Kennington Oval · London SE11 5SS · Capacity 27,500
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Every other Test ground in England is a long way from Kent. The Oval is at Kennington, south of the Thames, which means no river crossing, no north London and a journey most of our passengers can do in under an hour. For Kent cricket supporters it is the obvious one.
Of the river. It sounds like a small thing and it is not: crossing the Thames is the slowest part of almost every London journey from Kent, and the Oval is the only Test ground that does not require it.
Compared with the others
The distance difference between the Oval and every other Test venue is substantial.
SE11, south of the river
40 to 80 minutes from most of Kent. No crossing required.
NW8, north west London
An hour to two and a half, and across the river.
Birmingham
Two and a half hours up the M40 or M1.
Manchester and Leeds
Four hours plus. Overnight territory.
Kent to Kennington
Straight up the A2 and along the south bank. The most straightforward central London run we do.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Match day journey |
|---|---|---|
| Bromley & Orpington | 10 miles | 35–60 min |
| Bexleyheath & Welling | 11 miles | 35–65 min |
| Sidcup & Bexley | 11 miles | 35–65 min |
| Dartford & Bluewater | 17 miles | 45–75 min |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 23 miles | 55–85 min |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 24 miles | 55–85 min |
| Rochester & Chatham | 32 miles | 65–95 min |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 33 miles | 65–100 min |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 56 miles | 90–125 min |
The last Test of the summer
The Oval traditionally hosts the final Test of an English series, which gives it a character the earlier venues do not have.
| Feature | What it means |
|---|---|
| A series decider, often | Which fills the ground and sharpens the atmosphere. |
| Early September | Cooler, with light fading earlier in the day. |
| Day five can be enormous | Or it can be cancelled entirely. Both happen. |
| Tickets for day four and five | Sold on the basis that play may not be needed. |
| Which affects your booking | Tell us if you hold a late-day ticket and we will build in the flexibility. |
A day at the Oval
Under an hour from most of Kent
This is the practical headline. From Bromley or Bexley you are looking at forty minutes to an hour; from Medway a little over. There is no river crossing and no north London to negotiate, which removes the two slowest elements of a typical Kent-to-London journey. The Oval is genuinely a local Test ground for our part of the world.
Day four and five tickets need flexibility
A Test may finish in three days or run the full five, and nobody knows in advance. If you hold a ticket for a later day, the match may end before it or the day may be the most dramatic of the summer. We handle those bookings with a flexible return and, where the match ends early, a straightforward cancellation arrangement agreed at the time of booking rather than argued about afterwards.
Kennington is dense and residential
The ground sits in a tight urban grid with controlled parking throughout, and twenty-seven thousand people arriving does not improve it. We drop on a nearby road with a short walk to the gate on your ticket, and collect a little back from the ground where traffic is actually moving after close of play.
Cricket returns work on a call
As at Lord's, the close of play moves. Overs owed extend it, bad light and rain cut it short, and a result can arrive at any point in the afternoon. We hold nearby and come to you when your group is ready rather than at a time booked optimistically in advance.
Kia Oval questions
The closest Test ground to Kent.
Why is the Oval easier than Lord's from Kent?
Because it is south of the river at Kennington, so there is no Thames crossing and no north London. It is typically forty minutes to an hour and a quarter from most of Kent, against an hour to two and a half for Lord's.
Is the Oval the last Test of the summer?
Traditionally, yes. That often makes it a series decider, played in early September with light fading earlier in the day.
What if the match finishes before our day?
It happens, and it is the risk of a day four or five ticket. Tell us at booking and we will agree a straightforward cancellation arrangement in advance rather than leaving it to be sorted out afterwards.
How do returns work?
On a call. Close of play moves with overs owed, bad light and results, so we hold nearby and come to you when your group is ready rather than at a time fixed in advance.
Is there parking near the ground?
Kennington is dense and residential with controlled parking throughout. There is no realistic prospect of finding a space on a match day.
Where do you drop off?
On a nearby road with a short walk to the gate on your ticket. Tell us which gate and we will set it accordingly.
Do you cover T20 and one-day matches too?
Yes, and they are shorter and more predictable than a Test, which makes a fixed return realistic for those.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking, with the waiting arrangement for an open return agreed in advance.
Cricket grounds and guides
Test and county cricket from Kent.