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Are you looking for the best football tours in Manchester? We are here to help!
Manchester is arguably the epicentre of football in the UK and there are so many things you can do if you are into football.
Manchester is home to not one but two Premier League sides, Manchester United and Manchester City. Visit Manchester on a busy Premier League weekend and you will notice the city’s train stations besieged with red and blue scarfs, hats and shirts.
No matter whether you are a Manchester football fan or just an overall footy fanatic, there are plenty of awesome Manchester football tours to enjoy.
You can visit the stadiums, take a tour of the academies or visit the UK’s best football museum. And of course, you can soak up the atmosphere in one of the many sports bars around the city.
So, are you ready to discover the best Manchester football tours? Let’s get started!
1. Old Trafford: Manchester United Museum and Stadium Tour
⏰Duration: 2 hours
⭐Reviews: 4.7/5 – See all reviews here
One of the best football tours in Manchester is at Old Trafford, well that is unless you are a diehard City fan then you may say otherwise.
This two-hour museum and stadium tour is the ultimate fun way to spend some time in Manchester. Originally founded in 1878 as Newtown Heath L&YR Football Club, United is steeped in history.
You can learn all about this longstanding club from its humble beginnings to their re-entry into the Champions League for the upcoming 2023/2024 season.
This football tour in Manchester takes you around the museum where you will be fangirling over the memorabilia.
You will then get to stroll through the actual players tunnel towards the pitch. You will even be allowed to sit in the dugout. Next up it’s the press and VIP rooms.
For this tour you will meet at the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand reception before heading to the museum on level one where your tour will commence.
To reach the Old Trafford Stadium from the centre of Manchester you can take the green, navy, pink or purple Metrolink line from St Peter’s Square to Trafford Bar station.
From the station it’s just a one-minute walk to the stadium.
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2. Etihad Stadium: The Manchester City Stadium Tour
⏰Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
⭐Reviews: 4.8/5 – See all reviews here
If you are a supporter of the impressive 2023 treble champions (Premier League, FA Cup and Premier League) Manchester City then you will want to book this Etihad Stadium tour.
This 75-minute excursion takes you on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the mighty £112 million Etihad Stadium. You will be guided through the whole match day experience.
From the players arrival area to the home team dressing room and of course to the pitch.
You will enter the stadium through the players tunnel before checking out the dugout.
What is a competitive game of football without some post-match analysis in the interview area and of course the press conference room.
Your eager and knowledgeable guide will take you through the stadium whilst relaying some fascinating facts, stories and City anecdotes.
Many dedicated fans find the Manchester City stadium tour an emotional experience because football is so much more than just a match.
The Etihad Stadium is a little outside of central Manchester but it’s super easy to get there. From Piccadilly Gardens (Stop D) you can take the 216 bus towards Ashton-under-Lyne.
After nine stops you will reach the Etihad Stadium stop and you just need to walk for a couple of minutes to reach the stadium.
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3. National Football Museum
⏰Duration: 1.5 hours
⭐Reviews: 4.4/5 – See all reviews here
There must be some merit in the suggestion that Manchester is the home of UK football because why else would the National Football Museum be located in the city.
If you are searching for Manchester football tours that are about the game itself as opposed to a specific team, then check out this museum.
You will find the National Football Museum in the uniquely shaped glass Urbis Building on Todd Street.
The museum is right across from the Arndale Centre and a stone’s throw away from many of the best Northern Quarter bars.
This tour to the National Football Museum includes a guided tour and your admission. Start out on the ground floor where you will get to view some of the most famous footballing trophies.
You will also get to see the original trophy won by England in 1966. Head to level 2 for the much-loved interactive penalty shootout challenge.
Up on level three there are a number of temporary exhibitions that change twice a year.
This tour lasts 90 minutes and is ideal to add to your Manchester itinerary.
If you are travelling to Manchester as a family and there are a couple of unenthusiastic group members, don’t worry even those who roll their eyes at the idea of football will love this museum.
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4. City Football Academy
Want to combine a Manchester city stadium tour with a look around the impressive City football academy?
As well as a trip to the Etihad Stadium that includes all the bits on the tour mentioned before you will be seeing where the magic is born at City.
You will be able to look around the training facilities where the first team, women’s team, development squad and academy players all train.
In particular, this tour takes you to the City Football Academy which is usually hidden behind closed doors.
From the training pitches to the Academy Stadium where the women and academy squads play you will see it all.
From the stadium you will take a buggy to the football academy and that’s all included in the price of the ticket.
There are a number of peak and off-peak times that you can book your tour for but bear in mind you might need some flexibility as it’s a working campus with team players schedules changing.
Visitors on this tour love the guides who are super knowledgeable and passionate about Manchester City.
