How to get to Principality Stadium: Best ways for Arsenal, Man City fans to travel for Community Shield

Arsenal and Manchester City meet at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday, August 16, in the traditional Community Shield curtain-raiser, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.

The Gunners ended their 22-year wait for the Premier League title last season, while the Citizens lifted the FA Cup for the eighth time after beating Chelsea 1-0 in the final.

The FA confirmed that Wembley, the traditional home of the Community Shield, was unavailable because of pre-arranged concerts, meaning the fixture will be played outside London for only the second time in 14 years.

With the match taking place a week before the new Premier League campaign begins, thousands of supporters are expected to travel to Cardiff, and planning your journey in advance is recommended.

Below, FootballGroundGuide looks at the easiest ways for Arsenal and Manchester City fans to get to the Principality Stadium.

Where is the Principality Stadium?

The Principality Stadium is located on Westgate Street in the heart of Cardiff city centre, on the eastern bank of the River Taff.

Best known as the home of Welsh rugby, the ground holds almost 74,000 supporters (for football), making it one of the largest and most versatile venues in the United Kingdom.

Cardiff Castle is less than a 10-minute walk away, with the stadium's Gate 1 sitting on Castle Street itself, while Bute Park stretches alongside the river just beyond it.

Unlike many modern football grounds built on the outskirts of cities, the Principality Stadium sits in the middle of Cardiff, with plenty of shops, restaurants and pubs just a short walk away. Its central location also makes it one of the easiest stadiums in the UK to reach by public transport.

How to get to the Principality Stadium

By train

Cardiff Central is the nearest railway station and is around a five-minute walk from the stadium.

The station is served by regular trains from London, Bristol, Swansea and several other major cities across the UK.

Extra train services are usually put on for major events such as the Community Shield, although supporters should still expect busy platforms before and after the match.

By bus

Several Cardiff Bus services stop close to the stadium, including the 17/18, 24, 95 and X2 routes.

These services provide direct links from different parts of Cardiff and nearby towns, making them a convenient option for supporters staying in or around the city.

By park and ride

Supporters who want to avoid driving into Cardiff city centre can park outside the city and complete the journey by train.

Fans travelling from Bristol and the east can use Severn Tunnel Junction, where trains to Cardiff Central usually take between 25 and 30 minutes.

Those travelling from Swansea may prefer Bridgend, which has regular rail services into Cardiff throughout the day.

Supporters coming from the valleys can use Pontypridd, with trains taking less than 30 minutes to reach Cardiff Central.

Fans approaching from Newport will also find frequent services into the city, with some journeys taking as little as 10 to 15 minutes.

By car

Driving directly to the stadium is not the easiest option as there is very little spectator parking available.

Cardiff Council also introduces road closures and stricter parking restrictions around the city centre whenever major events take place at the Principality Stadium.

Supporters are therefore advised to book a city-centre car park or private parking space before travelling rather than hoping to find somewhere on the day.

Ignoring local parking restrictions could also result in a parking fine.

From the airport

Cardiff Airport is the closest airport to the stadium and is around a 30-minute drive away.

Bristol Airport is another good option for travelling supporters and is around 45 minutes away by road, depending on traffic.

Both airports have transport links into Cardiff, making them suitable choices for supporters travelling from further afield.

Travel tips for Community Shield supporters

With the Principality Stadium located in the centre of Cardiff, most transport options leave supporters within a short walk of the ground.

The city is expected to be busy throughout the day, so allowing extra time for your journey and arriving well before kick-off is the best way to avoid long queues and delays.