London city trip · Football history
The History of Fulham: A London City Trip Guide for Premier League Fans
From London's oldest football club, founded in 1879, to a Europa League final and the Premier League, the story of Fulham, and how to plan a London city trip around a matchday at riverside Craven Cottage.
Fulham are London's oldest professional football club, and few grounds in the country can match the charm of their home on the banks of the Thames. The Cottagers have a long, romantic history, a famous European adventure, and one of the most beautiful matchday settings in the game. For anyone planning a London city trip built around football, a riverside afternoon at Craven Cottage is one of the most enjoyable experiences the capital has to offer.
This is the story of how the oldest club in London found its place in the Premier League, and why a Fulham matchday belongs on your London itinerary.
London's oldest club: 1879
Fulham can trace their roots back to 1879, making them the oldest of London's professional football clubs. Formed by a church side in west London, the team grew steadily and turned professional, building a loyal following in the riverside neighbourhoods of Fulham and Putney. Known affectionately as the Cottagers and the Whites, the club has always carried a slightly different, more genteel character than its rivals.
That sense of identity is tied closely to one very special place: Craven Cottage.
Craven Cottage by the Thames
Fulham have played at Craven Cottage since 1896, and it remains one of the most picturesque stadiums in world football. Sitting right on the banks of the River Thames, the ground is famous for its old-fashioned charm, from the listed Johnny Haynes Stand, one of the oldest surviving stands in English football, to the little cottage pavilion tucked into the corner of the pitch.
For many travelling fans, the walk to the stadium through Bishop's Park along the river is reason enough to make the trip. There is nowhere quite like it in London.
Haynes, Cohen and the golden years
Fulham's history is rich with cult heroes. The greatest of them all is Johnny Haynes, the elegant playmaker and England captain who became the first British footballer to earn 100 pounds a week and gave his name to the famous stand. His statue still stands proudly outside the ground.
The club also produced George Cohen, the dependable full-back who was part of England's World Cup-winning team in 1966. Over the years Craven Cottage has welcomed a host of famous names, even hosting the closing chapters of the careers of legends like George Best and Bobby Moore in the 1970s.
The rise to the top
Fulham's modern revival began under the ownership of Mohamed Al-Fayed, who took over in 1997 and fuelled a remarkable climb up the divisions. The club reached the Premier League in 2001 for the first time and established itself as a top-flight side, before American businessman Shahid Khan, who also owns an NFL franchise, took ownership in 2013.
It was a journey that transformed Fulham from a lower-league club into a familiar Premier League name, and set the stage for the club's greatest adventure.
The road to Hamburg
The standout moment of Fulham's history came in 2010, when, under manager Roy Hodgson, the club went on a stunning run to the UEFA Europa League final. Beating some of the biggest names in Europe along the way, the Cottagers reached the final in Hamburg, where they lost narrowly to Atlético Madrid after extra time.
It remains one of the great European stories told by any London club of its size, and a night that Fulham supporters still talk about with enormous pride.
Fulham in the Premier League era
After some up-and-down years between the divisions, Fulham found real stability under Marco Silva, who arrived in 2021 and won the Championship at the first attempt before re-establishing the club in the Premier League. His teams set a club record points tally and reached the club's first ever League Cup semi-final, with the Cottagers becoming a respected mid-table top-flight side once again.
Silva left in 2026 after five successful years to take charge of Benfica, closing a chapter that fans remember fondly, with the club finishing 11th in his final season and looking to build on the foundations he laid.
Planning your London city trip around a Fulham matchday
This is where Football City Trip comes in. A matchday at Craven Cottage is one of the most scenic and relaxed football experiences anywhere in the capital, set right on the Thames in one of London's most attractive districts.
Getting there
Craven Cottage sits in Fulham, west London, on the riverbank. Putney Bridge on the District line is the nearest Underground station, around a ten to fifteen minute walk away through Bishop's Park along the river, putting the ground within easy reach of central London in about 20 to 25 minutes.
Where to base yourself
Staying anywhere on the District line keeps your whole London city trip simple, with quick links to the West End and the museums of South Kensington. Fulham and Putney themselves are lovely areas full of riverside pubs and restaurants.
Make a day of it
The riverside setting is the star. Walk the Thames path through Bishop's Park, enjoy the historic Fulham Palace nearby, and soak up the atmosphere in the traditional pubs around Putney Bridge before kick-off. If your trip lands in spring, the famous University Boat Race starts on this stretch of the river.
Beyond the football
This part of west London by the Thames is green, historic and beautifully walkable, with easy connections to the rest of the city. Pair a Fulham game with a day exploring riverside London and you have a perfect football-and-travel weekend.
The bottom line
Fulham is a club built on history, character and one of the great settings in football. From the oldest professional club in London, founded in 1879, to a Europa League final and a steady place in the Premier League, the Cottagers offer something genuinely unique: deep heritage, a beautiful riverside home, and one of the most charming days out in London around a game.
Build your next London city trip around a matchday at Fulham. Come on you Whites.