Visiting Old Trafford

suheilsworld

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Need your advice on visiting Old Trafford for the first time this May. I will visiting with a couple of mates and my wife and will be taking the standard stadium tour. Unfortunately I am visiting post the season ends so no match days for me :( But pretty psyched and excited and looking forward to my first OT visit. :devil::devil:

Couple of things I wanted to confirm.

  1. Is it advisable to book tickets before hand or by dropping in at the gates I can procure tour tickets?
  2. I will be traveling from London so would be taking a train to Piccadilly. From there Google says catch 1354 Line A towards Altrincham & get down at Trafford Bar. Is this the best way to reach OT?
  3. Any must visit Bars or Pubs around OT. I won't have much time in Manchester as I am leaving for London back immediately once the tour gets over.
Any additional tips are appreciated. Thanks.
 
That's the way I would get there. It's a decent day doing the tour. There isn't much (as far as I'm aware) must visit items to visit around the ground. The tour/megastore/ potential visit to redcafe (the actual restaurant) will do you I'd imagine.

Edit: never booked the stadium tour but why not book in advance to be safe.
 
Not sure about stadium tour, but taxi is only 12-15 pounds to OT, so if you have 4 or 5 travelling then taxi is quick and cheap as chips
 
If you want to go by public transport... I would probably get on the Altrincham line tram and get off at the Old Trafford stop rather than Trafford Bar... only because I always thought it was slightly closer to the ground and it's just a straight road to the stadium from there. Handy if you're visiting as you're not going to get lost. As above though... a taxi or an Uber would be pretty cheap if there is a few of you.

Popular United pubs nearby would be the Trafford, Bishop Blaize and Sam Platts. You could also pop into the supporter's bar at Hotel Football which is opposite the ground. That's the hotel that the Co92 own.
 
Honest John said:
Lou Macari's Fish and Chip shop
The Trafford Pub

mmmm.
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Me and my Mrs are going to the everton game for her 1st OT trip. Is there any restriction to getting into the Trafford bar (ST holders etc.) if so what would be the best time to get there for?

We are staying at the Travelodge at Salford Quays (I think) so even another bar walking from that side to the ground would be good.

Thanks all
 
miler7 said:
Me and my Mrs are going to the everton game for her 1st OT trip. Is there any restriction to getting into the Trafford bar (ST holders etc.) if so what would be the best time to get there for?

We are staying at the Travelodge at Salford Quays (I think) so even another bar walking from that side to the ground would be good.

Thanks all
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It's not worth going to the Trafford if you're coming from that side... your best bet would be to go to Sam Platts which will be full of reds. You'll need to pay a quid to get in and have a match ticket. Any of the pubs near the ground start getting really rammed from about an hour before kick off. Oh, and maybe don't wear a half and half scarf... :lol:
 
ZupZup said:
It's not worth going to the Trafford if you're coming from that side... your best bet would be to go to Sam Platts which will be full of reds. You'll need to pay a quid to get in and have a match ticket. Any of the pubs near the ground start getting really rammed from about an hour before kick off. Oh, and maybe don't wear a half and half scarf... :lol:
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I was thinking it wouldn't be worth going from our side to the Trafford. Sam Platts sounds like a good idea and I'm sure I will be able to pay a couple of quid to get in..... Just need to make sure I pick the tickets up from my cousin first.
 
suheilsworld said:
Need your advice on visiting Old Trafford for the first time this May. I will visiting with a couple of mates and my wife and will be taking the standard stadium tour. Unfortunately I am visiting post the season ends so no match days for me :( But pretty psyched and excited and looking forward to my first OT visit. :devil::devil:

Couple of things I wanted to confirm.

  1. Is it advisable to book tickets before hand or by dropping in at the gates I can procure tour tickets?
  2. I will be traveling from London so would be taking a train to Piccadilly. From there Google says catch 1354 Line A towards Altrincham & get down at Trafford Bar. Is this the best way to reach OT?
  3. Any must visit Bars or Pubs around OT. I won't have much time in Manchester as I am leaving for London back immediately once the tour gets over.
Any additional tips are appreciated. Thanks.
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When ever I've done the tour I've booked on the day. Just make sure the tour is on the day you want to go. I think it's only closed on match days but I'm not certain.
 
Just to point out on the pubs... if it's not a match day, all will be pretty much dead I'm afraid, there won't be that much point in visiting them.
I guess it'd be worth popping in for a pint so you can see where everybody goes before matches, and try and envisage it full of reds, but don't expect much... Sam Platts, The Bishop, The Trafford and the Toll Gate are all pretty crappy pubs in themselves. I know - I've been to most of them outside of match days!
 
