Which is the best place to stay in Manchester?
By Robert Connor. May 26, 2022
Dubbed England’s second city, Manchester is an exciting, youthful and down-to-earth city that is well worth visiting when taking a trip to the United Kingdom. You could almost call Manchester a mini-London; as it is an international hub full of foreign workers, tourists and even workers on a short business stay. Although Manchester doesn’t have the plethora of tourist sites as seen in England’s capital, there is certainly enough sightseeing to keep you busy for at least a few days here. And in terms of nightlife it is second to none: arguably England’s best student city with an abundance of clubs, bars and entertainment.
If you want to know where to stay in Manchester, the best area to stay is the city centre. This vibrant, pedestrianized centre simply has it all, with an excellent nightlife, an abundance of stores and some of Manchester’s finest international restaurants. Manchester is one of England’s principal student cities, and there are several buzzing university campuses within this central area. Alternatively, sports lovers will naturally be drawn to Old Trafford and its world-famous sporting stadiums. Or, if you want to stay a bit outside the city centre, you can choose from entertainment-friendly Salford or the more peaceful Didsbury area.On the map, which shows the most convenient area to stay in Manchester, you can see a selection of some of the best located hotels.
If you are interested in where to stay in Manchester, you may also be interested in where to stay in Liverpool, where to stay in Edinburgh, where to stay in Glasgow and where to stay in London.
City Centre, the best area to stay in Manchester
First Time / Tourists / A Weekend
There are many great areas to stay in Manchester, with the best being its wonderful city centre. There is never a dull moment here! It is a lively, pedestrianized area with a wide range of hotel options - whatever your budget may be. Here, you have the best access to everything: the Arndale Shopping Centre, main public transport network and all of the best restaurants and cafés. If you love nightlife, you can choose from the quirky Northern Quarter, the welcoming Gay Village or the iconic Deansgate area. History and cultural lovers will want to stay in Castlefield, or the diverse Chinatown.
Hotels in Manchester City Centre
Northern Quarter
Nightlife / Galleries / Shops
For those who love trendy, hipster neighbourhoods with great bars and a lively nightlife, the Northern Quarter makes for a fantastic place to stay in Manchester. Located a short walking distance from the city centre and with excellent public transport connections, this is an ideal logistical area.
The Northern Quarter is most popular for its lively bars, live music and nightlife. Indeed, there are regular live music events here, in quirky bars where you can enjoy a classic British beer and great entertainment. It is not just alive at night though: you can eat out at some delicious local restaurants here and also go to the pub during the day.
Aside from the entertainment, art lovers can enjoy visiting the Manchester Craft and Design Centre or the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art. With a range of great hotels suitable for all types of tourists, the Northern Quarter is a lovely place to stay.
Castlefield
Age-Old Ruins / Modern and Contemporary Art
Located at the southern end of the vibrant Deansgate, Castlefield is an excellent place to stay for history lovers. Indeed, this safe and relaxed area has an interesting Roman History, and is home to the iconic Roman Fort of Mamucium- an excellent site to visit for history buffs.
With an excellent range of hotels from budget to luxury, Castlefield is really popular area to stay- and you certainly have a variety of choice. Aside from the sightseeing, Castlefield is perfect for those who want to stay in a peaceful and pretty neighbourhood. Castlefield is filled with pretty canals, and there are many excellent canal sidebars and restaurants you can dine and drink at in the spring or summer sunshine.
Entertainment lovers will also love Castlefield for its exciting outdoor Castlefield Bowl, which holds regular live music events. You can also find the HOME Arts centre here, home to live theatre and much more.
Chinatown
Asian Culture and Food
Officially the second-largest Chinatown in the United Kingdom (behind London’s), Manchester’s Chinatown is a vibrant, cultural hub that is a fantastic place to stay for those who love authentic Asian culture and food. Ideally located right in the centre of Manchester, there is an excellent range of hotel options to choose from here, and a really diverse population.
For those who love Asian restaurants, Chinatown is particularly excellent. Not only can you find many authentic Chinese restaurants here, there are also restaurants from many other Asian countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, Japan and plenty more!
