6 quirky Manchester Airbnbs perfect for a unique getaway including jungle-themed apartment and a yacht

Everyone loves a night or two in a hotel, the chance to get away for a bit and enjoy the little luxuries that come with a hotel stay. And these days there are more and more ways you can turn your mini-breaks more of an adventure, thanks to sites like Airbnb. 

There are mansions with enough rooms to accommodate a whole stag party. You can rent out a tiny shepherds’ hut that also comes with an outdoor hot tub. Or maybe you want to wake up on the water and enjoy your breakfast on the deck of a house boat. The range of accommodation on offer is endless. 

We have had a look at the Airbnb offerings in and around Greater Manchester to see which weird and wonderful properties we can find – perfect for visitors to the city or locals looking for a quirky getaway without travelling too far from home. Here are our favourites. 

Casa Jungle

Location: Ancoats

Price: £1200

Rating: 4.15 stars

This jungle-themed apartment in Ancoats caught our eye because of the name alone. This swanky property has three bedrooms, 16 beds and two bathrooms, and is definitely designed for hosting big groups like hen or stag parties. It boasts a hot tub and bar within a “self-contained” leisure suite. 

One Airbnb guest commented: “An amazing place to stay in a perfect location if you’re planning on doing anything in Manchester! Just a 20 minute walk or 5 minute Uber to the city centre. The house has everything you could ever need - the hot tub is fantastic, lots of mirrors for doing makeup, towels and extra furry blankets on every bed, hair dryer, iron - everything!”

Tiny home

Location: Holmes Chapel

Price: £145 per night

Rating: 4.98 stars 

This tiny house called Hawthorn Cottage is located just outside Greater Manchester, in the Cheshire town of Holmes Chapel, but it was too beautiful not to include in this line-up – especially because it has glowing reviews from previous guests. One Airbnb user commented: 5 stars isn’t enough! This place is better than expected! It’s honestly something out of a fairytale (I was expecting 7 little beds upstairs or 3 bowls of hot porridge in the kitchen)”

It is a grade II-listed ‘chocolate box’ cottage, which has original features, including low beamed ceilings, inglenook fireplace and cranked staircase. It still has all the mod cons though – including an outdoor hot tub.  

130ft classic yacht

Location: Salford Quays

Price: £530 oer night

Rating: 4.95 stars

All aboard the Jacamar, a 130ft yacht moored in the heart of Salford Quays, with MediaCity, Old Trafford and Quayside all on its doorstep (gangplank?). This unusual property has three bedrooms, five beds and three bathrooms and can house up to 10 guests. It has a full galley kitchen with Smeg appliances, as well as a dining room and snug with panoramic views out of the window. 

One previous guest commented: “We've just returned from an overnight stay on the Jacamar, and I wouldn't hesitate to highly recommend it! The boat is simply stunning and feels much larger than the pics seem to portray.”

Character townhouse

Location: Ancoats

Price: £230 per night

Rating: Not enough reviews yet

This historic street will be familiar to anyone who has ever spent any time in the city centre. While most of Ancoats continues to evolve, this street and neighbouring Anita Street offer a rare insight into what the area looked like in Victorian times. It even has cobbled streets.  

It is available for a minimum five-night stay. The property has three floors, two large double bedrooms (one en-suite), one single room, two bathrooms plus a cloakroom toilet. One guest commented: “We had a lovely stay! The home was perfectly located - really close to the city centre but still nice and quiet. Beds were very comfy and the house had all the essentials needed for a weekend stay. Adam was also a really responsive host & happy to answer any questions.”

Grand Designs house

Location: Egerton, Bolton

Price: £60 per night. 

Rating: 4.98 stars

Building a dream home is only ever a dream for most of us, and the closest we get is watching other people live that dream on Channel 4’s Grand Designs. But, luckily for us, one of the show’s participants has opened up their home to the public and is offering a bed and breakfast service on Airbnb. 

This house was featured on the show in 2016 and includes 360º views of the West Pennine Moors. Guests have access to the upstairs lounge and bedrooms, and the kitchen only by prior arrangement. 

One previous guest commented: "What a special home this was, the whole experience was lovely and I am looking forward to my next visit. Carol really is so welcoming and wanted to help us feel at home, my partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will definitely be visiting again."

City centre penthouse

Location: Manchester city centre

Price: £260 per night

Rating: 5 stars

Manchester is quickly becoming a city of skyscrapers and luxury hotels – something else not many of us will probably never experience. But if you do fancy a taste of the (literal) high life, then this penthouse apartment with stunning panoramic views of the city centre is available to book on Airbnb. 

It has two bedrooms, with two beds and can house up to four people – perfect for a double date city getaway. One previous guest commented: “Amazing apartment, felt like a celebrity. Host was great and the view was incredible. Thank you.”