Craven Cottage is the home of Fulham and one of the most characterful and picturesque grounds in English football, a historic stadium on the banks of the River Thames in south-west London with a capacity of around 29,600 following the redevelopment of its Riverside Stand. Demand for Craven Cottage tickets rises for the west London derby against Chelsea and the visits of Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool, when the compact old ground fills and its riverside setting is at its finest. This is a place where football heritage and a Thames-side location combine like nowhere else in the Premier League. 1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace established in 2006, with seat-level detail at checkout and a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
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This guide is written for the supporter making the trip, not the browser. It covers the scenic walk through Bishop's Park from Putney Bridge, how the four stands are arranged around the famous Cottage pavilion, where away fans sit, the bag rules and digital tickets, the riverside pubs of Fulham, and the history of London's oldest professional club. By the end you should know exactly how a matchday at the Cottage runs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Craven Cottage |
| Address | Stevenage Road, Fulham, London, SW6 6HH |
| Capacity | Around 29,600, following the Riverside Stand redevelopment |
| Opened | 1896 |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Home Club | Fulham |
| Record Attendance | 49,335 (Fulham v Millwall, October 1938) |
| Location | On the banks of the River Thames, beside Bishop's Park |
| Nearest Station | Putney Bridge, a scenic walk through the park |
| Listed Features | The Johnny Haynes Stand and the Cottage pavilion |
Craven Cottage sits in a quiet residential and parkland setting on the Thames in Fulham, which is part of its charm but also means the approach is on foot from the nearest tube stations rather than right at the door. The most popular route is the walk through Bishop's Park along the river, one of the nicest approaches to any ground in the country. Public transport is the only sensible way in, as parking is next to impossible.
Putney Bridge station on the District line is the closest, around a ten to fifteen-minute walk, and the pleasant way in is through Bishop's Park alongside the Thames rather than the streets. Hammersmith station, on the District, Piccadilly and other lines, is an alternative around twenty minutes away down Fulham Palace Road. The District line link makes the ground easy to reach from central London, and the riverside walk from Putney Bridge is part of the experience.
The walk from Putney Bridge station through Bishop's Park is the classic approach to Craven Cottage, following the river past the greenery for ten to fifteen minutes to the back of the Putney End. It is flat, scenic and well used on matchday, and it is a far more pleasant route than the residential streets. On a dry day the Thames-side walk is one of the small pleasures of a trip to the Cottage.
Local buses serve Fulham Palace Road and the surrounding area, linking the ground to Hammersmith and Putney, and they are a useful alternative if the tube is busy. The river itself offers a novel option, with Thames river boat services running along this stretch, giving a memorable way to arrive by water on the right service. Check the current routes and timetables before relying on the boat.
Driving is strongly discouraged. Parking near Craven Cottage is virtually impossible, with residential permit schemes and narrow streets throughout the area, and there is no stadium car park. If you must drive to the area, park much further out near a tube station and travel in by public transport. For nearly everyone the District line and the walk through the park are far easier than attempting to drive and park.
Parking at Craven Cottage is one of the hardest of any Premier League ground, as the stadium sits in a dense residential area of Fulham with permit-only streets and no stadium car park. Casual parking near the ground is not realistic on matchday. The sensible approach is to travel in by tube and walk through the park, or to drive to an outer London tube station with parking and take the District line in. Given the setting and the restrictions, public transport is not just easier here but effectively the only workable option.
Craven Cottage is a traditional four-stand ground wrapped around a pitch beside the Thames, blending heritage stands with a modern new riverside development. The famous Cottage pavilion sits in one corner, and the ground has a tight, intimate feel that the biggest visiting clubs find very different from a modern bowl. Each stand has its own name and character.
The Johnny Haynes Stand, originally the Stevenage Road Stand, is the oldest remaining football stand in the Football League, a Grade II listed building designed by the great stadium architect Archibald Leitch in 1905 and named after Fulham's greatest player. It is a piece of football history in its own right, with its red-brick facade and wooden interior, and it houses seating along one side of the pitch beside the club offices.