Shoppers will also love Manchester’s Chinatown, with a great choice of stores to keep you busy for several hours. You can choose from clothing, souvenir shops and much more. History lovers can also enjoy Chinatown. As well as admiring the authentic archway that characterizes global Chinatowns, you can visit the insightful Chinese Arts Center.
Gay Village
Nightlife / LGBT
Manchester’s Gay Village, with an ideal central location, is a lively and exciting area to stay for those who love to party! Indeed, no matter what your sexual orientation is, you can enjoy staying in this vibrant district which is renowned for its nightlife. In terms of places to stay, there is a convenient range of accommodation options for all types of traveller, within a short walk of the main nightlife area.
All the action in Manchester’s Gay Village is centred on Canal Street. This buzzing, pedestrianized road has an abundance of gay bars and clubs where you can party the night away. It is a very popular student area, so it doesn’t matter which day you choose to go out, there will always be a party here!
The Gay Village is of course the centre of LGBT pride in Manchester, and each year it hosts Manchester’s Pride Festival.
Deansgate
Nightlife / Shopping
Deansgate is a mile-long road that stretches across the heart of Manchester’s vibrant centre- from its cathedral all the way to Beetham Tower. You can find some of the city’s best attractions on and around Deansgate, all very well-connected to public transport. There are multiple accommodation options to choose from, whatever your budget is.
Of the many things to do here, party and nightlife lovers will particularly love Deansgate. As well as numerous world-class bars and pubs, you can find the popular Deansgate locks here. With several excellent nightclubs, this is a top draw for the lively student population and locals too. There are also many restaurants and cafés should you prefer to be social during the day.
Deansgate is not just famous for nightlife, though-there are many historical sites here. You can choose from a range of museums and spend several hours visiting the iconic Manchester Central Library.
Other areas to stay in Manchester
Salford
Cheaper Hotels / Salford Quays
Officially part of the Greater Manchester Metropolitan Area, Salford is a very popular area to stay when in Manchester. Salford is fairly big, and although there are many areas that aren’t touristy, there are equally a range of excellent areas to base yourself, with a range of hotel options.
Salford Quays is definitely the best area to stay in Salford, and is very well-connected to Manchester City Center by metro and bus. Here, you can enjoy a picturesque canal pavement before choosing from a range of attractions. History lovers can explore the insightful Imperial War Museum, and entertainment lovers can watch a performance at the Lowry Theatre or watch a film at the brilliant Vue Cinema.
There are other interesting places to stay in Salford. Nature lovers can enjoy the nice green spaces in Swinton and Pendlebury, and those who love an old-fashioned market town would like Eccles.
Old Trafford
United Fans
For sports lovers, Old Trafford is the place to stay when in Manchester! Easily accessible by metro from Central Manchester and beyond-Old Trafford is home to two of Britain’s finest sports stadiums: Old Trafford Football Stadium and Old Trafford Cricket Ground. Both are located within a very short distance from each other: and there is an excellent range of hotels within walking distance of both.
Football lovers can enjoy watching a match at Old Trafford- or even just a stadium tour. This stadium is home to the world-famous Manchester United. Or if you want to watch a traditional English sport, Old Trafford Cricket ground hosts regular cricket matches - both domestic and international. It is the home of the famous Lancashire County Cricket Club.
Aside from the sport, you can eat out at some of the many restaurants here and enjoy a pint at the pub with some locals.
Didsbury
Quiet / With a Car
Didsbury is an affluent area south of Manchester centre, but easily reached by public transport in less than half an hour. There are some excellent luxury and mid-range places to stay here, and Didsbury is a pleasant and safe area where you will quickly feel at home.
For those who love nature and green spaces, Didsbury is a brilliant place to stay. Here you have access to some lovely parks to take a nice afternoon stroll, like in Fletcher Moss Park and its botanical gardens, as well as Stenner Woods. The spring colours are particularly beautiful, but as long as it stays dry you can enjoy this all year round.
If you love a classic British pub, Didsbury is the perfect place. West Didsbury’s famous Burton Road is lined with classic British pubs and bars that are packed throughout the week, and there are many delicious international restaurants here too.
Our recommended hotels in Manchester
Use the interactive map to navigate through our recommended hotels in ManchesterNote: Hotel prices can change daily due to promotions, seasons, and demand. Our $ - $$$$ scale shows the overall cost range rather than exact prices.
