Enjoy a stay at a Best Western hotel in Manchester and experience all this expressive English city has to offer - its attractions, bustling night-life and expansive shopping mix.
Manchester is rich in historical charm thanks to its significant role in the industrial revolution – something you can learn all about in several of the city’s museums and art galleries. However, Manchester’s urban centre has more recently become famed for its contemporary edge, as soaring new developments mix with trendy hipster bars and delicious street eats, to give the city a distinct and exciting atmosphere.
Best Western offers hotels in Manchester’s city centre, its surrounding suburbs and many of the towns and cities nearby – nevertheless, whichever location you choose to stay in, impeccable standards and the friendliest of welcomes will be waiting for you. Several of our Manchester hotels also offer great links to areas including the Peak District, Liverpool airport, the Ribble Valley and the Cheshire countryside, so you’re sure to be in for a jam-packed break.
Manchester – Join the revolution
Welcome to the first modern city.
Home to the industrial revolution, Manchester is the birthplace of everything from the computer to the football league; a city where history and a hard-working way of life inspired the minds as Alan Turing, Emmeline Pankhurst, Sir Alex Ferguson… even Karl Pilkington.
From Roman origins to Victorian majesty and a modernist revival, this is a city that’s never stopped reinventing itself and is still at the forefront of radical ideas and new inventions.
Start your trip with a history lesson at the ancient ruins of Mamucium, before working your way down Deansgate, stopping at The Museum of Science of Industry to see where the first ever train departed.
Pace the halls of Chetham’s Library, where Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels made a start on The Communist Manifesto, then pop next door to the National Football Museum. If football’s your thing, there’s the small matter of a couple of local teams offering stadium tours too.
Be sure to take some time to explore the city’s contemporary side. Modernism hit Manchester in a big way, creating a skyline of some of the most original and striking buildings in the country, now commanded by the indomitable Beetham Tower. At ground level, you can enjoy retail therapy in the Arndale Centre (for trendy but affordable gear), New Cathedral Street (for posh treats) and, just outside town, at the Trafford Centre (for everything under one roof – including crazy golf and a cinema).
If an eclectic indie vibe’s more your thing, visit the Northern Quarter to find local artists and vintage clobber, not to mention dozens of alternative bars and restaurants that make a refreshing change from the usual chains in the city centre. For a truly off-beat evening, venture down to the reborn Hacienda at FAC251 and learn how ‘Madchester’ got its name.
When it comes to culture, the art galleries and museums will keep you going for days. The Manchester Museum, tucked away in the University of Manchester’s beautiful Old Quadrangle, houses some of the most significant artefacts of the Ancient Egyptian civilisations. If you’ve never seen an authentic Van Gogh, Picasso or Tracey Emin, stop by the Whitworth Art Gallery to tick those off your list.
Tread the towpaths of Manchester’s famous canals to Canal Street, the beating heart of the LGBT community, then hop on a tram to Salford Quays, home to MediaCityUK. When you’ve finally made yourself hungry, Curry Mile awaits.
Don't just go to Manchester for the day, book with Best Western and give it the time it deserves.
Step back in time at Tatton Park
While staying in Manchester, why not take a short trip across to Cheshire and the amazing house and grounds of Tatton Park?
Awaiting you are over 1,000 acres of gardens packed full of amazing flora and fauna; a variety of architectural styles to absorb, from the neo-classic façade of the mansion house to the traditional Japanese-themed garden with Shinto Shrine; plus a working farm, offering the chance to see a variety of animals including Jersey cows, goats and hens.
The Mansion House is most famous for being used as a location in Brideshead Revisited and the home of the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual flower show, but there is much more to be discovered inside. The perfectly symmetrical library has over 8,000 books, including some truly rare antique editions. As the family home of the Egertons since the 18th century, there’s also a plethora of art pieces, antiques and furniture on display, collected over many centuries. Also on the grounds are the servant quarters, giving you a glimpse into the late-Medieval way of life.
You might be surprised to discover Tatton Park offers some excellent dining options. If a day of exploration has made you particularly ravenous, stop by the Stables Restaurant for a hearty supper, or for something a little more refined enjoy a spot of afternoon tea at the New Gardener’s Cottage.
