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Last checked 2026-10-09 · Source dates below
Old Trafford rewards a cricket pilgrimage: Laker’s wickets, Warne’s leg-break and Ashes finishes still shape conversations around the ground. Build a Manchester stay around that history, the view you want and a simple tram journey.
Old Trafford at a glance
No Test scheduled at Old Trafford in 2027. The ECB has allocated Old Trafford a men’s Test in 2028, with the date and opponent TBC. The ECB also confirms an India Test here in 2029 and an Ashes Test in 2031. Wait for the dated fixture before committing to a future Test trip.
You can still see international cricket here in 2027: England’s men face Pakistan in an ODI on 19 May and New Zealand in an IT20 on 9 September, while England’s women meet Australia in an Ashes IT20 on 9 July. The England Lions game against Australia on 7–10 June is subject to Australia’s World Test Championship Final involvement.
The longer story is a fine reason to visit. Jim Laker took 19 wickets for 90 against Australia here in 1956. In 1993, Shane Warne’s first Ashes delivery bowled Mike Gatting: the Ball of the Century. Those two spells give spin bowling a special place in the ground’s memory; take a moment between overs to picture the different generations watching the same contest between bat and ball.
The 2005 Ashes brought a very different spectacle. Ricky Ponting made 156 before Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath survived to secure Australia’s draw. In 2023, rain washed out the final day of another drawn Ashes Test, leaving Australia with an unassailable 2–1 lead and the urn retained. A Manchester cricket break can hold brilliance, tension and a long wait for the covers to move.
| Day | What you’re likely to see | Chance match is already over | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 · Wed 23 Jul | Opening toss and first innings | None before play | Following the match from the start |
| Day 2 · Thu 24 Jul | Development of the first innings | Possible, though early | A second consecutive cricket day |
| Day 3 · Fri 25 Jul | The middle of the contest | Possible | A Friday and weekend city break |
| Day 4 · Sat 26 Jul | Possible chase or decisive session | Greater than early days | Visitors free on Saturday |
| Day 5 · Sun 27 Jul | Final passage or no further play | Highest of these choices | A flexible final day in Manchester |
Last Test (2025): England v India ran from Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 July. The table uses that five-day pattern to help you think about a future visit. An opening day gives you the toss and first use of the pitch; returning the next morning lets you follow the consequences of what you watched.
For a working-week trip, the first three days in 2025 required weekday time away. Saturday and Sunday were Days 4 and 5. That weekend pattern made a short city break attractive, but the later days of any Test carry the chance of less cricket. Keep your Manchester plans flexible enough to enjoy the time you have.
Two consecutive days are worth considering if your budget allows. A wicket late on your first evening changes the anticipation of the next morning; a long partnership gives you time to notice the field, bowling changes and crowd. Choose a seat you will enjoy for several sessions, and leave an evening free to talk through the day over dinner.
2027 major matches: Second-chance window; general sale 14 October 2026. The next Test is in 2028; date, opponent and ticket details TBC.
Use the club ticket service. Follow any purchase invitation and compare the day, block, row and full party price before paying.
Open Lancashire’s official England ticket page and select your date.
Use the club’s seat viewer, including row, tier and alcohol-free designation.
Book wheelchair, easy-access or companion requirements with the Ticketing Team.
Use Lancashire’s own resale service if your preferred category is full.
Keep the match-specific refund terms with your confirmation.
2025 Test prices are no longer published; Day 5 was from £26. Prices for the 2028 Test will be announced by Lancashire.
2027 major matches: Second-chance window; general sale 14 October 2026. The next Test is in 2028; date, opponent and ticket details TBC. For a 2027 visit, use Lancashire’s England ticket page to choose the actual international you want. A £35 Major Match priority product was advertised separately from match tickets; ask which remaining entitlements apply before buying it.
International seats are reserved by stand, block, row and number. Choose the atmosphere before comparing prices: a family outing in A, an elevated view in B, or a sociable group in D creates a different day. If friends are buying separately, agree the block and date before anyone completes payment. Save each confirmation with its own ticket holder and match.
Old Trafford’s stand letters are useful bearings. The hotel runs down the eastern side towards A; B curves around the southeastern corner. C is beside the dressing-room end, D on the western side and E nearer The Point. The Pavilion and Media Centre help you keep track of the two bowling ends as you move around the concourse.
Choose A for a family visit, with alcohol-free A6 and A7. B offers lower and upper views between the bowling line and midwicket; its upper BU8 and BU9 are designated alcohol-free in the club’s seating guide. D is the party choice for friends and fancy dress, with a minimum age of sixteen. Upper B and C require particular care if stairs are difficult.
For a sunny afternoon, A and B face more of the light across the ground. Covered positions in western E are a useful place to begin a shade search. In C, lower rear shelter and exposed upper rows give different experiences. Compare cover with the precise row: the front of a roofed stand can still leave you in sun or rain.
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 Stand A hospitality 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 The Point hospitality for your match dates.
View hospitality packages →Sources: [11]
Pack around the one-bag limit: a rucksack no larger than 45 × 30 × 30cm, small enough to fit beneath your seat. Put your waterproof, sun protection and food together before leaving the hotel. Old Trafford has no public luggage store, so arrange somewhere for your overnight case before heading to the turnstiles.
Outside alcohol, cans and glass stay out of the ground. The 2025 Test guide allowed sealed water bottles up to 500ml and listed refill points behind the stands except D. Use the current match guide for your own visit’s bottle instructions. Keep a payment card handy at this cashless venue, along with the ticket needed at your entrance.
