Craven Cottage tickets

Alternatively, Hammersmith station serves the Piccadilly, District, Hammersmith & City, and Circle lines and sits approximately 20-25 minutes' walk (1.4 miles) northwest of Craven Cottage. While further than Putney Bridge, it offers more line options if you're connecting from different parts of London. Parsons Green station (District Line) is roughly equidistant to Hammersmith, about a 9-minute walk from the ground.

From London Airports: From Heathrow Airport, take the Piccadilly Line to Hammersmith (approximately 35 minutes, £6.70 off-peak), then walk 20-25 minutes to the stadium or catch the 220 bus. Alternatively, take the Piccadilly Line to Earl's Court, change to the District Line, and travel to Putney Bridge for a shorter walk. Total journey time is 60-75 minutes.

From Gatwick Airport, take the Gatwick Express or Southern Railway to Victoria (30-35 minutes, £11-20), then the District Line to Putney Bridge (20 minutes). Total journey time is approximately 70-90 minutes. From London City Airport, take the DLR to Canning Town, change to the Jubilee Line to Westminster, then the District Line to Putney Bridge. Journey time is roughly 60-75 minutes.

By Mainline Train: Putney station, located on Putney High Street south of the Thames, is the nearest mainline railway station. It's a 17-30 minute walk (1.2 miles) from Craven Cottage. The station connects directly to Clapham Junction (5 minutes) and London Waterloo (13 minutes). From Putney station, exit onto Putney High Street, cross Putney Bridge, continue onto Fulham High Street, then turn left onto Bishop's Park Road or any side street leading to Stevenage Road.

By Bus: Several bus routes serve Craven Cottage. The 220, 74, and 424 buses stop at Fulham Palace Road near Kingwood Road or Lambrook Terrace, both adjacent to the stadium on Stevenage Road. From Hammersmith, the 220 bus runs along Fulham Palace Road directly to the stadium. From Putney, the 74, 424, or 220 will take you there. From Kingston-upon-Thames, take the 85 or C4 bus to Putney Bridge, then walk 10-15 minutes. Standard TfL fares apply: £1.75 with Oyster or contactless.

By Car: From the North, follow the A1/M1 to the A406 North Circular Road, then signs for Harlesden/A404 and the A219 to Hammersmith. At Hammersmith Broadway, follow signs for Fulham, turn right after a mile into Harboard Street, then left at its end. From the South and East, take the South Circular (A205) to Putney Bridge (A219), cross the bridge, follow signs for Hammersmith for half a mile, turn left into Bishop's Park Road, then right at its end. From the West, follow the M4 to the A4, branch left after 2 miles onto Hammersmith Broadway, follow signs for Fulham, turn right into Harboard Street after a mile, then left at its end.

By Taxi/Rideshare: A taxi from central London typically costs £20-30 and takes 25-40 minutes depending on traffic. From Heathrow, expect £45-65 and 45-75 minutes. Uber and other rideshare services operate throughout London at similar prices. Be aware that surge pricing applies on matchdays, potentially increasing fares by 1.5-2.5x. Drop-off points for taxis are along Stevenage Road near the stadium entrances.

Matchday Transport Tips: Public transport gets busy 90 minutes before kick-off and immediately after the final whistle. Putney Bridge station often opens a second exit on matchdays to manage crowds. The District Line runs frequently but can be crowded – arrive with extra time. For evening matches, check TfL's status page for any planned engineering works. On special occasions like the Boat Race weekend, expect additional crowds and delays in the Putney-Hammersmith area.

Where to Park at Craven Cottage

Important: Craven Cottage has no official stadium car park. Due to its location in a densely residential area next to the Thames, parking is extremely limited and strongly discouraged. The stadium's urban setting makes driving impractical for matchday visits.

Matchday Parking Restrictions: On matchdays, parking restrictions in zones T, X, and Y operate from 9am to 10pm (zone T) or 9am to 9:30pm (zones X and Y), including Sundays and bank holidays. Pay-and-display parking is limited to a maximum stay of 1 hour in zones X and Y, and 2 hours in zone T. This makes it impossible to park legally on nearby streets and attend a match. Traffic Management Orders restrict access to surrounding streets on matchdays, and parking wardens patrol regularly to enforce restrictions.

Alternative Parking Options: If you must drive, private parking spaces can be pre-booked through services like JustPark or YourParkingSpace. Prices typically range from £14-25 for matchday parking at locations 10-20 minutes' walk from the stadium. St Augustine's Primary School on Tilton Street (SW6 7QB) offers matchday parking through MS Car Parks at approximately £15-20. These spaces must be pre-booked online and fill up quickly for popular fixtures.

Accessible Parking: Fulham offers 15-20 accessible parking spaces on a first-come, first-served basis for supporters with disabilities or reduced mobility. These spaces are free and located near the stadium with shuttle bus transport provided to the ground. You must book in advance by emailing enquiries@fulhamfc.com or calling 0343 208 1222, ideally as soon as you purchase your ticket. Spaces are limited and allocated equally to home and away supporters.

Our Strong Recommendation: Use public transport. Putney Bridge station is a 10-15 minute walk through the pleasant Bishop's Park, making it far more convenient than searching for parking and dealing with post-match traffic. The area around Craven Cottage becomes congested on matchdays, and you'll save time, money, and stress by taking the Tube or train.

Arriving Early: What to Do Around Craven Cottage

Most fans arrive 60-90 minutes before kick-off to soak in the pre-match atmosphere. Craven Cottage sits in one of London's most pleasant riverside areas, making early arrival a genuine pleasure rather than a chore. The walk through Bishop's Park along the Thames offers photo opportunities and a chance to appreciate the stadium's unique character before entering.

Bishop's Park: This beautiful riverside park runs alongside the Thames between Putney Bridge and Craven Cottage. It's the natural approach route from Putney Bridge station and makes for a scenic 10-12 minute stroll. On matchdays, you'll join streams of fans making the same journey. The park includes children's playgrounds, tennis courts, and riverside benches – perfect if you're arriving very early with family members. Fulham Palace, a historic building with medieval architecture dating back over 1,000 years, sits within the park and offers free entry to its gardens. The palace cafe serves coffee, pastries, and light meals if you need refreshment before the match.

Pre-Match Atmosphere: The area around Stevenage Road and the Johnny Haynes Stand entrance develops a festive buzz as kick-off approaches. Street vendors set up along the approaches selling matchday programmes, scarves, and food. With the completion of the new Riverside Stand in 2024-25, fans can now access the riverside walkway behind the stand, offering riverside views and outdoor bar areas. On busy matchdays, this becomes a popular gathering spot with £2 pints available from early opening times.

Fulham FC Club Shop: Located in the Johnny Haynes Stand on Stevenage Road, the club shop opens on matchdays and offers the full range of Fulham merchandise. If you're a collector or want a memento, arrive early as queues develop closer to kick-off. The shop also sells matchday programmes. Opening hours on matchdays typically begin 2-3 hours before kick-off.

Photo Opportunities: The Johnny Haynes statue stands outside the main entrance – a must-photograph for first-time visitors. Haynes is Fulham's greatest player, and fans often mimic his characteristic pose for photos. The historic Cottage Pavilion, a Grade II listed building dating from 1905, sits in the corner of the ground and provides an iconic backdrop. The only tree inside any senior English football stadium stands in the corner between the Hammersmith End and Riverside Stand – another unique feature worth seeing.

What to Bring & What Not to Bring

Recommended to bring: Weather-appropriate clothing (waterproof jacket essential September-May, warm layers for winter matches November-February). Portable phone charger – there are no charging facilities inside the stadium. Cash for street vendors outside the stadium, though all internal purchases are cashless. Mobile ticket on your phone or printed if you prefer.

