On the top floor of the Urbis building — the glass-and-steel triangular wedge in Cathedral Gardens that Ian Simpson designed in 2002 and which became the National Football Museum a decade later — there is a small glass case containing a slightly grubby blue cotton-mix shirt with white stripes on the sleeves. It is the shirt Diego Maradona wore on 22 June 1986, when Argentina played England in the World Cup quarter-final at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The shirt — and the hand inside it — scored the “Hand of God” goal in the 51st minute. Four minutes later, the same player ran 60 yards through five England outfielders to score what FIFA later voted the Goal of the Century. The shirt was swapped post-match with Steve Hodge and lives, now, in Manchester. Just one of 140,000 items in the collection. Adult entry £13.50, free for City of Manchester residents.
This is the 2026 visitor guide to the National Football Museum — what’s inside, how to visit, the pricing structure and the brilliant free-for-Manchester-residents policy, the 12-month return ticket benefit, and the 2025 Lionesses Hall of Fame induction. For wider context see our Manchester football and sports pillar and the free museums in Manchester guide.
National Football Museum at a glance
- Address: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Todd Street, Manchester M4 3BG
- Hours: Daily 10am–5pm, last admission 4pm
- Admission: Adult £13.50 online / £14 walk-up; Child (5–15) £6.50; Under 5 free; Family £29
- Free for City of Manchester residents with photo ID and proof of M-postcode address
- All tickets valid 12 months unlimited returns when booked direct
- How long: 2–3 hours typical; 90 minutes for highlights
- Football Plus+ interactive games: £10 add-on
- Nearest transport: Manchester Victoria train and tram (2 min walk); Shudehill Metrolink (3 min walk)
The Urbis Building — and how the museum ended up here
The Urbis Building was designed by Ian Simpson (now SimpsonHaugh, also responsible for Beetham Tower) as part of the post-1996 IRA bomb regeneration of Manchester city centre. Opened on 27 June 2002, it is a six-storey wedge of around 2,200 horizontal glass panes — fully glazed, deliberately conspicuous, an architectural statement of the new Manchester. The original concept was a “Museum of the City”, which opened in 2002 and failed quickly; it rebranded as the Urbis exhibition centre for popular culture from 2004 to early 2010, when it closed.
The National Football Museum had originally opened at Preston North End’s Deepdale stadium on 21 June 2001 (officially opened by the Duke of Kent). Funding problems forced the Deepdale site to close in April 2010. Manchester City Council, sensing an opportunity, offered the empty Urbis Building plus £2m/year in funding (against Lancashire’s counter-offer of £400,000). The trustees voted in 2009 to relocate. The NFM reopened in Manchester on 6 July 2012, and has been here since.
Visitor numbers hit the 350,000/year target by April 2013; reached 500,000+ by 2017; the museum has been Manchester’s most-visited paid attraction for several years running.
Tickets and prices in 2026
Standard tickets
- Adult: £13.50 online advance / £14 walk-up
- Child (5–15): £6.50
- Under 5: FREE
- Family (2 adults + up to 3 children): £29
- Football Plus+ interactive games: £10 add-on (sometimes discounted to £5 via Wowcher and similar voucher platforms)
The 12-month return ticket benefit
This is the museum’s killer USP and the bit most guides don’t explain properly: any ticket bought direct via nationalfootballmuseum.com is valid for unlimited returns for 12 months. If you live in or visit Manchester regularly, your £13.50 buys you a year-pass not a day-pass. Don’t book via third-party resellers — they don’t include the 12-month benefit. Book direct.
Discount routes
Days Out Guide offers a 15% discount when arriving by train (proof of rail ticket required at entry). Wowcher and Groupon periodically discount the Football Plus+ add-on. Our Pass (Greater Manchester young persons’ pass) covers free entry for 16–18s. Museums Association members and Art Pass holders enter free.
Free for City of Manchester residents — the bit you must read carefully
This is the most-misunderstood NFM policy, and getting it right will save you a tense conversation at the door:
FREE entry is available to City of Manchester residents only — meaning people who pay their council tax to Manchester City Council. Eligible postcodes: M1, M2, M3, M4, M8, M9, M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16, M18, M19, M20, M21, M22, M23, M40, M90.
Greater Manchester residents in Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Bury, Bolton, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale and Wigan do NOT qualify — even though they’re “in Manchester” in the colloquial sense. This catches a lot of people out because most articles incorrectly say “Greater Manchester residents”. They don’t.
Proof required: photo ID (driving licence or passport) PLUS proof of address (council tax bill, utility bill, or driving licence with an M-postcode address). Take both. If your photo ID already has your M-postcode address on it, that single document covers both requirements.
The Urbis Building floor by floor
The museum spans four floors connected by escalators and a glass lift. The visitor flow is up to the top floor first, then work down. Allow 2–3 hours for a thorough visit; 90 minutes for highlights only.
