Where to Stay in Manchester (According to an Area Local)

6 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Manchester

Manchester does not have a huge city centre, but it’s still divided into distinguishable neighbourhoods with their own atmosphere, things to do, and places to visit. Here’s a map of the different neighbourhoods in Manchester city centre, courtesy of the University of Manchester.

Northern Quarter

👉 Best Area For Eating and Drinking | ✨ Best Northern Quarter Hotels: The Cow Hollow • Crowne Plaza Manchester

If Manchester is the coolest city in the UK, then the Northern Quarter is undoubtedly its hippest neighbourhood. Vibrant street art covers every spare inch of a red brick wall. Locals hop between vintage stores and record shops. Coffee shops and bars spill into pedestrianized streets. All making the bohemian area feel distinctly European.

The Northern Quarter is home to many of Manchester’s best restaurants, with the likes of Erst, Higher Ground, and Mana among those earning international recognition. You’ll be spoilt for choice if you are a coffee aficionado.

Enjoy partying? The Northern Quarter is undoubtedly the best to sample Manchester’s famed nightlife. With enough bars, pubs, gig venues, and clubs to make a college student blush, there’s something for everyone.

Band on the Wall, Night and Day Cafe, and Soup Kitchen are great for seeing up-and-coming bands, while Matt & Phreds plays host to jazz in a relaxed setting.

My top suggested hotel in this area is The Cow Hollow Hotel. The boutique hotel is slap-bang in the heart of the Northern Quarter, with 16 luxurious rooms housed inside a restored Victorian textile warehouse. Don’t forget to visit the cocktail bar!

No matter what time of year you visit, there is always something happening in the Northern Quarter. Just pack your rain jacket for the inevitable Manchester rain.

Pros of Staying in the Northern Quarter neighbourhood:

• Plenty of great restaurants, cafes, and bars
• Cool street art
• Lots of independent shops

Cons of Staying in the Northern Quarter neighbourhood:

• Can be noisy in the evenings
• Not many great hotels

Central Retail District

👉 Best Area For Shopping and First Time Visitors | ✨ Best Central Shopping District Hotels: The Stock Exchange Hotel • Motel One Manchester Royal Exchange • Brewdog Doghouse

The Central Rail District stretches from Victoria Station in the north of Manchester city centre down to Albert Square in the middle, Manchester’s Central Retail District is arguably the most convenient place to stay for first-time visitors to the city.

As the name suggests, the area is right in the middle of Manchester. It’s not too far from anything in the entire city and has excellent travel connections. Central Rail District really is the perfect spot if you have limited time and want to avoid trekking from place to place.

Shopaholics will be in their element with the Manchester Arndale shopping centre, Deansgate and Cathedral Street all within touching distance. Even the indie shops of the Northern Quarter are just a 10-minute walk away.

My top suggested hotel in this area is The Stock Exchange Hotel. Housed in the former stock exchange – a Grade II listed Edwardian delight – guests can expect luxurious rooms, a superb restaurant, and excellent service befitting the building’s illustrious history.

The centre of ‘town’ – that’s what Mancunians call Manchester – isn’t just about shopping though. There are plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you fed and watered while the VUE cinema in the Printworks and the Royal Exchange Theatre provide the entertainment. 

For football fanatics, the National Football Museum is not to be missed. In November and December, the area is home to Manchester’s famous Christmas markets.

Pros of Staying in the Central Retail District:

• Shoppers’ paradise
• Easy access to transport and other neighbourhoods
• Excellent hotels

Cons of Staying in the Central Retail District:

• Very busy in the daytime
• Hotels can be pricey

Albert Square

👉 Best Area For Culture Vultures | ✨ Best Albert Square Hotels: The Edwardian • King Street Townhouse • Hotel Gotham

The area around Albert Square is where to stay if you want to be close to a host of cultural attractions and really soak up the city’s history.

Just to the south of the Central Retail District, Albert Square sits in front of Manchester Town Hall, a grand Victorian building home to the city’s council. The Grade I-listed building has incredible baroque architecture, beautiful paintings, and intricate mosaics inside.

However, the Grade I-listed building is closed for extensive renovation work and doesn’t look likely to re-open until 2025. 

Behind the Town Hall is Manchester Central Library, a remarkable feat of engineering home to tens of thousands of books. The building is loosely based on the Pantheon in Rome, with its columned portico entrance and domed roof a sight to behold.

My top suggested hotel in this area is King Street Townhouse. This hotel is hard to beat for beauty or luxury, with spacious rooms, a cinema room, a restaurant, a gym, and a spa found inside the Italian Renaissance-style exterior. The rooftop infinity pool affords stunning views of the Manchester skyline.

The Cenotaph and Emmeline Pankhurst statue are in St Peter’s Square just outside the library, and many walking tours depart from the area.

