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

One of the highlights of the region, this thermal spa hotel occupies part of the spectacular Georgian-era Crescent building with its arches, colonnades, and 378 windows. Built in 1780 by fashionable architect John Carr for the fifth duke of Devonshire (of nearby Chatsworth House), it underwent a 17-year restoration and is a fantastic place to recharge in style, especially in combination with soul-stirring Peak District walks (it’s dog-friendly, too). Exceptional British cuisine awaits you in the restaurant on your return.

In a pretty village on the Chatsworth Estate just a 20-minute walk from Chatsworth House itself, this intimate hotel oozes history as well as a quintessentially English country-house style that stems partly from the use of original furniture and artwork from Chatsworth. Rooms are as cozy as can be, while the welcoming lounge has a real fire. The award-winning Gallery Restaurant serves upscale, innovative comfort food including a stupendous Sunday lunch, with many of the first-rate ingredients sourced from the estate or the Chatsworth Farm Shop. The estate also includes a collection of around 25 stunning "boltholes" (cottages) that also combine a country-house feel with coziness and are ideal for those spending some time walking in the area. They include a 16th-century Hunting Tower, built for Bess of Hardwick; the Russian Cottage, inspired by a model gifted to the 6th Duke of Devonshire by a czar's brother; and an old washhouse.

This lodging option stands out for its historic setting enhanced by elegant, contemporary decor in a building—the Free Trade Hall, constructed in 1853 on the site of the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 and used at one time as a concert venue that hosted the likes of Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, and the Sex Pistols—that retains many original features. In the heart of the city, the hotel offers up an atmospheric subterranean spa (with a swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms, and cutting-edge gym), and memorable dining including luxurious afternoon teas and contemporary Japanese and Mexican small plates in Peter Street Kitchen. 

This characterful 17th-century property offers upscale suites with kitchenettes or full kitchens as well as luxury touches including bathrobes and slippers. All guest quarters are individually decorated in a mainly contemporary style; some have original features such as old beams, corniced ceilings, and fireplaces, and the Penthouse has a freestanding bath in the bedroom, with lovely views. Outside you’ll find a sun terrace and croquet lawn, and there’s a wood-floored guest lounge plus free, on-site parking. The hotel requires a two-night minimum stay on weekends. 

Set amid gardens and woodlands, this handsome mansion—built in 1845 for Francis Wedgwood, heir to the family property firm—has comfortable guest rooms that make a perfect retreat after spending the evening in the cozy lounge with a log fire. Some rooms have private balconies. A full English breakfast is included, and the welcoming restaurant serves creative Modern British cuisine in a classic setting.