Is there parking at Old Trafford cricket ground?

There is limited match-day parking at Old Trafford, which should be pre-booked via the Lancashire CCC website. The Metrolink tram is strongly recommended instead. If driving, the White City retail park on Chester Road sometimes offers match-day parking — check ahead. The surrounding streets are heavily congested on Test days.

Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Visitor Guide 2026

Q: What are the best seats at Emirates Old Trafford?

The Point Stand upper tiers offer the best all-round views — square-on, elevated, and covered. The Brian Statham End upper rows give a clear end-on view and good value. Avoid the lower rows of the Red Rose Suite on big days — the view is partly obstructed. The Hilton hotel balcony rooms overlook the ground, but these are accommodation, not standard match tickets.

Q: How do I get to Old Trafford cricket ground by tram?

Take the Metrolink tram to the Old Trafford stop on the Altrincham or Trafford Park line. The cricket ground is a 2-minute walk from the tram stop. Note that the cricket Old Trafford stop is different from the Manchester United football ground — the cricket ground is on Talbot Road, not Sir Matt Busby Way.

Q: Does Old Trafford cricket ground have a hotel?

Yes — a 150-room Hilton Garden Inn is built directly into the Emirates Old Trafford stands. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the playing surface. It is the only Test cricket ground in England with an integrated hotel of this scale. Book well in advance for Test match dates as it sells out quickly.

About Emirates Old Trafford

Emirates Old Trafford is England's second oldest Test venue, having hosted its first Test match against Australia in 1884, and has been at the centre of some of the most extraordinary moments in cricket history. The ground underwent a major redevelopment completed in 2013 that added the now-famous 150-room Hilton Garden Inn integrated directly into the stands — some rooms have balconies overlooking the playing surface, making it the most unusual hotel in English sport.

The ground sits in Stretford, Greater Manchester, a 2-minute walk from the Old Trafford Metrolink tram stop. Despite sharing a postcode area with Manchester United's football ground (which is a mile away), the cricket ground predates the football club and has its own proud identity. Lancashire CCC have been playing here for over 160 years and the ground's red rose heritage runs deep in everything from the signage to the colour of the seats.

🎳 Jim Laker's 19 wickets — the record that will never be broken

In the Fourth Test against Australia in July 1956, Jim Laker took 19 wickets for 90 runs across the match — 9 for 37 in the first innings and 10 for 53 in the second. It remains the only instance of a bowler taking 19 wickets in a single Test match, and in most observers' view, the most dominant individual bowling performance in cricket history. Australia's Tony Lock took the other wicket. The pitch that day was turning square, but what Laker did was still extraordinary. The record will stand forever.

Best seats at Old Trafford — honest guide by budget

Stand / Area	View	Verdict
Point Stand Upper tiers	Square-on, elevated and partially covered. The best general-admission view in the ground. Clear sightlines to both ends.	Best all-round
Brian Statham End Upper rows	Looking straight down the pitch from the Statham End. Good elevation. A clear end-on view that rewards Test match watching.	Best value
James Anderson End Upper tiers	End-on view from the Pavilion End. Good for watching the ball leave the hand. Sun can be behind you in the afternoon.	Good end-on view
Hilton Hotel Stand Lower rows	The hotel stand runs along one side. Ground-level rows have partially restricted views. Upper hospitality rows are excellent.	Upper only
Red Rose Suite Lower rows	Low viewing angles on the hospitality level. Fine for the occasion but not optimal for following play.	Avoid lower rows

Getting to Old Trafford by Metrolink (recommended)

By Metrolink tram (strongly recommended): The Metrolink Old Trafford stop is a 2-minute walk from the cricket ground entrance on Talbot Road. Trams run from Manchester city centre (Deansgate and St Peter's Square) on the Altrincham line every 6–12 minutes. The journey from Deansgate takes around 10 minutes. This is by far the easiest, cheapest and most reliable way to get to the ground.

Important note: the Metrolink has two Old Trafford stops. The cricket ground stop is on Talbot Road. The Manchester United football ground stop is further along the same line at Old Trafford football. Make sure you're getting off at the right one — they are approximately a mile apart.

By train: Manchester Oxford Road station is the nearest mainline rail station, around a 20-minute walk or a tram connection at Deansgate. Manchester Piccadilly connects to the national rail network and is easily reached via the tram.

By bus: Several bus routes serve the Chester Road and Talbot Road area. The tram is preferable but buses work as a backup option from the city centre.

By car: Old Trafford is signposted from the M60 (Junction 7) and M56. However, parking in the area is limited and traffic post-match is significant.