Art lovers could spend an afternoon at Manchester Art Gallery, located just off the square on Mosley Street. The Portico Library – hidden above The Bank pub – is a gem not to be missed.

Pros of Staying in Albert Square:

• Enthralling history and architecture
• Top-of-the-range hotels
• Quieter at night

Cons of Staying in Albert Square:

• Fewer bar and restaurant options
• Pricey hotels

Deansgate and Spinningfields

👉 Best Area For Business Visitors | ✨ Best Deansgate Hotels: The Lowry Hotel • The Edwardian • Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Deansgate is the main artery of Manchester City centre, running over a mile from Manchester Arena in the north to Castlefield in the south. It is the dividing line between the bustling retail centre and the shiny and sleek Spinningfields business district. This is a good area for business visitors.

The southern end of Deansgate holds the most interest, with a wave of new cafes, bars, and restaurants making the avenue more than just a rat run for commuters. Some of the city’s most prestigious restaurants can be found nearby – including Hawksmoor, a cathedral for steak lovers.  

To the west of Deansgate is Spinningfields, a primarily business-focussed district that is quickly becoming a destination in its own right thanks to an influx of quality restaurants and high-end bars.

Deansgate has plenty to offer by way of culture and entertainment too. It’s hard to not feel like you’re in a Harry Potter movie inside the enchanting John Rylands Library, while the Great Northern offers a cinema, bowling alley, and axe-throwing. Across the street, get your gamer hat on in retro arcade game bar NQ64.

My top suggested hotel in this area is The Edwardian. Housed in the iconic Free Trade Hall, the luxurious five-star hotel offers guests two sublime restaurants, a spa, and a gym.

Staying on or near Deansgate ensures you’ll be at the heart of things.

Pros of Staying in Deansgate or Spinningfields:

• Close to Spinningfields business district
• Easy to navigate to other parts of the city

Cons of Staying in Deansgate or Spinningfields:

• Lots of traffic
• Spinningfields can feel empty at night
• Not the best Metrolink connections

Oxford Road Corridor

👉 Best Area For Theatre and Music | ✨ Best Oxford Road Hotels: Kimpton Clocktower • Hyatt Regency • Maldron Hotel

The Oxford Road Corridor is undoubtedly the best part of Manchester to sample the city’s famed music and live performance scene.

Oxford Road is the main avenue that enters the city centre from the southeast, and it’s littered with gig venues, bars, pubs, and theatres to suit every taste.

Theatre lovers can take in a show at the Palace Theatre, while the Bridgewater Hall – a premier venue for live classical music – is just a short walk away.

For gigs the options are endless. Manchester O2 Ritz and Manchester Academy have hosted both world-renowned and up-and-coming names over the years, while smaller venues like Gorilla, YES, The Deaf Institute, Grand Central, and The Thirsty Scholar are the perfect spots to discover your new favourite band.

My top suggested hotel in this area is Kimpton Clocktower. Found in a stunning terracotta Garde-II listed building, the stylish and modern hotel is a retreat from the crowds of Oxford Road. With luxurious rooms, an art-deco bar, and a great restaurant, the Kimpton Clocktower is one of Manchester’s best hotels.

Owing to the large student population around Oxford Road – both of Manchester’s universities are nearby – there are plenty of affordable eating and drinking options. The Whitworth Gallery is a must visit for those interested in art.

Pros of Staying in the Oxford Road Corridor:

• Gigs and live music
• Good bus and train connections
• Affordable eating options

Cons of Staying in the Oxford Road Corridor:

• Busy all day and night
• No Metrolink access

Castlefield and Deansgate South

👉 Best Area For History And Relaxing | ✨ Best Castlefield and Deansgate South Hotels: INNSiDE by Melia • Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central • YHA Manchester Hostel

Manchester doesn’t have an awful lot of park areas or spaces to unwind, but in Castlefield, it has a unique historical and cultural gem.

The largely pedestrianized neighbourhood consists of a network of canals and waterways lined by bars and eateries. The formerly derelict Castlefield Viaduct looms overhead. The grand Victorian structure is now home to a beautiful ‘sky garden’ managed by the National Trust. 

The Roman fort of Mamucium – the settlement that gave Manchester its name – gives an idea of how the city was founded.

If the weather takes a turn, head to the Science and Industry Museum to learn about how Manchester became the city it is today, or make a trip to HOME or Aviva Studios to take in a theatre performance, movie, or exhibition. Catch a gig at the canal-side, open-air venue Castlefield Bowl for a unique concert experience.

My top suggested hotel in this area is the INNSiDE by Melia. While located in the First Street development, the modern and stylish hotel is a five-minute walk from Castlefield and boasts a spa for even more relaxation.

Castlefield is the best area to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and avoid the crowds. 

