Where to Stay in Manchester: Best Areas & Hotels
One of England's largest cities, Manchester has no shortage of hotels for travelers. From Art Deco luxury to basic budget, there is something for all kinds of tourists, whether you're on a romantic vacation or a family holiday.
The city center has a number of good areas for travelers to base themselves, including the trendy Northern Quarter, which is filled with a number of luxury and mid-range sleeping options, like the Cow Hollow Hotel, perfect for couples, and the quirky, good-value Abel Heywood. This area is also home to eclectic restaurants, cafés, and boutique shops.
Market Street and Exchange Square are also popular shopping and sightseeing areas not far from the Northern Quarter. Other major Manchester sights in the vicinity include the National Football Museum, housed in a glass and steel building, and the impressive Gothic cathedral and opera house.
The Old Trafford area, where Manchester United football club has their stadium, is another spot to check out in town, with hotels, shops, and eateries. Also take a look around King Street, where you'll find grand dame luxe properties like the opulent Hotel Gotham.
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Where to Stay in Manchester for Luxury
Inside an Art Deco building, which once served as a bank, the opulent Hotel Gotham is a top five-star property with an excellent central location on King Street. The hotel is less than a five-minute walk from the Manchester Art Gallery, and there are numerous shops just outside its front door. Inside, you'll find over-the-top decor with lots of gold - everything from the gold-tiled, top-floor private members' club to gold bar toiletry holders in the bathrooms.
Rooms and suites also pay homage to the bank theme and come with leather headboards, comfy beds, grey-hued walls, and marble bathrooms with monsoon showers. On-site amenities include a modern British restaurant and a top-floor terrace with panoramic city views. Paid parking is also available.
Another centrally located luxury sleep is the King Street Townhouse on Booth Street inside an ornate building dating back to 1872. It is near museums, galleries, shops, and restaurants. There are 40 rooms and suites at this intimate boutique hotel, and all feature Modern British decor, comfy beds, and rainfall showers. Some also include freestanding baths.
Amenities include a rooftop infinity pool with sweeping city views, a restaurant, a lounge serving a stellar afternoon tea, a gym, and spa.
Inside a converted Victorian schoolhouse, the Great John Street Hotel is within walking distance of the Opera House and just a few minutes' walk from Deansgate, which is home to numerous shops and restaurants. It offers luxe rooms and suites with super high ceilings, massive windows, and original chandeliers, which make them feel spacious and decadent.
The decor is equally swanky, making use of crushed velvet fabrics and featuring giant beds, which are extra comfy and draped in high thread count linens. On-site amenities include a cafe serving breakfast and a rooftop terrace with a hot tub and panoramic city views.
Where to Stay in Manchester: Mid-Range
INNSIDE Manchester is one of the best mid-range sleeps in the city. Located in the First Street development, it is less than a 10-minute walk from attractions like the Museum of Science and Industry. The rooms come with stylish modern decor and are clean and comfortable. There are also suites with city views and pullout couches in the living rooms, which are a good choice for families.
On-site amenities include a Mediterranean restaurant, spa, sauna, gym, and hot tub. Parking is available for a fee.
Another good-value sleep in a central location is the Holiday Inn Manchester - City Centre on the edge of the hip Northern Quarter, which is filled with trendy shops and cafes. This hotel offers a range of rooms and suites, which are all done up in modern style and come with comfortable beds draped in cotton linens, as well as flatscreen TVs and free Wi-Fi.
The property is kid-friendly, offering children under 18 a free stay and free food in the hotel restaurant when accompanied by an adult guest. Other on-site amenities include a games room with vintage video games, as well as plenty of board game selections and a small fitness center.
Abel Heywood is also in the hip Northern Quarter and is a trendy boutique guesthouse with just 15 rooms. This hotel is also great value and has a distinct local vibe. The rooms come in a variety of sizes, and the most basic are on the small side, but still comfortable, and come with exposed brick wallpaper featuring a cityscape imposed above the bed, dark wood furniture, and patterned carpets. The loft rooms have more space and a pullout sofa bed. The property is better suited to couples rather than families.
Where to Stay in Manchester on a Budget
Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Arena/Printworks) Hotel is a top budget pick in a very central location, within walking distance of much of the top sightseeing in the city. It sits inside a modern high-rise building and offers basic but comfortable rooms, which range in size from twins to family rooms with two pullout sofa beds. Part of a chain, the hotel features the branded Thyme restaurant, as well as free parking on-site.
Travelodge Manchester Upper Brook Street is a solid budget choice if you want to stay near the University of Manchester campus or the Manchester Eye Hospital. Rooms are small but tidy, with modern furnishings and splashes of color to brighten them up. Beds are comfy and come topped in crisp white linens. Away from the rooms, amenities include a cafe, which serves three meals a day, and free parking.
Where to Stay in Manchester for Families
Hilton Garden Inn Manchester Emirates Old Trafford will appeal to cricket fans, as its location in the Emirate Old Trafford cricket ground comes with history. Speaking of sports, the property is also just a 10-minute walk from the Old Trafford football stadium, which hosts the city's most revered team: Manchester United.
The rooms are basic but comfortable with flatscreen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and mini-fridges, and the ones oriented towards families feature pullout sofa beds. There is an on-site restaurant; workout room; and 24-hour convenience store, which is another perk for parents. Free parking is also available.
Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Piccadilly) Hotel is an easy walk from the Piccadilly rail station and a top budget choice for families. The rooms are basic but clean, with comfortable pillow-top mattress beds, and they are available in a range of sizes, from singles to family rooms.
A perk of staying here with kids is that children under 16 stay and eat for free when accompanied by an adult guest. On-site amenities include a restaurant and paid parking.
Where to Stay in Manchester for Couples
The Cow Hollow Hotel is located in a converted textile warehouse and is a fun sleep for couples looking for an industrial-swank boutique sleep in a fun neighborhood: the trendy Northern Quarter.
The rooms are designer stylish, with features like exposed-brick or stone accent walls and fireplaces in many. They also come with free Wi-Fi and smart TVs with Netflix plus a milk and cookie service before bed.
A serious perk for couples is the included breakfast served to you in the room. There is also an on-site cafe.
If you're celebrating a special romantic occasion and wish to be pampered, the Radisson Blu Edwardian Manchester is a five-star sleep inside the legendary Free Trade Hall on Peter Street in the City Center. It is located amid shops and restaurants and just a few minutes' walk from the Manchester Opera House and only slightly farther from the Palace Theatre.
The elegant rooms and suites feature original artwork, leather headboards, deep crimson fabrics, and neutral-hued furnishings and walls. Many rooms also feature stunning city views, while suites come with enclosed patio areas.
On-site amenities include a restaurant focused on surf and turf, a lounge serving afternoon tea, an indoor swimming pool, posh spa, and a workout room.
Where to Stay in Manchester near the Airport
Sometimes you just want to stay as near to the airport as possible, especially if you are arriving super late at night or leaving very early in the morning. Manchester has some good hotel choices not far from the airport.
The absolute closest selection, however, is the Radisson Blu Hotel, Manchester Airport. It is the only hotel connected to the airport's moving walkway that connects terminals 1, 2 and the train station, so you won't need to take any sort of shuttle.
The 4-star property features modern rooms and suites with nice decor and amenities like room service. There is also an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, spa and restaurant, so you won't have to wander far and can just focus on sleeping off that jet lag.
A more affordable property near the airport is the Premier Inn Manchester Airport South. The 2-star hotel offers free shuttle bus transport to and from the airport. It has clean and comfortable rooms, as well as an on-site restaurant. The front desk is open 24 hours a day.
