The home of Manchester City Football club is a must visit place for most football fans that come to Manchester, England. Even if you are not a fan of the club, Etihad Stadium, and indeed Manchester City Football Club itself, is a place that you just have to see. The best way to do that, other than actually attending a game, is on the Etihad Stadium Tour.
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Personally, I would even recommend the Etihad Stadium Tour to those that DO get the chance to catch a live game. What you see on the tour, and the things that you learn about the stadium, team, and the Manchester City Club itself is well worth the price that you pay. When I did the tour recently, my group of over 30 people featured only around half a dozen Manchester City fans. The rest were simply football fans, and everyone loved the tour regardless.
Today, I will take you along with me with my review of the Etihad Stadium tour, as well as offering details about Etihad Stadium Parking, how to get there, and hotels near Etihad Stadium.
Table of Contents
- Where is Etihad Stadium?
- Etihad Stadium Tour
- How to get to Etihad Stadium
- Etihad Stadium Parking
- Etihad Stadium Seating Plan
- Hotels near Etihad Stadium – Where to stay
- Useful Links
- Summary
Where is Etihad Stadium?
Etihad Stadium is located in the city of Manchester, England. It is also known as Manchester Stadium, but for sponsorship reasons is mostly known as Etihad Stadium.
The Stadium can be found East of the city center along Ashton Road. It is accessible by most means of public transport, and is only a 20 to 30 minute walk from Piccadilly.
Etihad Stadium Tour
The Etihad Stadium Tour is amazing, especially if you are a Manchester City fan, or a fan of football in general. Even simple sports fans would enjoy it, as it is a great look behind the scenes of one of the biggest and most successful sporting clubs in the world. The things that you see, learn, and experience on the tour are unique not only to this stadium, but also to the club. How they, along with the manager, have designed and run the stadium with not only their players, but also their fans in mind is amazing, and really gives you a different perspective of Manchester City Football Club than you would probably have before you do the tour.
Etihad Stadium Tour Tickets
If you are heading to Manchester, and are thinking or planning on doing the Etihad Stadium Tour, then I definitely recommend that you book ahead! The tours run every 15 minutes on most days, but if you are only in town for a short time, you don’t want to miss out.
There are also limitations to the tours being run on and around match days, so you will want to check that out as well. Certainly, if you are actually in town FOR a match, then your chances of getting on the Etihad Stadium Tour are probably even less. So do yourself a favor and check out the dates and times before you come.
The best place to do this is on the Manchester City website at THIS LINK. They have all the information that you need about dates and times, and you can directly book online from there.
You can also get tickets from GetYourGuide, and last time I checked the price was actually BETTER than going direct through the Manchester City site! Have a look at THIS link.
PRICES – At time of writing, this is the current prices for the Etihad Stadium Tour.
NOTE – Prices are different for Peak (Weekends, School and Bank Holidays, Matchdays and Matchdays +1) times and Off Peak Times (all other times that are not listed above).
Prices for Etihad Stadium Tour (off peak)
- Adults – £25
- Seniors/Students – £17
- Under 16 – £15
- Family Package – £64 (two adults and two U16’s)
- Family Package 2 – £56 (one adult and three U16’s)
Prices for Etihad Stadium Tour (Peak)
- Adults – £28
- Seniors/Students – £22
- Under 16’s – £17
- Family Package – £72
- Family Package 2 – £64
NOTE – All prices are correct at time of writing, and you are advised to double check the Manchester City website to verify before attending.
Once you arrive for your Etihad Stadium Tour, make your way to the store. Head up to the second floor and you will find the tour starting point. You can also buy tickets for the tour here (if any are available) and you haven’t booked online.
What to expect
When the tour starts, you will be sent into a waiting room until everyone is ready. In here there is plenty to see and do, with displays around the walls about the club. The Jewel in the Crown though, is the trophies in the cabinets. Try to be one of the first inside so that you can get some decent photos!
From the trophy room, you will be taken downstairs and outside into City Square. Here, you will be told a lot more about the club, and about the square itself.
The Etihad Stadium Tour will take you on the path of the players during a typical match day. From City Square you will go to the main entrance into the stadium and player’s areas. This is the point where the players begin their day, entering the stadium to the welcome of fans and staff. You will then follow their path through the dressing rooms, warm up areas and eventually down the player tunnel onto the pitch. From there, it’s into the post match media areas, and back to the beginning once more.
