Highest and lowest altitude football stadiums in the UK

The UK's footballing landscape, both literally and metaphorically, offers plenty of variety, adding another layer of intrigue for matchgoing fans.

Altitude became a major talking point in football during the summer, when England's 2026 World Cup clash against Mexico took place at the iconic Estadio Azteca, a venue where the high altitude has long posed a unique challenge for visiting teams.

While the UK does not have stadiums at such extreme elevations, its diverse geography means there are still significant differences between venues. Some grounds sit high above sea level, while others are located just metres from the coast.

These varying surroundings reflect the UK's contrasting landscapes and local climate conditions, from the exposed, windswept highlands of Scotland and northern England to the flatter coastal areas of the south. Such factors can influence the experience for players and supporters alike, depending on where a match is being played.

Here, Football Ground Guide explores the highest and lowest-altitude football stadiums in the UK and examines just how significant the difference is between the two extremes.

Which are the highest and lowest altitude football stadiums in the UK?

The altitude of a football stadium can be an intriguing talking point for supporters, players and analysts, particularly when considering the potential impact it can have on performances.

It is an issue most commonly associated with international football, where teams can travel between countries with vastly different elevations and may have to adapt quickly to unfamiliar conditions. South America provides some of the most notable examples, with several stadiums situated at extreme altitudes, although the differences are far less dramatic in the UK.

With that in mind, we take a look at the football stadiums across the UK that sit at the highest elevations.

Silverlands Stadium

We start our list with one of the highest altitude football stadiums in the UK, the Silverlands Stadium in Buxton, England. Set within the Derbyshire Peak District, It is the home ground of Buxton FC and is 1,040 feet above sea level, or 3.59% of the way up to Mount Everest!

Not only is the Silverlands Stadium the highest altitude stadium in the UK, but it is also one of the oldest, having opened in 1877.

The stadium boasts a capacity of 5,200 fans, including a main stand that can seat at least 500 spectators, while there are plans in place to redevelop the ground in the near future.

Buxton have established themselves at National League North Level in recent years, with small-scale improvements around Silverlands helping to modernise their ground while retaining its historic character.

The Hawthorns

West Bromwich Albion's home, The Hawthorns, is the highest altitude stadium in the second tier of English football and is one of the highest in the country overall. It is also the highest altitude stadium to have ever hosted a Premier League match.

The Hawthorns is one of the oldest grounds in the UK and has been occupied by West Bromwich Albion since 1900. The stadium is 552 feet (168 metres) above sea level, having been built on the elevated lands in the West Midlands.

The exposed nature of The Hawthorns has often been referenced by players and supporters, particularly during winter fixtures where strong winds, intensified by the altitude, can greatly influence matches.

The Hawthorns is looking 😍😍😍 tonight#WBALEE | #WBA pic.twitter.com/BnsYTqd65O

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) December 29, 2020

Boundary Park

Boundary Park ranks as the second-highest altitude football stadium in the UK, sitting an impressive 526 feet (160 metres) above sea level. The ground is located in Greater Manchester and currently serves as the home ground for Oldham Athletic. Its current capacity is 13,512.

Formerly Athletic Ground, Boundary Park has been operating as Oldham's home stadium since it opened in 1896, and that makes it one of the oldest football stadiums in the UK.

Boundary Park is also widely regarded as one of the coldest grounds in English football due to its exposed hilltop position above Oldham.

The New Lawn

Forest Green Rovers call The New Lawn stadium home, and it is one of the highest-altitude stadiums in the UK, situated at 164.3 metres above sea level. The football ground itself only has a capacity of 2000 seats and is located on Nympsfield Road, in Nailsworth, United Kingdom

The New Lawn stadium opened in 2006 and has been the home ground for Forest Green Rovers since then. Despite having a capacity of just 2000, the club were able to hold a record attendance of 4836 in 2009 when the club hosted Derby County.

Vale Park

Vale Park is the third stadium to be mentioned in our list of the highest-altitude stadiums, and it is the home of Port Vale, currently a League Two outfit. At 520 feet (158 metres), Vale Park has a capacity of 18,947.

Originally opened in 1950 in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Vale Park has undergone significant renovations over the years, including reducing the seating capacity.

