← All guides · Ground rules
Bag policies at every English football ground
By AwayDay Brief · Published 14 July 2026
Nothing sours an away day faster than getting to the turnstile and being told your bag is not coming in. Most clubs now run strict size limits, some have no bag drop at all, and the rules change more often than you would think.
This directory covers all 92 Premier League and EFL grounds. Each entry comes from the club's own published guidance wherever it exists, and we show you the source and the date we last checked it. The same data powers our ground pages and paid briefs, so when a club changes its rules, this page changes with it.
The short version
- A4 is the magic size. At most grounds, if your bag is bigger than a sheet of A4 paper, expect a problem.
- Some grounds have no bag drop. Stamford Bridge is the big one: over A4 and you are walking back to the station. Check before you travel.
- Rucksacks can be banned outright. The Etihad refuses backpacks and holdalls even when they are small.
- Bag drops can cost money. Brighton list theirs at £7.50 at the Amex.
- Everyone gets searched. Arrive early enough to queue for it, especially in the away end.
If in doubt, the safest play never changes: pockets only.
Premier League
| Ground | Bag policy | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates Stadium | Nothing bigger than A4 gets in. Have your bag open at the turnstiles and expect the safety team to tag it. Arsenal point you at King's Cross for luggage, not the ground. | Arsenal Help Centre |
| Villa Park | Nothing over 20cm by 15cm by 5cm gets onto the Villa Park footprint, and every bag is searched. There's no storage of any kind, so a bag that fails goes back where you came from. | Aston Villa matchday guide |
| Vitality Stadium | Bags need to be smaller than A4, and Bournemouth would rather you left yours at home unless you really need it. Everything gets searched and tagged, and the club take no responsibility for a bag they turn away. | AFC Bournemouth away supporter guide |
| Gtech Community Stadium | Brentford would rather you brought no bag at all. Anything over 34cm by 24cm by 11cm is refused and stewards measure, so folding one down won't work. Medical, accessibility and small-children exemptions exist if you ask in advance. | Brentford FC away fans guide |
| American Express Stadium | Bags over A4 size and motorcycle helmets must go to the bag drop outside the South East entrance. Brighton currently list the bag drop cost as £7.50. | Brighton entering the Amex guide |
| Stamford Bridge | Nothing over 30cm by 20cm by 10cm, roughly a handbag. Chelsea run no storage themselves but point to an independent bag drop at Fulham Broadway Shopping Centre, without vouching for it. Megastore purchases in clear bags are exempt. | Chelsea bag size restrictions for matchdays |
| Selhurst Park | Bags must be no bigger than A4, and everything is searched. Palace also hold luggage free at the Information Centre by Entrance 9, open from three hours before kick-off, which is rare. | Crystal Palace visiting FAQs |
| Hill Dickinson Stadium | Nothing bigger than A4 gets in. There's a bag drop behind the Accreditation hub on the Budweiser Plaza at £20 a bag, otherwise anything oversized goes back off site. Medical and access needs go through Everton's baggage exemption. | Everton away supporters stadium guide |
| Craven Cottage | One bag per person, no bigger than A4, and folding a half empty one down will not do: they measure the bag itself. Everything is searched, and the bag drop is £5, card only. | Fulham FC bags policy |
| Elland Road | One small bag each, no bigger than A4, and folding a half full one over does not count. There is no bag drop, so sort it before you travel. | Leeds United security information |
| Anfield | A5 only, about the size of a paperback and smaller than most grounds take. Superstore purchases in the clear carrier are fine. There's no storage at Anfield, and an oversized medical bag needs 48 hours' notice. | Liverpool FC visiting supporters guide 2025/26 |
| Etihad Stadium | Only small handheld bags up to A4, or 12in by 8in by 3in, and no rucksacks even if they're small. There's a bag drop in the Grey car park at £10 an item, where the away coaches park. | Manchester City away fan guide |
| Old Trafford | Nothing bigger than 20cm by 15cm by 5cm, A5 rather than the A4 most grounds allow. Anything larger goes to a £5 bag drop, and there's one for away fans in the E2 car park. | Manchester United prohibited items at Old Trafford |
| St James' Park | Nothing bigger than A4, and every bag is searched on the way in. An exemption needs a medical reason agreed in advance: Newcastle say plainly that travel or hotel arrangements do not count. | Newcastle United support |
| City Ground | Nothing bigger than A4 gets into the City Ground, and Forest would rather you brought no bag at all unless you really need one. | Nottingham Forest away supporters guide |
| Stadium of Light | Small bags under A4 are allowed and searched; plastic bottles, flasks and large umbrellas are on the banned list. For selected fixtures an advanced search also bars coins, vapes and power banks, flagged through your own club beforehand. | Sunderland AFC visiting supporters guide |
| Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Airport-style checks on the way in. Personal bags are A4 or smaller, clear carriers up to 30cm square, laptop sleeves up to 37cm by 31cm. Spurs would rather you brought nothing: a bag means a longer queue. | Tottenham Hotspur visiting supporters guide |
| Coventry Building Society Arena | One bag each, nothing bigger than A4, and every bag is searched on the way in. | Coventry Building Society Arena event information |
| MKM Stadium | The MKM allows a small clutch bag up to A4, which they spell out as 30cm by 21cm by 5cm, and everything is checked on entry. Rucksacks, suitcases, flasks, umbrellas and prams are all turned away. | MKM Stadium permitted and prohibited items |
| Portman Road | Nothing bigger than a carrier bag or a handbag gets into Portman Road, and there's nowhere at the ground to leave anything larger. | Ipswich Town generic visiting fans guide 2024/25 |
Travelling to one of these? A brief gives you the bag rule, weather at kick-off, travel from your door and the pubs worth knowing, in one link. From £2.99.Get my brief →
Championship
| Ground | Bag policy | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Turf Moor | Travel light. Burnley take small bags and backpacks that fit under your seat, and everything gets searched on the way in. | Burnley FC Clarets Helpdesk |
| London Stadium | Bags must be A4 size or smaller, with a 100% bag search policy in force. Searches happen on the bridges as you approach the stadium, and there are no left luggage facilities. | West Ham visiting supporter guide 2025/26 |
| Molineux | A bag bigger than A4 doesn't get into Molineux. Searches happen at the turnstiles before you go in, and you may be asked to open your own bag. | Wolves matchday guide for away supporters 2025/26 |
| St Andrew's | Nothing over 12in by 6in by 12in gets in at St Andrew's. Small clutches and clear bags inside that limit get through, and medical and changing bags are screened. | Birmingham City away fan guide |
| Ewood Park | One small bag each, nothing bigger than A4, and everything you carry is inspected on the way in. Anything you buy from the Roverstore comes in a club bag and is fine to bring through. | Blackburn Rovers Ewood Park Visiting Supporters Guide 25/26 |
| Ashton Gate | Nothing bigger than A4 gets into Ashton Gate, and every bag is searched on the way in. | Bristol City bag policy |
| The Valley | Soft bags up to A4 get in, nothing bigger, and every bag is searched. There's no left luggage at the ground unless the safety team have agreed it in advance. | Charlton Athletic bag policy |
| Pride Park | Bags can be up to 45cm by 30cm by 15cm, which is roomier than most, and all of them get searched. Derby run no left luggage, so anything bigger stays with you. | Derby County flags, banners and bags policy |
| Riverside Stadium | Middlesbrough would rather you brought no bag at all. If you do, A4 is the limit, and anything larger has to be arranged with the club in advance. Stewards search at the turnstiles. | Tottenham Hotspur Middlesbrough away information |
| The Den | Bags smaller than A4 get into The Den, subject to a search. There's no bag drop for away fans, and a medical exception has to be arranged with the club's supporter liaison officer beforehand. | Millwall visiting supporters information |
| Carrow Road | Carrow Road refuses bags bigger than 40cm by 35cm by 19cm, so handbag size, and the club won't store anything during the game. Searches are thorough, so Norwich tell you to arrive early. | Norwich City arrival and searches |
| Fratton Park | Portsmouth prefer you bring no bag at all, and anything you do bring must be no bigger than A4. | Portsmouth FC code of conduct |
| Deepdale | Preston do not publish a bag rule for Deepdale, so treat the away end as bag-unfriendly and travel light. Expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Loftus Road | QPR would rather you didn't bring a bag. Suitcases and luggage don't get in, and whatever you do bring is searched on the way in. | QPR supporter information |
| Bramall Lane | Bags are allowed in if they fit under your seat. Anything bigger goes to CitySpareSpace luggage storage from £7 a day, with 10% off for visiting fans using the code SUFC. Expect a search on the way in. | Sheffield United Visitor Guide |
| St Mary's Stadium | St Mary's searches bags on entry and asks supporters to bring only an A4-sized bag if needed, small enough to fit under your seat. | Wolverhampton Wanderers matchday guide, Southampton away |
| bet365 Stadium | Stoke's ground regulations ban bags and suitcases outright, while their match packs allow nothing bigger than A4, searched on the way in. Bring no bag and you skip the argument. | Stoke City ground regulations |
| Swansea.com Stadium | Only bags smaller than A4 get in at the Swansea.com Stadium. They're checked at the outer cordon, and anything bigger is turned away. | Swansea.com Stadium event FAQs |
| Vicarage Road | A4 or it does not come in. Anything bigger goes to the bag drop by the Supporter Services office, which stays open half an hour after the whistle. | Watford visiting information |
| The Hawthorns | One bag each and no bigger than A4, which Albion put at 21cm by 21cm by 30cm. Anything larger stays outside, because there is no bag storage at the ground. | West Bromwich Albion home match ticket conditions |
