Not Wembley or Old Trafford, but Fulham's Craven Cottage has been named the UK's best football stadium by TripAdvisor. The 130-year-old ground recently underwent a huge £150 million transformation.
Top Ranking
According to TripAdvisor's Traveller Ranking of Arenas and Stadiums in the United Kingdom, Craven Cottage takes the crown with an impressive 4.9 rating from approximately 1,740 reviews. Aston Villa's Villa Park claims second place with a 4.8 rating from 1,969 reviews, while Celtic Park sits third with a 4.9 score from more than 5,500 reviews.
Historic Ground
Craven Cottage has served as Fulham's home since 1896, making it the club's home for 130 years. Fulham was founded in 1879 as Fulham St Andrew's Church Sunday School FC and is widely considered London's oldest professional football club. The land itself carries an even richer history, originally the site of a royal hunting lodge. The cottage that lent the stadium its name was constructed in 1780 but was razed by fire in 1888 before Fulham took over the grounds.
The club's most iconic structures were erected in 1905 by celebrated Scottish architect Archibald Leitch. The Stevenage Road Stand, now referred to as the Johnny Haynes Stand, and the Pavilion remain Grade II listed buildings, among the last remaining examples of Leitch's distinctive football architecture.
Record Attendances
Craven Cottage has witnessed record attendances of 49,335 during a fixture against Millwall in October 1938. Today, following extensive redevelopment, the ground's capacity sits at approximately 29,600.
Riverside Stand Transformation
The most significant recent transformation has been the overhaul of the Riverside Stand, now christened Fulham Pier. Designed by global architecture firm Populous, the project is widely reported to have cost in the region of £150 million. The new stand boasts a striking bronze-coloured cantilevered roof drawing inspiration from the Thames. Due to the constrained riverside location, enormous steel trusses were transported by barge along the river before being hoisted into position.
Despite its premium features, it remains intimately close to the pitch, with the front row just 3.5 metres from the action. The development incorporates a rooftop swimming pool and spa, making Fulham the first European club to boast a rooftop pool within its stadium complex. There is also a boutique hotel, upmarket restaurants, bars and an exclusive members' club called Lighthouse Social.
A central element of the development involved restoring public access to the Thames Path behind the stand. For the first time in over a century, visitors can now walk uninterrupted along the riverbank between Hammersmith and Putney, with the exception of matchdays.
Stadium Tours
For those keen to explore further, guided stadium tours run several times a week, though not on matchdays. Guests can explore the dressing rooms, walk through the tunnel, stand pitchside and step out onto the balcony of the Grade II listed Cottage. Adult tickets are priced at around £28, while junior tickets cost approximately £23.
Visitor Reviews
TripAdvisor is awash with glowing reviews of the ground. One visitor wrote: "When you enter you are just fascinated." Another enthused: "By far the best stadium ever. It was an amazing experience. The history of Craven Cottage was mind-blowing." A further reviewer commented: "Great visit - we've been to Camp Nou, Bernabéu, Anfield, Etihad, Emirates, etc. Craven Cottage is right up there - proper heritage combined with state-of-the-art Riverside stand."
