FAQs

frequently asked questions

How long does it take to visit?

On average we recommend 90 minutes for your visit. We also have a Gift Shop and The Dugout Cafe to enjoy once you have explored our four galleries.

Last admission is 4pm.

Do I need to purchase my admission ticket in advance?

Buying your ticket direct from the National Football Museum means you have unlimited access for a year. You can beat the queues by booking your preferred time of visit and save money on our standard admission rates. What’s not to love!

What’s included in my admission ticket?

All tickets booked direct with the National Football Museum are called Season Tickets, and include:

  • Museum admission – unlimited entry for 12 months (valid from date of first visit)
  • Free entry into special exhibitions
  • Guided tours
  • Workshops
  • Football+ interactive games *

*excluding Penalty Shootout

Please note: Group tickets, school tickets and tickets purchased through third party sellers are valid for date of visit only.

I don’t want an Season Ticket annual pass, as I’m only visiting once.

All admission tickets purchased direct from us are Season Tickets – there is no difference in price. You just get the added benefits!

Why are City of Manchester residents admitted free of charge?

Thanks to funding from Manchester City Council, the National Football Museum is able to offer free admission to City of Manchester residents and schools.

Eligible City of Manchester postcodes: M1, M2, M3, M4, M8, M9, M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16, M18, M19, M20, M21, M22, M23, M40, M90.  Please note that you must pay your council tax to Manchester City Council (as opposed to any other council) to be eligible for free admission.

What ID do I need to bring?

City of Manchester residents need to bring photo ID and something that shows your home address, for example driving licence, passport or council tax bill.

Concessions need to bring photo student ID. Art Pass and Museum Association need to show a valid membership card upon arrival.

Is the National Football Museum fully accessible?

Football is for all, and so is the National Football Museum. We want to make sure that everyone enjoys their visit.

Visit our Venue Access page for more information on the services we provide, along with useful resources and downloads to support your visit.

Is the National Football Museum suitable for young children?

We welcome visitors of all ages, and there’s plenty to entertain young and old fans alike throughout our four galleries.

For our youngest visitors, the Discovery Zone in the Play Gallery is ideal for the under-fives, providing a calm and safe space to introduce little ones to the world of football. For visitors seven and above, the Football+ interactives are a must-play! There’s also a range of free activity trails and family workshops, so check out our What’s On guide when planning your visit.

We do get busy during school holidays so make sure you book in advance to secure your slot (and save £££!). Queues for the Penalty Shootout can exceed 30 minutes at peak times.

Do you offer luggage storage facilities?

For security reasons we are unable to store bags or suitcases at the museum. There are a number of luggage storage services available across Manchester: https://www.visitmanchester.com/visitor-information/travel-information/left-luggage

Are you a dog-friendly venue?

We love dogs (especially Pickles – you can find out him in our Match Gallery) but for the comfort and safety of all our visitors, only service dogs are permitted in the museum.

Where is the nearest car parking?

We encourage our visitors to use the greenest transport option possible when travelling to the museum to contribute to the fight against climate change and reduce congestion and air pollution in the city centre.

The National Football Museum has excellent public transport links, and for those travelling by car the nearest car parks are:

AO Arena CitiPark: https://citipark.co.uk/car-parks/manchester/arena

Car Park Manchester Printworks | APCOA: https://citycentre.apcoa.co.uk/carpark/location/manchester-printworks/3878

Q-Park Deansgate North: https://www.q-park.co.uk/en-gb/cities/manchester/deansgate-north/

Visit the How To Get Here page for more information.

What else can we do in Manchester?

The National Football Museum is in the heart of the city centre, within the Medieval Quarter area.

Within the Medieval Quarter you will find: Manchester Corn Exchange, AO Arena, Chetham’s Library, The Stoller Hall, Manchester Cathedral, The Printworks and Arndale Shopping Centre.

We are also close to Manchester neighbourhoods: Greengate, NOMA, Northern Quarter and Central Retail District.

Visit Manchester is a great resource for planning your visit to the city: www.visitmanchester.com