Allowed but check in advance: Cameras without professional equipment are generally permitted. Check with the club if you have a DSLR or large lens. Small bags are allowed but will be searched – expect added entry time. Outside food and drink may be permitted in small quantities for medical or dietary needs, but confirm with the club beforehand.

Prohibited: Large bags or backpacks (maximum bag size restrictions apply). Glass bottles or containers. Alcohol from outside. Umbrellas (not permitted inside the stadium for safety reasons, though you can carry one to the stadium for your walk). Flares, smoke bombs, or pyrotechnics. Offensive clothing or banners. Professional camera equipment without prior authorization. Musical instruments (some exceptions for organized supporter groups).

Important bag policy note: Fulham's bag policy has become stricter in recent seasons. Only small handbags or bags containing medical equipment are typically permitted. For some high-profile matches, even these may be subject to additional restrictions. A bag drop facility is available for a £5 mandatory fee (donated to Fulham FC Foundation), but it's easier to simply leave bags at your accommodation. If you must bring a bag for medical reasons, contact the club in advance at enquiries@fulhamfc.com to arrange an exemption certificate.

Stadium Entry & Bag Checks

Expect a bag search and ticket scan at every turnstile. Entry typically takes 2-3 minutes per person unless queues are heavy. During peak times (30-45 minutes before kick-off), waits can extend to 10-15 minutes. Enhanced security for high-profile matches may include more thorough searches and longer processing times.

How long entry takes: Arrive 45-60 minutes before kick-off to avoid peak queues. Gates open 90 minutes before kick-off, so arriving early gives you time to settle in, visit the toilet, buy food and drink before half-time queues develop, and watch pre-match warm-ups. If you're carrying any bags, arrive at the earlier end of this window.

Mobile vs paper tickets: Mobile tickets work directly from your email or the Fulham FC app – no need to print. Screenshot your ticket as backup in case of poor phone signal. Have your ticket ready before reaching the turnstile to keep queues moving. Paper tickets are scanned the same way. If your ticket won't scan or is damaged, visit the ticket office in the Johnny Haynes Stand for assistance.

Re-entry policy: Once inside Craven Cottage, you cannot re-enter. If you forget something in your car or accommodation, you won't be able to retrieve it and return to your seat. Double-check you have everything before passing through the turnstiles.

If collecting tickets on matchday: Visit the ticket office in the Johnny Haynes Stand on Stevenage Road. Arrive with photo ID and booking confirmation. The ticket office opens 2 hours before kick-off on matchdays for collections.

Craven Cottage's History & Significance

The original Craven Cottage (1780-1888): The site of Craven Cottage has a rich history extending back centuries before football arrived. In 1780, William Craven, the sixth Baron Craven, built the original Craven Cottage as a hunting lodge. The surrounding area was woodland that once formed part of Anne Boleyn's hunting grounds in the 1500s. The cottage stood roughly where the center circle is today. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the author and Whig MP who wrote 'The Last Days of Pompeii', lived in the cottage during the mid-1850s. The cottage fell into disrepair and burned down in May 1888, leaving the site abandoned.

Fulham's arrival (1894-1896): Fulham FC representatives discovered the overgrown site in 1894. The land was so densely wooded it took two years to clear before football could be played. A deal was struck with the landowners to carry out the clearing work in exchange for a proportion of gate receipts. The first match at Craven Cottage was played on October 10, 1896, when Fulham faced Minerva in the Middlesex Senior Cup. The ground's first stand, described as looking like an 'orange box' and affectionately nicknamed the 'rabbit hutch', was built shortly after, consisting of four wooden structures each holding about 250 seats.

The Leitch era (1905-1906): In 1905, Fulham commissioned Scottish architect Archibald Leitch (who designed many of Britain's most famous stadiums including Ibrox, Old Trafford, and Highbury) to design a proper stand. The project cost £15,000 – a record figure at the time. Leitch created the Stevenage Road Stand (now the Johnny Haynes Stand) and the adjacent Cottage Pavilion, both of which still stand today and are Grade II listed buildings. The stand was inaugurated in November 1905, though the stadium itself had been opened earlier that September with a match against Portsmouth. These structures represent the oldest continuously used stand in professional English football.

