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Manchester is always a top choice for shopping, live music and legendary nightlife. On match days, though, the city positively buzzes with excitement. And, while there’s a long-running rivalry between Manchester United FC and Manchester City FC, it’s all pretty friendly, even on derby days.<\/p>\n
Be as ‘mad for it’ as a Mancunian on match day and dig out the best things to see, eat and do on a football-themed break in this lively northern city.<\/p>\n
Meet the teams: Manchester United FC and Manchester City FC
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### Manchester United FC<\/p>\n
You’d have to travel to pretty remote corners to find anyone who hasn’t heard of this team or its roster of legendary players, past and present. Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Bryan Robson, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Roy Keane and Wayne Rooney are among the stellar players to blaze trails wearing the famous red strip. The silverware is pretty dazzling, too, with three UEFA Champions League titles, a dozen FA Cup wins and 20 league titles jostling for space in the cabinet.<\/p>\n
FUN FACT<\/p>\n
Manchester United FC was founded in 1878 as Newton Heath L&YR Football Club, switching to its catchier current moniker in 1902.<\/p>\n
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Image Credit: Tourism Media<\/em><\/p>\n ### Manchester City FC<\/p>\n No one can write off Manchester City FC, historically seen as the underdog team. Fans will know all about its highs and lows, including spells out of the UK top flight. But it’s proven itself a real match for its home rivals. The team has significantly topped up its trophy cabinet in the past decade or so, with a 2011 FA Cup win and three league titles, although a UEFA Champions League title still eludes them. Some big names have worn the cornflower-blue jersey, too: David Silva, Sergio Ag\u00fcero and former players Carlos Tevez, Yaya Tour\u00e9, and Colin Bell (or ‘The King’, as fans know him).<\/p>\n FUN FACT<\/p>\n Eric Brook, who played for the club from 1928 to 1939, is Manchester City FC’s all-time top scorer, with 178 goals in 494 appearances.<\/p>\n Visiting Manchester’s football stadiums: Old Trafford and the City of Manchester Stadium Image Credit: Tourism Media<\/em><\/p>\n ### Old Trafford – Old Trafford district<\/p>\n The so-called ‘Theatre of Dreams’ has seen plenty of glory since becoming home to Manchester United FC in 1910. This charismatic giant is the second biggest stadium in the UK after Wembley. It has 75,000 seats and two hospitality suites, including the Red Caf\u00e9, which is open to the public on non-match days.<\/p>\n Only official members can buy tickets for home games, while tickets to the biggest matches are allocated via member ballot. It’s worth joining to get generous discounts on the excellent stadium tours, too.<\/p>\n There are a few different options (including the Legends Tour, where a former player is your guide) but expect access to the dressing room, tunnel, players dugout and press room. There’s also an onsite museum, which you can visit separately or with a combined ticket, and there are discounts for club members.<\/p>\n #### Getting there<\/p>\n If you want to rent a car in Manchester<\/a>, it’s a 15-minute drive from the city centre or Manchester Airport. Various Metrolink tram stations have park and ride facilities, so you jump on the tram to the Old Trafford stop. Then it’s a 15-minute walk to the stadium. Just follow the sea of red shirts, scarves and hats.<\/p>\n #### Where to eat and what to do in Old Trafford<\/p>\n The stadium really is the main draw here, though you’ll find a few food vans outside on match days, and there are a few hotels nearby. Caf\u00e9 Football<\/strong>, opposite the stadium, sells the usual pies and burgers. You might have to eat standing up, but that won’t matter if you’re rubbing shoulders with Manchester United FC legends like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.<\/p>\n You can walk to Salford Quays<\/strong>, which has a cluster of restaurants and lively bars along the canal, in around 15 minutes. MediaCityUK<\/strong> is then a five-minute stroll, and plant-filled The Botanist<\/strong> is a favourite spot for pre- or post-match cocktails and seasonal food.