Manchester Christmas Markets 2022: hotels to stay at near the festive attraction and how much they cost

The Manchester Christmas Markets return this week and people from near and far will be descending on the city centre for what is always one of the busiest times of the year.

The Manchester markets are considered to be among the biggest and best in the country, with people travelling from all over to wander around the hundreds of stalls and sample the festive treats on offer.

This year, the markets will be located in several areas of the city centre, including Piccadilly Gardens, King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, the Corn Exchange and Cathedral Gardens.

If you don’t live locally and are looking for somewhere to rest after your mulled wine and bratwurst, here are just some of the best nearby hotels to check in to.

Please note, all the prices mentioned here are for booking in advance for December. Prices will fluctuate – last-minute bookings are likely to be higher, as are weekend prices.

Piccadilly Gardens

While Albert Square undergoes extensive renovations, Piccadilly Gardens has become the central hub for the Christmas markets, transforming the square into a hive of activity. Handily, it’s also an area with plenty of hotels on its doorstep, as well as good transport links.

Mercure One is located right in the heart of Piccadilly Gardens. Bookings for December are currently around £80-90 per night for a midweek stay and £120 for the weekend.

Located on the corner of Piccadilly Gardens and Oldham Street, Travelodge is the ideal spot for anyone who wants to spend their evenings in the Northern Quarter after a day at the markets. Rooms for December are currently priced at around £90-100. This hotel is also pet-friendly.

The budget hotel has several other locations in the city centre, which may be slightly cheaper. There’s one in Ancoats, on the other side of the Northern Quarter, as well as on Blackfriars Street on the other side of the River Irwell and Salford Quays.

Another budget hotel option in the centre is the Ibis on Portland Street. Rooms for December are currently around £70-90. The prices are similar for the other two Ibis hotels in and around Manchester city centre, which are located further along on Portland Street just outside Chinatown and a bit further away near the New Islington metro stop.

The Britannia is also located on Portland Street. This three-star hotel currently has rooms available for December and November at around £70. This hotel is pet-friendly, as is Gardens Hotel Manchester, which also has three stars, and is located at Piccadilly Gardens. They have a variety of different rooms, although some are windowless. Prices are currently around £90 for December per night.

Although it doesn’t have a Piccadilly Gardens spot, budget hotel chain Premier Inn also has several locations in the city centre, the closest being in the Northern Quarter, near Piccadilly station. Rooms for December are currently around £100 per night. They also have a couple more locations near Oxford Road.

Something a bit different

If you’re planning something a bit more special for your Christmas trip to Manchester, here are some quirkier, more expensive options to bear in mind.

Opened in summer 2021, the Doghouse hotel by brewery and pub chain Brewdog is one for the beer-lovers. It has some truly unique features – each room has a beer fridge in the shower, beer taps and if you like music, they also have a guitar, record and bluetooth speaker systems.

There’s more. It’s also dog-friendly (dog treats are complimentary), and each guest has access to the gym. If you get hungry in the middle of the night, hotdogs are available 24/7. Rooms here start at £150. It is located on Fountain Street, behind Primark.

If you want to be in the Northern Quarter but further away from the busier areas, tucked away on Turner Street there is Abel Heywood, a pub, restaurant and small boutique hotel. Rooms are currently around £100-£120 for December. This is another dog-friendly hotel.

This one is not in the city centre, but worth it if you’re a football fan. Located near Salford Quays, right next to Old Trafford, Hotel Football is owned by former Manchester United footballer Gary Neville. They offer packages that include a tour of the football stadium and matchday hospitality packages. Bed and breakfast prices here start at £109. It also has great views of Salford Quays and the city centre.

If you’re not a fan of hotels and want something that feels more like home, there are also several apartment hotel options, such as the City Warehouse Aparthotel on Great Ancoats Street. They offer apartments with one and two bedrooms, as well as penthouse apartments, and they all have their own kitchens. Prices here differ substantially on when you book, so check their website for more details.