The Oval

The Oval is a cricket stadium in Kennington featuring a large oval playing field with a distinctive pavilion building at its center. The grounds contain multiple seating sections and modern facilities arranged throughout the venue.

The stadium was founded in 1845 and hosted England's first Test cricket match in 1880 against Australia. This match led to the creation of the Ashes, one of cricket's most important competitions.

The name refers to the oval shape of the playing field, and locals view this venue as central to English cricket tradition. You can sense how deeply the sport connects to people's lives here, especially when matches are taking place.

The stadium sits next to The Oval Underground station, making it straightforward to reach. You should plan ahead of time, especially when major matches are happening, as the venue becomes quite crowded.

During World War II, the grounds were converted into a prisoner-of-war camp after previously housing anti-aircraft searchlights. Once the war ended, the space returned to its role as a sports venue.