Craven Cottage: Guide for Visiting Fans

The tube is the right call, full stop. Putney Bridge is the closest London Underground station, located a 10–20 minute walk from the stadium, and is served by the District Line. Exit the station, turn left along Ranelagh Gardens, walk through the underpass and into Bishop's Park, then follow the river path all the way to the ground. It's a genuinely pleasant walk on a dry day — less so in January, but still fine.

Hammersmith (District, Piccadilly, and Hammersmith & City Lines) is around 20 minutes' walk. It's a longer hike than Putney Bridge but gives you more pub options along Fulham Palace Road. The closest mainline railway station to Craven Cottage is Putney, located on Putney High Street, south of the River Thames. Exit the station, turn right and walk to Putney Bridge at the end of the high street. Cross the bridge, go down the stairs on the left to enter Bishop's Park, then follow the river path to the stadium.

Flying in? Visitors flying in will find Craven Cottage well connected: Heathrow Airport (LHR) is approximately 35 minutes by car. By tube, take the District Line from Heathrow (via an interchange to get onto the District) and ride it to Putney Bridge — budget around 60–70 minutes door to door. A taxi from Heathrow takes about 26 minutes but will cost £60–70.

For rideshare, be aware that Stevenage Road is heavily congested after matches. Have your driver drop you on New King's Road or at Putney Bridge station for pickup — they will not be able to reach the stadium itself in post-match traffic.

Don't drive. Seriously. Craven Cottage has no official stadium car park, and parking around the ground is extremely limited. Access to the surrounding streets on a matchday is restricted by a Traffic Management Order. There is a one-hour maximum stay policy for non-residential pay and display visitors between 9am and 9:30pm on all Monday to Sunday matchdays. That means even if you find a spot, you'll be ticketed before the final whistle.

Parking in the vicinity of the stadium is extremely limited, and matchday access to the surrounding streets is restricted by a Traffic Management Order. If you absolutely must drive, park several tube stops away — Hammersmith, Putney, or even Wimbledon — and ride in. NCP Hammersmith (off King Street) is your best bet, at around £15–25 for the afternoon. Add the cost of a return tube fare and you're still cheaper and less stressed than attempting to park locally.

Putney is the best base for away fans. It's a 15–20 minute walk across the bridge into Bishop's Park, there are plenty of pubs and restaurants on Putney High Street, and you can book a decent mid-range hotel for £100–160/night. It also means you have good transport links: Putney rail station connects to London Waterloo in about 15 minutes.

Hammersmith is a solid second choice — more central, more hotel inventory, and a wider range of restaurants and bars. Prices tend to run £90–180/night and you're right on multiple tube lines. The walk to the ground is longer (around 20–25 minutes) but there are bus connections on Fulham Palace Road.

Fulham/Chelsea itself (around Fulham Broadway or Kings Road) puts you closer but in a neighbourhood where £180+ hotels are standard, and it's quite residential close to the ground.

The Eight Bells, a 20-minute stroll from the stadium and set in a historic 17th-century building, is widely considered the pick for away fans, with a quaint beer garden where you can enjoy a pint for around £6. Get there at least 90 minutes before kickoff or you won't find a seat in the garden.

The Crabtree is an iconic pub on the quietest and most picturesque stretch of the Thames between Hammersmith and Putney bridges — it has a decent beer garden facing the water and generally welcomes both sets of fans without much friction. Good food too.

The Temperance is situated by Putney Bridge, on the historic former site of The Temperance Billiards Hall, offering Victorian surroundings, quality British pub grub, and top-notch real ales. It shows Sky Sports and is genuinely mixed on matchday without feeling hostile.

For food, The River Cafe is a world-famous Michelin-starred Italian restaurant right on the Thames, about a 15–20 minute walk from the stadium — excellent quality but at a premium price. For something quicker and cheaper, Putney Pies is perfect if you want something quick before the match. The new Fulham Pier — right behind the Riverside Stand — has opened a food hall called Riverside Market with riverside seating, and is worth checking on non-matchday visits or if you're heading to an early kick-off.

Craven Cottage operates a small-bag-only policy. Supporters are permitted to bring one bag per person, provided it does not exceed A4 size (29.7cm x 21cm). The measurements apply to the bag itself. Bags that are folded or partially filled to meet the size limit will not be accepted. Leave your backpack at the hotel.

All payments inside the stadium are cashless — major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted. Don't bother with cash for the concessions.

Food and drink is available when the ground opens 90 minutes prior to kick-off. Away fans enter through turnstiles 1–17, located on Stevenage Road behind the Putney End. Arrive at least 45 minutes before kickoff — the narrow turnstiles and security searches slow entry considerably, and Stevenage Road becomes a real bottleneck. Note that Craven Cottage operates a no re-entry policy — if you leave during the match, you will not be allowed back in.

Alcoholic drinks must not be consumed within sight of the pitch and cannot be taken into your seat. Drink up before you sit down.

The Hammersmith End has 7,300 seats and 40 wheelchair spots for fans to get a clear view from behind the goal. The Putney End (the away stand) has 5,926 seats and 32 wheelchair spaces available. The Johnny Haynes Stand, one of the oldest stands, has 5,832 seats and 28 wheelchair areas.

