4SA with shuttle buses taking you directly to Alexander Stadium, just a short walk from the ticket check and security screening area.
Parking costs £20 per vehicle, plus a £2.50 transaction fee, and includes return shuttle bus travel between Bescot Stadium and Alexander Stadium for each vehicle passenger.
Parking must be booked in advance, and you will need to provide your vehicle registration number as the car park uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).
Shuttle buses operate from two and a half hours before each session and until two hours after the event.
Park and Ride FAQs
What time does the car park open?
Car parks will open at 08:00 each day or two and a half hours before the session start time.
What time does the Park and Ride Shuttle Bus service start?
Park and Ride Shuttle Buses will operate from two and a half hours before the start of each session.
What time does the Park and Ride Shuttle Bus operate until?
Park and Ride Shuttle Buses will operate up to two hours after each session.
Can I buy a Park and Ride ticket on the day?
No, we recommend booking online in advance, to ensure your car parking space is secured.
Is parking included within my event ticket?
No, the Park and Ride car park and shuttle bus is an add on to the event ticket for each session. Tickets cost £20 per vehicle and include the shuttle bus service for each vehicle passenger.
Can I ride the Park and Ride Shuttle Bus a wheelchair user?
Yes, all shuttle buses will have space for at least one wheelchair on board.
Park and Walk – Aldridge Road Recreation Ground
Park and Walk facilities are available at Aldridge Road Recreation Ground, B44 8NX for spectators travelling by car. The site is a 45-minute (two mile) walk to the stadium, with the route clearly signposted. Please follow event day road signage to the car park.
Parking cost £15 per vehicle, plus a £2.50 transaction fee, and we recommend pre-booking via our Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) linked booking system.
Park and Walk FAQs
What time does the car park open?
The Park and Walk site will open two and half hours before the start of each session.
How long is the walk from the Park and Walk site to the stadium?
The stadium is two miles from the Park and Walk site via a signed walking route, which takes approximately 45 minutes.
Can I buy a Park and Walk ticket on the day?
Yes (subject to availability), but we recommend booking online in advance to ensure your parking space is secured.
Is parking included within my event ticket?
No, the Park and Walk car park is an add on to the event ticket for each session. Tickets cost £15 per vehicle.
Is there a shuttle bus from the Park and Walk site?
No, there is no shuttle bus facility from the Park and Walk site.
By Train – Perry Barr Station
Travelling by train is a convenient way to reach Alexander Stadium. Perry Barr Station serves the stadium and is a 25-minute walk from the venue. Perry Barr is regularly serviced by trains running from Birmingham New Street Station, Rugeley, Walsall, and Wolverhampton with additional services running on event days.
Allow extra time for your journey before and after the event as stations are expected to be busy at peak times. Perry Barr station offers step-free access and passenger assistance meeting points.
By Train FAQs
What is the closest train station to Alexander Stadium?
Perry Barr station is the closest train station and is a 25-minute walk from the stadium.
Where can I get the train from to reach the stadium?
Perry Barr station is serviced by trains running from Birmingham New Street, Rugeley, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Will there be increased services for the Championships?
Yes, services will be increased however we still expect stations and platforms to be busy so we recommend you plan ahead.
Is the train station at Perry Barr accessible?
Yes, there is step-free access and passenger assistance meeting points are available.
By Local Bus
A number of local bus routes serve the Alexander Stadium area, including the 33, 51, and X51 with services from Birmingham City Centre. From most bus stops, the stadium is approximately a 5–15 minute walk.
To plan your journey by bus, please visit Transport for West Midlands.
By Taxi/Uber etc
There will be a designated taxi rank and private hire drop off/pick-up area in operation for the championships situated on Walsall Road.
There is a 5-10 minute walk from the designated drop off/pick up zone to the stadium. Demand for taxi and private hire vehicles is expected to be high, so it is strongly recommended to book in advance.
By Cycle
Bicycle parking will be available in close proximity to Alexander Stadium. The route to the stadium is approximately 6km from the city centre and takes approximately 25 minutes to cycle.
Cycle hire is available across the West Midlands. Bikes are available 24/7, with docking stations at major bus, metro and train stations, visitor attractions and city or town centres.
By Group Coach
Coach and minibus parking is extremely limited and needs to be booked in advance. We do not recommend arriving on the day without a booking. To inquire book coach and mini bus parking, please email Birmingham26@athleticventures.co.uk.
By Car
Alexander Stadium will operate as a car-free venue for the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships. There will be no spectator parking available at the stadium or in the surrounding local area, and local roads will be managed to protect residents, businesses and event operations. Spectators should not drive to the venue.
Driving to Birmingham and the West Midlands – M42 Weekend Closure
A section of the M42 motorway will be temporarily closed in Solihull for HS2 works, in both directions between junctions 5A to 7 northbound and 6 to 7 southbound (including the M6 J4 southbound link to M42 northbound).
The closure period will be:
From 21:00 on Friday 14 August until 05:00 on Monday 17 August 2026.
This will allow Balfour Beatty VINCI to continue the construction of the M42 Motorway Box structure.
A clearly signed diversion route will be in place over this period with advance signage in place to help remind motorists of the closure.
You can still get to where you need to go but you’ll need to follow the diversion, plan ahead and allow more time for journeys.
Find out more: search hs2-motorway-works or visit www.hs2insolihull.co.uk