Trains to the Etihad Stadium
The Etihad Stadium is the home of Manchester City F.C. It is also one of the UK's best concert venues with a history of showcasing the world’s biggest and brightest stars. Whether you’re visiting for the next big fixture, a football stadium tour, or your favourite band, there are plenty of reasons to catch a train to Etihad Stadium with CrossCountry.
How to Get to the Etihad Stadium by train
To reach the Etihad by train with CrossCountry, catch a service to Manchester Piccadilly station. To get there on foot from Piccadilly, it takes just over thirty minutes. The route is well-lit and signposted. You can also catch a tram directly to the stadium. Take the blue line to Etihad Campus and you’ll be approaching the turnstiles within ten minutes.
You can reach Manchester on a wide range of CrossCountry services, whether you’re more local and travelling from stations like Stockport or Stoke-on-Trent, or making lengthier journeys from places like Bristol Temple Meads or Exeter St Davids.
Things to do at the Etihad Stadium
The best time to visit Etihad Stadium is on matchday. The excitement and anticipation of seeing your favourite team play at home is just impossible to beat, but if you’re a visiting fan, then the hope of an away win is great too. You’ll feel a wonderful sense of camaraderie with fans around you, plus watching professional football firsthand is a privilege in itself.
If you’re taking children to the Etihad, we recommend purchasing a ticket to the Kids Fanzone. Open until an hour and a half before the game starts, the Fanzone sees the pitch transform into a young football fan's dream. Learn skills and tricks, take a photo with the Premier League trophy, and be in with the chance of being a player mascot! It’s a truly unforgettable experience.
To extend the fun even more, why not book a stadium tour? Visitors get the chance to discover areas of the stadium that aren’t usually open to the public, and you can even enhance the experience with VR. The Etihad Stadium is fully accessible and offers a variety of additional tours, including one thoughtfully designed for individuals living with mild to moderate dementia. This experience helps participants to share and relive their favourite football memories whilst enjoying a calmer, quieter tour.
About the Etihad Stadium
If you’re a football fan, the Etihad Stadium is a place you’ll either love or loathe. It’s the home of Manchester City F.C., one of the most successful clubs in the UK with ten league titles, a Champions League victory in 2023, and plenty of other historic wins.
The Etihad Stadium's history actually dates back to its completion in 2002 as the venue for the Commonwealth Games. Later, it underwent a substantial redesign to accommodate football matches. It held its first football match in 2003, a friendly between Manchester City and Barcelona in which City won 2-1.
As well as regularly hosting football matches, the Etihad has hosted some incredible music concerts. The Red Hot Chilli Peppers were the first to take to the stage back in 2004, and since then, some of the biggest stars of the 21st century have played there.
The stadium is currently being expanded, with work scheduled for completion in late 2026. Once finished, it will accommodate more than 60,000 spectators, making every game and concert bigger and better than ever.
Places to Stay Near Etihad Stadium
There are lots of great accommodation options in Manchester, meaning you can enjoy the game without worrying about catching the last train home. Take a tram back to Piccadilly and you’re spoilt for choice. Stay in the stylish Native ApartHotel, set in a Victorian warehouse, or head to the Northern Quarter and stay at Cow Hollow Hotel, a trendy space in a converted textile mill.
In March 2025, Manchester City announced that it would be building a four-star hotel that would connect to the stadium. Set to open in late 2026, the hotel will be the most convenient place for football fans, concert goers, business travellers, and everyone in between to stay when visiting the Etihad.
Please note: CrossCountry is unable to support with any hotel related queries or booking requests. For further information, please contact the hotels mentioned directly.
If you’re planning to catch a train to Etihad Stadium, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.
