League One Play-Off Final Travel Guide: How Bolton And Stockport Fans Can Reach Wembley

Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County supporters heading to Wembley Stadium for Sunday’s League One Play-Off Final are being urged to plan carefully, with rail travel from Greater Manchester affected by bank holiday engineering work. The final takes place at Wembley on Sunday 24 May 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 1.00pm, as both clubs compete for promotion to the Championship.

The biggest travel warning concerns Avanti West Coast services from Manchester Piccadilly. Wembley Stadium has advised that, due to planned engineering works, Avanti services from Manchester Piccadilly will be severely limited throughout Sunday. Supporters planning to travel to Wembley from Manchester are being urged to consider alternative routes or other forms of transport.

For Bolton Wanderers fans, the normal rail journey to London would usually involve travelling from Bolton towards Manchester and then using Avanti West Coast services to London Euston, before continuing across London to Wembley. However, Sunday’s reduced Avanti provision means supporters should not assume they can simply turn up and travel. Trains that are running are likely to be busy, and anyone using rail should have a booked and checked itinerary before leaving home.

Stockport County fans face a similar issue. Stockport is normally well placed for direct or straightforward rail services towards London, but the wider disruption to Avanti West Coast’s Manchester route means supporters should expect limited flexibility, busy services and a need to plan the return journey before setting off. Wembley’s advice is that supporters travelling by rail should aim to arrive at Wembley stations no later than one hour before kick-off, meaning fans should be in the Wembley area by midday at the latest.

Once in London, Wembley Stadium is served by three main stations. Wembley Park is on the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines and is around a short walk from the stadium. Wembley Stadium station is served by Chiltern Railways from London Marylebone, while Wembley Central is served by the Bakerloo line and London Overground. All three stations are expected to be open, but supporters should allow extra time for queues and crowd management before and after the game.

Coach travel may be the more predictable option for some supporters. National Express is offering official return coach travel to Wembley Stadium from both Bolton and Stockport. Its event information lists adult return fares from £60 from Bolton and £55 from Stockport, with child fares from £57 from Bolton and £50 from Stockport. Coaches are due to arrive at Wembley Stadium at around 11.00am and depart at around 4.00pm.

Bolton Wanderers has also confirmed official club coach travel, with return travel priced at £60 and coaches departing from the Toughsheet Community Stadium on a staggered basis from early morning. For supporters who want to avoid the uncertainty of a reduced rail timetable, official coach travel may be a simpler way to get directly to Wembley and back.

Big Green Coach is also advertising return coach travel for both sets of supporters, with Bolton pick-up locations including Bolton, Farnworth and Horwich, and Stockport pick-up locations including Handforth, Hazel Grove and Stockport. As with any coach option, supporters should check the exact pick-up point, departure time and return arrangements before booking.

The safest message for both sets of fans is not to treat this as a normal Sunday journey to London. Rail services from Manchester towards London are subject to major limitations, and demand will be high because thousands of supporters are heading to the same destination at the same time. Anyone travelling by train should check live journey planners before leaving, leave extra time, and make sure the return journey still works after the final whistle.

For Bolton and Stockport supporters, the key decision is whether rail still offers a practical route or whether coach travel gives greater certainty. With a 1.00pm kick-off, fans need to be in the Wembley area by lunchtime, and with reduced Avanti services in place, the margin for error is smaller than usual. Planning ahead is essential, particularly for those travelling back to Greater Manchester on Sunday evening.

*Information correct at the time of publication

Image: Wembley Stadium