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Getting to Old Trafford Stadium

So, you’ve snagged tickets for Manchester United at the Theatre of Dreams. Now, the next step is working out how to get to Old Trafford Stadium. Whether you’re traveling by tram, bus, car, or even bicycle, we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, we’ll break down every mode of transport available. We’ll also compare options based on cost, convenience, and travel time to help you decide your best way to reach Old Trafford for a seamless matchday.

Old Trafford Metrolink Tram: Fastest Way to Manchester United Stadium

The Metrolink tram, expanded across Greater Manchester since the 1990s, is a super convenient way to reach Old Trafford on matchdays. We’ll show you how to get to Old Trafford by tram from Manchester Piccadilly.

Metrolink Stops and Travel Times

The nearest Metrolink stop for the stadium is Old Trafford, five minutes on foot from the ground and set on the Green and Purple lines that run to Altrincham.

Travelling from the stop at Manchester Piccadilly, the journey will take just under 20 minutes (stop to stop), with services running every 10-12 minutes on Saturdays.

Other nearby Metrolink stops are Pomona, as well as Wharfside, on the new Trafford Park line (Red), which opened in 2020. Both stations are within a ten-minute walk of Old Trafford Stadium.

How Much Does a Metrolink Ticket Cost for Old Trafford?

A Metrolink off-peak travelcard costs £3.50 and will cover your journey between Old Trafford and Manchester city centre. A single ticket is £2.80

These tickets are half-price for u16, or if you’re aged 16-18 and have Our Pass, issued by Manchester City Council. All you have to do is tap in and tap out with a card or smartphone.

Which Trams Go to Old Trafford?

The Altrincham Line (Green and Purple), but you can also get within walking distance on the Trafford Park Line (Red) and Eccles Line (Blue).

How to Pay for a Tram in Manchester?

Just swipe in and out at the entrance and exit to the stop.

Old Trafford Bus Routes: Convenient Matchday Transport Options

Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester’s central bus station is less than a ten-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly railway station.

The following Bee Network buses, all serve Old Trafford from Piccadilly Gardens:

These are the main Old Trafford bus routes from the city centre Services run every 12 to 20 minutes, and again you can tap in.

Drawbacks to Getting the Bus Old Trafford

When the roads are clear the journey time from Piccadilly Gardens to Old Trafford can be as little as 20 minutes. On non-matchdays this may be the fastest public transport to Old Trafford stadium.

However, although easily accessed from the city centre, the bus is one mode of transport that can be affected by the high volume of traffic around Old Trafford on matchdays.

If you’re planning to get to the stadium at least an hour early, the bus is an excellent mode of transport for Old Trafford. If you’re arriving just before kick-off or need a quick getaway post-game, consider other options.

How Much Do Bee Network Buses Cost for Old Trafford?

£4 for adults. Single bus tickets in Manchester are capped at £2 for adults and £1 for children under 16, so the return will be double that.

Getting the Coach to Manchester

If you’re catching an inter-city coach to get to a United game, you will most likely use Manchester Chorlton Street coach station.

Served by the National Express, Eurolines and High Peak network buses, this station is a three-minute walk from Piccadilly Gardens where you can catch a local bus or tram.

Meanwhile, Megabus services drop you off by Shudehill Interchange, which has a direct link to Old Trafford on the Altrincham line (5 stops).

Driving to Old Trafford Stadium: The Good and the Bad

The simplest way to reach Old Trafford by road from outside of Greater Manchester is to use junctions 7 or 9 on the M60 (Manchester Ring Motorway).

Due to congestion starting two hours before kick-off, driving to Old Trafford on matchdays usually involves delays. If you’re arriving at the stadium within this window, it’s worth allowing additional time depending on your direction of approach:

East of Manchester via Mancunian way: 15 minutes
West of Manchester: 20 minutes
South of Manchester via the M60: 30 minutes

Cost of Parking at Old Trafford on Matchdays

Despite the stadium’s urban location Old Trafford is surrounded by ten car parks with on and off-site secure spaces to the north, east and west.

Costing £14.50, permits for Old Trafford parking are sold by fixture on the club’s official site. Buy permits early, maybe even before your Old Trafford football tickets, as spaces sell out for all games.

If the stadium’s own car parks are full there are also unofficial options within a few hundred metres of the ground.

Getting Away from Old Trafford by Car

To keep spectators safe there are road closures around Old Trafford in force after full-time. This can cause big delays if you’re using the stadium’s car parks. As a rule, you should expect delays of up to 1 hour when departing Old Trafford.