Match Gallery (the headline floor)
The largest space and the heart of the collection. Organised into thematic zones:
The Game — the original 1863 first Laws of the Game (the founding document of association football, written at the inaugural Football Association meeting at the Freemasons’ Tavern in Holborn), plus the shirt from the first international match (Scotland vs England, 30 November 1872).
Fans — the original L.S. Lowry Going to the Match painting (1928 oil; the same painting recently acquired for The Lowry in Salford Quays features here on temporary loan periodically).
Competition — the world’s oldest surviving FA Cup trophy (used 1896–1910, after the original trophy was stolen from a Birmingham shop window in 1895 and never recovered).
England on the World Stage — the showpiece area. Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt (22 June 1986, Argentina vs England, Estadio Azteca); replica Jules Rimet Trophy from the 1966 World Cup final; the actual 1966 World Cup Final match ball; Geoff Hurst hat-trick memorabilia.
Stadiums — original wooden seats and a turnstile from the old Wembley (the 1923 “White Horse Wembley”).
Media — John Motson’s iconic sheepskin coat.
Players — the only Victoria Cross won by a professional footballer (Donald Bell, killed at the Somme 1916); “The Art of the Game” Eric Cantona painting.
“Our Beautiful Game” — a 10-minute cinema film as you enter the gallery.
Pitch Gallery
Trophies — FA Cup and Premier League trophy replicas. The actual Premier League trophy is sometimes on display in the build-up to and aftermath of season-defining matches.
Hall of Fame — full inductee wall with portraits and biographies of every inductee. Inducted in 2025: the entire Lionesses Euro 2025-winning squad and manager Sarina Wiegman, along with USWNT head coach Emma Hayes (Manchester ceremony, 30 September 2025) and Ashley Cole (March 2025).
Changing exhibition space — runs rotating shows. Recent exhibits have included “Admiral: 50 Years of the Replica Shirt” (June–July 2024) and Euro 2024 retrospective.
Play Gallery (Football Plus+ £10 add-on)
The interactive games gallery — six paid attractions including:
- Penalty shootout against a goalkeeper avatar (often 20–30 minute queue at peak)
- Commentary booth — record your own commentary over archive match footage
- Skills tests — keepy-uppy and ball-control challenges
- VR football experience
- Football for All zone — accessible play options
- Discovery Zone for under-5s
The Play Gallery is worth the £10 if you have kids 7+, or if you’re a serious football fan. Skip it if you’re an adult on a quick visit.
Score Gallery
Rotating special exhibitions — usually themed around major football events (the Lionesses Euro win, the men’s World Cup, anniversaries).
Top 10 must-see items in the collection
- Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt (1986) — the Match Gallery showpiece.
- 1966 World Cup Final match ball — the actual ball used at Wembley on 30 July 1966.
- 1863 FA Laws of the Game — the founding document of association football.
- L.S. Lowry’s Going to the Match (the museum holds a Lowry; the bigger Salford collection is at The Lowry).
- Oldest surviving FA Cup trophy (1896–1910).
- 1872 first international shirt — Scotland vs England.
- World’s oldest women’s football kit — from the British Ladies Football Club, 1890s.
- Sir Stanley Matthews collection — the largest single-player archive in the museum.
- Pelé memorabilia — boots and shirts from his Brazil 1958 World Cup-winning campaign.
- Sir Bobby Moore collection — the England captain’s 1966 World Cup-winning kit.
The 2024-2025 Hall of Fame inductees
The NFM’s Hall of Fame recognises the most significant figures in English football. Recent inductees:
- August 2025: The entire Lionesses squad that won Euro 2025 in Switzerland (England’s first major trophy on foreign soil and first retention) plus head coach Sarina Wiegman — an unprecedented mass induction.
- September 2025: Emma Hayes (USWNT head coach, formerly Chelsea Women) — ceremony at the NFM Manchester, 30 September 2025.
- March 2025: Ashley Cole — inducted at the St George’s Park ceremony.
The Hall of Fame display on the Pitch Gallery includes portraits, biographies and signature items from every inductee.
Family visit / kids
The NFM is genuinely brilliant for kids — particularly football-mad ones. Highlights:
- Football Plus+ Play Gallery (paid £10 add-on) — the penalty shootout and skills tests are the headline.
- Discovery Zone for under-5s — soft play with football themes.
- Children’s activity sheets at reception, free.
- Replica trophies — kids can hold the Jules Rimet, the World Cup, the FA Cup for photos.
- Holiday workshops during school holidays — half-day football-themed activities.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Buggies welcome; baby-changing on multiple floors.
Café, shop, facilities
The Dugout Café on the ground floor serves football-themed snacks and drinks daily 10am–4pm (the “Gaffer’s Special” hot drink + cake is £5). Card payment only — no cash. Dog-friendly (assistance dogs welcome anywhere; well-behaved dogs in the café).
The museum shop (in-store and online at nationalfootballmuseum.com) stocks Lionesses Hall of Fame merchandise (post-2025 induction), kits, retro memorabilia, books, signed prints. Worth a browse.
