Manchester
Today Manchester positively glows with civic pride. The city was synonymous with the final death throes of industrial decline, but was reborn in the aftermath of the 1996 IRA bomb. Urban regeneration became the byword of late Nineties Manchester and the success of the Commonwealth Games in 2002 sealed its renaissance as a modern industrial city.
The city that gave us the world's first professional football league, the first commercial computer and the first ever Marks and Spencer store is now all boutique hotels and stylish restaurants with the glass shard-design Beetham, now Hilton, Tower a symbol of the new, stylish face of Manchester.
This rebirth has been accompanied by a slew of smart new hotel openings that cater for all budgets. They make for superb urban-escape weekends and showcase the city's new status as the style capital of the North. The Piccadilly district is the main base for shoppers and diners, the funky Northern Quarter is growing as a centre for galleries and cafes, while Salford is developing fast as Manchester's, ahem, Left Bank.
The stereotypical images of those Coronation Street-style terraces are but a distant memory. The order by which the hotels are listed bears no reflection on our preference.
The best hotels in Manchester
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The Lowry Hotel
Manchester (Chapel Wharf)
Manchester's premier hotel - in chic Rocco Forte styling with good artworks and plushly comfortable contemporary rooms. Well located on the buzzy 'Left Bank'.
165 rooms from $681Views - Great views from hotelDesigner - Uniquely designed interiors.Spa5* Luxury - Very high service standards. -
Great John Street
Manchester
Chic school house conversion in the centre of town, no restaurant but funky bar and rooftop lounge. Popular with business visitors.
30 rooms from $394Downtown - A stone's throw from the exclusive shopping areas, restaurants and theatresRecommended by - Travel Intelligence -
Didsbury House Hotel
Manchester (Didsbury Village)
Victorian villa meets contemporary interiors in tranquil suburb of Didsbury. Relaxing spa treatments, garden terrace, lounge. Breakfast included.
27 rooms from $394Recommended by - Good Hotel Guide, Travel Intelligence -
The Midland Manchester
Manchester
Manchester's grand old dame - recently refurbished, retaining a traditional feel, with sumptuous rooms, antiques, afternoon tea and the city's best fine dining.
312 rooms from $369Restaurant - The French restaurant has 2 AA RosettesTraditionalSwimming Pool - Indoor/outdoor -
Eleven Didsbury Park
Manchester (Didsbury Village)
Quietish out of town Victorian villa hotel near the airport, with a charming walled garden, gym but no restaurant. Good for business stopovers.
19 rooms from $242Recommended by - Good Hotel Guide, Travel Intelligence -
Velvet
Manchester
Boho chic meets glitzy cosmopolitan in this downtown boutique, a 'decadently camp' conversion in an old textile mill. Lively and romantic.
19 rooms from $176Romantic - Good for couples.Lively - Hip and happening.Quirky - An experience!Restrictions on childrenRecommended by - Mr & Mrs Smith, Good Hotel Guide -
Malmaison
Manchester
Contemporary warehouse conversion, cosy and sumptuous, a flagship in the famous chain. Excellent set of suites, some with projectors and screens.
112 rooms from $143 -
ABode Manchester
Manchester
Room types called Fabulous and Envious set the tone - highest rooms are best. Stylish, chic but decent value city centre chain attracting both business and visitors. Good food.
61 rooms from $111Restaurant - Recommended.
