Manchester
The best hotels in Manchester: from a Victorian townhouse to a railway palace
Manchester’s best hotels are in old banks, warehouses and a stock exchange, a short walk from each other in the city centre. Here are the ten Picolo recommends, sorted by luxury, boutique, history, football and budget, with guest ratings and who each one suits.
7 November 20269 min
Picolo Editorial
Manchester has changed more in the last twenty years than almost any city in Britain, and its hotels show it. Old banks, warehouses, a stock exchange and a railway hotel now take guests, and the best of them are a short walk from each other in the city centre. These are the ten hotels Picolo recommends, sorted by the kind of stay you want.
In short: the best hotels in Manchester
Highest rated: the Stock Exchange Hotel and Dakota Manchester, both 9.6 from guests on Hotels.com.
Boutique: King Street Townhouse, with a rooftop hot tub facing the Town Hall.
Grand old hotel: The Midland on St Peter’s Square, opened in 1903.
Good value: Motel One Manchester-Piccadilly, rated 9.2 by almost 2,000 guests.
Our first choice: Check availability and prices at King Street Townhouse
Luxury and grand hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
The Stock Exchange Hotel occupies the grand old Manchester Stock Exchange building in the city centre, with a restaurant in the former trading hall. It is one of the highest-rated hotels in the city, with 9.6 from almost 600 guests on Hotels.com. Choose it for a special occasion.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at the Stock Exchange Hotel
The Lowry Hotel
The Lowry stands on the River Irwell on the Salford side of the centre, a few minutes from Deansgate. The rooms are large, there is a riverside spa, and the hotel is a favourite with visiting football teams and musicians. More than 1,000 guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.4.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Lowry Hotel
The Midland
The Midland opened in 1903 as the railway hotel for Manchester Central station and still dominates St Peter’s Square. It has an indoor pool, a spa and a bar beneath olive trees in the atrium, and the trams stop outside. Guests on Hotels.com rate it 8.8.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Midland
The Midland
The Midland on St Peter’s Square, the grand railway hotel from 1903. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Boutique and design hotels
King Street Townhouse
King Street Townhouse is a small hotel in a Victorian building on King Street, in the old banking district. The rooftop has a hot tub with a view of the Town Hall clock tower, and the spa offers massages and facials. Guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.2.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at King Street Townhouse
Dakota Manchester
Dakota is a dark, stylish design hotel near Piccadilly station, with a bar and grill that draws locals as well as guests. It is a good base for a weekend with nights out in the Northern Quarter. More than 1,000 guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.6.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Dakota Manchester
The Rex
The Rex, formerly Hotel Gotham, occupies a former bank building on King Street, with an Art Deco look and a members’ club atmosphere. It suits a couple who want somewhere with character for a city break. More than 1,000 guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.2.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Rex
King Street Townhouse
The view of the Town Hall clock tower from the rooftop of King Street Townhouse. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Historic buildings with a modern twist
The Edwardian Manchester
The Edwardian is built into the old Free Trade Hall on Peter Street, a few minutes from the Town Hall. It has a spa with a long indoor pool, and Peter Street Kitchen serves Japanese food. More than 1,400 guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.2.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Edwardian Manchester
Kimpton Clocktower
Kimpton Clocktower occupies a red-brick Victorian building with a clock tower on Oxford Road, by the university and the station. The lobby sits under a glass dome, and The Refuge serves food and drink all day. More than 1,200 guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.2.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Kimpton Clocktower
For football and for a budget
Hotel Football, Old Trafford
Hotel Football stands opposite Old Trafford and was founded by former Manchester United players. It is the obvious choice for a match, with Cafe Football on the ground floor. More than 1,000 guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.4. Read more in our guide to hotels near Old Trafford.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Football
Motel One Manchester-Piccadilly
Motel One is a design budget hotel by Piccadilly station, with compact rooms and a bar in the lobby. It is the best value on this list, and almost 2,000 guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.2. It is also close to the trams for the Etihad Stadium.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Motel One Manchester-Piccadilly
Picolo’s first choice in Manchester
King Street Townhouse: the Town Hall from the rooftop
King Street Townhouse is the hotel that sums up modern Manchester: a Victorian building on the smartest street in the old banking district, turned into a small hotel with style. From the rooftop hot tub you look straight at the Town Hall clock tower, and the spa offers massages and facials. The Christmas markets and the best restaurants are a few minutes away on foot.
What Picolo would choose
What Picolo would choose: King Street Townhouse for a stylish weekend in the centre, and the Stock Exchange Hotel for a special occasion. Motel One is the pick when the budget matters most.
Why: King Street Townhouse combines a central location, a rooftop and a spa in one small hotel. The trade-off: it has few rooms, so book well ahead for weekends.
Find the right hotel for your trip
For a concert: read hotels near the AO Arena.
For a spa weekend: read spa hotels in Manchester.
By area: read where to stay in Manchester.
In December: see the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Manchester
What is the best hotel in Manchester?
The Stock Exchange Hotel and Dakota Manchester have the highest guest scores on Hotels.com, both 9.6. Picolo’s first choice is King Street Townhouse, which combines a central location on King Street, a rooftop hot tub and a spa in a small Victorian building. For a grand old hotel with a pool, choose The Midland on St Peter’s Square.
Where is the best area to stay in Manchester?
Stay in the city centre between Deansgate, King Street and Piccadilly, where most of the shops, restaurants and sights are within walking distance. Spinningfields and Deansgate suit a stylish weekend, the Northern Quarter suits nightlife, and Piccadilly is practical if you arrive by train or are going to the Etihad Stadium.
Which hotels in Manchester have a pool?
The Edwardian and The Midland both have an indoor pool and a spa in the city centre. King Street Townhouse has a rooftop hot tub and a spa, and The Lowry Hotel has a riverside spa. Read our guide to spa hotels in Manchester for a full comparison of the options in and around the city.
When should you book a hotel in Manchester?
Book early for weekends when Manchester City or Manchester United play at home, for big concerts and for the Christmas markets from November to Christmas. These are the busiest nights for central hotels. Sunday and midweek stays are usually cheaper, and many rates on Hotels.com can be cancelled free of charge.
Sources
Locations, facilities and guest ratings come from Hotels.com, last checked on 7 November 2026. The groupings, comparisons and picks are Picolo’s own.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
Have a nice trip to Manchester
Picolo Editorial