Celtic Park is the football stadium in the Parkhead district of Glasgow, Scotland, that has served as Celtic FC’s home ground since it opened on 20 August 1892. Nicknamed “Paradise” after a journalist likened the move from Celtic’s old, cramped ground to “leaving the graveyard to enter paradise,” it remains one of British football’s most storied venues.
With a capacity of 60,411, Celtic Park is the largest football stadium in Scotland and one of the biggest in the United Kingdom. This guide covers everything a visiting fan needs: capacity and stand layout, stadium tour and hospitality prices, away ticket allocations, how to get there by train, bus, or car, parking options, nearby hotels, and matchday essentials.
Quick Answer
Celtic Park holds 60,411 fans across the North, Jock Stein (West), Lisbon Lions (East), and Main (South) stands. It’s a 10–15 minute walk from Dalmarnock or Bridgeton train stations, has limited matchday parking in the Lisbon Lions 1 Car Park, and offers year-round stadium tours (roughly £17–£20 for adults, family bundles around £60) bookable through the official Celtic FC stadium tours page.
Stats at a Glance
Team: Celtic FC. Location: Parkhead, Glasgow, Scotland. Opened: 20 August 1892. Capacity: 60,411. Record attendance: 83,500 (Old Firm derby vs Rangers, 1 January 1938). Also known as: Parkhead, “Paradise.” Nearest stations: Dalmarnock and Bridgeton, both roughly a 10–15 minute walk away.
Stand Layout and Seating
Celtic Park is split into four stands. The North Stand is the largest, holding around 27,000 fans and running the full length of one side. Opposite it sits the Main (South) Stand, the oldest surviving section of the ground, first built in 1929 and holding roughly 8,000 spectators today.
The two ends are the Jock Stein Stand (West), named after Celtic’s most successful manager and completed in 1998 with capacity for about 13,000 across two tiers, and the Lisbon Lions Stand (East), renamed in 2000 in honour of the 1967 European Cup-winning team. That same stand also houses Celtic Park’s rail (safe standing) section, a fenced, barriered area installed in 2016 that lets home fans stand safely rather than sit in traditional seating, plus a second safe-standing section in the corner between the Lisbon Lions and North Stands.
Away Tickets and Allocation
Away supporters are allocated seats in the south-east corner of the ground, in a lower-tier section of the Lisbon Lions Stand accessed via its own turnstiles and stairways. A typical league allocation runs to around 3,000 seats, though this can rise substantially — up to roughly 7,000-plus — for cup fixtures depending on demand and safety segregation requirements.
Away tickets for league matches are sold through the visiting club rather than directly by Celtic, so fans should check with their own club for on-sale dates. For Old Firm derbies and European nights, away and neutral demand is highest and tickets sell out fastest, so booking as early as possible is strongly advised.
Stadium Tours and Tickets
Celtic FC runs guided stadium tours most days of the week outside of matchday preparation periods, taking fans behind the scenes through areas such as the home dressing room, boardroom, tunnel, dugout, and pitchside. Tours typically run about 60 minutes and start from the Celtic Way entrance area near the Sports Bar.
Adult tour tickets are currently priced in the high-teens (around £17–£20), with reduced rates for children, over-65s and students, a family bundle option, and under-5s going free. The club also runs a premium “Tour & Dine” experience that combines the stadium tour with a meal in the Number 7 restaurant overlooking the pitch. Tour times and exact prices change seasonally and around fixtures, so always check the official Celtic FC stadium tours page before you travel.
Matchday Tickets and Hospitality
Match tickets for Celtic FC fixtures are sold through the club’s official ticketing channels, with pricing tiered by stand, category of match, and season-ticket-holder priority. For fans who want a more premium experience, Celtic FC also runs official hospitality packages — including the Club 67 lounge in the West Stand and fine-dining options overlooking the pitch — which bundle a padded seat, pre-match lounge access, and food and drink into one price. Hospitality packages generally start well above standard match-ticket prices and are sold separately through the club’s hospitality office, so check the official Celtic FC hospitality page for current packages and pricing.
Getting to Celtic Park
Public transport is the recommended way to reach Celtic Park, since matchday parking near the ground is limited and the surrounding streets get congested on matchdays. Dalmarnock station is the closest, roughly a 10–15 minute walk from the ground, with regular services from Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street taking about 10–15 minutes. Bridgeton station is a similar walking distance to the north and offers an alternative, often less crowded, route away from the stadium after the final whistle.
