⚽ MEMS PRIESTFIELD STADIUM ⚽
Gillingham FC Complete Travel Guide – 2026-27 Season
ℹ️ 2026-27 Season Guide: A new fan zone at the stadium has been under construction, with the club hoping to have it open around the time of the 2026 World Cup – check current status before you travel. All other information has been researched and verified for 2026-27. Always check gillinghamfootballclub.com for the latest ticketing and matchday updates before you travel.
⚽ ABOUT THE MEMS PRIESTFIELD STADIUM
The MEMS Priestfield Stadium – known to almost everyone simply as Priestfields – has been home to Gillingham FC since the club’s formation in 1893, making it one of the oldest continuously used grounds in English football. With a capacity of 11,582, all seated, the stadium underwent major redevelopment in the late 1990s and early 2000s, reducing capacity from nearly 20,000 but bringing three modern stands: the impressive two-tier Medway Stand, the Gordon Road Stand (which has some pillars obstructing views towards the back), and the Rainham End behind one goal, home to the club’s most vocal supporters.
The fourth side, the Brian Moore Stand – named after a former club director and ITV football commentator – has been a temporary, uncovered scaffold-style structure since 2003, and this is where away fans are housed. It’s basic, but the views are decent, so bring a coat for winter fixtures as there’s no roof.
Gillingham FC – The Gills – were founded in 1893 as New Brompton, becoming Gillingham in 1912. Kent’s most established Football League club, Gillingham are perhaps best remembered for one of the most dramatic play-off final stories in English football history: the 1999 Second Division play-off final at Wembley, where the Gills led Manchester City 2-0 with just two minutes remaining, only for City to score twice in stoppage time and win on penalties. It remains a painful but formative part of the club’s identity. Gillingham have bounced between League One and League Two in recent years, currently in their fifth consecutive League Two campaign following relegation in 2021-22.
📊 STADIUM SPECIFICATIONS
| Capacity | 11,582 (all seated) |
| Opened | 1893 |
| Address | Redfern Avenue, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 4DD |
| Away Section | Brian Moore Stand (temporary, uncovered, behind one goal) |
| Away Allocation | Typically around 1,500 |
| Record Attendance | 23,002 vs Queens Park Rangers (FA Cup, 1948) |
ℹ️ The Brian Moore Stand has no roof – dress for the weather, especially in winter.
🚗 GETTING TO PRIESTFIELDS
Priestfields sits in a residential part of Gillingham, less than half a mile from the town centre and around a 10-minute walk from Gillingham railway station, which is served by fast Javelin high-speed trains from London St Pancras as well as services from London Victoria and Charing Cross.
🗺️ STADIUM LOCATION MAP
MEMS Priestfield Stadium Address: Redfern Avenue, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 4DD
🚂 BY TRAIN – Genuinely Easy from London
Why Trains Work: Gillingham station is well served, with fast Javelin high-speed services from London St Pancras taking around 45 minutes, plus further connections from London Victoria and Charing Cross. The station is around a 10-minute walk from the ground.
Journey Times to Gillingham Station:
🔴 Birmingham New Street: Around 3 hours (change in London)
🟠 Bristol Temple Meads: Around 3 hours (change in London)
🟡 London St Pancras (Javelin): Around 45 minutes (direct)
🟢 London Victoria: Around 1 hour (direct)
🔵 Rochester: Around 5 minutes (direct, two stops)
Getting from Gillingham Station to the Stadium
🚶 Walking (around 10 minutes)
Exit the station onto Balmoral Road and continue to the crossroads, then cross onto Priestfield Road, where the stadium comes into view ahead of you.
🔗 Train Times & Tickets: nationalrail.co.uk | thetrainline.com
🔗 Gillingham FC Official Site: gillinghamfootballclub.com
🚗 BY CAR
Priestfield is accessible via the M2 and A2, though the ground sits in a residential area with restricted access on matchdays.
Parking Options:
- Around the Ground: A residents-only parking scheme operates immediately around Priestfield, so on-street parking there isn’t an option.
