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Updated October 2026 · Prices and rules checked against Lancashire’s own pages · How we check
Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground is Lancashire’s Manchester home: county cricket, Lightning evenings, England internationals and Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred. Choose the atmosphere you want, then the stand and the journey. This guide covers seats, tickets, packing and places to stay, including the hotel beside the boundary. It is the cricket ground, a separate venue from Manchester United’s nearby football stadium. Last checked: October 2026.
At a glance: Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Old Trafford feels like a cricket ground with a city gathering around it. On an international morning, trams empty at the gates, groups find their blocks and the outfield begins to fill with colour. The Pavilion gives one end its familiar red-brick identity; The Point and the Media Centre bring the newer shapes. The hotel sits along the eastern boundary, close enough for cricket to become part of an overnight stay.
Cricket has been played here since 1857, before Lancashire County Cricket Club was formed in 1864. International cricket followed in 1884. The Pavilion dates from 1895, and its restored frontage still anchors a ground transformed by a long redevelopment. The club’s current venue introduction describes the completed £75 million investment and refreshed official name.
Use the James Anderson End by the Pavilion and the Brian Statham End by the Media Centre to get your bearings. The Pavilion End was renamed for Anderson in 2017. The Point is the large hospitality building beside the Pavilion; the Hilton Garden Inn and its extension run towards Stand A. These are useful landmarks when meeting friends, but your ticket’s gate remains the starting point for arrival.
A County Championship day rewards settling in: watch the bowling spells develop, walk for lunch and enjoy the Lancashire conversations around you. One-Day Cup cricket gives you a full limited-overs contest in the day. Lightning’s Blast fixtures and Hundred matches move faster, with more music and a concentrated evening crowd; the Roses match against Yorkshire adds its own rivalry. England days fill the ground with a wider audience. Party Stand D is the social choice, while Stand A gives families a different starting point. The first Test match guide helps with a long day’s rhythm, and Taking the family helps plan a younger visitor’s day.
Start with the crowd and the bowling angle. Stand A is the family area; B offers lower and upper choices towards the southeastern corner. Lightning Stand C is next to the lively western Party Stand D. The Pavilion end follows the bowling line, while E combines premium seats with a members-and-guests route. The building name is only the first choice: select the block, row and tier next.
The Pavilion is towards the north, the Media Centre towards the south, and the hotel along the east. Morning light comes from the east; after lunch it moves through the south and west. Northern and eastern seating faces more afternoon sunshine. Western covered seats have the later sun behind them, while exposed seats remain open to the weather.
Use the club’s seating guide and seat viewer to compare rows. Upper B and C involve stairs; arrange a designated accessible position separately. Alcohol-free blocks in B depend on the fixture map. Sun and shade helps with the choice.
Family seating and alcohol-free A6/A7. Includes The Edge, Jimmy’s Bar and Sportsbreaks Terrace in the hotel extension.
Sportsbreaks Terrace and private lounge bookings: Hospitality package.
Compare Sportsbreaks Terrace packages for your match dates.
View hospitality packages →Lower and upper tiers, with a view between the bowling line and midwicket. Check the fixture map for alcohol-free blocks.
Lower and upper tiers by the home dressing room, beside the party crowd.
Western side for groups and fancy dress. Minimum age 16 at every fixture.
Premium seats for members and eligible guests; includes Service-to-Seat options.
Includes Pavilion Terrace, Members’ Suite, Middle Balcony, 1864 Suite and Executive Boxes; eligible membership and guest routes apply.
Pavilion Package and Executive Boxes: Hospitality package.
Compare Pavilion hospitality for your match dates.
View hospitality packages →Northern hospitality building, with dining and balcony viewing in the named package.
Hospitality package
Compare Old Trafford hospitality for your match dates.
View hospitality packages →Stand E is sold for members and guests. Pavilion guests need the named Pavilion Terrace ticket and the member-arranged route; a guest ticket elsewhere does not provide Pavilion access. Membership and guest-ticket rules explain the eligible fixtures. The 1864 Suite has its own membership entitlement; Pavilion hospitality is a separate purchase.
Set your destination to Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Talbot Road, M16 0PX. Manchester United’s Old Trafford is the nearby football stadium, with different gates and travel instructions. Use TfGM’s cricket-ground guide rather than the football guide. On a big sporting day, leave room for busy roads, platforms and tram queues, especially if events overlap.