The Hammersmith End, behind the goal at the northern end, is the home of Fulham's most vocal support, where the singing and the colour come from on a matchday. It is the section to target for the fullest home atmosphere, and it drives the noise that gives the compact old ground its character on a big night.
The Putney End, behind the far goal and backing onto Bishop's Park, houses the away supporters as well as home fans. The Riverside Stand, along the side backing onto the Thames, has been rebuilt in a major redevelopment into a striking modern stand with a riverside destination behind it, a contrast to the heritage of the Johnny Haynes Stand opposite. Together the four sides give the ground its unique mix of the old and the new.
Away supporters are housed in the Putney End, in blocks towards that corner, with a typical allocation of around 2,700 that can vary by fixture, entering through the turnstiles on Stevenage Road behind that end. Family and quieter seating is offered away from the Hammersmith End, with age rules set per match. The redevelopment of the Riverside Stand has improved the ground's accessibility with new provision, though published detail on exact numbers is limited, so supporters with access requirements should contact the club before the match to confirm what is available and to arrange seating. The table below matches a section to what you want from the day.
| Priority | Recommended Sections |
|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Hammersmith End, behind the goal |
| Tactical overview | Riverside Stand, central rows |
| Heritage and character | Johnny Haynes Stand |
| Families | Designated areas away from the Hammersmith End (confirm age rule at purchase) |
| Budget-friendly | Corners and the Putney End home sections |
| Away fans | Putney End, around 2,700 |
| Accessibility | Designated positions by arrangement with the club |
London has a mild but wet climate, so rain is a real possibility through much of the season, and the riverside setting can make the ground feel breezy and damp on a cold night by the Thames. The stands cover the seating, and the new Riverside Stand offers modern shelter, though wind off the river can carry rain into exposed rows in bad weather. For an autumn or winter fixture a warm layer and a waterproof are sensible, since evenings by the water turn cold. Umbrellas are not usually permitted inside, so a hooded jacket is the better choice on a wet day at the Cottage.
Craven Cottage runs a bag policy in line with Premier League grounds, so the sensible approach is to travel light. Bags larger than A4 size are generally not permitted, so a small bag is fine but a rucksack or holdall is not, and there is no large-bag store at the ground given its tight, historic setting. All bags are searched on entry. Prohibited items include bottles, cans, alcohol brought from outside, pyrotechnics and flares, and any object judged dangerous. Because the exact rules can change, check the guidance attached to your ticket before matchday and arrive early to clear the search, particularly for a sell-out against one of the big clubs.
Fulham is a well-heeled and lively part of London with plenty of good pubs, and the area around Craven Cottage and along the river has a strong matchday scene, so the pre-match hours in the local pubs are a genuine part of the day.
The Eight Bells on Fulham High Street, near Putney Bridge station, is a well-known matchday pub traditionally used by away supporters, while the King's Arms on New Kings Road and the Temperance are other popular spots that draw a mixed crowd. The streets between Putney Bridge and the ground, and the wider Fulham area, have a good choice of pubs and bars, and the walk in past them is part of the build-up. Arrive in good time, as the best pubs fill quickly before a big match.
The redeveloped Riverside Stand has brought new bars and restaurants to the riverside behind the ground, adding to the choice on matchday. Beyond Fulham, the whole of central London is a short tube ride away on the District line, so supporters based in the centre have the full choice of the capital's pubs and restaurants before travelling out to the Cottage.
Inside the arena the concourses serve the usual British matchday fare of pies, burgers and hot dogs, with alcohol available before kick-off and at half-time, and card and contactless payment throughout. Prices are typical of a London ground. For a fuller meal, eat in Fulham or central London beforehand, where the choice runs from traditional pubs to a wide range of restaurants, then walk in through the park.
