Man Utd vs Man City: getting to Old Trafford for Manchester derby including via Metrolink and park and ride

The Manchester derby is the biggest sports fixture on the city calendar, with one of the biggest rivalries in English football being reignited. The first clash of the season takes place at Old Trafford on October 29. 

The match kicks off at 3.30pm and will be the biggest fixture in the league this weekend. Both sides go into the match off the back of wins in the Champions League in midweek. 

Old Trafford will be packed, and thousands of fans from both coloured sides of Manchester will descend on the old stadium. Whilst parking will be at a premium around the stadium, TfGM have flagged the best public transport options of getting there in time for kickoff. 

Metrolink 

Like with many big events in Manchester, the most convenient way of getting around the city will be the Metrolink. TfGM have said that there will be an increased double frequency on the Altrincham line. You can beat the queues by taking the tram to/from Exchange Quay and Wharfside stops.

Old Trafford is surrounded by tram stops on several tram lines. These stops are listed below. 

• Old Trafford (Bury/Altrincham lines)

• Trafford Bar (Altrincham/Bury/Rochdale/Shaw and Crompton/Airport/East Didsbury lines)

• Wharfside (Trafford Park line)

• Exchange Quay (Eccles/Ashton lines)

Park and Ride

If you need to drive to the match, then you may want to consider these park and ride options to make your journey easier. 

The nearest Park and Ride sites to Old Trafford are:

• Ladywell (Eccles line)

• Parkway (Trafford Park line)

• Sale Water Park(Airport line)

Bus 

If you are intending to catch a bus to or from Old Trafford, the following commercial bus services will bring you closest to the ground – 250, 255, 256, 263 and X50. You can see the nearest stops to the ground with the TfGM dedicated map.

Post-match shuttle bus

A match day shuttle bus service will operate for the derby. The service will depart from Chester Road (between Throstles Green and Sir Matt Busby Way), with drop-off points at Deansgate-Castlefield and Piccadilly.

There will be 10 buses to take fans back to the city centre. Tickets can be purchased on the bus with a single costing £3 for adults and £1.50 for children.