Occasionally, the police will also recommend that the club holds back traffic from car parks E1 and E2, which will cause additional delays. Expect this to happen if you get tickets for Manchester United vs Manchester City.

Park and Ride Options for Old Trafford

One way to save money on parking and help ease congestion around Old Trafford is to use one of the 24 park and ride sites around Greater Manchester.

These allow you to park for free and catch the tram instead, making it a breeze to get away from the stadium after full-time.

So if you’re wondering where to park near Old Trafford for Manchester United try Parkway, close by on the Trafford Park Line and Sale Water Park on the Airport Line. Both involve just a short tram journey.

Driving to Manchester United’s Stadium on Non-Matchdays

Things are much easier if you’re just visiting the Theatre of Dreams for the Manchester United Museum & Stadium Tour.

On these days you can simply use car park E2 outside the East Stand at Old Trafford.

Taxis to Old Trafford

If you don’t want to deal with parking or waiting for public transport, an easy way to get to Old Trafford from Manchester City Centre is with a taxi or rideshare.

For GPS purposes you can give the driver the postcode: M16 0RA.

A convenient place to catch a taxi is from outside Manchester Piccadilly station. Traffic permitting, the journey takes 15 minutes and costs just over £10 when there’s no traffic.

This can increase significantly on congested Man UTD matchdays. The price is about the same with rideshare apps like Uber.

Cycling to Old Trafford: Surprisingly Simple

It has never been easier to get to the Theatre of Dreams by bike. There is a network of bicycle lanes in Manchester, which makes it possible to cycle to Old Trafford from almost anywhere within the metropolitan area.

You can ride from Manchester Piccadilly to the stadium via Chester Road in about 25 minutes. This road has a lane that continues after diverging from the A26 at Bridgewater Way.

It’s also possible to complete much of the journey to Old Trafford from the heart of Manchester on traffic-free paths.

These car-less paths can be found along the River Irwell, the Manchester Ship Canal and on the Rochdale Canal, which merges with the Bridgewater Canal near Deansgate Railway Station.

Parking a Bike at Old Trafford

Once you get to the stadium, you will find free cycle racks at these car parks:

E2 (East Stand)
N2 (Sir Alex Ferguson Stand)
W2 (West Stand)

You will need to bring your own cycle lock to use these racks. You also have to use these designated spaces, as any bikes locked up in any other location may be removed.

Hiring a Bicycle in Manchester

Greater Manchester has a bikeshare network known as Beryl, with parking stations across Trafford, Manchester and Salford stocked with conventional pedal bikes and e-bikes.

These are handily located along cycling routes to Old Trafford stadium, and close to trams, trains and buses. So it’s even easier to get to Old Trafford by bicycle, even if you don’t have your own set of wheels.

The Pay-As-You-Ride tariff for a pedal bike is a 50p unlocking fee and a 5p per-minute. The nearest Beryl parking station is by Old Trafford’s N2 car park.

How to Get to Old Trafford Stadium by Train

Managed by Network Rail, Manchester’s main railway station is Manchester Piccadilly. Found south-east of the city centre, this is one of the busiest interchanges outside of London, served by six train operating companies, connecting to cities across Britain.

As we mentioned above, this station is connected to the Bee Network’s Metrolink Trams, while there are buses close by at Piccadilly Gardens.

Alternative Train Stations in Manchester

For regional services the other major railway stations in Manchester are:

Victoria: Connecting with towns and cities across the North and North East
Oxford Road: Linking with the North West, Scotland and North Wales

Both stations are on the Metrolink tram system, with just four stops from Oxford Road to Old Trafford on the Altrincham line.

Why Manchester United Football Ground Railway Station is Closed

Until 2018, this station right next to the stadium on the Liverpool-Manchester line was open on matchdays.

Services were ended for the sake of passenger safety, as the platform was too small. Now the nearest train station is Trafford Park, about 25 minutes on foot, but with infrequent trains.

Flying to Manchester for Matches at Old Trafford

With more than 28 million passengers in 2023, Manchester Airport (MAN) is served by over 50 airlines, with routes to and from five continents.

Located about seven miles south of the city centre, Manchester Airport is connected to the Bee Network and National Rail services for public transport. A train takes 13 minutes from the airport to Manchester Piccadilly.