Fulham use digital ticketing, so for most fixtures the barcode sits in your phone wallet or the club's app and is scanned at the turnstile. Load the ticket, charge your phone and turn the screen brightness up before you reach the entrance, since a saved screenshot can fail to scan when a barcode refreshes. Turnstiles usually open around an hour and a half to two hours before kick-off, with the away turnstiles on Stevenage Road behind the Putney End. With a bag search and a sell-out crowd, the entrances build up in the last half hour, so aim to be at the ground in good time rather than joining the final rush through the park.
Leaving the compact, residential setting of Craven Cottage means a large crowd filtering out through the park and the streets at once, so a little patience helps.
Most supporters walk back through Bishop's Park to Putney Bridge station or up towards Hammersmith, which spreads the crowd across two stations and avoids a single crush. The walk back along the river is pleasant on a dry evening, and splitting between the two tube options usually means a quicker journey than everyone heading the same way. The District line handles the bulk of departures.
Buses run back towards Hammersmith and Putney once you reach the main roads, and on the right service the river boat offers a memorable way home along the Thames. Both are busy straight after the final whistle, but they spread the load away from the tube stations for those not heading straight back on the District line.
With the pubs of Fulham and the new riverside bars close by, the simplest way to beat the post-match squeeze is to settle into one of them and let the crowd thin before heading for the tube. In a lively part of London by the river, there is always somewhere pleasant to round off the day.
Craven Cottage has been the home of Fulham since 1896, making it one of the oldest grounds in English football, and Fulham themselves are the oldest professional football club in London, founded in 1879. The ground takes its character from the work of the great stadium architect Archibald Leitch, who in 1905 designed both the Stevenage Road Stand, now the Johnny Haynes Stand and the oldest remaining football stand in the Football League, and the Cottage pavilion in the corner, both now Grade II listed buildings that give the ground its heritage feel.
The stadium set its record attendance of 49,335 for the visit of Millwall in October 1938, in the era of the great terraces, a figure the modern all-seater ground will not approach. Over the decades it has been the stage for Fulham's ups and downs through the divisions, and it became famous for its picturesque setting on the banks of the Thames, unlike any other ground in the top flight.
The modern era has brought Premier League football and European nights, most memorably Fulham's run to the 2010 Europa League final under Roy Hodgson, which produced one of the great nights at the Cottage when Fulham beat Juventus 4-1 to overturn a first-leg deficit and advance, a result that stunned European football. More recently the major redevelopment of the Riverside Stand has added a striking modern stand and a riverside destination to the ground, lifting capacity while the club has worked to preserve the heritage of the Johnny Haynes Stand and the Cottage opposite.
The most famous European night in the ground's history came on 18 March 2010, when Fulham beat Juventus 4-1 in the Europa League to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit and reach the quarter-finals, a comeback that ranks among the greatest nights in the club's history and set them on the road to the final. The record crowd of 49,335 packed in for the visit of Millwall in October 1938, a figure from the days of the terraces. In the modern era, the west London derby against Chelsea and the visits of Manchester United and Manchester City have provided the biggest occasions at the compact riverside ground.
The major project shaping the ground's future is the redevelopment of the Riverside Stand, which has rebuilt one side of the stadium and added a riverside destination behind it, opening in stages as the fit-out has continued. The work has lifted the capacity to around 29,600 and brought new hospitality, bars and restaurants to the river frontage. Further phases and the full completion of the riverside development have been reported as ongoing, so the finished scheme and its details should be treated as a work in progress until confirmed. The club has been careful to preserve the listed Johnny Haynes Stand and the Cottage, so the ground keeps its heritage character alongside the new development.
The redevelopment of the Riverside Stand has improved accessibility at Craven Cottage, with new provision built into the modern stand, though as a ground with historic listed structures the older parts have the constraints of their age. There is accessible seating with companion spaces, and the club provides for supporters with disabilities across the ground. Published detail on the exact number of spaces is limited, so supporters with access requirements should contact the club well before the match to confirm the available seating, arrange any companion ticket and check the route into the ground, rather than assuming a fixed arrangement. The flat walk through Bishop's Park from Putney Bridge at least makes the approach to the ground manageable.
