Manchester: Anyone done Old Trafford or Ethiad stadium tours?

[wallpaperman]

Heading to England for a bit of a break and have three days in Manchester.

My daughter is pretty football mad, so said we would do one of the stadium tours. Has anyone got any opinions which would be better?

Neither me, the wife or daughter support any English team, so don’t really care from that point of view. From a history point of view, I would probably prefer Old Trafford (plus we are staying at a hotel in the Old Trafford cricket ground complex so much handier) but wouldn’t object to Ethiad as we have a car.

The cost of the tours at either are quite eye popping. £25 per adult and a fair bit for a child also. :rolleyes:

[Rocky]

Heading to England for a bit of a break and have three days in Manchester.

My daughter is pretty football mad, so said we would do one of the stadium tours. Has anyone got any opinions which would be better?

Neither me, the wife or daughter support any English team, so don’t really care from that point of view. From a history point of view, I would probably prefer Old Trafford (plus we are staying at a hotel in the Old Trafford cricket ground complex so much handier) but wouldn’t object to Ethiad as we have a car.

The cost of the tours at either are quite eye popping. £25 per adult and a fair bit for a child also. :rolleyes:
There's a Hibs shirt in Old Trafford museum if that helps decide.

[HH81]

Heading to England for a bit of a break and have three days in Manchester.

My daughter is pretty football mad, so said we would do one of the stadium tours. Has anyone got any opinions which would be better?

Neither me, the wife or daughter support any English team, so don’t really care from that point of view. From a history point of view, I would probably prefer Old Trafford (plus we are staying at a hotel in the Old Trafford cricket ground complex so much handier) but wouldn’t object to Ethiad as we have a car.

The cost of the tours at either are quite eye popping. £25 per adult and a fair bit for a child also. :rolleyes:

Having been to both grounds. Neither will be too exciting I wouldn't imagine.

I'd probably pick Old Trafford cricket ground instead :-).

Have a good trip.

[Santa Cruz]

Heading to England for a bit of a break and have three days in Manchester.

My daughter is pretty football mad, so said we would do one of the stadium tours. Has anyone got any opinions which would be better?

Neither me, the wife or daughter support any English team, so don’t really care from that point of view. From a history point of view, I would probably prefer Old Trafford (plus we are staying at a hotel in the Old Trafford cricket ground complex so much handier) but wouldn’t object to Ethiad as we have a car.

The cost of the tours at either are quite eye popping. £25 per adult and a fair bit for a child also. :rolleyes:

We done the Old Trafford tour. We used Tesco Clubcard vouchers to purchase at a much reduced cost, don't know if this is an option for you, or if it's even still possible. They split the kids into two teams to walk out into the pitch. My daughter was picked to lead the away team out, that would be the day Hibs played Man U, she was delighted when the tour guide announced the away teams name. We thought it was quite interesting, it wasn't rushed, the tour guides are very professional and friendly and the food in the restaurant was good and reasonably priced.

[Ozyhibby]

I’ve done the old Trafford tour and have to say it was excellent. The tour guide was very engaging and had plenty time to chat to everyone.
It’s an amazing big stadium but very dated inside, especially the players areas and changing rooms.
I did the Spurs one a couple of weeks back and although that is an amazing stadium, the tour is just a walk around on your own with headphones on. Nowhere near as good an experience.


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[Andy Bee]

I took my son on the Etihad tour before attending a game, he's Man City daft. It's an impressive stadium/complex and pretty entertaining, interesting tour given by a guide who's a real character and obviously Man City daft.

[wallpaperman]

Thanks very much for all the replies. No idea if/how you multi-quote on this forum, so instead;

@rocky - The Hibs shirt in the museum is a definite plus, if we go won’t tell my daughter and will let her find it.

@HH81 - We actually have pitch side hotel room at the cricket ground and they each have a balcony. They look great, really looking forward. Used to quite like test match cricket, but not so much these days with all the gimmicky formats.

@Santacruz - Thanks for the info, sounds like they make it fun for the kids, which is important for us, and take the time over the tour.

@ozyhibby - Thank you as well, I love a bit of old fashioned, some of these new stadiums can be a bit soulless, so much history there.

@Andy bee - Cheers for the info from a City perspective, the Ethiad does look amazing I must say and would be great to wander around the complex. Don’t think we can go wrong with whatever one we choose.

[Rocky]

Thanks very much for all the replies. No idea if/how you multi-quote on this forum, so instead;

@rocky - The Hibs shirt in the museum is a definite plus, if we go won’t tell my daughter and will let her find it.

Come to think of it it might be in a display case in the cafe at the end so don't drive yourself nuts looking for it in the museum part itself!

[wallpaperman]

Come to think of it it might be in a display case in the cafe at the end so don't drive yourself nuts looking for it in the museum part itself!

👍

[SteveHFC]

You’re better travelling to Liverpool and doing the Anfield tour instead :greengrin

[.Louise.]

Did both in 2013 so a while back.

United one was way better than the City one in my opinion.

[Glory Lurker]

As somebody with no interest in either side and no experience of either tour, I can't imagine how a stadium built for the commonwealth games in 2006 (?) occupied by a team that generally did hee haw forever until becoming a plaything could possibly offer the better tour.

[Mantis Toboggan]

The National Football Museum in the city centre is well worth a visit as well particularly with a child, used to be free but they have started charging now albeit more reasonable than the stadium tours.