Golden era and record attendance (1930s): Before World War II, Fulham regularly attracted crowds of 30,000-40,000. The stadium's all-time attendance record was set on October 8, 1938, when 49,335 spectators watched Fulham defeat Millwall 2-1 in Division Two. This record will never be broken as Craven Cottage is now an all-seater stadium capped at under 30,000 capacity. During World War II, the stadium suffered bomb damage, forcing Fulham to play at various temporary venues. Post-war reconstruction revitalized the ground.

Modernization (1972): In 1972, the Riverside terracing (famous for fans turning their heads annually to watch the University Boat Race pass) was replaced with a seated stand designed by Leslie Atkinson. This stand, initially called the Eric Miller Stand after a club director, cost £334,000 and held 4,200 seats. It was opened with a friendly against Benfica (featuring Eusébio). The stand brought seated capacity to 11,000 out of a total 40,000. Eric Miller committed suicide five years later amid scandal, and the stand became known simply as the Riverside Stand. This stand was demolished in 2019 to make way for the current Riverside development.

All-seater conversion (1990s-2000s): Following the Taylor Report after the Hillsborough disaster, Fulham began converting to all-seater. When Fulham reached the Premier League in 2001, they still had standing areas – virtually unheard of at top-flight level. The club ground-shared with QPR at Loftus Road from 2002-2004 while Craven Cottage was fully converted. The capacity dropped from 40,000+ standing to approximately 25,000 all-seated.

The Riverside Stand redevelopment (2019-2025): In May 2019, owner Shahid Khan announced plans to redevelop the Riverside Stand. Construction began shortly after, reducing capacity significantly during the build. The new five-level, 8,000-capacity stand, designed by Populous, was completed in 2024-25 (after multiple delays). The stand includes restaurants, bars, conference facilities, a boutique hotel, and a rooftop swimming pool – the first in a European football stadium. The development increased Craven Cottage's total capacity to 29,589 and transformed the matchday experience with world-class hospitality facilities. The project cost exceeded £100 million and took nearly six years from announcement to completion.

Historic matches and moments: Craven Cottage has hosted England international matches, including Northern Ireland vs Cyprus in 1973 (moved from Belfast due to The Troubles). The stadium has also welcomed international touring teams and historic friendlies, including matches featuring Pelé's Santos and Eusébio's Benfica. Fulham's famous 2009-10 UEFA Europa League run saw Craven Cottage host memorable European nights, culminating in the semi-final against Hamburg where the 'Stand Up If You Still Believe' chant (now commemorated on a tapestry inside the stadium) rallied the team despite eventual defeat.

Getting Away from Craven Cottage After the Match

Approximately 15,000-25,000 people exit Craven Cottage simultaneously at the final whistle, creating inevitable congestion. The area around the stadium takes 20-30 minutes to fully clear. Understanding exit patterns helps you plan your departure efficiently.

Public transport post-match: Most supporters head toward Putney Bridge station (District Line) via Bishop's Park. This route gets very busy immediately after the final whistle. The club typically opens a second exit at Putney Bridge station on busy matchdays to handle the crowds, but expect packed platforms and potentially having to wait for 2-3 trains before boarding. The walk from stadium to station takes 10-12 minutes, but with post-match crowds, allow 15-20 minutes.

Best strategy for train connections: If you need to catch a train with a specific departure time, you have two strategies: Leave 5 minutes before the final whistle (85th minute) and you'll beat the rush. You'll miss the end of the match but reach your transport easily. Stay until the final whistle, then wait 20-25 minutes before leaving. Have a drink at the Riverside or a nearby pub, and you'll avoid the worst congestion. The worst time to leave is 0-10 minutes after the final whistle.