The fixtures that move Craven Cottage tickets fastest are the west London derby and the visits of the biggest Premier League clubs. The derby against Chelsea and the matches against Manchester United and Manchester City are the standout draws, and you can follow them on the Fulham vs Chelsea tickets, Fulham vs Manchester United tickets and Fulham vs Manchester City tickets pages, while the full home programme sits on the Fulham FC tickets and Premier League tickets listings. Cup ties bring their own demand, from the domestic rounds of the FA Cup tickets to the EFL Cup tickets, which can throw up a standout draw against a big club. Mid-table league fixtures are the most accessible and often available closer to kick-off. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than fixed and buy early for the marquee matches.
1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace that has operated since 2006, showing seat-level detail before you pay and backing every order with a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday. The eight steps below cover the process from finding a fixture to tracking your order.
Step1
Find the fixture
Go to the Craven Cottage listing on 1BoxOffice and select the match you want. Each fixture shows the available stands, rows and current pricing before you commit to a seat.
Step2
Check the seat detail
Use the stand and price filters to compare sections. Seat location and row are shown against the venue layout, so you can weigh the Hammersmith End atmosphere against a seat in the historic Johnny Haynes Stand before deciding.
Step3
Confirm the supporter section
Make sure the block matches who you are travelling with. Home, family and visiting-supporter areas are listed separately, and away fans are routed to the Putney End.
Step4
Review before checkout
Check the delivery method and the kick-off time against your travel plans. Premier League kick-off times often change after broadcast selections, so verify the date and time before you book travel or a hotel.
Step5
Create your account
First-time buyers should create an account to complete checkout and receive the ticket. Returning customers simply log in. An account keeps your order and delivery details in one place.
Step6
Complete payment
All major credit and debit cards are accepted. The 150% money-back guarantee applies automatically to every order if the ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
Step7
Receive your ticket
Tickets for Fulham fixtures are typically issued digitally. Keep the live ticket in your wallet or the club's app ready to scan, and avoid relying on a saved screenshot that may fail at the turnstile.
Step8
Track your order
Follow delivery status and manage your booking through track order. Digital tickets arrive ahead of the match so you can travel with everything ready.
Craven Cottage is one of the most rewarding grounds in London to visit for its heritage and its setting, and it is easy to reach as part of a trip to the capital. Fly into any of London's airports, all connected to the centre by rail, and use the District line to Putney Bridge or Hammersmith, then walk in through the park. London is expensive but superbly connected, card and contactless payment work everywhere including on the tube, and the ground is a short journey from the centre. Pack warm, waterproof layers for an autumn or winter fixture by the river, and allow time for the security queues at a sell-out.
With the ground so close to central London, most visitors build a wider trip around the match. If you are lining up other fixtures, the football tickets hub, the wider football tournaments calendar and the venues tickets directory show what else is on across London and beyond. In the capital itself, the riverside walk along the Thames, the shops and pubs of Fulham and Putney, and the full range of London's sights are all within easy reach of the ground for a matchday in the city.
Craven Cottage holds around 29,600 following the redevelopment of the Riverside Stand, which lifted the capacity of the historic ground. It is a compact, traditional all-seater stadium. Its record attendance is 49,335, set against Millwall in October 1938 in the era of the terraces, a figure the modern ground will not approach.
Take the District line to Putney Bridge, then walk around ten to fifteen minutes through Bishop's Park along the river to the ground. Hammersmith station is an alternative around twenty minutes away. The ground is a short journey from the centre on the District line, and the walk through the park is the classic approach.
Putney Bridge on the District line is the nearest, around a ten to fifteen-minute walk through Bishop's Park. Hammersmith, on several lines, is an alternative about twenty minutes away down Fulham Palace Road. Splitting between the two stations helps spread the crowd, especially on the way out after a sell-out.
No, parking near Craven Cottage is virtually impossible, with residential permit schemes throughout the area and no stadium car park. Casual parking near the ground is not realistic on matchday. The only sensible option is to travel in by tube and walk, or park near an outer tube station and take the District line in.
