The 21 best hotels in Manchester, for a time on the town

Above the glorious Ducie Street Warehouse is Native, Manchester's finest apart-hotel with a huge 162 stylish apartments all contained within a Grade II listed building. It's mightily impressive. Emerge from the lifts post-check-in to be greeted by a stunning view of the building's interior, a uniform seven floors of apartments housed around a grand spacious atrium. The apartments themselves don't disappoint, the exposed brick, wooden floors and enormous iron beams contrasting with the modern furniture and luxurious amenities. There's parking, a cinema and gym facilities and Native is very close to Piccadilly Station, so you're right in the action.

Time Out tip: Prices are incredibly reasonable here – and you can even bring your dog.

Pitching itself as a 'baby grand hotel', the Townhouse is an upmarket establishment with a select 40 rooms that include five suites. It’s in the former Manchester Salford Trustees Bank building, a nineteenth-century building that has helped lead this hotel to become one of the most charming in the city. The central location, plush decor and the atmospheric King Street Tavern restaurant combine to make a very appealing package.

Time Out tip: Be sure to check out the little infinity pool in the spa area – it's dreamy. 

What was the Palace Hotel went through a mammoth £25m revamp – and in 2016, out of it came this: the Principal, only to be renamed the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. It's a magnificent Victorian redbrick building, once the HQ of the Refuge Assurance Company, which has resplendent features (including a ballroom) and 270 loft-style bedrooms. A big attraction is Refuge, a bar-restaurant collaboration with Manchester's Volta, a huge space that manages to be both imposing and inclusive. It’s handy for the Palace Theatre and Oxford Road railway station. Pricey – but worth every penny. 

Time Out tip: Old Trafford's a 10-minute drive away – come on, Red Devils!

If there was ever a grande dame among Manchester’s hotels, it’s The Midland. It was opened in 1903 and has underwent an extensive revamp during lockdown. The resulting job is spectacular, from its auspicious public spaces to its luxurious, contemporary rooms. A major refurbishment and update throughout 2021 has given the place a fresh, contemporary feel amidst Victorian architecture, and it works brilliantly. Classic car fans should note the carving in the entrance: it commemorates this as the place where Mr Rolls met Mr Royce. 

Time Out tip: Afternoon tea here is something of a city tradition.

This gastropub with small, well-appointed, boutique-style bedrooms is to be found right in the middle of the Northern Quarter. The Abel Heywood’s rooms aren’t big, but they’re nicely kitted out, and the Wi-Fi is free. Breakfast comes extra but is a bargain and will most definitely set you up for the day: it includes the Manchester fry-up, featuring Bury black pudding. What's more, it’s served until noon. 

Time Out tip: It's an easy walk to most of central Manchester from the hotel, including music venues such as Manchester Arena.

Nestled next to HOME, this modern hotel from Melia is 10 floors of luxury with rooms, studios and suites, plus a wellness centre and ground-floor bar and restaurant. Naturally, the higher up you can stay, the better the views, and while the rooms are a little monotone grey, they're very comfortable, and rates are competitive for such a great location. Excellent breakfasts too – from continental to full fry-up – make INNSiDE a great choice for those not looking for the old-world charm of the more Victorian options in the city.

Time Out tip: Keen for some tapas? Check out the Mediterranean restaurant on-site. 

One of the city's big hitters, Dakota is a stylish, luxury boutique hotel close to Piccadilly train station, bordering the Northern Quarter and Ancoats. There are 137 rooms, including 27 suites, whilst the destination restaurant, The Grill, offers a sophisticated menu with seasonal ingredients and brasserie-style service. If you're feeling really posh, there's even a private dining area with waterside views.

Time Out tip: Dakota's a literal three-minute walk from Piccadilly station.

The Didsbury offers a greener, quieter go-to – but not too far outside the city centre. The 27 rooms at this branch of the Eclectic Hotel group are totally irresistible. They’re individually decorated in classic boutique, hotel-chic style; the smaller ones have standalone baths in the rooms, while the largest suites are more like small flats. Seriously, the biggest comes in 720 square feet.

Time Out tip: Check out the residents’ bar or the small gym on-site – either way, enjoy. 

The ABode is excellently placed for Manchester Piccadilly train station and the shopping/drinking delights of the Northern Quarter. Its building – a former nineteenth-century textile mill – retains some splendid period features. Bedrooms and suites are decorated in a gently quirky, modern style; the latter have extras such as Nespresso machines and Bose sound systems. 

Time Out tip: Looking to wine and dine in? You’ll find two bars and a modern European restaurant here, too.

This branch of the Malmaison empire was one of the first boutique-style hotels to open in Manchester. Based in an Edwardian warehouse, it’s a grand old building – and while there are 180 rooms here (amongst them, a handful of suites), it manages to retain an offbeat vibe. Splashes of colour jolt the decor; an on-site bar and brasseries on the premise, along with a small spa.

Time Out tip: Head to the spa for a quick pamper.

