Heading to Wimbledon on Tuesday evening? Here's what to expect from an away day in South West London...Tickets
Tickets
Both seated and standing areas are completely sold out and tickets will not be on sale on the day for anywhere else in the ground.
Turnstiles
So now a night game with a dodgy weather forecast at this hardly state of the art facility that is not the ideal venue for watching football in incelement conditions - well, at all if the truth be told. Let's accentuate ther positive however, the seated area behind the goal as you look at the pitch of not too bad, a clear view, a bit of room and relatively accessible. So far, so good. Meanwhile, however, over in the Rygas Stand where the majority of us will be situated, things are not quite so good. To say the view is a bit obscured would be an understatement, with only half of it covered, the terrace being very shallow indeed and the added fun of an area at the front that they don't like you using, despite the fact that this offers the best view. There is no concourse, just an open area behind the stand, our bit being to to the far right of the stand along the side of the pitch. The toilets are of the portakabin variety and far from spacious or indeed reliable. The entrance to the terrace is not via the main approach to the rest of the ground but a little further up Kingston Road, just follow the main stand then do a right when you get to the end of it.
Food and Refreshments
There is a very nice little food outlet in the away end with a bit of variety, but the emphasis is on little as it is right beside the turnstiles and enclosed by the toilets so the queues get merged by default. There are burger places outside the ground and amidst the small parade of shops just beside the main entrance that has a couple of places including Fat Boys Cafe. Nearby Kingston town centre has lots of nice eateries.
In terms of liquid refreshments, alcohol is not available inside the ground and the two bars at the ground will not be available to away fans. There isn't a great deal around the ground, probably the best choices are either The Watchman, a Wetherspoons near New Malden station or to go into Kingston, where there is a very nice Hungry Horse just over the road from the station, whilst there was a pleasant traditional ale House if you come out of the station and turn left. There is also an O'Neill's and a Wetherspoons called the Kings Tun. On the main London Road The Fighting Cocks and The Old Moat House are OK. Alternatively if you work in Central London Waterloo Station has a couple of nice bars and there are some decent pubs in the vicinity.
Travel
Not an easy one given the kick off time. Normally for London games, as ever, public transport is recommended, even if it the very last leg of the journey but If you are driving the Post Code KT1 3PB. Obviously people will have their own choice of route but it's probably best to aim for Kingston. There is a large one way system there, get onto that then depart onto the A308 (Richmond Road) towards the hospital. Turn right onto the A2043 (Cambridge Road) and the ground soon appears to the right. There is parking there, albeit minimal, so street parking seems to be the way forward, but as ever check the lamp posts.
Waterloo station. In the rush hour. An absolute delight. The closest station is Norbiton, although both New Malden and Kingston are only a couple of minutes either side. Trains should run from London Waterloo at 12, 27, 42 and 57 minutes past the hour and take 25 minutes. - there are also slow trains that stop everywhere and take the best part of an hour. On the way back it is 06, 20, 36 and 50 past the hour for the fast ones, with a couple of slowies thrown in for good measure. Trains do stop at Clapham Junction. It's a relatively simple walk, about 15 minutes or so. Leave Norbiton station at the rear exit and take the first left onto Norbiton Avenue. Follow this before taking a right onto Gloucester Road, then a left onto the main Cambridge Road and the ground soon pops up. The 131 bus stops right outside the ground, starting at Kingston then serving New Malden, Raynes Park, Wimbledon, Colliers Wood and Tooting, another one to have up the sleeve. Similarly, if the trains are, let's say subject to change the tube is an alternative, albeit convoluted, there are the options of an 83 bus from Putney, a 57 from Tooting or a 371 from Richmond into Kingston at the mercy of the traffic.