Old Trafford Stadium Guide 2026/27
Basic Information About Old Trafford
Old Trafford is the largest club stadium in Britain, with about 74,000 seats. It opened on 19 February 1910 with a match against Liverpool, and has been the home of Manchester United.
Address: Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0RA. Note a detail that confuses drivers: the club publishes one postcode for matchdays (M16 0RA) and a different postcode for regular days (M17 1FP), and a third postcode for the tours car park — M16 0SZ. Enter the postcode that matches the day you're arriving.
Since November 2025 the stadium has had 13,577 safe standing spaces — about 18% of capacity — after 6,141 additional spaces opened in the Stretford End.
How Do You Get to Old Trafford?
You get to Old Trafford by tram, not by train — the train station next to the stadium is closed.
This is the most common mistake in old guides. The train station Manchester United Football Ground adjacent to the South Stand has been closed indefinitely, at the club's request for safety reasons. The last train stopped there in December 2017. Both National Rail and TransPennine Express state this officially on their websites.
Tram (Metrolink) — The Right Way
Old Trafford station on the Altrincham line is the main station for the stadium, in fare zone 2. The club's official accessibility document states a 10-to-15-minute walk from the station to the stadium. The Wharfside station on the Trafford Park line is physically closer, and the club lists it as an option.
A single ticket from the city center (zone 1) to Old Trafford (zone 2) costs £2.80 for an adult. You must buy it before boarding — you can't buy a ticket on board the tram. Contactless payment works with tap-in and tap-out and a daily cap.
🔴 Tram Network Works in the 2026/27 Season
Two planned periods of works will affect the line to Old Trafford, according to a notice from Manchester's transport operator: Sunday, 6 September 2026, and after it from 19 October to 1 November 2026 — two consecutive weeks. The works are at Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar stations, both of which are on the route from the city center to the stadium. In a similar round of works, traffic on the Altrincham line was halted and replacement buses were put into service.
If your match falls on these dates — check the line's status on the matchday itself and allow extra time. As of the writing of this guide, there is no active disruption on the line.
Taxi and Bus
From Manchester Piccadilly main station — a taxi ride of about 15 minutes. From Manchester Airport — 20 to 30 minutes by taxi. Bus lines X50 and 250 leave the city every 20 minutes and stop at Trafford Wharf Road near the stadium. After the match a shuttle bus service operates.
Car and Parking
Sir Matt Busby Way is closed to traffic on matchdays. Parking in the club's car parks costs £12 per match. On non-matchdays, parking in car parks E2 and N2 is free.
Where Should You Sit at Old Trafford?
The atmosphere stand at Old Trafford is the Stretford End, and the away fans' section is in the southeast corner.
The stadium has four stands and two corners:
- Sir Alex Ferguson Stand (North) — the largest, about 26,000 seats.
- Stretford End (West) — the historic home stand, about 12,000 seats. This is the atmosphere stand, and the club itself has allocated up to 2,700 seats in it to an organized supporters' group to boost the noise.
- Sir Bobby Charlton Stand (South) — about 11,500 seats, this is where the dugouts and the TV broadcast angle are.
- East Stand (East) — about 11,500 seats.
- Two north corners — about 5,000 seats each.
The best angle for the match is on the second tier of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, near the halfway line. Away team fans sit in the southeast corner, between the East Stand and the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand, in an allocation of about 3,000 seats.
A tip that saves searching: The first letter in the seat code marks the stand — N for Ferguson, E for East, S for Charlton, W for Stretford End. It tells you which gate to head to.
How Do You Buy Tickets to a Manchester United Match?
Buying directly from the club requires a paid annual membership, and even then most of the big matches don't reach general sale.
The club sells tickets to members only. For the 2026/27 season there are four tiers: Premium at about £70 a season, Official at about £37.50, a membership for ages up to 16 at about £20, and Forwarding at about £30 — which doesn't entitle you to buy home match tickets at all. Purchase is online, one ticket per member, with seat selection from the stadium map. For in-demand matches, the club runs a ballot instead of a regular sale.
The priority order puts season ticket holders first, followed by veteran members with loyalty points, and only at the end a new member. The practical meaning for a tourist: The more in-demand a match is — a derby, a historic rivalry, or a European knockout — the greater the chance it will be settled by ballot and never reach open sale. Midweek matches and early cup rounds are the more realistic opportunity.
Also note that the ticketing system assumes a British credit card, and a foreign card may trigger additional verifications.
The solution for anyone who wants certainty before buying a flight: Tickets to Manchester United matches through TikTik — in Hebrew, with confirmation before the trip.
What's Special About Manchester United's 2026/27 Season?
United returned to the Champions League after a full season without Europe, with Michael Carrick as coach.
Two things change the picture this season. The first — the coach. Ruben Amorim was fired on 5 January 2026, and Michael Carrick signed a contract running until 2028. Many guides and websites still show the old name.
The second — the return to Europe. United finished the 2025/26 season in third place in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League. The season before that they finished 15th and didn't play in Europe at all. For a tourist, this means additional midweek home matches, and also higher demand for every ticket.
