If you are looking for a romantic weekend trip, then Luton is not the city for you. However, Kenilworth Road, which is one of the most authentic (and odd) English stadiums, is a must-see. Besides, London is only thirty minutes away.
Luton Town wants to move into a brand-new stadium within three years. Work on a new stadium, which will be built near the local train station, is due to start soon. This means that we are losing another classic English stadium, so visit it soon. Book an EasyJet flight to London Luton Airport, and you practically land next to Kenilworth Road’s doorstep.
Even though it is such a pity that Kenilworth Road will disappear, you rationally cannot argue the fact that the club needs to move. The stadium of Luton is wonderful, characteristic and nostalgic, but also completely worn out. The paint is falling off the walls. Not a single spot has been maintained or refurbished.
There are many reasons why Kenilworth Road is a wonderful stadium. One of the main reasons in our opinion is the away end. You will not find a more beautiful entrance to a stadium than the one on Oak Road. The entrance is completely in between (and underneath!) houses. When you wriggle your body through the turnstiles and walk up the stairs, you are literally in someone’s backyard. A unique and romantic sight. Although you immediately notice that this part of Luton is not very wealthy.
Extra tip: The Northern side across the old Main Stand of Kenilworth Road is also extremely recognisable. On this side, they build a rather peculiar long stretch of skyboxes. At the time it was revolutionary, nowadays it looks more ludicrous.
The city of Luton, which is approximately a thirty-minute drive from London, is not a tourist hotspot with beautiful squares and majestic buildings. Once you walk out of Luton’s train station, this is confirmed immediately.
You will straight away notice the Luton Mall, a large mall with the ‘charm’ of Eastern Bloc architecture from the sixties. However, this city is a true reflection of the real England, much more so than London. The unemployment rates are through the roof and no one here is wealthy, hence why football is the only welcome distraction.
You will barely find any pubs in close proximity to Kenilworth Road. The neighbourhood which surrounds the stadium is mainly residential. Many people with an Indian or Pakistani background reside here, something which is reflected by the restaurants on Dunstable Road.
You will find better pubs near Luton’s train station. George II is a decent pub, although the interior could have been browner like your typical English pub. The music, however, is great. Our favourite pub is on the other side of the train station: The Bricklayer Arms. A proper football pub with friendly folks.
Luton can easily be reached. From the centrally located train station London Kings Cross/St. Pancras (where the Eurostar trains also arrive), you can get on a direct train to Luton for twelve pounds. Book a ticket beforehand on thetrainline.com.
Another option is to take a plane to London Luton, the nearest airport to Kenilworth Road. Tickets are cheap because it is EasyJet’s home base.
Usually, you can easily buy tickets on Luton Town’s official website. A membership is usually not needed, but if you want to make sure you have a seat it is recommended, especially if you would like to buy tickets weeks prior to the match. Be sure to order your tickets on time. Kenilworth Road is usually well-filled, especially since Luton Town has been playing in the EFL Championship. If they become a Premier League side, getting tickets will become an even harder task.