Accessibility: automatic doors at the entrance, staffed lift to all four floors, wheelchairs on request at reception, accessible toilets on multiple levels, a private baby-feeding room, buggy park near the main entrance. The museum is fully step-free.
Is the National Football Museum worth visiting? Honest verdict
For football fans — absolutely. The collection includes items you cannot see anywhere else (Maradona’s Hand of God shirt being the most-obvious example). The 12-month return ticket is genuinely good value if you’re a Manchester regular or local. The Hall of Fame Lionesses display is a properly important cultural artefact.
For casual visitors with no particular football interest, the verdict is more mixed — TripAdvisor reviews note some find the depth-to-price ratio underwhelming for £14, particularly compared with the city’s other excellent free museums. The 12-month return makes it strong value if you’re spending a few days in Manchester; less so as a one-off two-hour visit.
If you’re local, it’s a no-brainer: free entry, 12-month return, regularly updated content. If you’re visiting from further afield, prioritise it if you’re a football fan and add the Play Gallery; deprioritise it if your time is limited and you’ve already booked a stadium tour.
What to combine with your NFM visit
The Urbis sits in Manchester’s medieval quarter, between the Northern Quarter and NOMA. Within 5 minutes’ walk:
- Manchester Cathedral — opposite, free, beautiful interior.
- Chetham’s Library — next door, pre-booked guided tours of the oldest free public library in the English-speaking world.
- Printworks and Corn Exchange — modern entertainment and food complexes.
- Arndale Shopping Centre — 5 minutes’ walk.
- Northern Quarter — 5 minutes’ walk; independent shops, bars, restaurants.
- Manchester Arena — directly opposite (you can see it from the museum).
For the wider Manchester football experience, combine with Old Trafford or the Etihad — both easy 15-minute tram rides from Victoria.
FAQ — National Football Museum Manchester
Is the National Football Museum free?
Not for general visitors. Standard adult admission is £13.50 online / £14 on the door. However, City of Manchester residents (M1, M2, M3, M4, M8, M9, M11–M16, M18–M23, M40, M90 postcodes) enter free with photo ID and proof of address.
How much is the National Football Museum?
Adult £13.50 online / £14 door; Child (5–15) £6.50; Family £29; Under-5s free. Football Plus+ interactive games £10 add-on. All direct-booked tickets valid for unlimited returns for 12 months.
Is NFM free for Manchester residents?
Yes — but only for City of Manchester residents (M1–M4, M8, M9, M11–M16, M18–M23, M40, M90 postcodes). Greater Manchester residents in Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Bury, Oldham etc. do NOT qualify and must pay standard admission. Bring photo ID and proof of address.
How long should I spend at the football museum?
2–3 hours typical for the full four floors; 90 minutes for highlights only. Football superfans easily spend half a day; families with kids can cover the main exhibits in 90 minutes.
What’s at the National Football Museum?
140,000+ items including Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt, the 1966 World Cup Final match ball, the world’s oldest surviving FA Cup trophy (1896–1910), the world’s oldest women’s football kit (1890s), the 1872 first international captain’s shirt, the original 1863 FA Laws of the Game, L.S. Lowry’s Going to the Match, Sir Stanley Matthews and Sir Bobby Moore collections, Pelé memorabilia, the Hall of Fame, and the Football Plus+ interactive games.
Where is the National Football Museum?
Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Todd Street, Manchester M4 3BG. A 2-minute walk from Manchester Victoria station, opposite Manchester Cathedral and next door to Chetham’s Library.
Is the National Football Museum worth visiting?
For football fans, yes — particularly with the 12-month return benefit and the iconic items like Maradona’s shirt. For casual visitors, it’s more mixed value compared to Manchester’s free museums. If you’re local, it’s a no-brainer.
What are the opening times?
Daily 10am–5pm, last admission 4pm. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Can children go to the National Football Museum?
Yes — under-5s free; children 5–15 £6.50; family ticket £29. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Is there parking at the National Football Museum?
No on-site parking. NCP Shudehill, NCP Manchester Arena, and NCP Printworks within 5 minutes’ walk. Smarter option: train or tram to Victoria.
Did the Lionesses get inducted into the Hall of Fame?
Yes — the entire Euro 2025-winning Lionesses squad and manager Sarina Wiegman were inducted in August 2025 in an unprecedented mass induction. Emma Hayes (USWNT) was inducted at Manchester on 30 September 2025. Ashley Cole was inducted in March 2025.
Plan more of your Manchester visit
The National Football Museum pairs naturally with the wider Manchester football and sports cluster. Our Old Trafford tour guide and Etihad tour guide cover the two big stadium pilgrimages; our United vs City comparison helps you choose between them; our match tickets guide covers how to attend an actual game; our other sports guide covers the cricket, cycling, rugby and boxing beyond football. For the wider city museum context, see our free museums in Manchester guide and museums and culture pillar.