- Further Out: Street parking and a few car parks are available a short distance further from the ground.
💡 Top Tip: Arrive early if driving, and consider the train given the residents-only restrictions right around the stadium.
🍺 PUBS & DRINKS NEAR PRIESTFIELDS
⚠️ Important Advice: Most away fans drink near the station or head two stops down the line to historic Rochester. One pub near the ground is genuinely best avoided – see below.
🍺 Near the Station
🍺 The Britannia (158 High Street, ME7 1AJ)
A recently redecorated pub right by the station, serving bar snacks and good drinks with a friendly local crowd. Gets crowded on matchdays with a genuine mix of home and away fans.
Distance to Stadium: Near the station, 10 min walk to ground | Price: £
🍺 The Southern Belle
Another small station-area pub, popular pre-match, similarly gets busy and mixed on matchdays.
Distance to Stadium: Near the station, 10 min walk to ground | Price: £
🍺 The Fleur de Lis (ME7 4RR)
Another local option a short walk from the station, part of a small cluster of pubs in the same stretch of town alongside the Britannia and Southern Belle.
Distance to Stadium: Near the station, 10 min walk to ground | Price: £
🍺 The Westcourt Arms
A traditional local pub close to the station area, another decent option if the busier venues nearby are full.
Distance to Stadium: Near the station, 10 min walk to ground | Price: £
🍺 Rochester (Two Stops Away, Highly Recommended)
🍺 Rochester High Street Pubs & Wetherspoons
Just two stops from Gillingham on the train, Rochester’s gorgeous medieval High Street is lined with pubs and restaurants, including a reliable Wetherspoons. A genuinely lovely way to spend a pre-match hour or two before the short hop back to Gillingham for kick-off.
Distance to Stadium: 2 stops by train, then walk/taxi | Price: ££
⚠️ One to Avoid
⚠️ The Cricketers (Sturdee Avenue, ME7 2JR)
Home fans only, with ticket checks carried out at the door. Do not attempt to enter in away colours – head to the station pubs or Rochester instead.
🍔 Food Options: The stadium’s food outlets have been upgraded in recent years, with the Rainham End concourse serving a decent range of hot food. Gillingham High Street also has plenty of takeaways and chain options.
💡 Local Tip: Making a visit to Rochester part of your matchday is genuinely one of the best things about a trip to Gillingham – don’t skip it if you have time.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY IN GILLINGHAM
Gillingham offers a range of reasonably priced accommodation, and London is under an hour away by train if you’d rather stay there and travel out for the match.
£ Budget Options (£45-70 per night)
The Balmoral Hotel
Located right next to Gillingham station – the closest accommodation option to Priestfield Stadium.
The King Charles Hotel
Near the University of Kent’s Medway campus, a reasonably priced option a short journey from the ground.
Premier Inn Gillingham Business Park
Reliable budget chain comfort a short drive from the ground, with free parking and consistent value.
Book: premierinn.com
££ Mid-Range Options (£75-110 per night)
Premier Inn Chatham/Gillingham Victory Pier
Reliable chain comfort by the Medway waterfront, around 20 minutes from Ebbsfleet International if you’re travelling further.
Book: premierinn.com
Holiday Inn Rochester – Chatham
Comfortable chain hotel close to Rochester’s historic centre, an easy option if you’re combining the match with exploring the castle and cathedral.
Book: ihg.com
£££ Luxury Options (£130+ per night)
Bridgewood Manor Hotel & Spa
A proper treat-yourself option near Rochester, with a full spa, pool and restaurant – ideal if you’re making a relaxed weekend of the trip.
£££ London Alternative
Central London Hotels
With Gillingham under an hour from St Pancras by Javelin train, staying in central London and travelling out for the match is a genuinely easy option if you want more choice and nightlife.
Search: booking.com
⚠️ Booking Advice
Rochester is also worth considering as a base – a more picturesque setting with plenty of independent guesthouses, just a couple of stops from Gillingham.