[Scouse Hibee]

You’re better travelling to Liverpool and doing the Anfield tour instead :greengrin

This 👍

[wallpaperman]

The National Football Museum in the city centre is well worth a visit as well particularly with a child, used to be free but they have started charging now albeit more reasonable than the stadium tours.

Thanks for that, didn’t know about the museum. We will be in the centre at least once as my daughter really wants to visit the Classic Football Shirts shop (I do as well even though I’m not a footie shirt kinda guy).

May check out the museum, but don’t want to OD on the football, gotta keep the missus sweet as well, she doesn’t mind it, but not all the time. :wink:

[Pagan Hibernia]

Been to the United museum at old Trafford. Found the Munich stuff incredibly emotional, especially the telegram sent from Duncan Edwards to his landlady on the day of the crash saying the flight had been delayed and he’d be late home 😟

[Onceinawhile]

Thanks for that, didn’t know about the museum. We will be in the centre at least once as my daughter really wants to visit the Classic Football Shirts shop (I do as well even though I’m not a footie shirt kinda guy).

May check out the museum, but don’t want to OD on the football, gotta keep the missus sweet as well, she doesn’t mind it, but not all the time. :wink:

I'd do the museum ahead of the tour. The museum was great.

[wallpaperman]

We ended up doing the Ethiad tour.

The main reason was that when we looked at the Man Utd website it said that due to work going on, the tunnel and dressing rooms were not part of the tour, so for that reason went for the Ethiad.

It was excellent, the two tour guides were old school City fans with a great passion and made it really interesting. Walking up the tunnel on to the pitch (they recreate crowd noise) was great fun and the home dressing room is just wow.

It is expensive, but me, the missus and 10 year old daughter all thought it was great. The club store is huge as you would expect, and a City top was bought for our daughter, who doesn’t support them, just likes football shirts. An expensive day then. -:)

The day before we did the National Football Museum, also really good, some great exhibits, but they have made in interesting for kids, lots of interactive things to do for them.

Highlight of Manchester possibly our pitch facing hotel room at Old Trafford Cricket ground, so peaceful sitting out on the balcony, no matches on the 3 days we were there, but a unique idea.

[Santa Cruz]

We ended up doing the Ethiad tour.

The main reason was that when we looked at the Man Utd website it said that due to work going on, the tunnel and dressing rooms were not part of the tour, so for that reason went for the Ethiad.

It was excellent, the two tour guides were old school City fans with a great passion and made it really interesting. Walking up the tunnel on to the pitch (they recreate crowd noise) was great fun and the home dressing room is just wow.

It is expensive, but me, the missus and 10 year old daughter all thought it was great. The club store is huge as you would expect, and a City top was bought for our daughter, who doesn’t support them, just likes football shirts. An expensive day then. -:)

The day before we did the National Football Museum, also really good, some great exhibits, but they have made in interesting for kids, lots of interactive things to do for them.

Highlight of Manchester possibly our pitch facing hotel room at Old Trafford Cricket ground, so peaceful sitting out on the balcony, no matches on the 3 days we were there, but a unique idea.

Sounds great. I was surprised how big the Man U club store was, there was about 20 separate tills. Glad you all enjoyed your trip.

[Renfrew_Hibby]

This ��

Was down at New Brighton shore yesterday. It's amazing how the new main stand at Anfield completely dominates the landscape, even from the other side of the Mersey.
Having said that, looking across and I can imagine the new Everton stadium becoming an iconic and unavoidable Liverpool city landmark.

[Scouse Hibee]

Was down at New Brighton shore yesterday. It's amazing how the new main stand at Anfield completely dominates the landscape, even from the other side of the Mersey.
Having said that, looking across and I can imagine the new Everton stadium becoming an iconic and unavoidable Liverpool city landmark.

New Brighton, that brings back memories, haven’t been for years but spent many a day there as a youngster.

[Renfrew_Hibby]

New Brighton, that brings back memories, haven’t been for years but spent many a day there as a youngster.

Was down on holiday in Cheshire and we went for a run to the seaside. I've been before but not for at least ten years. Loads of new developments, a supermarket and eateries next to a closed off 'waterpark' marina.
The weather was great and it was mobbed, 99.9% Scousers. The new Hibs top I was sporting certainly caught the attention of a fair few!

[Scouse Hibee]

Was down on holiday in Cheshire and we went for a run to the seaside. I've been before but not for at least ten years. Loads of new developments, a supermarket and eateries next to a closed off 'waterpark' marina.
The weather was great and it was mobbed, 99.9% Scousers. The new Hibs top I was sporting certainly caught the attention of a fair few!

😁👍

[SteveHFC]

Was down at New Brighton shore yesterday. It's amazing how the new main stand at Anfield completely dominates the landscape, even from the other side of the Mersey.
Having said that, looking across and I can imagine the new Everton stadium becoming an iconic and unavoidable Liverpool city landmark.

Done the Anfield tour a few weeks back and you can see snowdonia from the main stand at the top. :aok:

[Pagan Hibernia]

Was down at New Brighton shore yesterday. It's amazing how the new main stand at Anfield completely dominates the landscape, even from the other side of the Mersey.
Having said that, looking across and I can imagine the new Everton stadium becoming an iconic and unavoidable Liverpool city landmark.

hopefully so! Wonderful old club that deserves a hell of a lot more than they’ve had in the last 30 odd years.

[Scouse Hibee]

Done the Anfield tour a few weeks back and you can see snowdonia from the main stand at the top. :aok:




And a few European cups including one original 😁

[SteveHFC]

And a few European cups including one original 😁

Plus a replica of the premier league trophy. :wink: