Old Trafford is one of the most storied, historic football stadiums in the world. First constructed in 1910, this iconic stadium now holds 74,000, making it the largest club football stadium in the UK. The atmosphere for a Manchester United game at Old Trafford is unmatched, as is the game-day experience. If you have the opportunity – experience it for yourself!
Catching the Red Devils in action is a bucket list item for sure, but it’s not the only attraction in the area. There are plenty of other things you can do around the stadium, and in Manchester in general, to make your trip even more amazing. If you’re traveling to sports and looking for things to do near Old Trafford, start here.
There’s plenty to do and see around Old Trafford, and in the greater Manchester area. For football fans planning a trip to see Manchester United at Old Trafford, here are a few other attractions and events you can add to your itinerary.
No trip to Old Trafford is complete without a trip to the Old Trafford Museum. The museum is closed on game days, but it’s definitely worth a second visit to the stadium to explore the museum, and do a tour of the stadium.
Old Trafford features a massive museum that’s spread across three floors, with different exhibitions and memorabilia to explore. You’ll find match-worn jerseys from the club’s most famous players, explore the club’s impressive silverware collection, and develop a new appreciation for the history of the team.
The Old Trafford Stadium Tour is just as valuable – you’ll have the opportunity to visit the dressing rooms, walk through the tunnel onto the pitch, sit in the manager’s chair pitchside, and see historic parts of the stadium that survived the WWII bombings. The tour ends at the Megastore, where you can find both new and old kits and a huge selection of other souvenirs and fan items available.
Whether or not the English invented football is still up for debate, but there’s no denying that the country has a rich history with the sport. At the National Football Museum, you can discover more than 140,000 football-related items – there’s so much to geek out over! Plus, there are a lot of fun hands-on activities for kids, not to mention skills-test simulators which are fun for kids and those of us with inner-kids as well!
The National Football Museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and features permanent exhibits as well as temporary installations from time to time. Make sure you also check out the English Football Hall of Fame while you’re there, where the country’s most iconic footballers have been recognized for their achievements. The National Football Museum is located just a few minutes north of the city center, easy to reach on foot or with public transit, and a must-visit for football lovers planning a trip to Old Trafford to see Manchester United.
Don’t get too excited – this isn’t the type of water park that comes with roller coasters or slip-n-slides. Instead, Chorlton Water Park is the place to be if the sun is (finally) shining down on Manchester. Chorlton Water Park is about 5 miles south of the city center, easy to reach from Old Trafford by car or transit.
This is the perfect place to relax and recover on the day after game day. This lakeside nature reserve features lots of walking trails around the reservoir, plenty of picturesque spots for a picnic, and fun activities like canoeing, kayaking, and rowing. Don’t forget your swimsuit – you can even take a dip if the water’s warm enough!
If you’re traveling to Old Trafford for a Manchester United match, take some time to explore the Manchester Museum before the game. This is the city’s most famous and popular museum, and a great place to further your understanding of Manchester’s history. Manchester Museum features a lot of historic and human artifacts and was recently renovated and refurbished to include a brand-new exhibition space.
There are over 4 million items on display, including everything from ancient Egyptian mummies to T-rex bones. The gift store is also well worth a look – it’s a great place to grab some locally-made Manchester souvenirs and goodies. There’s a busy events schedule – check the website to see if there are special exhibitions or events that align with your trip.
Even if you’re not an avid reader, the John Rylands Library is worth a visit for the architecture alone. This enormous building is one of the best examples of late-Victorian neo-Gothic architecture in all of Manchester, with enormous reading rooms, an insane number of books, and iconic, eye-catching spiral staircases.
The library is part of the University of Manchester and features rare books and manuscripts, a cafe, and a shop. If you’re visiting Old Trafford to watch Manchester United play, you can easily pay a visit to the John Rylands Library for an hour or so before the game. The library is located north of Manchester’s city center, about a 30-minute ride from Old Trafford on the metro.
For football fans visiting Old Trafford for a Manchester United game, Ancoats is the perfect neighborhood to spend a few hours before heading south to the stadium. Located on Manchester’s canals, Ancoats has some amazing, eclectic restaurants and bars.
While there are some good restaurants around Old Trafford, you’ll find the best food in Manchester in neighborhoods like this one – make sure you carve out some time for a game-day brunch before you head to the stadium, or a nightcap after you’re making your way back from the game.
If you’re visiting Manchester for multiple nights and looking for travel tips to watch Manchester United match at Old Trafford isn’t quite enough excitement for you, check out what’s happening at AO arena. For the best concerts, events, and parties in the city, this is the place to be. The AO seats more than 21,000 and draws some big-name acts, from U2 to Madonna and the Rolling Stones.
The arena is located in Manchester’s north, close to the National Football Museum. It’s unlikely that you’d be able to make it to an afternoon game at Old Trafford and still catch a show at the AO, but if you have multiple nights in Manchester, it’s worth checking the schedule to see whether any acts catch your eye.
If you’re a football lover who’s also a nature lover, get ready to head north when the final whistle blows at Old Trafford. In just 90 minutes, you can drive from Manchester to Windermere, part of the stunning Lake District National Park. It’s close enough that you can visit for a day, or stay the night at one of Windermere’s many quaint bed and breakfasts.
The Lake District National Park is stunning. The views are picturesque, you can tour the lake, hike the mountains, and just relax. There’s also a fascinating history of this area – it was home to William Wordsworth and an extremely popular place to visit for many famish English poets of eras bygone.
Manchester’s live music scene is almost as famous as its football scene. There are amazing bands playing every night on various stages around the city, from quaint pubs to larger, dedicated venues. The best thing about Manchester’s music venues is that they’re full of history.
Catch a band at Night and Day, an old Noel Gallagher (Oasis) hangout, or make your way to Band on the Wall on Swan Street, where Joy Division once graced the stage. Most of the city’s most famed music venues for live acts are located back in the city center, north of Old Trafford.
A big part of being a traveling football fan (at least for me) is trying the best food in cities all around the world. Some of Manchester’s best food can be found in the city’s many food halls, which are scattered throughout the city. If you’re visiting Old Trafford for a Manchester United game, grab a bite to eat first at one of the city’s delicious food halls.
A popular option is Mackie Mayor in North Manchester. You’ll find food from all over the world here, including steaks, pizza, sandwiches, ramen, tacos, and more. It’s around a 30-minute bus or metro ride away from Old Trafford. Another option is Society, which specializes in global street food and has a great selection of cocktails and local beers.
As you can see, there’s a lot to see and do around Old Trafford, and in Manchester in general! For sports lovers planning a trip to Manchester, the National Football Museum is a must-visit, as are the many amazing live music venues across the city. Make the most of your time in Manchester as you get ready to cheer on the Red Devils at Old Trafford!
