- Amongst Manchester’s many hotel conversions, the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is one of the grandest, converted from a Grade II listed city landmark. The original features that have been maintained include vast open spaces with marble floors and fireplaces, stained glass windows, atriums, and stone pillars, You'll find suites with wood panelling, Victorian tile-work, and more than double height ceilings, with windows to match. The restaurant is popular with locals, as well as with guests, as are the hotel’s two bars. The best thing about a hotel this size is that it can be super romantic, while also being family friendly — the family suites are spacious and well laid out, or there’s a selection of interconnecting rooms, and there’s a kids’ menu in the restaurant.
- The Midland Manchester is another grand dame pick. Recently refurbished, it now offers an aesthetic of classic luxury, in shades of pale grey and chrome. There’s still plenty of tradition here, though, from afternoon tea under the atrium, to tortoise shell vanity units. Expect the finer things in the 312 rooms and suites, plus fine dining in the two restaurants, style in the bar, and a long treatment menu in the spa.