For an indirect route, you could catch a train to Manchester Piccadilly or the National Express coach to the city centre and change for buses or the Metrolink tram.

Catching a Taxi from Manchester Airport to Old Trafford

There are taxi ranks outside all three terminals at Manchester Airport, as well as the railway station here.

A taxi should take just over 20 minutes to get to Old Trafford, and the average price in 2024 was £37.

Getting to Old Trafford from the Airport by Tram

For the most direct option you can catch the Metrolink Tram from the airport to Trafford Bar, which is a 15-minute walk from Old Trafford.

You can also switch lines here and travel one stop on the Altrincham line to the Old Trafford stop for a shorter walk. Trams run every 15 minutes and the journey will take about 45 minutes.

What is the Best Way To Get to Old Trafford?

In this section we’ll assess your best option for reaching Manchester United Stadium on matchdays, depending on your particular needs.

If You’re Travelling Solo and Want to Save Money

Use local Bee Network public transport if possible. Getting to and from Old Trafford will cost less than a fiver, and will save you the cost of fuel and parking, which will stack up if you drive.

For Fans Who Want to Soak Up the Atmosphere

If you’re in no rush to leave the area, you could head over to the iconic Bishop Blaize (708 Chester Rd) for post-match celebrations.

This pub is right in front of a bus stop for the 255 and 256. So after the traffic has cleared you can hop on a bus to take you back to Manchester City Centre.

For Last-Minute Arrivals

If you’re heading to Old Trafford within an hour of kick-off, the tram is your best bet. There may be queues, but this method won’t be affected by traffic like the bus.

For Quick Getaways

Use a bike. That way you can beat all of the queues at the car parks and bus & tram stops, and can zoom back to Manchester city centre within half an hour of the final whistle. It can take a long time to get out of Old Trafford with other methods.

For Accessibility

Again, catch the Bee Network Bus or the Tram.

There are bus stops on Wharfside Way and Chester Road, extremely close to the stadium. All Bee Network buses have two wheelchair spaces, a hearing induction loop and audiovisual announcements.

Although the stations are further away, the Metrolink tram system has excellent accessibility. Every stop has step-free access and every tram has areas for people who use wheelchairs and designated seats for people who have difficulty standing.

For a Comfortable Journey

In this respect, nothing beats driving or catching a taxi, especially if you’re in a small group and can spread the cost.

If you’re happy to arrive early and allow some time after leaving, Old Trafford accommodates cars better than a lot of Premier League stadiums.

For Long-Distance Travellers on a Budget

Catch a National Express or Megabus Coach to Manchester for less than £20. If you’re heading from London this option will take around five hours.

If you’re travelling as a couple you can always get a Two Together railcard and save 30% on the price of a train ticket to Manchester Piccadilly.

If You’re Travelling from the Airport

Catch a taxi. This may be a pricey way to do it, but there are up to 19 stops to make on the tram from Manchester Airport.

If You Want to Walk It

It’s about an hour on foot from Manchester Arndale Shopping to Old Trafford. The good news is that most of this route is along the River Irwell, and, as we covered on the cycling section, there are canal towpaths leading from the city centre to Old Trafford.

Alternatively you could make the 25-minute walk to Deansgate station and continue into the heart of Manchester from there.

Old Trafford Transport FAQs

Now let’s clear up some commonly asked questions about getting to Old Trafford:

How Early Should You Arrive to Old Trafford?

At least an hour before kick-off.

Can You Walk to Old Trafford from City Centre?

Yes, you can reach the stadium on foot from the heart of the city, but it will take about an hour.

How Long is the Tram from Old Trafford to Piccadilly?

18 minutes.

What is the Closest Train Station to Old Trafford?

Trafford Park, just over a mile to the south-west of the ground. Services here are infrequent.

What Junction for Old Trafford?

7 or 9.

Final Thoughts on Your Man UTD Matchday Journey

So that about wraps it up. If you’re travelling to Old Trafford from Manchester city centre you have many options and plenty of factors to keep in mind.

Let’s sum them all up with a comparison table:

Mode of Transport	Total Price (£)	Estimated Journey Time (Minutes)
Tram	2.80	28
Bus	2	40
Car	15.50	35
Taxi or Rideshare	13	25
Beryl Bikeshare Pedal Bike	2	35
Walking	0	70

All journeys are based on a single trip from Manchester city centre with high congestion, less than 60 minutes before kick-off. Included are estimated costs for fuel and parking, and estimated walking, queuing, traffic and waiting times.

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