Hotels for Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace

South coast against south London, and this fixture always carries a bit more needle than the league table suggests. Crystal Palace fans make the journey down in real numbers, and the away end tends to be in good voice long before kick-off. A Saturday afternoon slot means a full build-up around the ground, with pubs nearby filling early. Local pride is at stake as much as points.

Brighton & Hove Albion were founded in 1901 and take their Seagulls nickname from a chant: away fans at a derby with Crystal Palace sang 'Eagles, Eagles', and Brighton's own supporters answered back with 'Seagulls, Seagulls', a name that stuck for good. The club's story since has been almost as much about where they played as how: the Goldstone Ground was home from 1902 until it was sold in 1997, leading to two years ground-sharing at Gillingham and over a decade at Withdean Stadium before the Amex finally opened at Falmer in 2011. That permanent, purpose-built home underpinned Brighton's rise from the lower leagues to a settled top-flight and European club.

Brighton & Hove Albion's modern home, the Amex sits at Falmer on the edge of the South Downs, a striking curved stadium framed by rolling countryside. Bright and airy rather than urban, it shares its setting with the University of Sussex, while lively, bohemian Brighton lies a short ride away. Falmer station sits right beside the ground, with direct trains from Brighton in minutes. Staying in Brighton lets you enjoy the seafront and nightlife, then reach the match on a quick, direct train.