Manchester Piccadilly is a useful national-rail arrival point, with Metrolink connections for the onward journey. Follow the station’s tram signs and choose a service towards Altrincham for Old Trafford stop, beside the cricket ground. Check whether your journey needs a change. National Rail’s Piccadilly page lists station facilities and Passenger Assist; plan the return train before choosing the evening’s last tram.
Old Trafford tram stop is the simplest final approach. TfGM also gives a ten-minute walk from Trafford Bar or Firswood, and fifteen minutes from Wharfside. These alternatives can help spread the exit crowd, provided the route and tram line suit your journey. From Manchester Airport, compare a train to Piccadilly with the tram towards Trafford Bar and an onward change or walk. The football-ground railway halt is not in use.
The 250 and 255 buses connect Piccadilly Gardens with the Old Trafford area. Check the current Bee Network journey planner for your stop and departure. For a city-centre walk, map the whole route to the cricket gates; arriving by tram leaves more of the day for the match. Keep your ticket available before reaching the entrance and check its gate.
Driving needs a match-specific parking plan. Check the club’s match guide before booking a space; major-match arrangements differ from a quiet county day. TfGM park-and-ride sites offer a tram alternative, so compare the homeward service as well as the drive in. Blue Badge visitors should arrange major-match parking with the club. Cycle racks are listed by the Ticket Office and gates 3, 10 and 11; bring a lock. After play, allow for the crowd leaving before committing to a tight train connection.
Compare Manchester arrivals and your onward Metrolink journey.
Compare train times →Compare Manchester spaces; ground parking arrangements vary by match.
Find a parking space →Last checked: October 2026
For 2027 major matches, eligible Lancashire members have priority before the public sales windows. The published ballot opened on 2 September 2026 and closed at midnight on 29 September. Successful applicants were due to hear around 2 October, followed by a second-chance window on 7 October. Remaining seats go to general sale on 14 October; the opening time is TBC. Follow the account email and complete the purchase within its window.
The ballot allows up to six tickets for each listed fixture. Family-category seats require at least one under-18 in the group. Choose alcohol-free blocks deliberately, rather than assuming that the family label covers every row. Stand D is restricted to ages 16 and over. Pavilion and Stand E member-guest seats follow their named booking categories; ordinary public admission does not include every members’ room.
England matches, the Roses T20 and Hundred fixtures use reserved seats. County Championship, One-Day Cup and other Blast matches use unreserved seating in the stands opened for that fixture. For digital delivery, use the Lancashire Cricket Tickets app and the club’s instructions; keep everyone’s ticket ready before the gates. Use the official resale platform and club’s exchange information for available resale.
Published 2027 major-match prices are below, including booking fees. The 2027 county tariff is TBC. Prices depend on the seat category shown when you book. Rain refunds depend on the format and overs played: read the ticket terms and If it rains before buying. A Lions four-day ticket is a different product from an England Test ticket.
| Format / season | Adult guide | Junior guide |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 England men: Pakistan ODI | £44–£109 | £10 ballot FAQ; £12–£18 seat tariff |
| 2027 England Lions: Australia, per day | £20–£24 | £5 |
| 2027 Roses Blast T20 | £25–£57 | £8 |
| 2027 England women: Australia IT20 | £16–£31 | £6 |
| 2027 England men: New Zealand IT20 | £46–£112 | £19 ballot FAQ; £12–£19 seat tariff |
| 2027 County Championship | TBC | TBC |
| 2027 other Blast / One-Day Cup / Hundred | TBC | TBC |
Last checked: October 2026
2027 ballot price guide; 2027 seat tariff; 2026 county prices. The club’s ballot FAQ and seat tariff differ on men’s junior prices; check the category at checkout. Four-day 2026 county tickets were £45 for adults.
Last checked: October 2026
Use the current Ground Regulations and bag-policy FAQs. The ground has no luggage-storage facility; ask the Hilton directly about storage before travelling with an overnight bag. Pack a waterproof, hat and sunscreen inside the same bag. What you can take in.
Last checked: October 2026
The on-site Hilton Garden Inn makes Old Trafford a particularly easy overnight cricket trip. The current hotel has 250 bedrooms, including 136 with pitch views. Choose the room offer carefully: a named cricket hospitality package and an ordinary room booking have different inclusions. Ask whether match admission is included, and book the ticket you need. Match-night room prices are TBC until you select your dates.
