Manchester hotels

For a glamorous getaway in the heart of Manchester, you can’t beat Hotel Gotham. Located on bustling King Street – right in the middle of the city center and just a 10-minute walk to Piccadilly railway station – it’s hard to miss thanks to its grand Art Deco facade, which was formerly a branch of the Midland Bank.
The building’s history is fully embraced in the hotel’s opulent décor, which makes the most of the old bank doors and the main staircase’s gleaming brass banister, as well as quirkier touches like moneybag do-not-disturb signs and piggy bank-shaped biscuits in all the rooms.
Decadence is the order of the day here, with rooms decked out in faux fur throws and jewel-colored soft furnishings, and a gold-tiled private members’ club on the top floor offering spectacular views over the city below.

This elegant Grade II-listed property might just be Manchester’s most famous hotel, having first opened in 1903 as a luxurious railway retreat on Peter Street. If you’re looking for somewhere for a romantic weekend with an instant wow factor, this is it.
Stepping into the grand tiled lobby feels like being instantly transported to a bygone era, while the hotel’s original marble-lined corridors remain, built to be wide enough so that two women in gowns could walk down side by side. The hotel’s main claim to fame? It’s said this is where Rolls met Royce, and you’ll find Rolls Royce-themed artworks lining the walls.
Evenings here begin with a glass of champagne in the hotel bar, before settling down to a modern-British tasting menu at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, The French. For a spot of pampering, there’s also a tranquil spa, with a relaxation pool, whirlpool tub, and treatment rooms.

As the name would suggest, this glitzy hotel is housed in Manchester’s former Stock Exchange, an Edwardian baroque beauty first opened in 1906. Now a luxurious 40-room retreat close to Manchester’s main cultural attractions and owned by former Manchester United footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, it’s one of the most spectacular places to stay in the city thanks to its heady mix of heritage and modern sophistication.
The ornate interiors feature many of the building’s most striking original features, including lavish marble floors and columns, while the hotel restaurant, Stock Market Grill, is housed on the building’s former trading floor under an impressive domed ceiling.
The rooms are decked out in chic neutral tones with elegant touches like marble-topped desks, but for a truly unforgettable stay opt for The House on the top floor, a three-bedroom suite with its own private roof terrace.

Located on the edge of Manchester’s hip Northern Quarter – one of my favorite neighborhoods – this luxury boutique hotel ticks all the boxes when it comes to style and substance. Sultry interiors reflect the hotel’s dramatic black façade, with a moody palette of dark and muted tones used throughout the rooms and public spaces, lending the entire property an old-school glamour vibe.
There’s plenty of luxury here too, from the dedicated champagne room to the chic cigar terrace. The rooms are just as classy, whether you opt for a Classic Double, which comes with a feather-soft bed and underfloor heating as standard, or the magnificent Grand Deluxe Suite, said to be the largest suite in all of Manchester.
If you can drag yourself away from your room, head to the Dakota Grill restaurant and order one of their signature prime-cut steaks washed down with a glass of red.

For a slice of New York-style living in the heart of Manchester, book a stay at Leven. The stylishly appointed building has a cool loft-style layout, with rooms boasting exposed brick walls, Crittall windows, and oak parquet floors. Making the most of the hotel’s name – which means ‘to live’, taken from old English with origins in the Dutch word ‘leven’ – each of the rooms has been designed to make you feel right at home, with deep bathtubs for soaking in and carefully curated artworks lining the walls.
Located near Manchester’s Canal Street, the center of the city’s Gay Village, there are plenty of brilliant bars and restaurants on the doorstep here, but if you’d rather stay put head to the hotel’s renowned Lobby Bar, which is my favorite place to go for a cocktail (don’t leave without trying the Black Forest Martini).

This small boutique hotel in the city’s hip Northern Quarter, a five-minute walk from Manchester’s main shopping stretch, Market Street, may only have 16 rooms, but each one packs a mighty punch. Housed in a former textile warehouse, there are nods to the building’s history everywhere you turn, with exposed beams and original antique doors in the rooms.
But there are plenty of stylish modern touches too, particularly in the lobby, where you’ll be greeted by lush palm fronds and a striking marble-clad cocktail bar. It’s the extra details that set this property apart, from the Hypnos beds, Netflix access, and rainfall showers in the rooms to the complimentary prosecco in the evening and free milk and cookies before bed.

You can’t fail to be impressed by the imposing façade at this five-star hotel in the heart of the city center, housed in Manchester’s’ Grade II-listed Free Trade Hall, which dates back to 1853. A multi-million-pound refurb has added some thoroughly modern touches to the property, including a smart glass-fronted annex for the hotel’s 263 rooms.
There’s an earthy color palette throughout which lends the hotel a rich, luxurious air, with deep chocolate and red fabrics in the rooms. The award-winning hotel restaurant, Peter Street Kitchen, is a destination in its own right, serving up delicious Mexican and Japanese small plates, while the hotel also boasts an elegant spa in the basement vaults, with a 12-meter swimming pool – something of a rarity in Manchester hotels.

While the main draw at this charming boutique hotel is undoubtedly the rooftop infinity pool – which offers spellbinding views of the Town Hall clock tower – there’s plenty to love at this luxurious bolt hole, located on quiet Booth Street.
Each of the 40 rooms has been decorated by the former owner Sally O’Loughlin, who hand-picked everything from the locally commissioned artworks on the walls to the books on the shelves. No two rooms are alike – one might come with a rolltop bathtub, while the next might feature a custom-made headboard.
There’s a small but excellent spa on the seventh floor where you can book ESPA treatments and wallow in that city-view pool, as well as a 20-seat cinema in the vaulted cellar. There’s also a delightful afternoon tea lounge and The Tavern restaurant is one of my favorite places to book to commemorate a special occasion.

Just across the road from the Oxford Road railway station, this luxury property couldn’t be better located. Designed by Manchester’s most famous architect, Alfred Waterhouse, and housed in an imposing terracotta Victorian building that was once the headquarters of The Refuge Assurance Company, the hotel is quite a sight to behold.
The interiors are no less impressive, with the lobby featuring a spectacular glass dome and grand stone pillars. There are plenty of original touches in the rooms too, with wood-paneled walls, glazed tiles and floor-to-ceiling windows complementing the stylish neutral color scheme.
While its enviable location means you’re well placed to sample Manchester’s thriving culinary scene, some of the city’s finest eating and drinking spots can be found in the hotel itself, from cocktails in the charming Winter Garden to dinner in the industrial-chic Refuge Dining Room, which dishes up a delightful selection of small plates.

For a cool getaway with friends, Whitworth Locke is the place to be. Located on Princess Street, a short walk from Chinatown and the bustling bars of Manchester’s Gay Village, this property is one of the most stylish in the city, thanks to the fact it was designed by legendary New York architects Grzywinski+Pons.
They’ve transformed a former 19th-century cotton factory into a hip aparthotel hangout, with pastel pink rooms and studios that come with comfortable king-sized beds and fully equipped kitchenettes. There’s a leafy co-working space where you can sink into a sofa or beanbag for the afternoon, as well as the beautifully designed Locker Room gym in the cellar, which hosts regular yoga classes.
You’ll also find a Peruvian-inspired restaurant, Peru Perdu, serving up ceviche and plant-based dishes, as well as a beauty salon and tattoo parlor in a converted swimming pool in the basement.