14 Best Hotels in Manchester, Liverpool, and the Peak District, England

There's a lot to love about this modestly priced, mid-range hotel—it's housed in the city's commanding stone Municipal Building a short hop from Lime Street station, its Palm Court restaurant is decadent, its Seaforth Restaurant salutes refined British cuisine, and its gorgeous spa and pool are serene retreats. Upstairs, stylish rooms come with high ceilings and plush muted grey furnishings that complete the hotel's classy showing.    

This vibrantly modern apart-hotel is so much more than just a place to lay your head: it attracts visitors and locals alike as a social hub that hosts a lively, ever-changing roster of events including supper clubs in its Dulcie Street Warehouse restaurant (a fine spot for shared plates with a summer terrace), pop-up markets, cultural talks, and screenings in the mini-cinema. It also has its own BLOK fitness studios. The building is a charmingly reincarnated cotton warehouse with its original brick barrelled ceilings, exposed beams, and wrought-iron girders now painted a hip powder blue. Accommodations, all with compact kitchens and lounge areas, range from studios to two-bedroom duplex penthouses with private terraces affording panoramic city views. This is a great option for groups of friends traveling together, with apartments that link either via a private outer corridor or a door in the living room. 

The decor in this charming converted warehouse is hip and warm, with handpicked British signature furnishings from the likes of Tom Dixon, Paul Smith, and Scottish-based Bute Fabrics. Rooms range from great value small doubles to the Secret Garden Suite sleeping up to five, all with mini-kitchens for limited self-catering. Communal areas are equally inviting. 

This design-led option in a historic building combines a central location and hip vibe with affordable rates. Rooms with their original features including steel girders have emperor-size beds and smart TVs with Bluetooth speakers and smart concierge technology, while the all-day restaurant champions local British suppliers including an artisanal butcher from the nearby Northern Quarter. There’s also a lively feel thanks to locals who use the hotel as a co-working space, with day passes that include lunch, unlimited tea and coffee, superfast Wi-Fi, and curated playlists.

The architecture and the original features—green-marble wall tiles, sleek dark-wood paneling, a grand staircase winding up to a domed rotunda—are the real stars of this hotel in the city's landmark Victorian Royal Insurance Building. The loft-style rooms and suites are contemporary and high-tech without being jarring. Amenities include giant beanbags and super-comfortable platform beds. The communal spaces are welcoming, too, among them WXYZ Bar, NYL Restaurant & Bar, and Re-Fuel café with snacks and light bites.

Right by Peveril Castle, this former coaching inn—also known as The Castle and reputed to be haunted—has rooms that blend modern convenience and slick bathrooms with original features such as old wooden beams and exposed stone walls. The cozy pub and restaurant serves seasonal local fare.

In Liverpool's Georgian Quarter, this chic but relaxed hotel happily blends old (an 1890s building inspired by Venetian palazzos) and new (a contemporary steel-and-glass facade fitted over part of the frontage and rooms that have minimalist, Scandinavian-esque decor). Accommodations on upper floors have city views, and the two penthouse suites have private terraces from which to admire the nearby cathedrals and the river (one also has an outdoor spa bath).

Now part of the same group as the Buxton Crescent Hotel, this property overlooking the ornate Buxton Opera House occupies a refurbished 16th-century building claiming to be England's oldest hotel and rumored to have once accommodated Mary, Queen of Scots. Rooms are individually decorated in a classic style; a couple have four-poster beds. The Cockerel Wine Bar is popular with theatergoers, who stoke up on its hearty dishes; there's also a more formal restaurant on-site.

Huge beds and luxury bedding demonstrate the hosts' commitment to guest comfort at this intimate B&B in a former gentleman's residence. There's also a lovely garden with views across the valley towards Riber Castle. The airy drawing room has daily newspapers, books, music, and DVDs, and there are full Derbyshire breakfasts plus the option of homemade afternoon tea.

Perks at this one-time 19th-century cotton mill include complimentary yoga classes for guests while a tempting roster of social events and activities open to both residents and locals includes drag brunches, vintage swing dance classes, bee mosaic making (the bee is the city's symbol), and Sunday board games. There's a Peruvian-inspired restaurant too. The suites and studios combine hip contemporary decor with nods to the building's Victorian quirks and eccentricities, plus the practicality of full kitchens. Colors and textures are refreshingly offbeat—think salmon pink, mustard yellow, and various shades of green on everything from sofas to painted brick walls.

These contemporary apartments were loosely inspired by the wit and wisdom of Irish writer Oscar Wilde and blend personality and creativity with practicality in the design-led studios and one-bedroom apartments with full kitchens. Think timber flooring, bespoke joinery, and unique crafts and artwork, many by independent Irish business and artists, plus high-end appliances. There are discounts for longer stays.

Part of a global brand that first became known for its airport capsule hotels, this colorful lodging option features high-tech "cabins"—some are tiny and some windowless, but all incorporate sustainable-design elements like LED lighting that turns off when not in use, solar panels, and water-reducing showers. In-house MOTLEY serves low-key, seasonal produce and beer from local breweries and even has a karaoke pod. Guests get discounts at TRIB3 boutique fitness studio.

If you're looking for a central location and modern urban style on a tight budget, the Z is a superb option. Rooms are pared-back and minimalist—all the better to appreciate the superb city views from rooms with windows (the most expensive, but still great value). Bespoke beds, crisp linen, and flat-screen TVs make the place feel more expensive than it is. The Z Café serves buffet breakfasts and snacks.