Hotel Football Manchester Review: The Ultimate Family Stay Across from Old Trafford
If you’re heading to Manchester for a United match (or traveling with soccer obsessed kids), there is one hotel that completely transforms the experience: Hotel Football, Old Trafford, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Located directly across from Old Trafford, Hotel Football Manchester is hands down one of the most unique places to stay in the UK and is the most convenient place to stay when attending a Manchester United game.
Hotel Overview: A Football Lover’s Dream in Manchester
Hotel Football was founded by Manchester United’s legendary Class of ’92 and sits literally steps from Old Trafford. The location alone makes it iconic, but what sets it apart is how it turns a stay into an experience. With 133 contemporary rooms, vibrant social spaces, a rooftop football pitch, and Cafe Football on-site, it’s equal parts lifestyle hotel and matchday hub. If your family loves soccer, this is bucket-list worthy hotel stay for the entire gameday experience.
The main reason why I selected this hotel , instead of staying in city center Manchester, is due to mainly its location, but also the amenities it offers.
No matchday traffic
No parking chaos
No long post-game walks
Just cross the street
That convenience is a game changer with kids.
Accommodations: Squad Rooms Perfect for Families
The rooms are modern, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed with subtle football touches throughout. We stayed in a Squad Room, and if you’re traveling as a family, this is the category to book.
These rooms are designed specifically with families in mind:
Spacious layouts
Multiple beds
Smart storage
Modern bathrooms with rainfall showers
I would highly recommend upgrading to a Stadium View Room. Waking up and seeing Old Trafford from your window adds an extra layer of magic to the stay. And despite being steps from the stadium, the rooms are surprisingly quiet, something parents will appreciate after a long matchday.
Family-Friendly Highlights
The Rooftop Football Pitch (Heaven)
The rooftop soccer pitch is the standout feature and highlight for kids of all ages. On the top floor, Hotel Football has a five-a-side rooftop pitch called “Heaven.” And yes, it lives up to the name. Kids can burn off energy while looking out over Old Trafford. It’s free to use for guests and becomes especially lively on matchdays when it transforms into a fan zone.
For our family, this was the feature that turned a hotel stay into a core memory. Not many hotels in the world let you play football overlooking one of the most famous stadiums on the planet.
Cafe Football
Located on the ground floor, Cafe Football is more than just a hotel restaurant, it’s a pre-game hub with a variety of menu options open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu leans into elevated comfort food, burgers, pizzas, hearty plates (katsu curry was a favorite!), all done well and perfect for families. There’s a strong cocktail list for adults and plenty of kid-friendly options.
And the best part? You never know who you’ll see. We casually spotted Edwin van der Sar having lunch before the match. Just another day at Hotel Football. That’s the kind of unexpected moment that makes this place fun.
Location
For soccer fans, this is arguably the best-located hotel in Manchester for the following reasons:
Directly across from Old Trafford
Walking distance to stadium tours
A short tram ride into Manchester city centre
Even if you’re not visiting for a match, the tram makes it easy to explore the city while returning to a more relaxed base outside the busiest downtown streets. But on matchday, you avoid traffic, stress, and parking chaos. You just walk across the street and that convenience alone is worth it.
Final Verdict: Is Hotel Football Worth It for Families?
If your family loves soccer and visiting for a Manchester United game, Hotel Football is a no brainer, this isn’t just a hotel, it’s part of the entire gameday experience. Between the rooftop pitch, stadium views, walkable match access, and family-friendly rooms, Hotel Football Manchester delivers an immersive stay that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
For a Manchester United weekend or soccer themed city break, this is the place to stay. And when your kids are playing on a rooftop pitch overlooking Old Trafford against kids from all around the world, you’ll know you made the right choice.
