Manchester was the world’s first industrialised city, a powerhouse of textile manufacturing with a canal that allowed it to become a bustling port. The decline of the industrial era took its toll, but over the last couple of decades Manchester has been redesigned and regenerated, and now it’s back, glittering with new glass and concrete, and bursting with civic pride. Manchester’s incredible array of architecture has been updated and appreciated anew, with many buildings converted into fancy restaurants, boutiques and hotels. Our pick of the best places to stay in Manchester is a wide ranging mix, with everything on offer from five star luxury stays to pubs with rooms and chic little B&Bs. There really is something for all tastes and budgets here — there’s even a football themed hotel, which makes sense in a city with two world class football teams.

Some of our Manchester Collections:

• Top Manchester Hotels with pools
• Romantic Hotels in Manchester

Today’s Manchester is a big bustling city, with a myriad of reasons you might want to visit. The Piccadilly district is the place for shoppers and diners, the funky Northern Quarter is growing as a centre for galleries and cafes, while Salford is developing fast as Manchester's "Left Bank"! Chinatown, which is centred around George Street has been a feature of the city since the 1970s and is packed with restaurants, shops and karaoke bars. If you’re here for a taste of the nightlife, the best places to stay in Manchester may well be around the Millennium Quarter, which is also where you’ll find the cathedral and a number of high-end boutiques. Avid sightseers should consider the The Quays, where you'll find the Imperial War Museum North and The Lowry — home to the city of Salford’s collection of paintings by L.S. Lowry — or around Castlefield, where you’ll see the remains of the original Roman settlement.

The Best Places to Stay in Manchester

For Grand Dame Charm

• 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.

For Cool Kids

• Hotel Gotham is a name that might be hard to live up to, but this hotel does it with ease. The vibe is Art Deco, glamorously moody enough for Batman, but it would be a Batman film made by Wes Anderson — what with the fab traditional bellboys uniforms, typewriters on the walls, and black and white chevroned floors. There are 60 rooms in a good range of sizes, and the hotel’s restaurant, Honey, is becoming one of the chicest places to eat out in Manchester.
• The Edwardian is a grand conversion with a very contemporary finish. Outside this is Manchester’s historic Free Trade Hall, right in the centre of things, close to St. Peter’s Square, but inside it’s all clean edges and bright white finishes. The ground floor, with its high ceilings and open spaces, has hotel reception, the restaurants and bar, while the vaults, downstairs have been converted into a spa. The 263 rooms and suites are arranged on the top floors, offering many options when it comes to size and shape. Great location, great cocktails, and a lively vibe.

For a Fun City Break

• Abode Manchester is a really clever Victorian cotton warehouse conversion, where the 61 rooms and suites, plus stylish common areas, all feature nods to their past, but feel fresh and contemporary as well. Think parquet flooring, black and white tiles, and ironwork columns, but with fantastic library themed murals and lots of whitewash. The higher you climb the Grade II listed original staircase the larger your room, staring from Comfortable, and ending in apartment-sized suites called Fabulous on Fifth. The brasserie buzzes, and the bar hosts DJs.
• The Hotel Brooklyn is a Brooklyn NYC inspired hotel close to Canal Street and the bars of the Northern Quarter. It’s big, with 189 warehouse style rooms, and decor that includes high ceilings, exposed brickwork and piping, polished concrete and bold-lux fabrics and wallpapers. The restaurant and bar are unsurprisingly New York themed too. Surprisingly family friendly, and you’re allowed one dog per room, suite or apartment.
• Dakota Manchester is another hip Northern Quarter pick. Its 137 rooms and suites are decorated with a masculine feel, and plenty of gunmetal grey. It feels stylishly moody, and spacious enough to have Art Deco-style large furniture. We like the enormous windows and contemporary art. The bar and restaurant are lively, to match the location, and the menu riffs on British classics. Glamorous fun.
• Great John Street is a chic school conversion in the centre of Manchester, close to the Opera House and the Science and Industry Museum. There are just 30 rooms and suites, all of them unique, and while there’s no restaurant, there is a super cool rooftop lounge and bar.

For Luxury

• The Stock Exchange Hotel occupies Manchester’s former Stock Exchange, but the building is not as big as you’d think, because the hotel conversion has just 40 rooms and suites. The grand lobby space certainly has some of the notes of old banking, but generally the design is very contemporary. Rooms and suites offer luxury as standard and there's a fun 1920s style subterranean bar championing cocktails and music!

For Shoppers

• The Malmaison Manchester is a large and clever conversion, with plenty of style and great facilities. Guests can also enjoy French and British cuisine, and superb cocktails in a hip cocktail bar. There's also a luxurious spa, with a sauna and in-room treatment options; a gym; and several small, private screening rooms. A short walk to the shopping on King Street.