| Stok Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground) | Bags above A4 size are not usually accepted, and every bag is thoroughly searched on the way in. Wrexham ask fans to avoid bringing bulky items at all. | Wrexham AFC away supporters guide 2025/26 |
| Toughsheet Community Stadium | Bolton recommend avoiding bags bigger than A4. Larger bags are subject to full bag checks, and there are no storage facilities for large bags, pushchairs or luggage. | Bolton Wanderers away supporters guide 2025/26 |
| Cardiff City Stadium | Cardiff ask supporters to avoid bringing bulky items or large bags. Everything brought to the stadium is thoroughly searched and some items may be refused entry. | Cardiff City away supporter guide 2025/26 |
| Sincil Bank | Lincoln take bags up to 30cm by 30cm and no bigger at the LNER Stadium. Everything is searched, and there's no left luggage at the ground. | Lincoln City prohibited items and search policy |
League One
| Ground | Bag policy | Source |
|---|---|---|
| King Power Stadium | Leicester cap bags at A4, or 30cm by 20cm by 20cm, and search every one that gets in. There's no left luggage. Medical or equipment bags go through help@lcfc.co.uk before you travel. | Leicester City Visiting Supporters Guide 2026/27 |
| Kassam Stadium | Oxford do not publish a bag rule for the Kassam, so treat the away end as bag-unfriendly and travel light. Expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Hillsborough | Sheffield Wednesday would rather you brought no bag at all. Anything bigger than a clutch is turned away, and a camera or laptop bag only goes in after a search. | Sheffield Wednesday safety information |
| Oakwell | Small bags only, nothing over 30cm by 20cm by 10cm. Barnsley list large bags, backpacks and suitcases as banned, and every bag is searched on the way in. | Barnsley FC bag check policy |
| Bloomfield Road | Blackpool ask that bags are no bigger than A4 and they search strictly on the way in, which queues the turnstiles, so get there early. Umbrellas are not allowed in at all. | Blackpool FC away fan guide 25/26 |
| Pirelli Stadium | Burton search everyone on the way in and ask you to leave rucksacks and large bags at home. No bag size limit is published. | Burton Albion away fans guide |
| Abbey Stadium | No size limit, but a suitcase or large holdall won't get in and everything is searched. Anything refused is disposed of, not stored, and Cambridge say there's no exception for fans arriving by train. | Cambridge United permitted and prohibited items |
| John Smith's Stadium | Huddersfield allow a small rucksack but nothing bigger than A4. Large bags and suitcases are refused and there is no storage for them at the ground. | Huddersfield Town away supporters guide |
| Brisbane Road | Nothing we can point at states a bag limit here, so travel light and expect a search on the way in. Assume anything bigger than A4 is a risk. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Kenilworth Road | Luton require a medical exemption certificate for medical or equipment bags, regardless of size. Approved exempted bags are still searched at the turnstiles. | Luton Town customer charter |
| One Call Stadium | We haven't been able to confirm a bag rule for the One Call Stadium, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Weston Homes Stadium | Peterborough take bags up to A4, clear carriers up to 30cm square and their own drawstring bag. Rucksacks are refused and every bag is checked. There's no left luggage, though reception will sometimes hold one if you ask. | Peterborough United bag policy |
| Home Park | Plymouth would rather you didn't bring a bag to Home Park. Small ones that fit under your seat get in, and expect them to be searched. | Plymouth Argyle home supporters guide |
| Select Car Leasing Stadium | Small bags and small backpacks are fine, and no size limit is published. Large bags and luggage do not come in, and you can be searched on the way in. | Reading FC prohibited items poster |
| Lamex Stadium | Nothing we can point at states a bag limit here, so travel light and expect a search on the way in. Assume anything bigger than A4 is a risk. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Edgeley Park | Visiting-club guidance says Edgeley Park allows A4-sized bags or backpacks. Larger bags and luggage cannot be taken in, and there is no storage provision at the stadium. | Plymouth Argyle away fans guide to Stockport County |
| Brick Community Stadium | Wigan don't publish a bag size limit, and they can search anyone on the way in. There's no luggage storage at the ground either, so don't turn up with a holdall. | Wigan Athletic match day guide |
| Adams Park | Wycombe's away fan guide confirms body and bag searches are in operation at Adams Park. The public guide does not publish a specific bag-size limit. | Wycombe Wanderers away fan guide |
| Plough Lane | Bags must be under A4 and every one is searched. Anything bigger needs the club's written permission, or use the free bag drop on trial at Cinch Self Storage on Garratt Lane. | AFC Wimbledon matchday entry and bag search update |
| Valley Parade | Bradford City ask supporters to avoid large bags at Valley Parade. If bringing food, smaller see-through A4-sized bags are preferred. | Bradford City matchday guide |
