If you’re looking for an affordable break, Manchester is a great city to visit, as many of its major attractions are free to enter, including the neo-gothic John Rylands Library and family-friendly National Football Museum.

And the city’s booming hotel scene means that you won’t have to spend a small fortune to enjoy a stylish stay. Just be aware that big football matches or events, such as Manchester Pride, can cause many room prices to rocket.

From hotels you’ll be desperate to share on social media, to rooms that are great for families, here’s the pick of the best value beds in the city.

The Independent's hotel reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and book, but we never allow this to affect our coverage.

Neighbourhood: Northern Quarter

In Manchester’s hip Northern Quarter, this pub with 15 rooms is within stumbling distance of many of the city’s coolest bars and restaurants. The pub itself is decorated to look like a Victorian boozer, with leather booths and a large wooden bar; while the rooms are as trendy as their location with vintage radios, exposed brick wallpaper and Manchester cityscapes above the bed. Entry-level city rooms are snug, but more than adequate if you’re going on a night out, while loft rooms have more space. They have a sofa bed so up to four adults can share, and a record player with a vinyl collection to rifle through.

Doubles from £75, room only
abelheywood.co.uk

Neighbourhood: Central Retail District

Manchester’s second Motel One is in the heart of the city action on Cross Street, surrounded by shops and restaurants, and over the road from the Royal Exchange Theatre. Despite the budget price tag, attention has been paid to the styling of its public areas, themed around Manchester’s 19th-century nickname “Cottonopolis” – there’s a paper art installation on the wall symbolising cotton, reels sit on shelves and puffy, cotton-wool-esque lights hang from the ceiling. Rooms are simple but have everything travellers need, including crisp linen, a choice of pillows, rainfall showers and USB charging points. Refreshingly, rates are fixed with the exception of a few stand-out dates such as Parklife and Manchester Pride.

Doubles from £69 for solo travellers, £84 for two, room only
motel-one.com

Neighbourhood: First Street

Many a guest has posed in this modern hotel’s reception next to its pretty blooming tree or pointing out a local attraction on the “doodle pillar” by illustrator Dave Draws. Rooms are equally design-led with minimal decor, open-plan bathrooms and sketches of Manchester on headboards. Touches that make this hotel stand out from the crowd include a resident DJ at breakfast over the weekend, smart-casual staff and a complimentary mini-bar stocked with soft drinks. The hotel is next door to one of the city’s best art venues, HOME.

Doubles from £99, room only
melia.com

Neighbourhood: Northern Quarter

This new, independent hotel (it launched in January 2018) aims to provide affordable luxury without any hidden extra charges. Rates start from £89 and include a continental breakfast bag, wifi, in-room Netflix, self-service hot drinks, prosecco and nibbles early evening, and milk and cookies before bed. The size and layout of the former textile warehouse means that standard rooms are small, but bursting with high-end details such as Hypnos beds, bronze rainfall showers and chic decor – think exposed brick, marble fireplaces and copper accessories. There are no hidden surprises in the glam bar either as prices are fixed at £8 for cocktails, £6 for wine, £5 for beer and £5 for spirits.

Doubles from £89, including a breakfast bag
cowhollow.co.uk 

Neighbourhood: Civic Quarter

Kids are given a gift on check-in at this hotel (a colouring book or a cuddly toy), there’s a sofa bed in every room suitable for up to two under-16s to stay for free, and there’s a children’s corner in the restaurant. For adults, there’s a decent gym, a steam room, sauna and relaxation area. Rooms have been recently refurbished with statement walls, some with a Manchester theme, and useful touches such as USB points next to the bed. The central location means Manchester Art Gallery and Chinatown are just around the corner.

Doubles from £92, room only

accorhotels.com 

Neighbourhood: Civic Quarter

This popular aparthotel, in a Grade-II listed building, is just over the road from Chinatown and a short walk from Canal Street. Each room is unique and have quirky touches such as double showers and sinks, or TVs you can watch in the bath, and there are huge windows in all but the rooms on the lower-ground floor (which are the quietest if you’re a light sleeper). Every apartment also has White Company toiletries and a fully-equipped kitchen, meaning guests can self-cater. There aren’t any public areas but with seating areas in every room, you don’t really need them.

Doubles from £79, including a grab and go breakfast
roomzzz.com

Neighbourhood: Old Trafford

Sleeping in a room overlooking the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground is a different way to see Manchester. Sport fans will love the unique setting of this Hilton Garden Inn, where 85 of the rooms have a pitch view, as well as the close proximity to Old Trafford football stadium. The modern hotel is bright with extremely comfortable beds and friendly staff. Free parking is available on non-match days and Old Trafford Metrolink station is just outside with links to the city centre. 

Doubles from £79, B&B
hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com

Best for escaping the city bustle: Abbey Lodge

Neighbourhood: Chorlton

In the bohemian south Manchester suburb of Chorlton, this family-run B&B is a homely base with free wifi, parking and a self-serve continental breakfast. The large Edwardian house has lovely original features, such as stained glass and cornicing, and is just a five-minute walk from Chorlton Metrolink station where trams take about 10 minutes to reach the city centre. Rates are fixed, even when there’s a big event on, making this excellent value if you can book one of the three bedrooms in time.

Doubles £80, B&B
abbey-lodge.co.uk 

Neighbourhood: Piccadilly

The one-bed apartments in this modern aparthotel can sleep up to four adults (two on sofa beds) and have fully-equipped kitchens, with washer-dryers, offering excellent value for money in the city centre. Just outside Piccadilly railway station, in a curved former office block, all apartments are spacious and bright with clean and simple decor, and splashes of Staycity’s signature canary yellow on cushions and artwork. If preparing meals in your room seems like too much of an effort, there’s a small café, which serves breakfast for £7.95, as well as pizzas and sandwiches throughout the day. 

One-bed apartments from £94, room only
staycity.com

Neighbourhood: Piccadilly

The cheerful decor in this budget hotel takes its inspiration from Manchester’s notoriously unreliable weather. There are umbrellas suspended from the ceiling in reception and door handles on the entrance are in the shape of wellies. Rooms are decorated in a windy, summery or rainy theme, complete with cloud-shaped tables, umbrellas as table legs and deliberately wonky mirrors. A continental breakfast is included in the competitive room rates and the bar, which includes table football and a pool table, has a happy hour every day from 3pm-7pm.

Doubles from £55, B&B
accorhotels.com

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