What is also nice, especially for fans, is seeing how the club works from its grassroots to the matches held in the impressive Etihad Stadium.
5. Manchester: City Bus Tour
⏰Duration: 1.5 hours
⭐Reviews: 4.1/5 – See all reviews here
If you don’t have time to do a full football tour in Manchester, then this city bus tour is a great option. This 90-minute sightseeing bus tour takes you to some of the city’s top locations and attractions.
Head to the Princess Street bus stop SE to hop aboard the vibrant green open top bus. The trip actually covers Manchester and Salford Quays. It’s a hop-on hop-off bus and your ticket is valid for two days so you have plenty of time to explore everything you want to see.
There are 15 stops along the route which include the Manchester Town Hall, the National Football Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry and Manchester United Football Club.
In Salford you can also hop off at the Lowry art gallery and the Imperial War Museum. You will also be able to see Media City where ITV and BBC have their TV studios.
If you want a hassle-free way to explore Manchester’s top attractions and footballing venues, then this is a convenient option. You can hop-off at the United Stadium and book the tour mentioned above or simply look around the outside of the stadium.
This is an excellent option for those with limited time, travelling with young kids or just people who don’t want the hassle of figuring out public transport to various Manchester sites.
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Football tours in Manchester: Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you know everything about all the football tours in Manchester, it’s time to answer some of your most frequently asked questions about Manchester and the football culture in the city.
Which Stadium Tour is best in Manchester?
Both stadium tours in Manchester are great. Now, the choice of which one is “best” ultimately depends on your personal preferences and which football club you support.
If you are a fan of Manchester United, the Old Trafford tour will be better for you.
On the other hand, if you are a Manchester City fan, the Etihad Stadium tour will be best.
If you don’t have a preference between the clubs, then Old Trafford might be a better option since it’s bigger. It’s the second largest club football stadium in the UK after Wembley.
How long does the Manchester Stadium Tour take?
The tour of Old Trafford lasts 2 hours and the tour of Etihad Stadium lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Can you do a tour of Old Trafford?
Of course you can! Tours of Old Trafford are available from monday to friday and can be booked online here.
What does the Manchester United Stadium Tour include?
The tour of Old Trafford includes the entrance to the Manchester United Museum as well as a guided tour of the stadium. You’ll learn plenty about the history of the club, the most famous players and even get to see the dressing room.
You will also get a multimedia guide in multiple languages so if English isn’t your first language, you will still get to enjoy the tour.
What is the most supported club in Manchester?
Manchester United has 75,012,095 official fans and Manchester City 40,715,173 making Manchester United not only the most supported club in Manchester but in the whole of the UK.
What is the dress code for Manchester United Stadium tour?
There is a casual dress code applied at the Old Trafford stadium meaning that you can wear casual outfits but please note that no away team colours or tracksuits are allowed.
How long does the Etihad tour last?
The Etihad tour includes a 75-minute guided tour of the stadium as well as 20 minutes in the self guided area.
Is Man City Stadium tour worth it?
Yes! Absolutely! The Etihad Stadium tour is a must do for any Man City fan. The tour guides are brilliant. They are both funny and passionate about the team. They will tell you so many interesting facts about the clubs and the players.
If you love football, you’ll see it’s quite an emotional experience to visit Man City stadium.
Which train station is closest to Etihad Stadium?
The closest tram stop is Etihad Campus. You can get there by taking the Metrolink.
In terms of train station, the closest station is Manchester Piccadilly. From there, you can take the tram to Ashton-Under-Lyme and get off at the Etihad Campus or the Velopark.
Can you walk around the Etihad?
Not by yourself but you can book a guided tour of the Etihad Stadium.
How long does it take to walk from Etihad to Piccadilly?
It takes about 30 minutes to walk from Etihad Stadium to Piccadilly station. Alternatively, you can take the tram and it will take between 15 and 20 minutes.
Does Manchester have a football team?
Manchester has two famous Premier League football teams: Manchester United and Manchester City.
Why there are two Manchester teams?
Manchester United was initially founded by railway workers but recued 2 seasons later by four local businessmen who invested a lot of money in the club.
Roughly at the same time, the church wardens of St. Mark’s Church, West Gorton, decided to found a football club in the hope it would reduce violence in the area. It eventually became Manchester City.
Is Manchester City or United better?
While both teams are extremely good, Manchester United has won more Premier League trophies than Manchester City.
Has Man City ever beaten Man United?
Of course! Manchester City has beaten Manchester United 59 times in competitive matches.
Which is older Manchester City or United?
Manchester United is the oldest club in Manchester. Manchester United was founded in 1978 and Manchester City in 1880.
Though at the time, they were named differently.
Now that you know everything about the football tours in Manchester, the only thing left to do is to book one and enjoy!
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