On the Waterfront

• The Lowry Hotel is an elegant, contemporary, glass-fronted building overlooking the River Irwell from its position on the livelier ‘left bank’. It’s big, light and contemporary inside. As well as the 165 spacious rooms and suites, The Lowry has a large QMS Skin Spa, a riverfront bar and grill and a gym. Elegant, and conveniently located.

Great Aparthotels

• Whitworth Locke is a stylish, and well positioned aparthotel, with a huge range of apartments, all decorated with simple Scandi style and a blush pink colour scheme. Converted from a 19th century cotton factory, this collection more than a hundred apartments also offers communal working space, a beautiful conservatory bar, a restaurant, cafe, a gym with fitness classes, and a 24 hour front desk. Each apartment has a kitchen, some of them quite high end. Family- and pet- friendly options too.
• Native Manchester is another cool warehouse conversion. It’s big, with 162 rooms, suites and apartments, all spaciously laid out, with industrial detailing, exposed brickwork, plush fabrics and blue and gold kitchenettes. All the rooms are laid out around a central atrium allowing lots of natural light. below that, on the ground floor, is the hotel’s buzzing hub, with work space, a cafe and deli, restaurant, bar, gym, terrace, and mini cinema. Just outside the door are more great places to eat and drink. Ideal for a longer stay too.

For a Lively Atmosphere

• The DogHouse Manchester is BrewDog’s hotel offering. It’s well located, and both the rooftop and downstairs bars are well frequented by guests as well as locals. BrewDog beers are served, plus cocktails, and hearty cuisine. The decor blends industrial and mid-century cool — with beer! And if you want you have the option of opening up an in-room draught tap.

For Families

• The Hotel Football is a cracking spot, offering views of Old Trafford, and owned by five former players. There are some cute details, but the decor is contemporary and monochromatic, the rooms simple and spacious, and the restaurant is family-friendly. The range of interconnecting rooms and family rooms is good too — they call them ‘Squad’ rooms!

For Couples

• The King Street Townhouse is a 40 room hotel, behind a wonderfully grand facade in a fantastic central spot. The style is classic, with boutique features. We like the size, but also the fantastic rooftop terrace and infinity pool overlooking the city! The spa has pretty incredible views too.
• Velvet is its 19 rooms and suites has been individually designed and decorated, and there’s an interesting collection of oddly shaped baths. The location, on hip and gay-friendly Canal Street, is perfect for a romantic break.

For a Peaceful Pick

• Eleven Didsbury Park is a charmingly converted Victorian villa close to the airport, with 19 rooms, a small gym and a mature walled-garden, but no restaurant. It will be too off-centre for some, but ideal for anyone prioritising peace and quiet, or else heading off to the airport.

For Great Value

• The Cow Hollow is a 16 room textile warehouse conversion close to the trendy Northern Quarter. Each of the rooms has been individually decorated, with a preference for exposed brick, marble in the bathrooms and lamps with linen shades that cast a pleasingly muted light. There’s no restaurant, but they serve breakfast in the cafe.
• Off-centre, but offering easy access to Manchester’s hubs, the Ainscow Hotel is a great value, industrial chic pick, with 70 rooms and suites decorated in simple shapes and a monochrome colour scheme, but with pops of orange. Plus there's a roof terrace and restaurant, and a gym.
• Roomzzz, Manchester City has a bit of a gimmicky name, but the idea is a solid one: offer simple, contemporary accommodation, including rooms and apartments, close to Manchester’s city centre, and for a reasonable price. There are 59 rooms and apartments to choose from, in a good range of shapes and sizes, and if you need a full kitchen with a dishwasher you can have one here. The rooms have been arranged within a quirky Victorian building, so there’s plenty of variety — some of the rooms have lots of natural light and views, while some exposed beams. There’s no restaurant, but the hotel offers a ‘grab’n’go’ breakfast each morning.

Prefer a Private Apartment?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Want to fly to Manchester?

• Outside of London, Manchester Airport is the UK’s largest with connections to hundreds of locations worldwide. It’s about 20 minutes outside the centre of town by car or train. Manchester has several major rail stations too: Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Victoria, and Manchester Piccadilly, which is to the south of the centre, and where you’ll arrive if you travel up from London (it takes just over two hours direct from Euston).
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• It's unlikely you're visiting Manchester for the weather, but the city's warmest months are also the busiest as far as festivals and events, so this is also the busiest time as far as accommodation, and numbers of people in town. This is a big city, with events on year round — including the football — so we recommend you compare dates for events before you book. And don't forget to pack your wet weather gear, whatever time of year you're visiting.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Refine your search by the type of accommodation you’re looking for and see just the best boutique hotels in Manchester, Manchester’s best spa hotels, Manchester’s best luxury hotels or even our pet friendly picks
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

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