First Bus routes 2, 61, and 64 run from Glasgow city centre toward Parkhead, with the 61 and 64 dropping passengers within about a 10-minute walk along London Road. Drivers can approach via the M8 motorway, exiting at junction 12 or 13 and following signs for Parkhead, though traffic and parking restrictions are significant on matchdays. Full up-to-date directions, including accessible routes and guidance for travelling from Glasgow Airport, are listed on the official Celtic FC getting-to-the-stadium page.
Parking Near Celtic Park
Celtic FC offers limited matchday parking for supporters in the Lisbon Lions 1 Car Park, right next to the stadium, but spaces are limited and fill up quickly, so early arrival is essential if you plan to use it. Additional matchday parking is available further out at locations such as the Clyde Gateway and the Emirates Arena, both a walk from the ground.
Much of the surrounding residential area also operates permit-only parking schemes on matchdays, and restrictions are actively enforced on streets such as Janefield Street. The Forge Shopping Centre and Retail Park nearby has free parking outside match hours, though on matchdays a strict time limit applies and overstaying can result in a fine — so it isn’t a reliable full-match option. Given how limited on-site and matchday parking is, many regular visitors still choose to park further out and walk, or take the train in, rather than rely on parking close to the ground.
Where to Stay Near Celtic Park
There’s no large hotel directly beside the stadium, but several serviced apartments and guesthouses in Glasgow’s East End sit within a 5–10 minute walk of the ground, making them handy for a quick matchday commute. Fans who prefer a wider choice of restaurants, bars, and transport links often base themselves in Glasgow city centre instead — it’s roughly a 15–20 minute train or bus ride away and puts Glasgow Central and Queen Street stations, and their direct trains to Dalmarnock or Bridgeton, right on the doorstep.
The Matchday Experience
On matchdays, Celtic Park fills with a wall of green and white as supporters pack the stadium’s steep stands. The atmosphere is especially charged during Old Firm derbies against Rangers, a fixture with over a century of history that has drawn some of the largest crowds ever recorded at a British football ground.
Beyond league and cup football, Celtic Park has hosted more than 20 Scotland international matches and staged the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, underlining its role as one of Scotland’s premier large-scale venues.
History and Rebuilding
The current Celtic Park site has been in continuous use since 1892, replacing an earlier ground nearby that the club vacated after a steep rent increase. Over the following decades the ground was rebuilt in stages — most dramatically after the Hillsborough disaster prompted a UK-wide move to all-seated stadiums, which saw Celtic Park redeveloped into its current four-stand, all-seater layout during the 1990s.
The club has periodically discussed further redevelopment of the Main Stand and adjacent land, including a proposed hotel and museum development first outlined in 2017, though as of the most recent public comments from Celtic’s leadership, a full-scale expansion of capacity remains a long-term consideration rather than an active project.
Celtic Park stadium guide FAQs
What is the capacity of Celtic Park?
Celtic Park holds 60,411 spectators, making it the largest football stadium in Scotland and one of the largest in the United Kingdom.
How much are Celtic Park stadium tours?
Adult tour tickets are currently priced in the high-teens (roughly £17–£20), with reduced prices for children, students, and over-65s, a family bundle option, and free entry for under-5s. Prices and tour days change seasonally, so check the official Celtic FC stadium tours page before booking.
How do I get to Celtic Park without a car?
The easiest options are Dalmarnock or Bridgeton train stations, both about a 10–15 minute walk from the ground with regular services from Glasgow Central and Queen Street, or First Bus routes 2, 61, and 64 from the city centre.
Is there parking at Celtic Park on matchdays?
Official matchday parking is limited to the Lisbon Lions 1 Car Park next to the ground, which fills up quickly, plus overflow options further out at Clyde Gateway and the Emirates Arena. Most residential streets nearby operate permit-only parking on matchdays.
Where do away fans sit at Celtic Park?
Away supporters are allocated seats in the south-east corner of the ground, in the lower tier of the Lisbon Lions Stand, with a typical league allocation of around 3,000 seats that can rise for cup fixtures.
Does Celtic Park have hospitality packages?
Yes, Celtic FC sells official hospitality packages such as the Club 67 lounge and fine-dining options overlooking the pitch, which bundle a premium seat with pre-match food, drink, and lounge access. These are booked separately from standard match tickets through the club’s hospitality office.
What is Celtic Park’s nickname and why?
Celtic Park is nicknamed “Paradise,” a name that stuck after a journalist described the club’s move from its old, cramped ground to the new stadium as “leaving the graveyard to enter paradise.”
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