If you’re searching for serious Mancunian glamour, you’ll find it at the Gotham. In a city full of gorgeous, monumental buildings, Hotel Gotham stands out from the crowd. The 60 rooms in Edwin Lutyens’s Midland Bank building are spacious and luxurious: think faux-fur throws, brass fittings and jewel-coloured soft furnishings. There’s a fabulous restaurant and a club bar for dancing the night away.

Time Out tip: Visit the roof terrace – it's views are next level. 

Just across the road from Manchester Piccadilly station – and connected thither by a walkway – the Doubletree is a super-comfortable, modern hotel. Decor is the sort of phoned-in, international-hotel type you might expect, but the floor-to-ceiling windows mean the bedrooms are full of light. Plus, the views from the upper floors are astounding. There’s an on-site bar and a restaurant, plus a fitness centre, too.

Time Out tip: Both the Northern Quarter and Canal Street are an easy walk away.

The Hilton occupies the lower 23 floors of Manchester’s tallest building, the 47-floor Beetham Tower. It’s definitely an upscale option, right in the centre of the city – but it comes in at a sweeter price than you might expect (though note that there’s a charge for Wi-Fi). Bedrooms are sleekly corporate, while amenities include a pool, sauna and steam room.

Time Out tip: The big attraction is Cloud 23: a sky bar with wow-factor knockout views. One to get dressed up for.

Santiago Calatrava’s Trinity Bridge offers an elegant front porch of sorts to this striking waterside hotel, which is situated just across the river Irwell in Salford. It was built in 2001, then refurbed in 2015 and ’16, and holds 165 rooms, all furnished to a five-star standard. The Lowry also boasts glamorous restaurants and bars, a spa, a gym and a hair salon. Every guest is guaranteed a parking space, but it’s less than 10 minutes away from Manchester city centre.

Time Out tip: Stay in any one of the 12 luxury suites and you'll never want to leave. 

You couldn’t call the Manchester Piccadilly Hotel cosy, but its 338 rooms are all of a good size, and come with extras like iPod docking stations and free Wi-Fi – plus the sort of amenities you’d expect from a four-star hotel. The spa is certainly a big draw, with its steam room, sauna and roster of therapies and massages, but note that unless you’ve booked a treatment, there’s an entry fee to pay.

Time Out tip: Need a mani-pedi? Visit the on-site nail bar. Yes, you read that right. 

Yet another magnificent Manchester building – in this case, the former Free Trade Hall – that now houses a top-notch hotel. The Radisson Blu Edwardian offers five-star luxury without pretension. It’s huge, with 263 rooms and suites (the latter offering far-reaching views of the landscape below), two restaurants and a champagne bar. There’s also a spa with a gym, pool, sauna, steam room and whirlpool bath to enjoy.

Time Out tip: Dine at the 'Best Luxury Restaurant' of 2019 at the on-site Peter Street Kitchen.

The Novotel is a well-priced option in the Chinatown area of Manchester. As befitting of an international chain it has a clean, somewhat corporate look – but is still a good place for families, even those with pets in tow. Dogs are permitted, albeit at a slight extra charge. There's free Wi-Fi, a restaurant and bar, and a fitness centre.

Time Out tip: Netflix and chillin'? Order room service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Out of the successful Velvet bar and restaurant came this offshoot hotel, an established big-hitter in Manchester’s Gay Village. The decor throughout is what you might term unrestrained, creating a fun, slightly decadent vibe. This is an independent establishment with just 24 rooms, making this a great choice for anyone bored with big, bland chain hotels. It’s also a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly station.

Time Out tip: Breakfast is a continental offering – that can be delivered to your room every morning if you wish.

An aparthotel, Roomzzz offers serviced rooms and suites with kitchenettes in the city centre. The decor is pared-down and contemporary; facilities include a microwave and a dishwasher. There are communal washer-dryers too. The larger suites are more like apartments, mostly on two levels. Continental breakfast is included in the price, as is Wi-Fi, and guests can also access deals on parking and local gym day membership.

Time Out tip: Staff really go the extra mile here. Enjoy – and award - the effort.

This Marriott-owned hotel in Salford ticks all sorts of boxes. The reasonably priced rooms are a decent size and come with Wi-Fi and breakfast included. There’s also a fitness centre, a restaurant and bar, and various parking options. It’s also very handily placed if you're visiting Old Trafford, the Lowry Arts Centre or the Imperial War Museum North, or working in MediaCity – they’re all walking distance from the hotel.

Time Out tip: Parking is limited and on a first-come-first-serve basis at £10/night.

Based near Old Trafford – Manchester United’s legendary stadium – the appropriately named Hotel Football is the brainchild of ex-players Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs. It’s ultra-modern, with a slightly blokish edge to the decor: clean lines, monochrome shades, and accents of strong colour. Equally unsurprisingly, in-room TVs offer all the Sky Sports channels. 

Time Out tip: Enjoy a beer at Café Football, sit back, relax and watch the footie.