<\/sup><\/p>\n Caf\u00e9 Football, 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester M16 0SZ<\/strong><\/p>\n The Botanist Media City, Orange Building MediaCityUK, Salford M50 2HE<\/strong><\/p>\n Image Credit: Tourism Media<\/em><\/p>\n ### City of Manchester Stadium – Etihad Campus district<\/p>\n Seating around 55,000 football fans, the City of Manchester Stadium sits in the heart of Sportcity, also home to the National Cycling Centre, around 1.5 miles east of the city centre. Two hospitality areas include the unique Tunnel Club, with seats behind the dugout and a view of the players in the glass tunnel.<\/p>\n Go behind the scenes with a stadium tour of the players’ dressing room, warm-up area, tunnel and press room. You can even take the manager’s seat in the dugout. Diehard fans should consider the VIP Legends Tour, guided by a former player and finishing with a slap-up meal in a hospitality box. Or, to really dial up the thrill factor, take a match-day tour and stand in the tunnel hours before the players. You can almost hear the cheers.<\/p>\n #### Getting there<\/p>\n You can walk from the city centre within half an hour, or catch a 10-minute Metrolink to Etihad Campus, right next door. Driving, it’s five minutes from the centre or 25 minutes from the airport.<\/p>\n #### Where to eat and what to do in Etihad Campus<\/p>\n Sportcity has boosted neighbourhood regeneration. Currently, though, there aren’t many places to eat besides the usual food trucks on match days. There are a few hotels within walking distance, in addition to city-centre accommodation.<\/p>\n A 10-minute walk away, Vermilion Restaurant<\/strong> is a plush choice for a post-match dinner, or cocktails in its lounge, Cinnabar. Or head back towards the city centre, which has endless eating and drinking options.<\/p>\n Make time for the impressive National Football Museum, whose four floors are packed with photographs, signed shirts and incredible artifacts, including one of the footballs kicked about by Captain Wilfred Percy Nevill and his men at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916.<\/p>\n Vermilion, Lord North Street, Hulme Hall Lane, Manchester M40 8AD<\/strong><\/p>\n Image Credit: Tourism Media<\/em><\/p>\n Partying in Manchester after the match ### Celebrating after the match<\/p>\n Fans tend to gather in the pubs closest to the grounds, or flood into town for post-match drink and debrief. Really, the party can be anywhere – just hold your team scarf high (and make sure you follow the right crowd).<\/p>\n For a chance of spotting your favourite players, follow the City gang to Hale<\/strong>. This posh suburb, around half an hour from the centre, is filled with wine and cocktail bars. But, when Manchester City FC won the Premier League in 2012 thanks to Sergio Ag\u00fcero’s iconic goal, ‘old man’s pub’ The Railway<\/strong> was packed out with players and fans.While you’re more likely to see red in the bars around Salford Quays<\/strong>, which is walkable from Old Trafford.<\/p>\n The Railway,<\/strong> 128-130 Ashley Rd, Hale, Altrincham WA14 2UN<\/strong><\/p>\n ### Going out in Manchester<\/p>\n The centrally located Northern Quarter<\/strong> is a locals’ favourite for old-school pubs and live music bars, cosy by day and buzzing by night. It’s an easy tram ride from either ground. Looking for somewhere to watch the match? The Northern Quarter has a few good options with big screens. Or don your shirt and make a beeline for the bars around Oxford Road<\/strong> and Deansgate<\/strong>, many of which have several screens and craft beer on tap.<\/p>\n Practical information You can fly to Manchester<\/a> from several other UK airports. It’s around an hour’s flight from Edinburgh, London or Belfast, and an hour and 20 minutes from Aberdeen. There are also flights from other major European and international destinations. Treat yourself to a stay in one of Manchester city centre’s hotels<\/a> – perfect for exploring the city’s diverse neighborhoods.<\/p>\n Ready to visit the footie-mad city? With luxury city centre hotels, cosy pubs and endless options for nightlife, Manchester has all you need for a city break – whatever colours you wear.<\/em>“<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Follow in the footsteps of Manchester United FC and Manchester City FC, and discover the best things to do in Manchester for football fans!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":288,"featured_media":22122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[71,11,107,14],"tags":[69,106,13,105,15],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-31706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-break","category-sport","category-travel-like-a-champion","category-travel-tips","tag-city-break","tag-iconicpoi","tag-sport","tag-travel-like-a-champion","tag-travel-tips","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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