Driving away: Traffic around Craven Cottage after matches is congested for 30-45 minutes. If you drove, wait 30-40 minutes before attempting to leave. The Bishop Blaize pub or The Crabtree are good places to wait with a drink while traffic clears.

Safety & Security at Craven Cottage

Craven Cottage is generally a safe stadium with a family-friendly atmosphere. Fulham's fanbase has a reputation for being passionate but not aggressive. Violence or serious disorder at matches is rare.

Stewarding presence: Stewards are present throughout the stadium in high-visibility vests. They're generally helpful and approachable. If you feel unsafe, are being harassed, or witness concerning behavior, immediately notify the nearest steward. Stewards are trained to de-escalate situations and can call for additional support or police presence if needed.

What to do if you feel unsafe: If you feel unsafe or witness discriminatory, violent, or abusive behavior, notify the nearest steward in person or text 'FULHAM' to 60066 with details. The club takes reports of discriminatory behavior very seriously and reserves the right to indefinitely ban supporters found guilty.

Medical facilities: First aid points are located in each stand. If you or someone near you needs medical assistance, immediately alert a steward who will radio for medical staff. For serious emergencies, stadium medical teams respond quickly.

Lost child procedures: If you become separated from your child, immediately notify the nearest steward. Lost children are taken to a designated safe area. Teach children your seat section and row number, and establish a meeting point in case of separation.

Stadium Atmosphere & Supporter Culture

Craven Cottage's atmosphere is best described as traditional and friendly rather than intimidating. Fulham's fanbase takes pride in the stadium's history, riverside location, and distinctive character. The atmosphere is passionate without being hostile.

Intensity level: The Hammersmith End generates the most noise, with sections H4-H6 leading chants and songs throughout matches. Common songs include 'Fulham Till I Die', 'Come On You Whites', and player-specific chants. The atmosphere intensifies for derby matches (particularly against Chelsea, QPR, and Brentford).

What visiting fans should expect: Away supporters are generally welcomed respectfully. Fulham fans rarely engage in aggressive behavior toward visiting supporters. The exception might be derby matches, where tensions are higher though still controlled by stewarding.

Rivalry matches: Derby matches against West London rivals create heightened atmosphere. Chelsea matches are the biggest rivalry and generate the most intense atmosphere Craven Cottage experiences. QPR and Brentford matches also have local derby intensity. For these fixtures, expect earlier sellouts, more aggressive chanting, stricter security, and less tolerance for away colors in home areas.

Frequently Asked Questions About Craven Cottage

What time do gates open?
Gates open 90 minutes before kick-off for all matches. Hospitality areas may open earlier (typically 2 hours before kick-off).

Can I bring my own food and drink?
Generally no. Small amounts of food and drink for medical or dietary needs may be permitted – contact the club in advance. Alcohol from outside is prohibited.

Is there a bag size limit?
Yes. Only small handbags or bags containing medical equipment are typically permitted. A bag drop facility is available for £5 but it's easier to not bring bags.

Can I bring a camera?
Personal cameras and phones are permitted. Professional equipment requires prior authorization from the club.

Where's the best spot for photos?
Outside: Johnny Haynes statue, Cottage Pavilion, riverside walkway. Inside: Riverside Stand upper tier for elevated pitch views.

Do I need to print my ticket?
No. Mobile tickets work directly from email or the Fulham FC app. Screenshot as backup recommended.

What happens if I'm late?
You can enter at any time during the match. Turnstiles remain open until half-time, close briefly, then reopen. You may miss kick-off if you arrive less than 30 minutes before the match due to entry queues.

Can I change seats once inside?
No. Your ticket is for your specific seat. Stewards check tickets and will ask you to move if you're in the wrong section.

Is there WiFi?
Not for general admission supporters. WiFi may be available in hospitality areas. Mobile phone signal is generally good throughout the stadium.

Where should I go if I lose my companions?
Establish a meeting point before entering (Johnny Haynes statue is a good choice). If separated inside, your seat location is your best reunion point.