With two famous football teams situated within Manchester's environs, the city offers an ideal family day out for football fans young and old, regardless of which team they support.

Situated in the Trafford borough of Manchester, Old Trafford is home to one of the most famous football clubs in the world, Manchester United. The club play in the English Premier League and are regulars in Europe's premier tournament, the Champions League.

Manchester United was founded in 1879 and before then were known as Newton Heath L&YR F.C. The club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and changed its strip colours from blue and white to red, white and black. The club moved from its old ground on Bank Street to its current Old Trafford home in 1910 where it has remained since with the exception of the period 1941 to 1948 where, having been bombed during the war, the club played its games at rivals Manchester City's Maine Road stadium.

More than 200,000 fans visit Old Trafford each year to explore the club's museum which is situated in the ground's North Stadium and the club runs regular tours of the museum and stadium which allow football fans the chance to discover the club's rich history. Some highlights of the tour include the chance to walk down the players' tunnel onto the Old Trafford pitch, visit the team's dressing room and the opportunity to sit in Sir Alex Ferguson's seat in the dugout as well as marvel at the trophy cabinet, which includes the Champions League trophy.

Travel across the city to where the City of Manchester Stadium is located and you will have arrived at the home of Manchester United's arch-rivals, Manchester City. The City of Manchester Stadium is a new development, with the club having moved to the stadium in 2003. Before then, the team played their games at the now-demolished Maine Road stadium in the city's Moss Side District.

As with Manchester United, the club operates a museum and tours of the stadium are available to football fans to explore the ground and learn of the club's history since its founding in 1880 where they were known as St Mark's (West Gorton) and then Ardwick Association Football Club, before becoming Manchester City in 1894.

Tours of The City of Manchester Stadium allow visitors the opportunity to visit the Directors' Box and team's dressing room as well as the opportunity to walk through the players' tunnel onto the pitch and visit the dugout while the club's museum offers a detailed exploration of the club's history with photographs and memorabilia from across the years.

So whether your kid supports the blue half of Manchester or the red half, a football stadium tour makes for an ideal day out for all the family and one which won't fail to impress regardless of team allegiance.

What's more, whether its Old Trafford or the City of Manchester stadium the admission prices for stadium tours are inexpensive, and coupled with a short stay in any of the budget hotels in Manchester situated close to either ground, it's possible to turn a family day out into a mini-break and take in both stadiums as well as the ample shopping opportunities the city centre provides.

Add in the numerous museums and other attractions and Manchester could prove an ideal destination for keeping kids entertained.

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