A trip to Old Trafford remains one of the most iconic matchday experiences in world football. As the home of Manchester United, the stadium welcomes more than 70,000 supporters on matchdays and offers a wide range of facilities designed to make the visit comfortable for every fan.
From affordable food and drink to family-friendly areas and extensive accessibility support, FootballGroundGuide covers everything you need to know about the Old Trafford matchday experience in 2026.
Old Trafford Turnstiles, Entry Points and Stadium Access
Old Trafford has four main entrances, each linked to a specific stand in the stadium:
- North Entrance – Sir Alex Ferguson Stand
- South Entrance – Sir Bobby Charlton Stand
- East Entrance – East Stand
- West Entrance – Stretford End
Your ticket will display a letter and a number that corresponds with the correct entrance.
For example:
- Tickets beginning with N enter through the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand
- Tickets beginning with E enter via the East Stand
- Tickets beginning with S enter through the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand
- Tickets beginning with W enter through the Stretford End
Like most large Premier League venues, security checks are carried out before entry, so arriving early is recommended to avoid queues.
Food and Drink at Old Trafford: Options, Quality and Prices
Food and drink inside Old Trafford are fairly standard for Premier League stadiums, though the ground is famous for offering one of the cheapest pints in English football.
A pint of Carling costs around £3, making it one of the lowest-priced beers available in the UK’s top-flight stadiums.
Typical concourse food options include pizza, hot dogs and pies.
Alcohol is served before kick-off and at half-time, with additional rotating beer options available depending on the match.
The Red Cafe Menu
One of the main dining spots inside the stadium is Red Cafe Old Trafford, which offers a broader range of hot meals compared to the standard concourse kiosks.
Menu highlights somtimes include crispy chicken burgers, jerk chicken kebabs, halloumi strips and the chef's soup of the day.
The cafe also provides a kids’ menu, ensuring younger supporters have suitable food choices on matchday.
Old Trafford Concourse Areas, Bars and Matchday Facilities
Each stand at Old Trafford has its own concourse area, which typically includes:
- Multiple food kiosks
- Bars serving alcoholic drinks
- Television screens showing pre-match coverage and halftime analysis
- Betting kiosks (depending on match regulations)
Bars can be found throughout the stadium, including the quadrants between stands, the Stretford End concourse and the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand concourse.
Toilets are spread across all concourse areas and are generally well-maintained. However, as with most stadiums of this size, queues can build quickly during halftime.
Toilets are located throughout the stadium’s concourse areas and are usually kept in good condition despite the high matchday attendance.
Facilities include standard male and female toilets across all stands, accessible toilets in key areas of the stadium, and baby-changing facilities in family sections.
As with most large stadiums, halftime is the busiest period, so visiting earlier is recommended where possible.
Family Areas at Old Trafford
Old Trafford is a very family-friendly stadium with several dedicated areas designed for supporters attending with children.
The main Family Section is located across seven blocks in the West Stand and South West Corner, providing a lively but comfortable environment for families.
In addition to the seating areas, young fans can enjoy a range of activities inside the stadium complex, including interactive museum exhibits, a penalty shoot-out game, and a “Be a Captain” VR experience
These activities are located in the kid-friendly zone of the stadium museum and help keep children entertained before kickoff.
Safe Standing Sections at Old Trafford
Like many Premier League stadiums, Old Trafford has introduced rail seating to create safe standing sections.
Current safe standing areas include:
- Lower tier of the Stretford End
- Lower tier of the North East Quadrant
Rail seating allows supporters to stand throughout the match while maintaining structured rows and improved safety measures.
The move has helped recreate some of the traditional atmosphere Old Trafford was famous for in earlier decades.
Disability Access and Inclusive Facilities at Old Trafford
Accessibility is an important part of the matchday experience at Old Trafford, with several facilities designed to support disabled supporters.
Lift Access Across the Stadium
Lifts are available in all areas of the stadium for both accessible seating sections and general admission areas.
If your seat is located in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, you may need to request a lift pass in advance by contacting the club at least 24 hours before kickoff.
For other areas of the stadium, supporters can simply speak to a steward who will direct them to the nearest lift.
Ability Suite and Accessible Seating
The Ability Suite, located in the South-East Quadrant, is a dedicated matchday lounge designed for supporters with disabilities or additional access requirements.
Facilities include a lowered kiosk counter, accessible toilets, television screens and seating space for carers and companions.
Accessible seating areas are also located in the North East and North West Quadrants, allowing disabled supporters to sit alongside friends and family.
Support for Blind and Partially Sighted Fans
Old Trafford provides audio commentary headsets for supporters who are blind or partially sighted.
These can be collected from a steward near Block E132 on matchdays and do not need to be booked in advance.