Parking at Old Trafford cricket ground

Parking at and around Old Trafford cricket is limited and the tram is strongly preferred. The ground's own match-day parking is very limited and must be booked in advance via the Lancashire CCC website — it sells out for Test matches. The White City retail park on Chester Road sometimes offers match-day parking for a fee; check their website in advance as availability varies.

Residential streets in Stretford and Urmston fill up early on Test mornings. If you're driving from the south, parking in Altrincham and taking the tram is a practical option — frequent services, short journey, no traffic stress.

The Hilton hotel — staying on site

The 150-room Hilton Garden Inn is built into the Emirates Stand on the eastern side of the ground. It's a genuinely unusual experience — some rooms have balconies directly overlooking the playing surface, and it's possible to watch a session from your room before heading to your seat. The hotel has a full restaurant, bar and gym. For multi-day Test visits it removes all transport concerns entirely.

Book well in advance for Test match dates — the hotel typically sells out within days of fixtures being announced. Room prices increase significantly for Ashes Tests. The pitch-view balcony rooms command a premium but for a cricket fan they're worth it at least once.

Food & drink at Old Trafford

The concourse catering at Old Trafford is decent — better than average for an English Test ground after the redevelopment. The Hilton hotel restaurant is accessible to non-guests for pre-match dining and offers a cut above the usual ground food. The food village in the ground has a reasonable range of options including hot meals, pizza and the standard pies.

Outside the ground, the Old Trafford Cricket Ground pub (formerly the Trafford) on Talbot Road handles the pre-match crowd reasonably well. Manchester city centre — 10 minutes on the tram — has far better pub and restaurant options and many fans prefer to eat there before making the short trip out. Deansgate has plenty of choices in every direction.

The pitch — what to expect

Old Trafford pitches have historically been the most spin-friendly in England, which is partly why Laker's 1956 masterclass happened here and not at Headingley. The surface tends to offer reasonable pace and carry early in a match but can deteriorate significantly from day three onwards, offering turn, uneven bounce and variable carry for spinners.

The Manchester weather plays a significant role. Old Trafford is one of the rainier grounds on the circuit and overcast conditions enhance lateral movement for pace bowlers in the first session considerably. When the sun does come out and the pitch begins to dry, it can start to crack and offer spin earlier than at other grounds. A first-innings score of 300–330 is often competitive here. Matches at Old Trafford frequently produce results — flat draws are less common than at The Oval or Trent Bridge.

Notable moments at Old Trafford

Jim Laker's 19 wickets for 90 runs against Australia in 1956 — the most dominant bowling performance in Test cricket history
Shane Warne's 'Ball of the Century' bowled Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes — the most famous delivery ever bowled at this ground
Sachin Tendulkar scored his first Test century here in 1990, aged 17 — playing for India against England
Old Trafford hosted 17 matches in the 1999 Cricket World Cup — more than any other ground in the tournament
Cyril Washbrook's stubborn 98 in 1956 that set the stage for the game in which Laker performed his miracle
England's Brian Close stood up to the West Indian fast bowlers in 1976 at the age of 45 without a helmet — one of the most remarkable feats of bravery in Test cricket

Practical tips from fans

Take the Metrolink — it genuinely takes 2 minutes from the tram stop to the gate and runs every 6–12 minutes
Manchester weather is unpredictable year-round — always bring a waterproof and a layer regardless of the forecast
If staying overnight, the Hilton on-site is ideal; if not, Deansgate and the city centre have excellent hotel options 10 minutes away by tram
The ground hosts concerts and events outside the cricket season — the on-site infrastructure is genuinely world class
Check re-entry policy before leaving at lunch — Old Trafford generally allows re-entry but confirm on the day
Early morning sessions here can be extraordinary for pace bowling under cloud cover — don't arrive late if play is starting in good overhead conditions

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Old Trafford cricket ground by tram?

Take the Metrolink Altrincham line from Manchester city centre (Deansgate or St Peter's Square) to the Old Trafford stop. The cricket ground is a 2-minute walk from the stop on Talbot Road. Do not confuse this with the Old Trafford football ground stop, which is one stop further along the same line.

Does Old Trafford cricket ground have a hotel?

Yes — a 150-room Hilton Garden Inn is built into the Emirates Stand. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the playing surface. Book well in advance for Test match dates as it sells out quickly. It is the only English Test ground with an integrated hotel of this scale.

What are the best seats at Emirates Old Trafford?

The Point Stand upper tiers offer the best all-round view — square-on, elevated and partially covered. The Brian Statham End upper rows are the best value option. Avoid lower rows of the Hilton hotel stand and Red Rose Suite where viewing angles are restricted.

Is parking available at Old Trafford cricket?

Very limited. Pre-book via the Lancashire CCC website as it sells out. The White City retail park on Chester Road sometimes offers match-day parking. The Metrolink tram is strongly recommended over driving.