Thousands of Shrewsbury Town fans will be making the journey south to cheer on the team in its Wembley showdown with Gillingham for a place in League One this weekend.

Bosses of the club say there will be anything between 20,000 and 25,000 Town fans enjoying the League Two play-off final match in the national stadium on Saturday.

Up to 100 coaches will make the journey, while two special trains will be put on by rail company Wrexham & Shropshire to take people to the ground.

Here the Shropshire Star provides a comprehensive guide to Wembley, from how to get there if you are making your own arrangements, to where to stay, eat and drink and what cannot be taken into the stadium.

How to get to the ground:

By car

Wembley Stadium and the area surrounding it is designated as a public transport destination, meaning people are asked to arrive there by bus, train or tube.

There are two straightforward ways to travel by car from Shrewsbury to Wembley Stadium, at postcode HA9 0WS.

The first route is to take the A5 and M54 past Telford, before joining the A460 signposted for M6 North Cannock. Then join the M6 Toll, signposted The South, Burntwood, for about 22 miles before joining the M42 for about a mile and then at junction 7A joining the M6.

Remain on the M6 for about 25 miles before joining the M1 for about 76miles. About five miles after the London Gateway Service area leave at a junction to join the A406 for about two miles before branching left on toGreat Central Way (B4557) following the signs for Wembley Stadium.

The alternative route is much the same but from the M54 join the M6 south rather than heading to the M6 toll and joining the M6 later.

Once at Wembley, people are urged to park at the official Wembley Stadium car parks which can be pre-booked via www.csparking.com/stadium

Stadium car parks do not open until 12pm on Saturday, and will remain open for 90 minutes after the match has finished.

A protective parking zone on match days is in operation for a one-and-a-half mile radius around the ground, meaning people parking in this zone without permits will face a large parking fine and could even be towed away.

People can also park at a Chiltern Railways Station and make the last part of the journey by rail.

Stations which people travelling from the north are asked to park at include: Warwick Parkway (CV35 8RH); Banbury (OX16 5AB); Bicester North (OX26 6EF); and High Wycombe (HP13 6NN)

For details visit the website www.chilternrailways.co.uk/plan-your-journey/getting-to-wembley-stadium

For live travel information on the day of the match call the Wembley Stadium Travel Information Line on 0845 6000 555.

By bus or coach

Shrewsbury Town’s away travel club has organised coaches to get people to Wembley.

Coaches will pick up in Shrewsbury, Wem, Oswestry and Telford between 7.45am and 8.15am.

Tickets are priced at £23 for adults and £18 for juniors and OAPs.

People travelling on the coaches can park at Sutton Grange Nursery Car Park, near the Prostar Stadium. People will need to pay £5 for a permit.

For details about the exact pick-up points and how to get tickets call Chris Smith on (01952) 604742 or e-mail shrewsawaytravel@hotmail.com

National Express will also be running coach transfers from Shrewsbury (Route W54) to Wembley Stadium.

On Saturday the coach is due to leave Shrewsbury Bus Station at Raven Meadows at 8.30am, arriving at Wembley Stadium at 12.15pm. The return journey will leave the stadium at 5.30pm and arrive back in Shrewsbury at 9.15pm.

For more information visit the website www.nationalexpress.com/wembley

By Rail (including tube)

Rail company Wrexham & Shropshire will run two special services to Wembley Stadium on Saturday, priced at £40 return, half price for kids and with discounts for Railcard holders.

The first, which has sold out, will leave Shrewsbury Railway Station at 9.07am and Telford at 9.27am, while the second will leave Shrewsbury at 10.07am and Telford at 10.27am. Return trains will leave Wembley at 6.06pm and 6.36pm.

For more information visit the website www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk

Wembley is served by three stations. Wembley Stadium Station is five minutes from the ground and is a Chiltern Railways line for services from the Midlands and people using the park and ride. It is located on the south side of the stadium and is the station Wrexham & Shropshire’s services will arrive at.

Wembley Park Station is a 10 minute walk from the ground. To get to the ground walk along Empire Way and up Olympic Way to the front of the stadium.

This station is served by the Jubilee and Metropolitan underground lines, although the Jubilee Line will be closed between Stanmore and London Bridge, and the Metropolitan Line between Northwood and Rickmansworth and Watford on Saturday due to engineering works.

Wembley Central Station is a 15 minute walk from the ground. From the station people are asked to turn right and walk along High Road, past a McDonalds and Burger King, to the Wembley Triangle junction and Clock Tower Island. Turn left into Wembley Hill Road, cross the road and follow the pedestrian route across the White Horse Bridge.

This station is served by the Bakerloo underground tube line and the London overground and National Rail lines.

Where to stay

Wembley Plaza, at Empire Way, Wembley, London, HA9 8DS. The recently refurbished hotel is close to the stadium and has on-site parking.

It has a bar, restaurant and Living Well Health Club, in addition to 219 guest rooms, 84 executive rooms and three junior suites with WI FI connectivity

Prices vary, but can start from £59 for room only to £166 room only, all with an en-suite bathroom. For more information or to book call 020 8902 8839.

Green Man Hotel is at Dagmar Avenue, Wembley, HA9 8DF. The small hotel features en-suite single, double, twin and triple rooms, with prices starting from £49.

It also includes a bar and restaurant and is within walking distance of the stadium. To book or for more information call 020 8903 1441

Ibis London Wembley, is at South Way, Wembley, HA9 6BA. The hotel is next to Wembley Stadium and has its own bar. Room prices start from £47 and for more information or to book a ticket call 020 8453 5100.

The Quality Hotel Wembley is at Empire Way, Wembley, HA9 0NN. It features 165 en-suite bedrooms, and is a two minute walk from Wembley Stadium. To book or for more information call 020 8903 4426.

The London Wembley Stadium Premier Inn is at 151 Wembley Park Drive, Wembley, HA9 8HQ.

It is a five minute walk from the stadium and has a fully licensed restaurant and bar.

Prices start from £130 per room, per night for single, double, twin and family rooms with an en-suite bathroom for this weekend and to book or for more information call 0870 9906484.

Where to go for a drink before and after the match

A number of pubs and bars are located in the area surrounding Wembley Stadium, with many just a short walk from the ground.

The Green Man Hotel at Dagmar Avenue, HA9 8DF, is a popular spot featuring a bar and pub food near the stadium.

JJ Moons, at 397 High Road, HA9 6AA, is a JD Wetherspoon pub offering cheap drink and food. As with most JD Wetherspoon pubs it is popular and can get busy, but is close to the ground. For more details call 020 8903 4923.

The Torch, at 1 – 5 Bridge Road, HA9 9AB, also proves to be a well-known haunt for fans wanting to soak up the atmosphere before and after the match.

Rich in history – its name comes from when it was built in 1956 as the Olympic Torch at the time of the then games – it also serves baguettes on match days and is close to the ground. For more information call 020 8904 5794.

Some of the other pubs in the area include The Greyhound, at 324 Harrow Road, HA9 6LL, with more information available by calling 020 8900 0819; while Mannions is on the same road and is at 313 Harrow Road, HA9 6BA, with more details available by calling 020 8902 7750.

To get people into the match-day football spirit the First Class Sports Bar is located at 125 Wembley Park Drive, HA9 8HQ and can be contacted on 020 8900 0096.

Wembley Stadium itself also has 34 bars, for people wanting to drink in the ground.

Where to eat

As London and the surrounding area are extremely cosmopolitan with people from a number of ethnic backgrounds living and working there, the choice of food is also wide-ranging.

From fast-food at the likes of McDonald’s and Pizza Hut, to English, Indian, Greek, Thai and vegetarian fare there is something for everybody.

Among the places to eat are Five Hot Chillies at 875 Harrow Road, which can be contacted on 020 8908 5900. It serves Punjabi cuisine within its extensive menu.

Meanwhile, Alisan Restaurant at The Junction, Wembley Retail Park, HA9 0EG, is right opposite Wembley Stadium. It serves Asian cuisine with dim sum and Cantonese influences and can be contacted on 020 8903 3888.

Allso Thai is at 15 Empire Parade, HA9 0RQ. It serves highly rated Thai food, competitively priced, and can be contacted on 020 8795 4242.

For something a bit different on match day Mesopotamia, at 115 Wembley Park Drive, HA9 8HG, serves Mediterranean and Iraqi cuisine. It serves a variety of dishes including lamb, chicken and vegetarian options and can be contacted on 020 8453 5555.

Chain restaurant Nando’s has a branch close to the stadium at 420-422 High Road, HA9 6AH. Serving a variety of chicken dishes, burgers and vegetarian options, it can be contacted on 0208 795 3564.

And for English and continental cuisine, Ugly Duckling Restaurant is located at 121 Wembley Park Drive, HA9 8HG.

It serves everything from fish dishes to meat and vegetarian options on a wide-ranging menu. To book call 0208 903 2955.

People who want to just enjoy a quick meal before the match can try a nearby branch of McDonald’s at 482-484 High Road or Pizza Hut Wembley at 452 High Road.

Many of the pubs in the area, including the Green Man Hotel, JJ Moons and The Torch listed in the pubs section also serve pub grub.

Wembley Stadium itself also has eight restaurants and 688 food and drink service points selling a variety of food for people wanting to eat in the ground.

For more information on pubs, restaurants and other attractions near to Wembley Stadium visit the website www.visitlondon.com

What you can’t take into the stadium and when you can get in

Fans travelling to the game will be able to get into the stadium by general admission with their ticket from 1pm, two hours ahead of the 3pm kick-off.

The stadium’s staff will refuse entry to the ground to people if they are carrying a number of items, ranging from dangerous weapons to musical instruments.

Items which cannot be taken into the ground include anything which could be used as a weapon or be deemed offensive including dangerous or hazardous items; illegal substances; explosives or ammunition; fireworks; knives, blades or other weapons; and firearms.

Other items which cannot be taken into the ground include unlicensed musical instruments; trumpets, drums and other devices capable of causing a disturbance or nuisance; flag poles greater than one metre in length; flares; bottles, glass vessels, cans, flasks; frisbees and similar items; scooters, skateboards or other skates; laser devices; and smoke canisters.

The list also contains signs or items with corporate or inappropriate branding; unauthorised fliers; spray paint, large industrial style “permanent” marker pens; prams or push chairs; transmitting devices; professional cameras and recording devices, including cameras with interchangeable lenses; large suitcases, lap tops, and back packs; illegal merchandise items; water bottles (need to have the ability to decant); illegal charity collection utensils; motor bike helmets; umbrellas; darts; hampers and cold boxes; air horns; alcohol and animals, except service and guide dogs, are also all prohibited.