The Walks (King’s Lynn)

The Walks is a football ground in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England. It’s a home ground of King’s Lynn Town F.C.

General information

Arena capacity: 8,200 spectators

Address: Tennyson Rd, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5PB

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 52.7501° N, 0.4075° E

Year of construction: 1879

Field: grass lawn

Seating plan of The Walks

The Walks Stadium is a classic looking football ground, which is of a good size for this level. Dating back to 1879 it is one of the oldest grounds in the country. On one side is the Grandstand. Although it only runs for around 2/3rds of the length of the pitch, straddling the halfway line, it is of a good size and looks quite imposing. This covered stand has a single tier of 1,200 seats, which are raised above pitch level, meaning that you have to climb a small set of stairs to enter it.

Originally opened in 1956, the stand contains the club facilities, such as the dressing rooms, press area clubhouse bar, cafe and club shop. It is set back a bit from the side of the pitch, as there is a spectator standing area in front, as well as the team dugouts. It has windshields to either side as well as a couple of supporting pillars at the front.

Opposite is a small covered terrace that runs for the entire length of the pitch. Although it has a number of supporting pillars running along the front and along the middle, it does normally house the more vocal elements of the local support. It is around 12 steps high. Both ends are open to the elements and are small terraces.

The largest of these is at the West end of the stadium. Called the Tennyson Road End, it has a few elevated steps of the terrace, the highest of which is quite broad. For some reason, this terrace is set back from the pitch and converges at an angle in the middle. The ground has a set of four tall modern floodlights, two of which are on each side. Unusually they are not at each corner, but along the side of the pitch, one on each side of the Grandstand and two opposite in front of the North Terrace.

Visiting Supporters

For most matches, fans are not segregated at the Walks Stadium. In the event that they are then away fans are housed on the Mick Wright Terrace at one end, as well as part of the North Terrace. In addition, a limited number of seats are normally made available to visiting supporters in the Grandstand for those who need to sit. The Mick Wright Terrace is an open one and is only a few steps high.

Around a third of the North Terrace is also given to away fans and at least it is covered and allows visitors to make themselves heard. This terrace is shared with home supporters, with the obligatory gap in-between, further helping the atmosphere. Usually, beside the Grandstand there is a BBQ area selling burgers and hot dogs.

Oddly at this level entrance to the ground is by ticket only, meaning that you need to purchase a ticket beforehand or from the Ticket Office at the ground. Normally this is not a problem, but for more popular games, the queues coming up to kick off can be quite lengthy. You can avoid this by buying tickets in advance online, including tickets for the away section. Usually, an enjoyable day out. Look out for the King’s Lynn mascot which is an odd-looking bird called Lionel.

Where to buy tickets?

It’s all nice and rather simple at The Walks. The only thing that will affect the cost of tickets is your age and where in the ground you want to seat.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the stadium box office or via the club’s online shop.

How to get there?

At the roundabout at the junction of A47 and the A17, follow the A47, signposted King’s Lynn and Norwich. Travel along the dual carriageway for approximately one and a half miles branching off left, following the signs for the Town Centre, onto the first Hardwick roundabout. Take the first exit, following the signs for the Town Centre, travel through two sets of traffic lights until reaching a further set of traffic lights at the Southgates roundabout. Take the fourth exit onto Vancouver Avenue and travel for approximately 300 metres going straight across a mini roundabout. The Walks is a further 200 metres along on the left hand side.

Car Parking: There is no general parking available at the club. We recommend that any public traveling by car should use one of the car parks in the town centre or the new multi-storey St James Car Park which holds 645 cars and is only a 5 minute walk from the club (parking charges may apply). Please note, parking at the St James St James Hospital site is designated for nurses only and are not intended for supporters to park there. 

Disabled Parking: There are 20 free parking spaces available on match day for disabled blue badge holders.

King’s Lynn Railway Station is a 5-10 minute walk away from the ground. It is served by trains from London Kings Cross. On exiting the station turn left and where you see a church in front of you (and where the roads bends around to the right), take the pathway around to the left and walk through the park. You will soon see the ground over on your right.

King’s Lynn Bus station is only a 5 minute walk and directly connects with most villages around King’s Lynn and cities such as Norwich and Peterborough. There is also a bus stop outside the ground. Please check eastern counties and Norfolk Green for bus routes and times.

Where to eat and drink?

There is a club bar inside the ground, that is located in the undercroft of the Grandstand, which welcomes away supporters. However, if fans are segregated, then only those visiting supporters who are seated in the Grandstand can access the bar. There are two small pubs located around five minutes walk away from the Walks Stadium, the Live and Let live on Windsor Road and Lord Napier on Guanock Terrace. The Live and Let Live can be found particularly welcoming and it also offers real ale and some real ciders. However, the Lord Napier does have the added benefit of showing Sky Sports. If arriving by train then in the town centre there is a Wetherspoons outlet called the Globe Hotel on King Street.

If you have a bit more time on your hands, then overlooking the Great Ouse River, is the Crown & Mitre pub in Ferry Street, which offers national and regional real ales as well as food.

Facilities

Enjoy the game in style, while promoting your business!

The matchday hospitality package includes:

• Lunch or evening meal.
• Drinks on your reserved table.
• Reserved parking.
• Complimentary matchday magazine and team sheets.
• Host to look after you and your guests.
• Half-time refreshments.
• Pre-match photo with the Club Captain and Manager.
• Directors box seating.
• Select Man of the Match and presentation of gift to a player and photograph.
• Company branding in the matchday magazine.
• Half-page advertisement in the matchday magazine.
• PA announcement.
• Scoreboard advertisements.

Whether you’re planning a corporate event or birthday party, their food, drink and entertainment options take the pressure out of private hire. So you can be sure that, whether you have twenty guests or two hundred, they’re guaranteed an unforgettable experience at one of the adaptable spaces.

History

The club took over the Walks ground from King’s Lynn, who had played there since being formed in 1881. Canvas screens were erected around the ground in 1892 to prevent people watching matches without paying. A stand was built in 1896, although it was demolished in 1905, replaced by a 500-seat wooden grandstand built at a cost of £250. In the mid-1950s the Supporters Club installed terracing for 4,000 and 780 seats on the northern side of the pitch. In 1955 the wooden stand was sold to a company in Spalding and a new grandstand seating 1,400 with a terraced paddock holding 3,000 was built at a cost of £27,000 and opened by then FIFA President and FA Chairman Arthur Drewry on 18 August 1956.