Where to stay in Manchester

Deansgate is a popular area with its main road running right through the heart of the city. Although there are good public transport links here, you’re probably better off just walking to the main monuments – the John Rylands Library, St Ann’s Church, Manchester Cathedral, the Opera House and Albert Hall are all just metres from Deansgate. You’ll also be close to Spinningfields, the city’s new luxury dining and shopping precinct with award-winning restaurants and elegant cocktail bars. 

If you’ve come to Manchester to party, head up to the Northern Quarter, an artistic and bohemian hotspot. Famous for its bar and club scene, you’ll also find plenty of independent record shops, vintage boutiques and co-working spaces. If you’re staying in the Northern Quarter, make sure you check out some of the quirky bars, snap some of the local street art and hunt for bargains in the legendary Afflecks, a large indoor market housed in an old department store. 

The area surrounding Portland Street and Princess Street is right in the middle of everything. If you’re in town to see any of the huge concerts or shows at the Palace Theatre, O2 Ritz, Bridgewater Hall or HOME Manchester, Portland Street is your best bet. A few streets over, you’ll find Canal Street, otherwise known as the Gay Village, with its LGBTI bars and clubs; while if you continue in the other direction, you’ll hit Manchester’s Chinatown, one of the city’s most beloved hotspots, renowned for its authentic Asian restaurants.   

The Salford Quays area covers a modern waterfront neighbourhood where you’ll find some of Manchester’s best museums. Guests staying at Salford Quays will have the likes of the Imperial War Museum, The Lowry and the Manchester United Museum right on their doorstep, while Old Trafford, home to the mighty football team itself, is just a short walk across the water. Salford Quays is the ideal spot for any footy fan coming to town – just a hop, skip and a jump away from the stadium so you can be right in the thick of the action. Let’s go Man U!

However, if you’re a die-hard Manchester City fan, you’ll want to stick to the complete opposite side of the city! East of the city centre, you’ll find neighbourhoods like New Islington, Ancoats and Bradford, where you’ll find Etihad Stadium, Manchester City’s HQ. Ancoats is just over the other side of the Ring Road from the Northern Quarter and has been named as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the whole of the UK. From Ancoats, it’s a short walk to New Islington or a 10-minute train ride to Etihad Stadium.