MRSC Guide for Saracens v Munster in Allianz Park

The MRSC London Branch are really looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the London area for the crucial European Champions Cup game next week.

They have been busy planning some exciting events for this weekend for the renowned travelling Munster fans, including for the Friday and Saturday evenings.

Travel Information

Allianz Park is situated in Hendon, postcode NW41RL.

Travel options from Airports (Day Travellers/Saturday Arrivals)

Heathrow: The simplest way is to take the London Underground Piccadilly line to King's Cross St Pancras and then interchange to St Pancras International station for a train to Mill Hill Broadway.
Luton: Take the shuttlebus to Luton Airport Parkway station from the airport, then a direct train to Mill Hill Broadway.
Gatwick: Catch a Thameslink train to St Pancras International and change for a stopping service to Mill Hill Broadway.
Stansted: We have just been made aware that the Stansted Express train will not be in operation on Saturday or Sunday next weekend.

There are three revised options:

1) The best option is to stay with the rail replacement coach, as it’s turn up and go. Take this from Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street station, walk the seven minutes to Moorgate station, through the shopping arcade, and take the Northern line to Edgware for the free shuttle bus. The bus stops on the north side of Station Road. Turn right after the ticket barriers through the double doors, then turn left past Metro Bank. Cross the road at KFC and the shuttle bus departs from the bus stop near the Halifax bank. (This is generally faster than travelling to Mill Hill East,which involves a change of trains). The expected journey time would be just over 2 hours 30 minutes end to end.

2) A pre-booked taxi from Stansted to the ground starts from £42(one way) on this local cab company:(40miles and 1 hour travel time) This could possibly work out cheaper for a group of two or more than public transport and may also be a much quicker option.

3) The third option is by National Express coach A6 from Stansted Airport to Golders Green, however, this requires specific coach times to be booked in both directions, travel is sometimes possible by turning up but this can’t be guaranteed, and this tends to be affected by traffic. From Golders Green, take the Northern line to Edgware for the free shuttle bus. The bus stops on the north side of Station Road. Turn right after the ticket barriers through the double doors, then turn left past Metro Bank. Cross the road at KFC and the shuttle bus departs from the bus stop near the Halifax bank. (This is generally faster than travelling to Mill Hill East, which involves a change of trains). The expected journey time would be around 2 hours 10 minutes end to end, although allow more time for traffic. Although there are some local buses which go to Allianz Park and nearby, they are not as frequent as the shuttle buses, and don’t go directly to the ground, so are slower, so best to stick with these routes

Travel options from Central London to Allianz Park

On home match days Saracens run free shuttle buses from Mill Hill East and Edgware London Underground Stations as well as Mill Hill Broadway National Rail Station. Services run approximately every 5 minutes and drop you a short walk from the stadium. We will update with specific details on timings and pick up points as we get them.

There are two viable public transport options to get to the ground from London:

1: By Train (Over Ground).
Mill Hill Broadway, on the Thameslink, is the nearest overground station. It's about 1.6 miles, so 20 minutes' walk or a 10 minute taxi journey from Allianz Park.
2: By Tube (Underground)
Edgware and Mill Hill East tube stations on the Northern Line provide an alternative with Mill Hill approximately a 30 minute walk or 10 minute taxi journey to Allianz Park.(Edgware is further away/approx. a 40 minute wlak).
*At the moment there is no planned engineering works affecting any of the above for the weekend.
**Saracens run very frequent, free, buses on match days from all these stations from around two hours before kickoff to around two hours after, but we have no details for the Munster game yet. A detailed timetable is generally made available in the week before the game. At the ground, the buses arrive and depart from Pursley Road, which is around a ten minute walk from the ground along a dedicated footpath. London Buses Route 221 also serves these stations and the ground, but you need a Travelcard, Bus Pass or Oyster Card to board as tickets are not sold on the bus.
*** To plan your journey to Allianz Park from anywhere in London, go to www.tfl.gov.uk and select your travel points within the Journey Planner. Allianz Park is accepted as a destination.
**** Parking is very limited, and expensive at the ground, and must be booked at www.saracens.com. There is also a widespread controlled parking area around the stadium. If you are driving, the best option is to use public car parks near Mill Hill Broadway station and use the shuttle bus.

Matchday Meeting Points

The main central base for the weekend is Rudds Bar (148 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4BY – beside Blackfriars rail/tube station). This is the home of the MRSC London Branch and will also be the venue of choice for the evening entertainment post-game with live music and replays of the game planned.

We are delighted to announce that we have also reached agreement with the two locally based amateur rugby clubs, Mill Hill RFC/Hendon RFC, to act as our local official meeting points both of whom have Irish connections. In addition, the Claddagh Ring, located in nearby Hendon, provides a good alternative for those seeking a more traditional Irish bar.

Both clubs are located in the shadows of Allianz Park (less than 5 minutes walking). From the Pursley Road shuttle bus drop off point continue past Allianz Park along Greenlands Lane for Hendon RFC, or take the right at the swimming pool along Champions Way for Mill Hill RFC. Our Central London venue, Rudds, is just by Blackfriars station, which is a direct 30 minute train journey to Mill Hill Broadway, four trains operate per hour.

Match Flags for Munster fans will be handed out at the shuttle bus drop off points on Pursley Road and at both club houses from about 90 minutes prior to kick off.

The MRSC Choir will be attending the match and performing at our various events over the weekend.

Hendon RFC (Greenlands Lane, NW4 1RL http://www.hendonrugby.com/)

Open from 9am, serving breakfast rolls pre-game and BBQ post match. Will have live music from 11am. Popular MRSC Irish trad group Celtic Crunch will also play there from 3pm and there will be an appearance from the MRSC Choir post game. They will facilitate cash back in the bar and there is free wifi also available. Hendon RFC have a very strong Irish connection with many of their players and supporters either first or second generation Irish and the club house manager being a Munsterman himself. The London Branch of the Supporters Club will be leaving from this venue at 6pm to head to the more central venue of Rudds from 6pm for those who want to join them.

Mill Hill RFC (Champions Way, NW7 2EL http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/millhill/)

Open from 9am, serving breakfast pre-game and food post match. The car park has a few limited spaces that are pre -bookable through the website.
There will be a traditional rugby club welcome here complete with a roaring log fire. They also have good Irish connections with St Kieran’s GAA club training/playing there.The MRSC Choir will sing a few songs here pre-game.

Claddagh Ring (10 Church Road, NW4 4EA, http://www.claddagh-ring.co.uk/ )

The Claddagh Ring is located a little bit away from Allianz Park but is still the closest pub to the ground with a great Irish tradition. They will be open from 9.30am serving full Irish breakfast all day with a full bar menu available from 11am-10pm. They run their own free shuttle bus from Hendon Central tube (Northern line) every 10 minutes to Allianz Park commencing at 11am. There will be live music from the Bible Code Sundays from 5pm. They will have wristbands available which gives free admission to their sister venues in the area and a 10% discount on prices all day.