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Best cheap hotels in Manchester: where to stay for value for money

Mancunian Cathy Toogood finds the best beds that won't break the bank

Cathy Toogood
Thursday 24 March 2022 17:15 GMT
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The bar at Manchester's Cow Hollow Hotel
The bar at Manchester's Cow Hollow Hotel (Cow Hollow Hotel)

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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 best budget hotels in Manchester are:

  • Best for a night out: The Abel Heywood, Booking.com
  • Best for mixing business with pleasure: Motel One Manchester - Royal Exchange, Booking.com
  • Best for Instagram fans: INNSIDE Manchester, Booking.com
  • Best for added extras: The Cow Hollow Hotel, Booking.com
  • Best for families: Novotel Manchester Centre, Booking.com
  • Best for chic home comforts: Roomzzz Manchester City, Booking.com
  • Best for sports fans: Hilton Garden Inn Manchester Emirates Old Trafford, Booking.com
  • Best for groups: Staycity Apartments Manchester Piccadilly, Booking.com
  • Best for fun: ibis Styles Manchester Portland hotel, Booking.com

Best for a night out: The Abel Heywood

Neighbourhood: Northern Quarter

Music lovers will enjoy rifling through the vinyl collection at The Abel Heywood
Music lovers will enjoy rifling through the vinyl collection at The Abel Heywood (The Abel Heywood)

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.

Price: Doubles from £95

Book now

Best for mixing business with pleasure: Motel One Manchester-Royal Exchange

Neighbourhood: Central Retail District

Motel One is situated in the heart of the city's shopping district, making this an ideal spot for some retail therapy
Motel One is situated in the heart of the city's shopping district, making this an ideal spot for some retail therapy (Motel One)

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.

Price: Doubles from £94

Book now

Best for Instagram fans: INNSIDE Manchester

Neighbourhood: First Street

INNSIDE Manchester is situated next to one of the city's best art venues, HOME
INNSIDE Manchester is situated next to one of the city's best art venues, HOME (INNSIDE Manchester)

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.

Price: Doubles from £98

Book now

Best for added extras: The Cow Hollow Hotel

Neighbourhood: Northern Quarter

High-end details coupled with low prices make The Cow Hollow Hotel an excellent choice
High-end details coupled with low prices make The Cow Hollow Hotel an excellent choice (The Cow Hollow Hotel)

This independent hotel aims to provide affordable luxury without any hidden extra charges. Rates start from £129 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. The cocktail bar has one of the best spirits and wine lists in town.

Price: Doubles from £129

Book now

Best for families: Novotel Manchester Centre

Neighbourhood: Civic Quarter

The centrally located Novotel Manchester Centre also includes a gym, steam room and sauna
The centrally located Novotel Manchester Centre also includes a gym, steam room and sauna (Novotel Manchester Centre)

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.

Price: Doubles from £95

Book now

Best for chic home comforts: Roomzzz Manchester City

Neighbourhood: Civic Quarter

The Family Grande bedroom at Roomzzz Manchester City
The Family Grande bedroom at Roomzzz Manchester City (Roomzzz Manchester City)

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.

Price: Doubles from £94

Book now

Neighbourhood: Old Trafford

The King Family room at the Hilton Garden Inn Manchester, complete with Old Trafford pitch view
The King Family room at the Hilton Garden Inn Manchester, complete with Old Trafford pitch view (Hilton Garden Inn Manchester)

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.

Price: Doubles from £97

Book now

Neighbourhood: Piccadilly

Located next to Piccadilly railway station, Staycity Aparthotels Manchester Piccadilly is an ideal choice for those travelling to the city by train
Located next to Piccadilly railway station, Staycity Aparthotels Manchester Piccadilly is an ideal choice for those travelling to the city by train (Staycity Aparthotels Manchester)

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.

Price: One-bed apartments from £104

Book now

Neighbourhood: Piccadilly

Manchester's unpredictable weather is the focus at the ibis Styles Manchester Portland Hotel
Manchester's unpredictable weather is the focus at the ibis Styles Manchester Portland Hotel (ibis Styles Manchester Portland Hotel)

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.

Price: Doubles from £77

Book now

More on Manchester hotels

Best hotels in Manchester

Boutique hotels in Manchester

Hotels near Manchester Airport

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