Craven Cottage has been the home of Fulham F.C. since 1896, making it one of the oldest football grounds still in use in England. Tucked beside the River Thames in the Fulham district of West London, the site traces its name back to a cottage built there in 1780 by William Craven, sixth Baron Craven, long before football arrived on the land.
What sets Craven Cottage apart from every other stadium in English football is its setting: it is the only ground in the top flight with a stand directly on the riverbank. That distinction, combined with the century-old Johnny Haynes Stand and a newly rebuilt Riverside Stand, gives the ground a character that blends Edwardian heritage with modern hospitality.
Quick Answer
Craven Cottage is Fulham F.C.’s stadium in Fulham, West London, open since 1896 and holding approximately 28,000 fans after the Riverside Stand’s 2025 completion. It’s best known for being the only English top-flight ground with a stand directly on the River Thames, and for the Grade II listed Johnny Haynes Stand, the oldest original football stand still in use in England.
A Century of History on the Riverbank
The site’s story predates football by more than a century. A cottage was built there around 1780 for William Craven, sixth Baron Craven, giving the location its name. That original building burned down in a fire in 1888, and the ground that eventually rose on the same riverside plot inherited its name. Fulham F.C. played its first match at Craven Cottage on October 10, 1896, and has called it home ever since, aside from a brief spell away during a 2002-2004 refurbishment.
The Johnny Haynes Stand, completed in 1905, is the oldest surviving stand at any English football league ground still in its original form. It was designed by Archibald Leitch, the Scottish architect behind several early British football stadiums, and its red-brick facade earned the stand Grade II listed status. The stand and its neighboring pavilion, known simply as the Cottage, were built after safety concerns following a 1905 legal case, part of a wider push to modernize English football grounds in the early twentieth century. The Cottage pavilion still serves as a players’ changing and viewing area today and is the most photographed corner of the ground.
The Riverside Stand Transformation
Fulham redeveloped the Riverside Stand in stages starting in 2019, finally completing the project and opening its full range of facilities in May 2025. The rebuilt stand added several thousand seats, including over 2,300 premium seats across terraces, balconies, and lounges, and pushed the ground’s overall capacity to approximately 28,000.
Beyond seating, the new stand introduced amenities rarely found at a football stadium, including a rooftop terrace with a pool overlooking the Thames, hotel rooms, and a spa, turning it into a matchday and non-matchday destination. Eight restaurants and lounges take advantage of the riverfront views, several of them accessible to premium ticket holders on non-matchdays as well.
Craven Cottage Capacity and Stands
Craven Cottage’s current capacity sits at approximately 28,000, up from roughly 25,700 before the Riverside Stand redevelopment. The record attendance of 49,335, set for a match against Millwall on October 8, 1938, dates from an era when standing terraces allowed far larger crowds than today’s all-seated ground permits.
The stadium has four stands, each with its own character. The Riverside Stand, on the Thames-facing side, is the newest and holds the premium hospitality areas and central pitch views. The Johnny Haynes Stand runs along Stevenage Road opposite the river and is generally the calmer, more traditional side of the ground. The Hammersmith End is the north end and traditionally houses the more vocal home support, while the Putney End at the south end mixes home and away seating and is home to the only mature plane tree inside a British senior football ground.
Planning Your Visit
Match tickets for Craven Cottage are sold through Fulham’s official ticketing system, and general sale availability depends heavily on membership status and the opponent, since Premier League fixtures can sell out well ahead of matchday. Hospitality packages, which include premium seating in the Riverside Stand and access to its lounges, are booked separately through the club’s hospitality portal. For the latest ticket prices, membership requirements, and on-sale dates, check Fulham FC’s official tickets and hospitality page.
Outside of matchdays, Fulham runs guided stadium tours that typically take visitors through the Fulham changing room, the Cottage pavilion, the Johnny Haynes Stand, the press box, and sections of the Riverside Stand. Tours must be booked in advance, run on a set schedule, and do not operate on home matchdays or during major stadium events. Full tour times, pricing, and booking are handled through the official Craven Cottage Tours page.
There is no dedicated matchday car park at Craven Cottage, and street parking in the surrounding Fulham streets is extremely limited and largely restricted to residents with permits, so the club and most guides strongly recommend arriving by public transport. The closest London Underground station is Putney Bridge on the District line, from which the walk to the ground runs through Bishop’s Park along the Thames, taking roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Hammersmith, Parsons Green, and East Putney stations are also within reasonable walking distance for fans who want alternate routes on busy matchdays.
What Makes Craven Cottage Unique
No other ground in England’s top flight puts spectators this close to a major river; the Riverside Stand’s terraces and rooftop sit almost directly above the Thames towpath. Combined with the Grade II listed Johnny Haynes Stand and Cottage pavilion, both designed by Archibald Leitch in 1905, the stadium is one of the few in the Premier League where a visitor can stand in a genuinely Edwardian-era football structure and modern hospitality space within the same ground.
Craven Cottage was also one of the last Premier League grounds to retain standing terraces, only converting fully to all-seated capacity in the early 2000s, and it hosted matches during the 1948 London Olympics, giving it a sporting history that extends well beyond club football.
Craven Cottage FAQs
How old is Craven Cottage?
Craven Cottage opened in 1896, making it one of the oldest continuously used football grounds in England. The site itself is older still, taking its name from a cottage built there in 1780.
What is the capacity of Craven Cottage?
Following the completion of the Riverside Stand redevelopment in 2025, Craven Cottage holds approximately 28,000 spectators, up from around 25,700 before the rebuild.
What makes Craven Cottage unique among English stadiums?
It is the only stadium in England’s top flight with a stand built directly alongside the River Thames, and it retains the Johnny Haynes Stand, the oldest original stand still in use at any English league ground.
How do I get to Craven Cottage?
The nearest Underground station is Putney Bridge on the District line, followed by a scenic 15-20 minute walk through Bishop’s Park along the Thames. Hammersmith, Parsons Green, and East Putney are alternative stations within walking distance. There is no dedicated stadium parking, so public transport is recommended.
Can you tour Craven Cottage?
Yes. Fulham runs guided stadium tours covering the changing rooms, the Cottage pavilion, the Johnny Haynes Stand, and parts of the Riverside Stand. Tours require advance booking and don’t run on matchdays; details are on the official Fulham FC tours page.
Why is it called Craven Cottage?
The ground is named after a cottage built around 1780 by William Craven, sixth Baron Craven. That original cottage burned down in 1888, and when Fulham F.C. built its ground on the same riverside plot in 1896, it kept the site’s existing name.
What’s new about the Riverside Stand?
Completed in May 2025 after a phased rebuild starting in 2019, the Riverside Stand added several thousand seats, including over 2,300 premium seats, plus a rooftop terrace, hotel rooms, a spa, and several restaurants overlooking the Thames.
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