It can be difficult on general sale, as members and season-ticket holders get first access and the biggest fixtures sell out at a compact ground. Public sales for remaining tickets are limited, which is why a verified secondary marketplace is often the realistic route for visitors, with seat detail shown before you pay.
Bags larger than A4 size are generally not permitted, so a small bag is fine but a rucksack is not, and there is no large-bag store at the tight, historic ground. All bags are searched on entry. Bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares are prohibited. Check the guidance attached to your ticket for the current rules before you travel.
The Hammersmith End, behind the goal at the northern end, is the home of Fulham's most vocal support and the source of the singing and colour on a matchday. Target it for the fullest home atmosphere. The historic Johnny Haynes Stand is the choice for heritage and character rather than noise.
Away supporters are housed in the Putney End, in blocks towards that corner backing onto Bishop's Park, with a typical allocation of around 2,700 that can vary by fixture. Away fans enter through the turnstiles on Stevenage Road behind that end, and the section is separated from the home areas in line with matchday segregation.
The redevelopment of the Riverside Stand has improved accessibility with new provision, though as a ground with historic listed structures the older parts have the constraints of their age. There is accessible seating with companion spaces. Contact the club before the match to confirm the available seating and arrange it in advance.
Turnstiles usually open around an hour and a half to two hours before kick-off, with the away turnstiles on Stevenage Road behind the Putney End. With a bag search and a sell-out crowd, the entrances build up in the last half hour, so aim to arrive in good time. The precise opening time is confirmed with your ticket.
The concourses serve the usual British matchday fare of pies, burgers and hot dogs, with alcohol before kick-off and at half-time and card payment throughout. The bigger draw is the pubs of Fulham, such as the Eight Bells near Putney Bridge, and the new bars and restaurants brought in by the Riverside Stand development.
Yes, family seating is offered in designated areas away from the Hammersmith End. Age accompaniment rules for children are set by the club for each fixture, so confirm the exact requirement and any child pricing at the point of purchase rather than assuming a fixed rule.
Yes. Fulham run stadium tours on selected non-matchdays that take in the historic Johnny Haynes Stand, the Cottage, the dressing rooms and the pitchside, telling the story of London's oldest professional club. Tours do not run on matchdays and should be booked in advance. Confirm the current days, hours and prices with the club before you visit.
Face-value Premier League prices vary by category of fixture, but demand at a compact London ground is high, so resale prices depend heavily on the opponent. The Chelsea derby and the visits of the traditional heavyweights command the highest prices, while mid-table fixtures are more accessible. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than a promise.
Anywhere central and on or near the District line works well, putting the ground a short tube ride away via Putney Bridge or Hammersmith. Fulham and Putney themselves have hotels and a good local scene close to the ground, while a central base gives you the full choice of London's pubs, restaurants and sights.
Fulham issue tickets digitally, so the barcode sits in your phone wallet or the club's app and is scanned at the turnstile. Charge your phone, turn up the screen brightness and load the ticket before you arrive. A saved screenshot can fail to scan when a barcode refreshes, so rely on the live ticket.
It is known for its picturesque setting on the banks of the Thames, for the historic Cottage pavilion and the listed Johnny Haynes Stand, the oldest football stand in the Football League, and as the home of London's oldest professional club. On the pitch it is remembered for Fulham's famous Europa League night against Juventus in 2010.
The ground sits beside Bishop's Park and the Thames, with a riverside walk right at the door, and the pubs and shops of Fulham and Putney close by. Central London and its full range of sights is a short tube ride away on the District line, so the whole of the capital is within easy reach for a matchday.
Craven Cottage has been the home of Fulham since 1896, making it one of the oldest grounds in English football, and Fulham are the oldest professional club in London, founded in 1879. The historic stands date from 1905 and are the work of the architect Archibald Leitch, and the Riverside Stand has recently been redeveloped.
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Sources: Fulham FC (fulhamfc.com), Transport for London, Premier League and stadium reference records. Information was gathered in July 2026 and may change; check sources for the latest details. 1BoxOffice is not affiliated with Fulham FC or Craven Cottage. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.