The EFL Championship's 10 best stadiums, according to Tripadvisor | OneFootball

The Championship plays host to some top grounds, but whose home comes out on top?

The Championship boasts some stadiums that wouldn't be out of place in the top tier of most footballing nations.

Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium is the biggest in the league with a capacity of just under 40,000, and even the smallest, Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium, can host up to 12,500 fans.

But which second-tier ground makes the top 10 at present? We turned to Tripadvisor to see how visitors have been rating their experience across the EFL venues.

Here are the stadiums that came out on top…

10 ? ? Ipswich Town – Portman Road (4.1/5)

Kicking off this list in 10th place is Ipswich Town’s Portman Road.

It’s a stadium that has been through a lot in recent years, having been a League One, Championship and Premier League ground at different points over the last year.

One thing the ground does score highly on throughout the reviews is its location, based just south of town.

On Tripadvisor, Matt Frost said: “Genuinely one of the best stadiums in England. Superb home support, right close to town centre so easy to access and travel to, and superb views from all stands. A real gem of an old school ground. The best!!”

However, one thing the stadium does get marked down on fairly regularly is the size and comfort of the seats in the ground, which may be partly why it’s not higher in this list.

9 ? ? Wrexham – Racecourse Ground (4.2/5)

Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground, also known as STōK Cae Ras, has lived the majority of the last two decades as a non-league ground.

A Hollywood takeover by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, however, has seen them rocket up to the Championship, and their stadium still ranks high in the new league, despite being the second-smallest by capacity.

The club shop appears to be a particular highlight for visitors, along with just seeing the ground itself, which features prominently on Disney+ documentary Welcome to Wrexham.

Kacper D said: The Racecourse Ground is a historic and character-filled football stadium that many fans love for its passionate matchday atmosphere and deep roots in Welsh football. It is a wonderful experience if you’re loud and cheerfull! Me personally I recommend this place”

The outside aesthetic is where the Racecourse often falls down for visitors, with some saying it lacks inspiration, but with the ongoing construction, this is sure to be something the owners are looking at.

8 ? ? West Bromwich Albion – The Hawthorns (4.3/5)

In a tie with the following five stadiums is West Brom’s home, The Hawthorns.

Over on Tripadvisor, highlights include the atmosphere, views of the pitch and accessibility for disabled fans.

There have been some gripes over the food offering, but some claim this is improving.

Southampton – St Mary’s Stadium (4.3/5)

A regular in both the Premier League and the Championship, St Mary’s Stadium is well accustomed to hosting packed-out crowds.

Tripadvisor user Bandanne said: “Nice arena but good logistics. Everything worked perfectly and not so long queues for anything. Not so big which created a closeness to the pitch and the players.”

Parking has been raised as an issue, with mixed views on the food, but, in general, fans enjoy their day out on the south coast, with reliable transport options, friendly staff and decent prices.

6 ? ? Sheffield United – Bramall Lane (4.3/5)

Bramall Lane is another venue well-versed in the top two tiers but, unlike some larger grounds, is located right in the centre of the city, providing great transport access and plenty of food and drink options before the game.

Also, unlike many other grounds on this list, Sheffield United’s home is often praised as a modern stadium, with a Derby County fan on Tripadvisor describing it as the better of the two stadiums in Sheffield.

“Visited as a Derby fan. Good ground, easy walking distance of station. Plenty of good pubs nearby. So much better than Hillsborough for away fans,” Scrubday said.

Views of the pitch rank high, as does the hospitality offering, but some say the away concourse leaves a bit to be desired.

Labelled an “atmospheric old stadium” on Tripadvisor, Fratton Park is a ground beloved by Pompey fans and those whose team travel to play there.

The Players’ Lounge and hospitality services have been upgraded in recent years, so Portsmouth’s ground scores highly for that, as do the more traditional features of an older stadium.

That does appear to come down to preference, however, with some feeling the venue needs some modernisation and a rethink on food and drink prices.

4 ? ? Middlesbrough – Riverside Stadium (4.3/5)

“Potentially the nicest away end I’ve ever been in,” is how Matt Frost described his experience at the Riverside, noting the cleanliness, modern look, parking and friendly staff.

There have also been compliments for the venue as a music concert host, with artists like Take That and James Arthur having performed there.

Again, there were no particularly scathing reviews from a food and drink perspective, just that the options available could be improved upon.

3 ? ? Derby County – Pride Park (4.3/5)

Derby have been through some tough times in recent years, but that hasn’t dampened their hospitality skills, with the executive suites coming in for praise for their “excellent” food and “incredible staff” according to Tripadvisor user morlandmonk.

That sentiment carries through to the away section of Pride Park, with the stewards marked highly for friendliness and assistance by some.

Not all travelling fans were satisfied with their experience, however, based on a lack of entertainment in the away section and cramped seating.

2 ? ? Leicester City – King Power Stadium (4.5/5)

Emerging from the middle pack in this list is the King Power Stadium, which is perhaps unsurprising given it’s home to former Premier League champions Leicester City.

The stadium tour, and in particular the tour guides, receive regular mentions in the reviews, with time to walk around the place and access almost everywhere in the ground.

“Amazing tour thank you so much,” Joshua Thomas C said. “Got to see so much behind the scenes which gave me a great insight on what it is like on a match day.”

Topping this list based on Tripadvisor reviews is The Den, home to Millwall, with a remarkable 4.6/5 on the website.

It has been labelled “a real family club” noted for the atmosphere and welcoming fans.

The staff are rated just as friendly, which may perhaps help dispel the reputation the Lions have in some quarters.

Food at The Den has been noted as “tasty and not expensive” by Erika, but James D commented that beer could use some improvement with some premium brands added.