Old Trafford has been the home of Manchester United since 1910, and a visit to the stadium is the single most popular football pilgrimage in England. Known worldwide as the Theatre of Dreams, it holds around 74,000 spectators, making it one of the biggest club grounds in the country, and the stadium tour lets you see the parts of the ground that television never shows. A typical visit takes you down the players’ tunnel, into the home dressing room where the shirts hang on their pegs, and out to the pitchside seats where you can look up at the vast stands rising on every side. You also see the press and media areas and learn how a match day is run from the inside. The tour is paired with the Manchester United Museum, which tells the story of the club from its beginnings as Newton Heath through the Busby Babes, the tragedy of the Munich air disaster in 1958, the glory years under Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, and the modern era. Shirts, boots, match balls and a long run of trophies fill the cases, and there are interactive screens for fans who want the detail behind a famous goal.
How to visit
Old Trafford is on Sir Matt Busby Way, about two miles south-west of the city centre. The easiest way to reach it is the Metrolink tram to Old Trafford station, followed by a ten to fifteen minute walk,. Trains also stop at Manchester United Football Ground station on match days.
A taxi from the centre takes around fifteen minutes outside rush hour. Tours are run by the club and are booked through the club’s own tour pages, where you choose a date and time slot and see the different tour types, from the standard museum and stadium tour to longer guided and hospitality-style versions.
What to expect
Allow around two hours for the stadium tour and the museum together, and longer if you want to read every display. The route involves a fair amount of walking and some steps, and the dressing rooms and tunnel areas can be closed on match days or around major events, so check the fixtures before you pick a date. The museum and the Red Café are normally open on non-match days, and the club shop is close to the exit. Bring a small bag, as security rules limit what you can carry in.
Making the most of it
Outside the ground, look for the statue of Sir Matt Busby and the Munich memorial clock on the south-east corner, a quiet reminder of the 1958 tragedy. Combine your visit with the Etihad Stadium tour across the city and the National Football Museum in the centre for a three-part football weekend, and pair your day with a pie and a pint in the pubs around Trafford Park and Chester Road, which fill with supporters on matchdays.
Good to know
Stadium tours are popular in school holidays and at weekends, so choosing a weekday gives you more space in the tunnel and the dressing rooms. Photography is generally welcome in the public areas, but some spaces have their own rules, and your guide will explain them. The club shop is large and sells everything from shirts to small gifts, so keep a little time and budget for it at the end of the visit. Accessible routes are available, and it helps to tell the club about any mobility needs in advance.
What to expect
The experience
A guided walk through the stadium’s tunnel, dressing rooms and pitchside seats, followed by time in the Manchester United Museum.
Best time
A weekday morning outside school holidays, away from match days.
How long
About two hours including the museum.
Tips
Check the fixture list before booking, as some areas close around matches, and travel light because large bags are restricted.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Manchester United supporters and any football fan who wants to stand in one of the sport’s great stadiums.
- Families
- Children enjoy the tunnel, the pitchside seats and the interactive screens in the museum.
- Couples
- A good shared outing for a football-mad partner, followed by lunch near the ground.
- Pair with
- The Etihad Stadium tour and the National Football Museum for a full football weekend.
- Time needed
- Half a day including travel from the centre.
Good questions
What does the Old Trafford stadium tour include?+
It normally includes the players’ tunnel, the dressing rooms and pitchside seating, plus entry to the Manchester United Museum. Different tour types add more guided or behind-the-scenes elements.
How long is the Old Trafford tour?+
Allow about two hours for the tour and museum together. Fans who read every display can easily stay longer.
Can I tour Old Trafford on a match day?+
Tours change or close around matches and major events, and some areas are not open. Check the fixture list and pick a non-match day for the full route.
How do I get to Old Trafford from the city centre?+
Take the Metrolink tram to Old Trafford station and walk for about ten to fifteen minutes, or take a taxi, which takes around fifteen minutes outside peak times.
Is the Old Trafford museum suitable for children?+
Yes. The displays are visual and hands-on, and young fans usually enjoy the trophies, shirts and tunnel. Younger children may tire during the walking sections.