The best cheap hotels in Birmingham

An affordable hotel that still offers a pleasing amount of luxury, the AC Hotel is in the centrally-located The Mailbox area of Birmingham. The rooms are plain and corporate, but perfectly do-able, while the shared areas of the hotel are genuinely nice, especially the bar area. There’s a Black Sheep Coffee shop in-house and a more-than-decent gym, so there’s no excuse for leaving here feeling anything other than bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

The Aparthotel Adagio is close to the Bullring, Birmingham’s gargantuan shopping mall, which means the rest of the city central is within comfortable walking distance. Accommodation comes in the form of studios and apartments (for up to four people), which all come with TVs, kitchens, blackout curtains and free wifi. Breakfast is available on-site, and there’s a small gym; handily, reception is staffed 24-hours a day. Pets are allowed for a small supplement, should you want to bring your pooch on your travels. 

Head to the Jewellery Quarter for a stay in a former Silversmiths which has now been turned into a charming and unpretentious hotel. While a stay at Selina won’t break the bank, it will offer you a little bit of personalised charm not found in other budget chain hotels. We love the pastel colours used throughout and the communal dining areas.

A cosy, unpretentious hostel that has a range of accommodation options, from single rooms to 12-capacity dorms. The eight-person POD dormitary has individual curtains and reading lights. You’ll also find a lounge and bar here, plus a garden and a kitchen, and free wi-fi throughout. Not only is this place central, but it’s particularly close to the coach station and the Custard Factory, a chi-chi arts and shopping hub.

This modern spin on the no-frills format is a short walk from Birmingham New Street Station. Rooms are neat, pleasantly decorated in the brand’s signature orange, and have en suite showers. While some rooms have windows, some don’t, and there’s an additional charge for TV and wi-fi usage. There’s no bar or restaurant, and breakfast isn’t provided, so you’ll have to venture further afield when your tummy starts to rumble.

If you’re in Brum to go to the National Exhibition Centre or to fly out of the airport, this one’s a good shout. The 300-odd parking spaces may well come in handy, too. Rooms here certainly aren’t lavish, but they do have power showers, tea- and coffee-making facilities, plus a TV and a desk. The room rate includes free wi-fi and a hot buffet breakfast. There’s a bar and lounge, where food is served; late arrivals can take advantage of the 24-hour pizza menu.

Ibis Styles hotels are cheerful, contemporary lodgings that offer a fair old amount for your money. Their rooms are modest but decently equipped, with en suite showers, tea -and-coffee-making facilities and free wi-fi. Breakfast is included in the room rate. As the name suggests, it’s situated in the epicentre of town with Birmingham New Street station a short walk away. (FYI, there’s another Ibis Styles based nearer to Birmingham Airport.)