Sir A1ex said:
Just to point out on the pubs... if it's not a match day, all will be pretty much dead I'm afraid, there won't be that much point in visiting them.
I guess it'd be worth popping in for a pint so you can see where everybody goes before matches, and try and envisage it full of reds, but don't expect much... Sam Platts, The Bishop, The Trafford and the Toll Gate are all pretty crappy pubs in themselves. I know - I've been to most of them outside of match days!
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Totally agree! All pretty crap pubs that only survive due to matchdays

I recommend giving the pub a miss and heading to the National Football Museum instead

And get off the tram from Picadilly at Old Trafford, not Trafford Bar
 
Rood said:
Totally agree! All pretty crap pubs that only survive due to matchdays

I recommend giving the pub a miss and heading to the National Football Museum instead

And get off the tram from Picadilly at Old Trafford, not Trafford Bar
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Good call.

You'd be better off spending your hard-earned in the Britons Protection if you want a good pint in a pleasant / authentic Manchester pub. Or pick one of the endless array of hipster bars in the Northern quarter if that's more your scene.
 
suheilsworld said:
I will be traveling from London so would be taking a train to Piccadilly. From there Google says catch 1354 Line A towards Altrincham & get down at Trafford Bar. Is this the best way to reach OT?
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If you are going for public transport there is going to be a walk one side or the other. The metrolink/tram (Line A you refer to) runs directly from the lower floor of Piccadilly train station but then requires a 10 minute walk to the ground. I'd advise the Old Trafford stop rather than Trafford Bar as you'll get to see the cricket ground as well and it definitely feels closer IMO.
You could always get the bus (#'s 255 or 256) which drop you off closer to the ground but this requires a 5-10 minute walk from Piccadilly train station to Piccadilly Gardens bus terminal.

As people have already said, the pubs will be a little pointless and not much to look at when a match isn't on. Both the tram and bus options will take you close to 'Bishops Blaize' and 'The Trafford' on your way to the ground so you can make the choice on closer inspection.
 
I took a bus to OT, from Manchester Piccadilly, perhaps or maybe it was the city centre (?) Was only a short walk to the stadium and tickets for the museum and tour were purchased when I got there. They do a number of tours each day so in the off season the worst case scenario is a forty-five minute wait.
 
facund said:
If you are going for public transport there is going to be a walk one side or the other. The metrolink/tram (Line A you refer to) runs directly from the lower floor of Piccadilly train station but then requires a 10 minute walk to the ground. I'd advise the Old Trafford stop rather than Trafford Bar as you'll get to see the cricket ground as well and it definitely feels closer IMO.
You could always get the bus (#'s 255 or 256) which drop you off closer to the ground but this requires a 5-10 minute walk from Piccadilly train station to Piccadilly Gardens bus terminal.

As people have already said, the pubs will be a little pointless and not much to look at when a match isn't on. Both the tram and bus options will take you close to 'Bishops Blaize' and 'The Trafford' on your way to the ground so you can make the choice on closer inspection.
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That is quite a detailed info and thank you so much for it. Like most of you guys pointed out, will get down at Old Trafford. Would loved to see the cricket stadium too.
 
Fully Fledged said:
When ever I've done the tour I've booked on the day. Just make sure the tour is on the day you want to go. I think it's only closed on match days but I'm not certain.
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The website says it is open all days except Matchdays and new years and one more such day. So the day I am visiting it is definitely open.

The only reason why I do not want to book tickets early is because I will be coming from London the day I am visiting the stadium. Plus we will be landing in London that morning itself. So timings will be difficult to manage as to when we leave from London and by what time we get to reach Manchester. I am sure I will be reaching sometime between 1400 and 1600. So I might get the 1500 tour or the 1600 one.
 
suheilsworld said:
The website says it is open all days except Matchdays and new years and one more such day. So the day I am visiting it is definitely open.

The only reason why I do not want to book tickets early is because I will be coming from London the day I am visiting the stadium. Plus we will be landing in London that morning itself. So timings will be difficult to manage as to when we leave from London and by what time we get to reach Manchester. I am sure I will be reaching sometime between 1400 and 1600. So I might get the 1500 tour or the 1600 one.
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Yeah you can pick it up on the day and once the tour is over walk around the museum until your hearts content.
 
Fully Fledged said:
Yeah you can pick it up on the day and once the tour is over walk around the museum until your hearts content.
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It is so not going to get content by just one visit. I envy you lot who stay in the UK and can go and watch games and visit stadium. For us it is a dream come true to finally visit :D
 
Ask to speak the tour guide by the name of Alan Lester, a pretty old git. Old enough to have attended every United match at Old Trafford since 1948. He'll leave you in tears after you ask him about Duncan Edwards.
 
Help yourself to three points.
 
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