Accessible parking is limited and must be arranged in advance through Fulham — contact enquiries@fulhamfc.com for availability. Upon arrival, supporters can use a dedicated accessible entrance to the left of the turnstiles where stewards will be available to assist, and Fulham's Access team are easily identifiable in green jackets. For step-free tube access, note that the nearest tube stations with step-free access from platform to exit are Hammersmith (Hammersmith & City Line) and Wimbledon — Putney Bridge does not currently offer step-free access from the platform.

Home and away fans sit in the Putney End, which has a capacity of 5,926. The allocation for away fans was capped at 1,900 during the Riverside development, but this has now increased to 2,701 for the 2024/25 season. The away section occupies the end behind one goal — sightlines are generally fine for most seats, though the lower tier can feel slightly obstructed by the support columns in some blocks. Try to get seats in the upper section of the away allocation if given a choice; the view opens up significantly and you're looking diagonally down the pitch rather than straight at a goal.

Away fans are usually seated in the Putney End behind one goal, or occasionally in part of the Riverside Stand. If you're ever given Riverside Stand allocation, take it — there are 2,303 premium seats in the Riverside Stand, with seats tilted at a 33-degree angle giving fans a sense of closeness to the action that can only be found at Craven Cottage.

Avoid the very back corners of the Putney End lower tier — the roof supports can create partial sightline issues.

Unlike many modern bowls, Craven Cottage retains its intimacy — fans are close to the pitch, making for a loud and personal atmosphere, while the riverside backdrop gives it a uniqueness no other Premier League ground can match. The Fulham support is generally civil — this is not a ground where away fans get routinely hassled, partly because the neighbourhood clientele skews toward people who've spent £500 on a season ticket and have Hugh Grant's phone number. Given the area, Fulham frequently welcome celebrity guests, with famous actor Hugh Grant a frequent visitor. What actually surprises first-time visitors is the Cottage Pavilion itself — a small building in the corner of the ground which serves as the changing rooms, with the players' families typically watching from a balcony above. You can see it from the away end, and it's genuinely unlike anything else in English football. The ground has real soul, and even if the result doesn't go your way, you'll leave thinking it was worth the trip.

The post-match situation at Craven Cottage is manageable if you have a plan, but Stevenage Road congeals quickly and the narrow streets around Bishop's Park don't help.

By tube: Walk back through Bishop's Park to Putney Bridge (District Line). Expect a 15–20 minute walk plus a 5–10 minute queue on the platform. The District Line runs frequently post-match, but trains fill fast. Wait 20–25 minutes after the final whistle, grab a drink in the concourse first, and you'll miss the worst of it. Heading to Hammersmith instead of Putney Bridge (a 25-minute walk north along the river) gives you access to four tube lines and a notably shorter wait.

By car/driving: If you parked in Hammersmith, exit north via King Street toward the A4 or head south across Putney Bridge. Fulham Palace Road moving north toward Hammersmith clears faster than trying to exit south. Give it 30 minutes before attempting to move — leaving immediately means sitting in stationary traffic for most of that time anyway.

By rideshare: Don't request your Uber outside the ground. Walk 10–15 minutes toward Putney High Street or up toward New King's Road — surge pricing drops noticeably once you're a few streets clear of the stadium. Request your car, then start walking toward it. Expect 1.5–2x surge for the first 20 minutes after the match, dropping sharply after 30–35 minutes.

The single best trick: head into the Bishop's Park side of the Putney End concourse after the match and wait out the main rush with a coffee before making your move. The park itself stays open, the rush clears in 20 minutes, and you'll walk to the tube in half the time.

What's the best way to get to Craven Cottage by public transport?

Putney Bridge (District Line) is the closest Underground station, a 10–20 minute walk from the stadium. Exit left, follow Ranelagh Gardens, and walk through Bishop's Park along the river.

What is the Craven Cottage bag policy?

Craven Cottage operates a small-bag-only policy — one bag per person, not exceeding A4 size (29.7cm x 21cm). All bags are searched and tagged on entry.

Does Craven Cottage accept cash? No. All payments inside the stadium are cashless — major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are accepted.

Is there parking at Craven Cottage?

Craven Cottage has no official stadium car park. Street parking is heavily restricted by Traffic Management Orders on matchdays. Drive to Hammersmith and tube in.

Where do away fans sit at Craven Cottage?

The visitors' section is in the Putney End, with entrances on Stevenage Road on the side closest to Bishop's Park. The away allocation now stands at around 2,700.

What time do the gates open?

General admission typically opens 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

What food is available at Craven Cottage?

The Fulham Frankfurter (a hot dog with caramelized onions and toppings), signature sausage rolls, burgers, pizza slices, and Willy's Pies in varieties like chicken balti and steak and ale. A beer runs around £5.50; a pie is around £5.70; pie-and-beer meal deals are available for around £8.70.

When was Craven Cottage opened and how big is it?

Craven Cottage has served as Fulham's home ground since 1896. Prior to the Riverside Stand redevelopment, the capacity was 25,678; following an almost 4,000-seat increase, the stadium now holds approximately 29,600.