The Crown Ground

The next ground on our list of the highest altitude football stadiums in the UK is home to Accrington Stanley, Wham Stadium, which stands 516 feet (157 metres) above sea level. The ground is located in Accrington, Lancashire, England, and it was first opened in 1968.

The stadium only boasts a modest capacity of 5,450, but the home crowd are known for their passionate support.

Which is the lowest altitude football stadium in the UK?

Apart from playing football at high altitudes, the topography and location of some stadiums in the United Kingdom mean that sometimes, the love for the beautiful game will take you to some of the lowest points on earth, associated with extreme temperatures fluctuating from hot to humid to cold.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, here are the lowest altitude stadiums in the UK.

Blundell Park

Blundell Park, the home of Grimsby Town, is currently the lowest altitude football stadium in the UK, at only two metres above sea level.

Blundell Park, built in 1899, is among the oldest stadiums in the UK. With a capacity of 9,052, this number reflects reductions made during past renovations.

It's quite fortunate that the stadium is so low to the ground, as the winds that come in from the North Sea can be brutal, however the location does make it particularly vulnerable to other coastal weather systems.

Discussions around a potential long-term relocation away from Blundell Park have arisen periodically due to the site's coastal limitations and vulnerability as well as its ageing infrastructure.

Manchester United made a first visit to Blundell Park since the 1940s in the Carabao Cup in August 2025 and did not fare well with the low altitude and sea breeze, losing in a penalty shootout in an almighty cup upset after a 2-2 draw in normal time.

St Mary's Stadium

St. Mary's Stadium is only three metres above sea level, making it one of the lowest-altitude football stadiums in the UK. Southampton F.C.'s home ground was opened in 2001 and boasts a capacity of 32,384.

The stadium's waterfront location near Southampton docks often creates windy and rain-swept matchday conditions, particularly during winter months.

The Saints endured one of the worst seasons of any Premier League side in history and only just avoided accruing the lowest-ever points tally in the competition in the 2024-25 term.

Their immediate relegation from the division means that thousands of Championship fans can once more enjoy an away day at the stadium, including rivals Portsmouth, who visited St. Mary's Stadium for the first time since 2012 for a South Coast Derby in September 2025.

MKM Stadium

The next ground on our list of the lowest altitude football stadiums in the UK is MKM Stadium, which is the home ground of Hull City. The home ground of the Tigers boasts a seating capacity of 25,586, all seated spectators.

Slightly more inland than the previously-mentioned home of Grimsby Town, Hull City's stadium is located approximately 20 miles from the nearest stretch of England's east coast but within a couple of miles of the River Humber.

Opened in 2002, one year after Southampton's St. Mary's Stadium, MKM Stadium is one of the modern football grounds in the United Kingdom.

The Deva Stadium

The Deva Stadium is the home ground of Chester City, and it is only 16 metres above Sea Level.

Located in Sealand on the outskirts of Chester, the Deva Stadium straddles the borders of England and Wales. Proximity to the Wirral Peninsula means the stadium is located at one of the lowest points in the UK.

Portman Road

Next on this list of the lowest football stadiums in the UK is Portman Road, currently the home ground for Ipswich Town. The venue sits only 17 metres above sea level.

Portman Road is located not only in one of the lowest points in the UK but also in an old football ground, having served Ipswich since 1884.

The stadium is built all but on the banks of Suffolk's River Orwell, explaining its low position above sea level.

Hill Dickinson Stadium

Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium is the lowest altitude Premier League ground, and one of the lowest football stadiums in the UK, sitting just three metres above sea level owing to its location on Liverpool's Bramley Moore Dock.

The Toffees moved from their classic home of Goodison Park into the new build for the start of the 2025-26 season, and have regularly welcomed more than 52,000 supporters to the venue ever since.

Ground was broken at the stadium site back in August 2021, and work began to fill the dock with half a million tonnes of sand reclaimed from the River Mersey, all while conservation efforts were enacted to safely remove the fish and sea birds in the area.

However, despite the planning team's conservation efforts, Everton's new ground was cited as one of the main reasons for Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City losing its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Following around £750m of investment, Hill Dickinson Stadium was opened in February 2025, and the Toffees have taken well to life at sea level.