London Welsh - The Kassam Stadium

The North Stand
Image: Sale fan James Mooney

London Welsh were founded in 1885, taking on London Scottish in their first fixture that year. The club has a long and proud history, with many of their players going on to represent the Welsh national team and the British & Irish Lions. In fact, London Welsh hold the record for the most players supplied from one club for a Lions tour, with 7 selected for the 1971 trip to New Zealand.


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The Kassam Stadium is principally the home of Oxford United FC, and was opened in 2001 to replace their previous home, Manor Ground. It is located on the southern outskirts of Oxford within easy access of the M40 and A34.

The stadium has three modern stands, with the area behind the West end of the pitch currently undeveloped. Being a football stadium, there are no standing terraces at the Kassam, though all seats do benefit from cover from the elements. The two-tier South and single-tier North stands are a similar size, both holding around 5,000 spectators, whilst the East holds 2,800.

Home attendances tend to be well below capacity so you shouldn't have any problem getting a seat, though to avoid the queues you may want to book your tickets in advance online or by phone.
View from the South Stand, Lower Tier
Image: Sale fan James Mooney

Getting There                                                                                   Back to Top ^ 


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By Car

The Kassam Stadium benefits from good road links, and is within easy reach of the M40 motorway and the A34. The ground is well signposted from the motorways, but just incase full driving directions can be found here.

Free parking is available in the leisure complex that the stadium is a part of, but as there is only one entrance/exit there will undoubtedly be delays getting out after the match. The Priory pub close to the stadium also have a small car park, with the small fee given to charity. Alternatively, the stadium complex is located just off Grenoble Road, which is partly regulated by double yellow lines on both sides, but there are a number of very long parking bays on the road that can be used to avoid the car park and the post-match chaos.


By Train

Oxford is well connected to London by train, but at 5 miles from the ground a taxi or bus will be needed from the station. Take the number 5 bus and alight at the last stop (Knights Road), about 10 minutes walk from the stadium. The bus journey itself takes around 30 minutes.

By Air

Oxford's small airport doesn't run many scheduled services, but the city is within easy reach of several airports including Heathrow (approximately 50 miles by road), Luton (60 miles), Birmingham (65 miles) and Stansted (95 miles). National Express run bus services from all the above, whilst Oxford Bus also serve Heathrow and Gatwick.


View from the Car Park at the Open End of the Kassam
Image: Sale fan James Mooney



Drinking                                                                                                            Back to Top ^

In The Ground

There is a bar in the glass atrium to the rear of the South stand, where you will also find the London Welsh supporters club representatives.

Before / After the Game

The Priory pub is situated on Grenoble Road around 100m from the stadium, and has a large marquee tent set up to deal with the matchday masses. There is usually a range of Brains beer on offer in addition to cask ales, cider and lager, with quick service and decent prices.

Got more recommendations on rugby-friendly watering holes in Oxford or near the ground? Let us know here.


Looking from the North Stand towards the Car Park

Eating                                                                    Back to Top ^

  • The Cowley Road is on the route back between the stadium and the centre of Oxford, and is home to numerous excellent Indian and Nepalese restaurants.
  • The Ozone leisure park complex adjacent to the ground has a number of food outlets inside if you want to grab something before heading off, including Indian and Chinese restaurants.
Got a favourite post-match restaurant or bar? Let us know here.


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There is a Holiday Inn Express next to the ground, although this is some distance from Oxford City Centre, where there are many more options for places to lay your head.



Make a Trip of It                                                   Back to Top ^

In Town

Oxford is a lovely city located on the River Thames, and home to the famous university of the same name. Great architecture, history and plenty of culture and nightlife will keep visitors amused for a few days.

Off the Beaten Path

Oxford is well linked to London by both road and rail, with the journey taking around an hour. If you've got a motor, the Oxfordshire countryside is well worth an explore.

Key Information

Disabled Supporters

  • 91 accessible parking spaces are available on a first-come first-served basis. These are located around the stadium close to the turnstiles. Drop-off facilities are also available.

  • In the ground there are over 100 spaces for wheelchair users available that can be found at the pitchside and on raised platforms accessible by lift to the second (VIP) and third floors.

  • Supporters with ambulant disabilities have access to over 200 accessible seats.

  • Can you add information for this section? Let us know here.

Financial Issues

  • Welsh struggled with the advent of professionalism and financial difficulties led to administration in 2009.

  • The club were thankfully revived, and proceeded to build solid foundations in the second tier of English rugby at their Old Deer Park home in Richmond.

Promotion to the Premiership

  • In the 2011-12 season, the Dragons benefitted from the controversial promotion play-off system in the English Championship when despite finishing fourth in the regular season, they defeated Bedford Blues and then Cornish Pirates to earn promotion to the Premiership.

  • As their ground wasn't deemed suitable for top-flight rugby the club had nominated the Kassam Stadium, over 50 miles away in Oxford as their proposed new home ground. This was initially turned down by the RFU, but Welsh won an appeal and finally took their place at the top table again. 

Boing Boing..

  • The uncertainty of the appeal process hugely reduced the amount of time that London Welsh had to prepare for the new season though, and after a promising start in the Premiership Welsh fell away and were relegated back to the Championship for the 2013-14 season.

  • It was then announced that the club's home fixtures are to remain in Oxford rather than return to Richmond.

  • Welsh bounced back to the Premiership at the first time of asking with an upset of favourites Bristol in the Championship Playoff final.

  • Yet the 2014-15 Premiership season was to be a disappointing one - no wins and relegation back to the Championship.

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