Find the way back to your block before the opening over. A family meeting point should be somewhere you can describe without relying on a sea of spectators: agree a named entrance or building with a steward. For a long Test day, take your break when you need it and keep the route clear for other people returning to their seats.
Take the tram to Old Trafford on the Altrincham line for the shortest final approach. Put Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Talbot Road, M16 0PX into your journey plan. Manchester Piccadilly is a convenient national-rail arrival point; allow time to reach its Metrolink platforms and follow the destination shown on the service.
Firswood provides an alternative approach of around ten minutes on foot, and Wharfside about fifteen. Use the alternative that fits your return line and comfortable walking distance. If you fancy walking from a central Manchester hotel, plot the entire route to your cricket gate first and leave time to arrive without rushing.
Parking changes with the event. The 2025 Test had no general on-site parking; Manchester United parking was offered at £15 per vehicle. For a new international, reserve the event’s advertised space and follow its entry instructions. Put the parking postcode and walking route into your plan separately, then allow for the crowd leaving before your drive home.
Compare Manchester arrivals and your onward Metrolink journey.
Compare train times →Compare Manchester spaces; ground parking arrangements vary by match.
Find a parking space →The on-site Hilton Garden Inn makes cricket the centre of the stay. Choose the exact room type and ask what match access comes with the booking. A pitch-facing room is especially tempting for a cricket trip; read its viewing and admission arrangements before comparing it with an ordinary room and separate seat.
Manchester city centre works well when your trip begins at Piccadilly or includes restaurants and museums. Compare hotels around the tram connection you intend to use, then calculate the full door-to-gate journey. Keeping your luggage near the arrival station can make an early departure much simpler after several days away.
Compare a central base for rail arrivals, Manchester evenings and a tram journey to the cricket.
Check Manchester city centre →We may earn a commission if you book through this link.
For waterside walks and the Lowry; map the final journey to Talbot Road from your chosen hotel.
Check Salford Quays →We may earn a commission if you book through this link.
The on-site cricket-ground hotel. Select your room category and confirm match admission and viewing arrangements.
Check Hilton Garden Inn Manchester Emirates Old Trafford →We may earn a commission if you book through this link.
A MediaCity base for a Salford Quays stay; compare your room’s cancellation terms and onward cricket journey.
Check Holiday Inn Manchester-MediaCityUK →We may earn a commission if you book through this link.
Salford Quays gives the trip another focus, with waterside walks and the Lowry. Holiday Inn Manchester-MediaCityUK is one named option there. Match the hotel address to the tram route or walk you prefer, and look at cancellation terms before committing to an extra night around a future final Test day.
Castlefield is an appealing first stop after a day in the stands: canals, pubs and restaurants give the conversation somewhere to continue. Choose a dinner booking with enough space after the likely close to leave the ground, travel and freshen up. If play runs late, you will appreciate having kept the evening uncomplicated.
For a livelier Manchester night, look to the Northern Quarter’s bars, restaurants and small music venues. A central hotel makes it easier to explore on foot after dinner. Pick one neighbourhood for the evening and enjoy it properly; a Test trip already gives you plenty to fill the day.
If you are staying at the Quays, a waterside meal keeps the return journey simple. For an early train or another cricket morning, favour a relaxed dinner near your hotel. Agree the plan with the whole party before leaving the ground, especially when some people want a longer night and others are ready for bed.
Sources: [20]
A non-match day at Salford Quays can combine a waterside walk with the Lowry’s collection of LS Lowry paintings. The galleries are free to enter. Set aside time to look closely at the crowds and industrial scenes, then take the rest of the afternoon at your own pace around the water.
The Science and Industry Museum on Liverpool Road explores Manchester’s ideas, machines and industrial history. General admission is free; special exhibitions can carry a charge. Book through the museum, whose restoration work means some spaces may be closed. Choose a few galleries you particularly want to see and leave room for a stop in Castlefield afterwards.
For more cricket, Lancashire advertises an eighty-minute stadium tour starting in the Pavilion, with access to areas such as commentary boxes and the Members’ Suite on the tour programme. Choose an available date around your visit. It is a good way to put the famous Test moments into the setting you have just watched from the stands.
Compare Old Trafford hospitality by its viewing seat and the room where you will spend the intervals. The venue offers lounges, Pavilion boxes and pitch-view hotel experiences. Ask for the complete package for your selected fixture, including arrival time, food, drinks and the outdoor or balcony viewing position.
For a group, collect dietary and access requirements before making the enquiry. A relaxed indoor lunch may be the main attraction for one person, while another wants to follow every ball from the same seat. Tell the team which matters most, then read the cancellation and weather terms with the whole booking in mind.
Sources: [23]
No. The 2027 internationals here include a Pakistan men’s ODI, an Australia women’s Ashes IT20 and a New Zealand men’s IT20.
England played India from 23 to 27 July 2025. The historical day and price tables on this page refer to that match.
Old Trafford on the Altrincham line is beside the ground. Firswood and Wharfside offer longer walking approaches.
Start with Stand A. A6 and A7 are alcohol-free; check the exact category when selecting seats.
Party Stand D admits spectators aged sixteen and over at every fixture.
Yes. Choose your room type and confirm whether your booking includes match admission and a pitch view.
Jim Laker took nineteen Australian wickets for ninety runs, the record Test match bowling figures.
Consider Salford Quays and the Lowry, the Science and Industry Museum, or an available Lancashire stadium tour.
Join up your Old Trafford visit with the Ticketing Team: choose the viewing position and companion arrangement, then the gate, personal-care facilities and Manchester journey that make a long cricket day comfortable.
Plan an accessible Test at Old Trafford →