The New Stadium — What's Already Been Decided
The club decided to build a new 100,000-seat stadium instead of renovating Old Trafford, and acquired the land in June 2026. The new stadium will be built about 350 meters northwest of the current stadium, so United will continue to play at Old Trafford throughout the construction.
What Hasn't Been Decided Yet: The final design hasn't been approved, the plan has not yet passed a planning committee, and there's no opening date. The project's director has stated explicitly that the date will only be set after planning approval. That means Old Trafford will remain home for years to come.
What's Allowed Into Old Trafford?
Old Trafford's bag policy is strict: a bag larger than 20 by 15 by 5 centimeters won't be let in.
A bag exceeding these dimensions must be checked at a dedicated bag drop for £5. The bag drop opens four hours before kickoff, and the club recommends arriving two hours early if you plan to use it. Being late isn't grounds for a refund. Every entrant is searched — this is a condition of entry.
Allowed: Mobile phone, a small folding umbrella, a clear plastic bottle up to 500 ml with the cap removed, non-offensive flags up to 2 by 1 meters without poles, crutches and walking aids by prior arrangement.
Not allowed: Alcohol, glass, cans, dark bottles, baby strollers, regular umbrellas, laptops and tablets, cameras with a large body, thermoses, knives and fireworks. The entire stadium is smoke-free, including e-cigarettes.
A point relevant to fans from Israel: Following Premier League guidance, the club does not allow the display of Israeli or Palestinian flags, or signs, clothing or scarves identified with either side. The rule applies equally to both sides.
All gates, except hospitality, open two hours before kickoff.
Is Old Trafford Wheelchair Accessible?
Old Trafford is wheelchair accessible, with dedicated entrances and its own accessible lounge.
The accessible entrances are in the southeast corner, at the East Stand tunnel, at the north corners and at West Tier 2, and all are staffed by stewards. There is a dedicated lounge for fans with disabilities, with a food stand, screens, wireless internet and accessible restrooms.
Additional services: headsets with audio description for blind or visually impaired fans — must be booked in advance; braille menus at the stands; a shuttle vehicle from the car park to the entrance that runs three times before the match and once after; companion seating at the north corners; and waterproof capes for bad weather. Service dogs are welcome with advance notice. Disabled parking in car parks E2 or W2 requires prior coordination. Old Trafford tram station is fully accessible.
Tour and Museum at Old Trafford
The tour and museum are open every day of the week, except home matchdays — when they are fully closed.
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 09:30–16:00, Friday and Saturday 09:30–17:00. The tour lasts about seventy minutes and the three-floor museum requires about another hour. The meeting point is the reception desk of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, and you should arrive at least 20 minutes early — the club recommends 30 to 60.
The tour route passes through the Ferguson Stand, the changing room, the players' tunnel, the edge of the pitch and the media room. In the museum: the trophy room, the Munich room, the history of the kits, the legends' corridor and the treble corridor. There are free lockers, and photography is allowed in all areas except the press conference room.
Two things worth knowing in advance: a tour booked for 15:00 or later requires visiting the museum ago before the tour, because the museum will close first. And anyone who needs a wheelchair should contact the club at least 48 hours in advance.
The club itself warns: don't book a non-refundable flight or hotel before the match date is finally confirmed.
The Weather in Manchester During Football Season
It rains in Manchester in every month of the football season, and October to December are the wettest.
The average maximum temperature drops from about 21 degrees in August to about 7 degrees in January, and the average minimum in January is about 2 degrees. Bring a raincoat, not an umbrella — a regular umbrella isn't allowed in, and only a small folding umbrella is permitted.
FAQ
How Many Seats Does Old Trafford Have?
About 74,000 seats, of which 13,577 are safe standing spaces. This is the largest club stadium in Britain.
How Do You Get to Old Trafford from Central Manchester?
By tram, on the Altrincham line, to Old Trafford station — a two-zone ticket for £2.80, and then a 10-to-15-minute walk. The train station next to the stadium has been closed since 2017.
Does an Israeli Need an Entry Authorization for the UK?
Yes — an electronic entry authorization of the ETA type, which is not a visa. Israeli citizens are required to have it before the flight. The authorization is submitted online, involves a fee, and it's recommended to submit it well before your travel date.
When Do the Gates Open at Old Trafford?
Two hours before kickoff. If you need to check a bag, arrive two hours early — the bag drop opens four hours before the match.
Can You Buy a Ticket Directly from the Club?
Only as a paying member, and for in-demand matches a ballot is required even then. The more in-demand the match, the lower the chance it will reach general sale.
Which Is the Best Stand at Old Trafford?
For atmosphere — the Stretford End. For the best viewing angle — the second tier of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand near the halfway line.
Is the Stadium Tour Open on Matchday?
No. The tour and museum are fully closed on home matchdays.
Manchester United Tickets
TikTik obtains tickets to Manchester United's home matches at Old Trafford, including matches closed in the official sale to members only. You can see all available Manchester United matches, choose a date, and get confirmation before booking a flight and hotel.