🎯 THINGS TO DO NEAR GILLINGHAM
The Medway towns punch well above their weight for history, with Rochester in particular a genuine must-see if you have any time to spare.
🏰 Rochester Castle & Cathedral (Must Visit!)
One of the best-preserved Norman keeps in England, towering over the medieval High Street, with the equally impressive Rochester Cathedral right nearby – genuinely one of the finest historic town centres in the South East.
Cost: Castle grounds free to view, keep entry charged | Time: Allow 1-2 hours
⚓ The Historic Dockyard Chatham
A genuinely fascinating former Royal Navy dockyard, now a museum with historic ships, submarines and exhibits covering centuries of naval history.
Cost: Adults around £25 | Time: Allow 2-3 hours
🎖️ Royal Engineers Museum
A well-regarded military museum covering the history of the Royal Engineers, with genuinely interesting exhibits and displays.
Cost: Adults around £10 | Time: Allow 1-2 hours
🌋 Fort Amherst
A large Napoleonic-era fort and network of tunnels built to defend the Chatham dockyard, with guided tours and regular events bringing its history to life – a genuinely atmospheric spot to explore.
Cost: Adults around £8-10 | Time: Allow 1-2 hours
Nearby Attractions
Leeds Castle:
One of England’s most beautiful castles, around 14 miles away – well worth the trip if you have a full day to spare.
⚓ THE MEDWAY EXPERIENCE
🏰 Medieval Rochester: Just two stops away, Rochester’s castle and cathedral make it one of the best pre-match day-out options in League Two.
⚓ Naval Heritage: The Medway towns have a proud naval history, best explored at the Historic Dockyard Chatham.
🚂 London on the Doorstep: Under an hour from St Pancras by Javelin train – genuinely easy to combine with a London trip.
⚽ THE MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE
🏟️ Historic Ground: Priestfield has been Gillingham’s home since 1893, one of the oldest continuously used grounds in English football.
😭 That Wembley Heartbreak: Gillingham’s 1999 play-off final collapse against Manchester City – 2-0 up with two minutes left, before losing on penalties – remains a defining, if painful, part of club folklore.
☔ Bring a Coat: The away end has no roof – dress for the weather, especially for winter fixtures.
💭 FINAL THOUGHTS
MEMS Priestfield Stadium is a proper old-school football ground, one of the oldest continuously used venues in the country, with a genuinely characterful (if basic) away end in the uncovered Brian Moore Stand. It’s not the most glamorous ground in League Two, but it has real history, and the club’s dramatic 1999 Wembley near-miss adds a certain poignant charm to the whole experience.
The real highlight of a trip to Gillingham, though, is what’s on the doorstep. Rochester, just two stops away by train, is one of the loveliest small historic towns in the South East, with its Norman castle, medieval cathedral and gorgeous High Street. The Historic Dockyard Chatham offers a genuinely fascinating deep dive into Britain’s naval history, and London itself is under an hour away.
Our advice? Get the Javelin train from St Pancras, hop off at Rochester for a wander round the castle and a pint on the High Street, then take the short train back to Gillingham for kick-off. A proper Kent day out with football attached.
Get the fast train from London, explore medieval Rochester, and enjoy one of League Two’s oldest grounds!
⚽ Come On You Gills! ⚽
📞 USEFUL CONTACTS
⚽ Gillingham FC: 01634 300000 | gillinghamfootballclub.com
🎫 Ticket Office: 01634 300000 (option 1)
🚂 National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 | nationalrail.co.uk
🏰 Rochester Castle & Cathedral: english-heritage.org.uk
ℹ️ Visit Medway: visitmedway.org
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⚽ Part of the Football Nonsense League Two Away Days Collection
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John Herman is a Leeds-based, would-be football writer and founder of Football Nonsense. Blending fan passion with sharp opinion, attempting to tackle the game’s biggest debates, from the terraces to the boardroom, with honesty, (attempted) humour, and heart.