Emirates Old Trafford: test match cricket guide

Emirates Old Trafford is Lancashire’s home ground and one of England’s premier test venues. Ashes, India, South Africa: the big series come here every summer. Here is what you should know before you go.

Where to sit

The Pavilion End for the classic view. Behind the bowler’s arm, in line with the wicket, with the players’ balcony below. Premium tickets, worth it once.

The Party Stand if you are going for atmosphere over cricket. Behind the sightscreen. Fancy dress, beer, brass band. Not for the purist.

The Point end (Statham End) is the affordable option and the atmosphere is honest. Best value seats.

Members’ pavilion if you are with a member. Best food, quietest tables.

What to eat

The ground has the standard rotation: pie and mash, fish and chips, curry, burger. Prices are reasonable for a test venue.

The better move: bring a picnic if you are in general admission. Emirates Old Trafford allows sealed food and up to 500ml of alcohol in per person (check the day’s rules). A proper picnic, camp chairs at the boundary of a session, sunshine willing.

Outside the ground: The Sports Bar behind the old pavilion is fine. The Longford Tap in Stretford is a ten-minute walk and worth it for the pint and the sit-down before or after.

For a proper meal after play: walk 15 minutes to Media City for Wagamama, Nando’s, or a couple of independents.

Getting there

Tram to Old Trafford stop. Six-minute walk to the ground.

Driving: limited parking on match days. £15 to £20 at driveway pop-ups near the ground. Alternative: park at Media City and walk 20 minutes.

Rail: Trafford Park station is a 15-minute walk. Piccadilly to Trafford Park is 12 minutes by train.

Timing your day

Test match day starts at 11am, with sessions until roughly 6:30pm.

Get there for 10:30am if you want the atmosphere of a full lunch break with the ground filling up. Get there for 11am sharp if you are there for the cricket.

Lunch break is 40 minutes, tea is 20. Queues at the food stalls at both breaks. Bar queues too.

The weather

Manchester weather is famously variable. Even a July test can produce a fully-lost day. Bring a proper coat, a plastic bag for your seat, and a spare umbrella. Cricket at Old Trafford in the rain is grim; leaving early to a warm pub is not weakness.

Kit and etiquette

Applaud a well-taken wicket. Applaud a fifty. Applaud a hundred. Applaud a good over regardless of the outcome. Do not clap when the visiting team loses their wickets to a review that turns out to be marginal.

Do not stand up during an over. Wait for the change of ends.

Do not use flash photography. Do not shout “Bowled” until the umpire raises the finger. Do not attempt a Mexican wave during a delicate final session.

Where to stay

Our St Johns Manor is a 20-minute walk from the ground and has free off-street parking, which is worth £30 per test day. Two king bedrooms and two doubles, sleeps ten, so it works for a proper group weekend.

If you are staying central Manchester, budget 40 minutes tram-plus-walk to the ground. Chinatown apartments give you the city on your doorstep for after the day’s play.

The best part

Test cricket at Old Trafford, on a warm day, with the sun on the pavilion and Barmy Army in the Party Stand, is one of the great British sporting experiences. Buy the tickets, book the stay, do it properly.