Hotels in Manchester, United Kingdom

Open since 1910, Old Trafford has hosted more than a century of matches and grown into one of the larger club grounds in the country, holding around 74,000 supporters. Its long association with a well-followed club means fans travel from across the world to visit.

The atmosphere on a busy match day, with the stands full, is part of what draws people. Beyond regular fixtures, the ground has staged major finals and other events over the years, which has added to its standing.

The tall stands and the frontage along Sir Matt Busby Way are recognisable landmarks in their own right. For many visitors, standing inside and picturing notable games is reason enough to make the trip.

The tour takes you into parts of the stadium fans do not normally see on a match day. You usually walk through the players' dressing rooms, step out along the tunnel towards pitchside and sit in the dugouts where managers watch the game.

Guides cover the history of past matches and players as you go. The route also takes in the press areas and the stands, with chances to look out over the pitch from several angles.

Most tours combine with the on-site museum, which displays trophies, photographs and memorabilia covering the club's history. Tours run on most non-match days and last roughly an hour to ninety minutes. Tour routes, timings and matchday restrictions can change, so check the stadium's official information before booking.

When it opened in 1910 the ground was very different from today's stadium. During the Second World War, bombing damaged the structure badly, and the club played its home games elsewhere for around eight years while it was rebuilt.

From the 1960s onwards a long series of expansions added new stands and raised the capacity to around 74,000. Roofing, seating and corporate areas were modernised over the decades to keep pace with the growing crowds.

Each phase added a layer to the structure that stands now, and the differing styles of the stands reflect the era in which each was built. The result is a stadium shaped by the periods it has lived through, from its Edwardian origins to its postwar reconstruction and later expansion.

Beside the football stadium sits Old Trafford's cricket ground, home to the county side and a regular host of international matches. It is a long-established venue in the English game, with a history reaching back to the nineteenth century.

In recent years it has been substantially redeveloped, with modern stands, a pavilion and a hotel built into the ground. On match days the atmosphere is relaxed and sociable, in contrast to the football ground next door. Tours and events run outside the cricket season, and the venue also hosts concerts and conferences through the year.

Sharing the Old Trafford name with its footballing neighbour, it gives the area a real concentration of top-level sport, and followers of either game will find plenty within a short walk. Tours, match schedules and event programmes can change, so check the venue's official information before visiting.

The easiest route from the city centre is by tram, with a stop close to the stadium running frequent services that stay busy but moving on match days. Trains also serve a station within walking distance of the ground, useful if you are coming from further out.

By road, traffic builds up around the stadium before and after games, and parking nearby is limited, so public transport tends to be the smoother choice. Some fans walk from the centre, which takes a little over half an hour along a clear route by the canal.

Taxis and ride apps are available, though they can be slow to reach you once crowds gather. Transport services, walking times and parking arrangements can change on event days, so check official transport and venue information before travelling.