For a budget stay, compare simple city-centre rooms with the total cost of the tram journey. Piccadilly works well for a rail arrival and early departure. Deansgate is another central base, useful for evening food and a Metrolink connection. Check the walk between your hotel and the actual stop, particularly with luggage.
For a midrange stay, compare Manchester city centre and Salford Quays. The Quays gives you a different evening setting and access to the wider tram network; plot the route to the cricket ground rather than assuming every service runs to Old Trafford stop. Altrincham is a fourth option, connected along the same tram line as the ground.
For a premium cricket stay, compare the Hilton’s pitch-view rooms and named packages with a city-centre hotel. Room rates change with match demand and other Manchester events, so compare your exact nights. Book a flexible option while arranging tickets if that suits your plans. With a late short-format finish, a convenient journey back is often worth more than a small saving on the room.
Compare stays around the on-site Hilton, city centre and Salford Quays.
See hotels near Old Trafford →Keep the first evening simple if you have spent the day in the stands. The Hilton gives you an on-site food option through its Garden Grille; check the hotel’s restaurant arrangements when booking. For a bigger choice of food and pubs, head into Manchester city centre by tram and choose somewhere near your route home. Leave time for the post-match platform queue before making a restaurant reservation.
Salford Quays is a useful change of scene for a rest day. The venue’s visitor information points towards the waterfront’s cultural attractions, including The Lowry and Imperial War Museum North. Make the journey a separate outing, with opening times checked at the attraction, rather than squeezing it between cricket sessions. The city centre also makes an easy base for a day away from the ground.
The nearby football stadium is a separate destination, not another cricket entrance. If visiting Manchester United as well, plan the two venues individually and allow for their different event crowds. For a multi-day cricket trip, decide which evenings need a booking and leave the others free: a long day’s play can make a quiet meal and an early night the best Manchester plan.
| Dates | Fixture | Format | Start | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 May 2027 | England men v Pakistan | ODI | 13:00 | General sale 14 October |
| 7–10 June 2027 | England Lions v Australia | Four-day | 11:00 | General sale 14 October |
| Date TBC | Lancashire Lightning v Yorkshire | Blast T20 | TBC | Major-match sales sequence |
| 9 July 2027 | England women v Australia | IT20 | 19:00 | General sale 14 October |
| 9 September 2027 | England men v New Zealand | IT20 | 18:30 | General sale 14 October |
The Lions fixture depends on Australia not competing in the World Test Championship final; the Roses date remains provisional. Lancashire’s fixture announcement and ECB’s international schedule give the published programme. Remaining Lancashire and Manchester Super Giants dates are TBC; use the club’s fixtures and results.
No. Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground is on Talbot Road, M16 0PX; Manchester United’s football stadium is a separate nearby venue. Use the cricket-ground travel guide and your ticket’s gate, especially when both venues have events.
Old Trafford stop on the Altrincham line is beside the cricket ground. TfGM also lists Trafford Bar and Firswood at about ten minutes’ walk, and Wharfside at fifteen; compare the route and your return service before choosing an alternative.
No. The current regulations prohibit alcohol brought in, unsealed drinks, and glass or metal bottles and vessels, including cans. Pack a sealed non-alcoholic drink in plastic and keep it inside the single permitted bag.
One bag per person, up to 45 × 30 × 30cm, fitting under the seat. A cool bag counts towards the same allowance, and bags are searched and tagged; arrange overnight luggage storage before reaching the gate.
Stand D has a minimum age of 16 at every fixture. For younger visitors, start with family Stand A; A6/A7 are alcohol-free; check the fixture map for Stand B’s alcohol-free blocks. Under-16s must attend with a responsible adult.
Eligible guests can use the member-arranged Pavilion Terrace ticket route. A guest ticket in another area does not include Pavilion access; Roses T20, Hundred and international arrangements need the named fixture’s booking instructions. Pavilion hospitality is another separate route.
Yes: the on-site Hilton Garden Inn has pitch-view and other rooms. Check whether your selected offer includes match admission, and compare your exact dates before booking. A hotel stay is a convenient option for a late finish or several days of cricket.
Old Trafford has designated wheelchair positions, companion-ticket support and sensory facilities: read the Old Trafford accessibility guide to plan your seat and route together.