| Hayes Lane | Bromley do not publish a bag rule for Hayes Lane, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Eco-Power Stadium | Eco-Power Stadium event guidance says there is no published bag-size limit, but all bags are searched at the turnstiles. | Doncaster Rugby League Eco-Power Stadium matchday guide |
| Stadium MK | Stadium MK discourages bags. If needed, bring one small bag or handbag no larger than 21cm by 30cm; anything bigger is not allowed. | Stadium MK FAQs |
| Meadow Lane | Notts County do not publish a bag rule for Meadow Lane, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
League Two
| Ground | Bag policy | Source |
|---|---|---|
| St James Park | Exeter do not publish a bag rule for St James Park, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Sixfields Stadium | Sixfields operates a body and bag search policy before admission, and Northampton ask fans to bring a bag only if absolutely necessary. No bag size limit is published. | Northampton Town visiting Sixfields guide |
| AESSEAL New York Stadium | Bags are capped at 35cm by 20cm by 20cm, and no backpack gets in whatever its size. Every bag is searched and tagged on the way in. | Rotherham United safety messages |
| Croud Meadow | We haven't been able to confirm a bag rule for the Croud Meadow, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Memorial Stadium | Bristol Rovers do not publish a bag rule for the Mem, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Broadfield Stadium | Nothing we can point at states a bag limit here, so travel light and expect a search on the way in. Assume anything bigger than A4 is a risk. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Wham Stadium | Accrington do not publish a bag rule for the Wham Stadium, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| The Hive Stadium | Barnet do not publish a bag rule for The Hive, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Whaddon Road | Cheltenham do not publish a bag rule for Whaddon Road, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| SMH Group Stadium | Chesterfield ask supporters not to bring unnecessary bags to the SMH Group Stadium. Reducing bag searches helps supporters get through the turnstiles more quickly. | Chesterfield baggage request |
| JobServe Community Stadium | Colchester do not publish a bag rule for the JobServe, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Mornflake Stadium | Two stewards search bags outside every entrance, and Crewe ask everyone to open their coat. No size limit is published, so travel light rather than guess. | Crewe Alexandra away fans guide |
| Highbury Stadium | Bags bigger than A4 aren't allowed in and there's no luggage storage at Highbury. Anyone can be searched on the way in. | Fleetwood Town access statement |
| Priestfield Stadium | Gillingham advise supporters to avoid bringing large bags and items to MEMS Priestfield Stadium. The club also says supporters should allow time for entry searches. | Gillingham security notice |
| Blundell Park | Visiting-club guidance advises supporters not to take a bag to Blundell Park and to follow the ground regulations. | Wolves Grimsby matchday guide |
| Rodney Parade | Stewards search every bag and every person going into Rodney Parade, and anything on the banned list is turned away. No bag size limit is published. | Newport County ground regulations |
| Boundary Park | Oldham do not publish a bag rule for Boundary Park, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Vale Park | Vale Park count large bags among the things you cannot bring in. Contact the club ahead of the game for a pushchair, a large flag or anything accessibility related. | Port Vale general supporter guide |
| Crown Oil Arena | Rochdale do not publish a bag rule for the Crown Oil Arena, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Peninsula Stadium | Salford publish no bag rule, in their supporter guide, their charter or their matchday posts. Travel light and expect a search on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Nigel Eady County Ground | Nothing we can point at states a bag limit here, so travel light and expect a search on the way in. Assume anything bigger than A4 is a risk. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Prenton Park | Tranmere do not publish a bag rule for Prenton Park, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
| Bescot Stadium | All bags are searched on entry, in line with the ground regulations. Walsall don't publish a bag size limit, so pack light. | Walsall FC supporters guide |
| LNER Community Stadium | York do not publish a bag rule for the LNER Community Stadium, so travel light and expect to be searched on the way in. | AwayDay Brief editorial review |
How we keep this accurate
Every sourced entry links to the club page or supporter guide it came from, with the month we last verified it. Bag rules are volatile: clubs tighten them for big fixtures and quietly relax them mid-season. If a rule here looks out of date, trust the club's own page on the day and let us know.
One more thing: this directory covers the standard matchday policy. Cup finals, high-risk fixtures and concerts often run stricter rules at the same ground.