Pros of Staying in Castlefield:

• Relaxing and chilled-out atmosphere
• Museums and events spaces
• Plenty of pubs and bars

Cons of Staying in Castlefield

• Fewer great hotels
• Further to walk from Manchester city centre

Piccadilly & The Gay Village

👉 Best Area For a quick visit | ✨ Best Piccadilly and Gay Village Hotels: Dakota Manchester • Leven Manchester • Whitworth Locke

Piccadilly is where to stay if you’re short on time. When you arrive in Manchester, chances are the first thing you will see is Piccadilly train station. Trains from Manchester Airport and most destinations elsewhere in the UK stop at the city’s main rail hub, meaning staying in the local area is convenient if you have limited time.

There are plenty of excellent accommodation options in the surrounding area, ranging from luxury hotel suites to hostels. All are within walking distance of the station.

What’s more, there are a growing number of great eating and drinking options available. The recently opened Ducie Street Warehouse (also a hotel) offers a restaurant, bar, and coffee shop. KAMPUS and Escape to Freight Island allow diners to choose between different vendors and cuisines. 

My top suggested hotel in this area is Dakota. This sleek hotel gives off an air of sophistication, with its dark furnishings, candlelit bar, and luxurious rooms. Located minutes from Picadilly Station, the Gay Village, and the Northern Quarter, it’s the perfect home for those looking for a convenient place to crash.

Manchester’s Gay Village is a short walk away, with lively bars and clubs spilling onto the pedestrianized Canal Street next to the Rochdale Canal. To learn more about the injustice and obstacles the LGBTQ+ community continues to face, pay a visit to the Alan Turing Memorial in leafy Sackville Gardens.

With impressive Victorian architecture, culture, restaurants, and bars all within a stone’s throw of the train station, Piccadilly and the Gay Village are great areas to base yourself in.

Pros of Staying in Piccadilly and the Gay Village:

• Close to the train station
• Great hotels
• Pedestrian-friendly exploring

Cons of Staying in Piccadilly and the Gay Village:

• Noisy at night
• Not as many restaurants as in other areas

Salford Quays

👉 Best Area For families with kids | ✨ Best Salford Quays Hotels: Hotel Football • Holiday Inn MediaCity • AC Hotel Salford Quays

Although technically a separate city, Salford is part of the Greater Manchester area and its proximity to its big brother makes it feel one and the same. Salford Quays is one of the best areas for families with kids to stay.

Salford Quays was previously the site of the Manchester Docks, a trade route that played a critical role in the city’s industrial boom in the 1800s. Salford Quays has undergone heavy regeneration over the past 15 years.

The waterside area is now home to the Imperial War Museum North and the Lowry Theatre and shopping centre. Old Trafford stadium, home to Manchester United FC, is just across the water. Manchester River Cruises operates from the Quays, affording visitors a unique perspective of the city.

My top suggested hotel in this area is Hotel Football. Located right outside Old Trafford Stadium, the football-themed hotel caters to all guests from corporate visitors to families and football fans. Guests can relax in comfortable rooms, work out in the on-site gym, or dine in the in-house restaurant, Cafe Football.

With museums, theatres, shopping, and soccer all within striking distance, there are plenty of activities at Salford Quays to keep the kids occupied. 

Pros of Staying in Salford Quays:

• Plenty to do
• More relaxed than the Manchester city centre

Cons of Staying in Salford Quays:

• Fewer restaurant options
• Too far to walk to Manchester city centre

Tips for Staying in Manchester

Wear Comfortable Shoes

Manchester is an extremely walkable city. You’ll rarely be more than a 20-minute walk from anything. Walking everywhere allows you a close-up and personal view of the city, its interesting architecture, and friendly people.

Some Transport Is Free

Manchester offers two free bus services in the city centre if you want to take the weight off your feet. The routes and timetables can be found here.

Pack Layers

No matter the season, Manchester’s weather is unpredictable. Even the most glorious spring sunshine can suddenly disappear behind an ominous grey cloud, so even summer days can be chilly. Layers mean you’re prepared for every eventuality.

Drink in Pubs

Pubs form a central part of British culture, and Manchester has some of the best. Whether it’s a cask or keg you’re after, a pub with history, somewhere brewing exciting new beer, or just a friendly face and refuge from the rain, in Manchester there’s a pub for everyone.

Take a Free Walking Tour

If you want to learn more about Manchester’s fascinating history then a walking tour could be the perfect activity. Most are free – just remember to tip your guide!

FAQs About Where to Stay in Manchester

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Manchester is one of the most underrated cities around, with plenty to offer away from the crowds and expense of London. Hopefully you now have a better idea of where to stay in Manchester, and will enjoy visiting my fantastic home city. Before you go, make sure to read my guide to Manchester’s best neighbourhoods.