When you are doing the Etihad Stadium Tour, you can expect to be totally wrapped up in the moment. Being able to follow in the footsteps of some really great players, learn how they go about their day and what they experience is surreal. It is something that you will not be able to do anywhere else, and having done similar tours at other stadiums around the world, I can honestly say that the Etihad Stadium Tour is truly unique.
Is it worth it?
I personally found the entire tour fascinating. The guide has some funny inside stories, and knew all the quirks of individual players and the manager. This made it even more interesting as she was able to add a different element to the normal style of tour, and gave it a real human side.
The information that you are able to learn about everything from the technology involved in the pitch itself, to the design of the dressing rooms is incredible. If you are even remotely interested in sports, and even if not, I can say the price of the tour is definitely worth every penny.
How to get to Etihad Stadium
Getting to Etihad Stadium is very easy. It is conveniently located only a short distance from the CBD of Manchester, and is actually walking distance. A walk from Piccadilly will only take you between 20 and 30 minutes on a normal day.
If you are taking public transport to Etihad Stadium, the most convenient options are tram, train and bus. There is a tram stop right at the rear of the Official Store beside the stadium. The stop is called “Etihad Campus” and can be found on the East Manchester Line (EML).
By train, the nearest stop is Ashburys Train Station. From the station to Etihad Stadium is about a 10 minute walk. This can be a convenient option if you are already catching the train from elsewhere in Manchester to Piccadilly station, as Ashbury Station is only 5 minutes by train from there.
The other option to catch public transport for your Etihad Stadium Tour is the bus. From Piccadilly Stand D, you can catch either the 216 or the 231 bus directly to the stadium.
Out of all these options, I found the best one is the tram, as it not only takes you to the stadium, but the stop is right behind the City Store which is the starting point for your Etihad Stadium Tour!
Etihad Stadium Parking
There are car parks available in the blue car park on days where there are no matches being played. So the majority of times you can drive your car to the stadium for your tour. The Blue car park is free of charge on these days, and can be located on Alan Turing Way.
If you are attending the stadium on a match day, car parks must be pre booked. You can do this on the Manchester City website.
Car parking in surrounding streets is limited on match days, and you must be a resident to park there. Be very careful about dates and times if you decide to try and park in surrounding streets.
Etihad Stadium Seating Plan
If you are visiting Etihad Stadium and you want to attend a game, then you are most likely going to want to find a copy of the Etihad Stadium Seating Plan. This comes in very handy so that you can get the best view of the game and the pitch, depending upon your personal preferences. It also allows you to sit with your own supporters if you like, or at least, away from the other supporters!
The best place to find a copy of the Etihad Stadium Seating Plan is at THIS LINK. You will also find a copy of it at the link below under “Useful Links”.
Hotels near Etihad Stadium – Where to stay
If you are coming to Etihad Stadium, whether it be for a game or for the Etihad Stadium Tour, then you will most likely want to try and stay somewhere nearby. Here are my choices for the best hotels near Etihad Stadium.
Arena House
Only a short walking distance to Etihad Stadium is Arena House, a beautiful and cozy place with all the amenities that you need. Wonderful natural lighting is a feature, and it is located in a quiet, peaceful area.
Athletes Way House
Athletes Way House is close to Etihad Stadium, and perfect if you are going to be heading to the game or just the stadium itself. Large and spacious rooms that are fully equipped make it a favorite for guests, and a quick 5 minute cab ride to the center means you are never far away from finding somewhere nice to eat or drink.
Dakota Manchester
Located closer to the center of Manchester, the Dakota Manchester is a modern and beautiful place to stay. Spacious and comfortable with friendly staff and great beds, you will not find a more relaxing place to stay. Plus, the showers are amazing!
Useful Links
- Manchester City Football Club Website
- Etihad Stadium Seating Plan
- GetYourGuide Etihad Stadium Tour Tickets
Summary
The Etihad Stadium Tour is an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone visiting Manchester that has even a passing interest in sports. The tour caters to all people, with tour guides knowledgeable and welcoming, explaining everything in a fun and interesting way.
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