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The Valley Rough Guide
For Charlton fans, The Valley is 'Home Sweet Home'. Having been 'exiled' to Selhurst and Upton Park in 1985, going home to SE7 in 1992 was a genuinely spiritual journey for all 'Addicks. And we never wish to leave home again, ever!
We like to think that at the The Valley, a warm welcome awaits all visiting fans. Although we say it ourselves, there is a nice community spirit at the ground and we welcome all of our Premier and Nationwide club fans.
For those coming to the ground, please be warned -trying to find a parking space at Charlton is a thankless task. There is a No Parking Zone in operation because of the Dome: thank Greenwich Council for this!
Take a chance on Connex South East and travel by train, if you can (or dare!) Take either the Dartford/Gillingham semi-fast service via Greenwich, or the slow Dartford via Greenwich and Woolwich train from Charing Cross, Cannon Street, Waterloo East or London Bridge.
Make sure that the train does stop at CHARLTON and the journey time is around 25-35 minutes. Get off at Charlton and turn right and sharp left again for Floyd Road.
To the right past the chip shop is the away end with room for 2,000. Turn left and you will come across the Club Shop, but expect a wait to get in there on match days, though!
For food and drink, there are the usual dodgy kebabs and fish and chip shops around Floyd Rd and the Station. But here are a few recommendations:
If you fancy a totally unhealthy South East London fry up, go no further than 'The Valley Cafe' facing Floyd Rd;
For the best chips and tea around try the 'Golden Fish Bar': walk up Charlton Church Lane (the steep hill that goes directly up from the Station, turn left at St Luke's church at the very top and it is on the left just before 'Pizza Hut';
There are pubs around the ground but try the following as the more relaxed and welcoming:
'The Bugle Horn' - at the top of Charlton Church Lane;
'Rose Of Denmark' - Woolwich Road (turn left coming out of the Station and left again onto the main road.
For those staying in the area for longer than just the match, you will find Charlton, a tale of 'Heights'. The bottom end of Charlton where the station, ground and newsagents are situated, is pretty basic and is where you will find most main stores (PC World, Currys, ASDA, Tempo etc) on one of the two industrial estates.
But climb the hill to Charlton Village and it is much more dignified, Charlton Park, the haunted Charlton House with Woolwich to the left and Blackheath (the Hampstead of South London if you will) on the right.
If you are desperate, take the M1 bus from the station to the Dome or you can walk along Woolwich Road to the Thames Barrier - the ninth Wonder of the World: Charlton Athletic are the eighth!
Just 10 minutes walk away is 'FilmWorks' a new 14 screen multiplex - sandwiched between a very nice Pizza Hut and a Sainsburys Superstore/Starbucks.
The nearest Cash Point is a new Barclays machine on the 'down'/Kent side of the station. With tickets for visitors at £25 and £2.50 for a programme you may need a bit of money to see you through the afternoon!
Good luck and enjoy your stay!!!!
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9 May 08 
Liverpool Football Club