All the rooms on this list are doubles with private bathrooms for less than £100 per night. Keep a few things in mind when choosing a cheap room:
- Breakfast may not be included
- There may be a fee or a slow connection for wi-fi
- Factor in travel costs to attractions
- Beware of super cheap offers which may be almost impossible to pin down.
1. base2stay Liverpool
Opened in Liverpool in 2010,in the heart of the city's UNESCO World Heritage site, base2stay is the second in what could be the next big thing in UK hotels (the first is in London). The concept is "affordable luxury". Rooms in the converted 1850s warehouse building are cheap but quite stylish. They're furnished in an easy contemporary style and feature free television internet plus all mod cons. Prices for doubles, family rooms and suites are low because the hotel has no restaurants or bars, no pool and no gym.But all those things are easy to find in the trendy Rope Walks area surrounding the hotel.
2. Throstles Nest Hotel in Liverpool
This one's for football fans; it's within easy walking distance of both Liverpool's Premier League football teams, Liverpool FC and Everton. The city center is about a quarter of a mile, or a short bus ride, away. This 15-room B&B hotel is part of a historic, 18th century pub. Frankly, it's not much to look at, inside or out, but rooms are clean and spacious. And people from all over the world rave about the friendly staff.
3. Parr Street Hotel
This funky hotel, with a self-described boho chic style, is part of the famous Parr Street Studios complex. Coldplay's first three albums were made here. It's an unusual place to stay. The 12 rooms are minimally furnished but have new floors, new beds and new showers. Pod rooms (beds and showers and little else) are planned for the future. If you like to be around the contemporary music scene, you'll love this place. But be warned, the late night scene of surrounding bars is noisy at weekends. This is a youthful destination and not for anyone who likes an early night.
4. Sir Thomas Hotel in Liverpool
Thirty-nine, boutique-style rooms are arranged over three floors in the former Bank of Liverpool building. Located in the city center, this hotel has a buzzy bar and one of Liverpool's more expensive restaurants. Cheaper rooms are small and even the grander rooms have the look and feel of a faded lady. Still, if you're spending a night or two in Liverpool,this place is good value. And you can imagine what it might have been like to have a classy getaway in the 1970s.
5. Old Trafford Lodge near Manchester
Part of the Lancashire Cricket Club grounds, this hotel is about five minutes from Manchester center on the Metrolink Tram. The 39 rooms, overlooking the cricket pitch are basic, modern, clean and cheap. Plus, during cricket matches, you can watch from your balcony. Free parking, free morning and evening newspapers, continental breakfast and satellite TV are included.
6. Gardens Hotel in Manchester
Not the most exciting of hotels, the Garden, on Manchester's Piccadilly, is a good, basic city center hotel. It overlooks Piccadilly Gardens on the edge of the city's main shopping area and is relatively quiet. Rooms are a bit tired and old fashioned looking with their flowered bedspreads, patterned carpets and wallpapers, but the location is good and the price is right for a few nights while touring or a weekend in from the country. Triple rooms for families are available and there are some newly decorated, loft-style executive rooms (for a higher price).
7. Macdonald Manchester Hotel and Spa
The UK-based Macdonald Hotels group has two city-center hotels in Manchester. This one is within easy walking distance of Manchester's Piccadilly Station. Rooms are relatively spacious and the hotel boasts some of the largest family rooms in Manchester. They have pull-out beds for the kids and extra closet space. Rooms are equipped to a luxury standard, with LCD TVs, free broadband Internet, iPod docking stations and nice toiletries.
8. Park Inn Manchester Victoria
With their absolute absence of artwork on the walls, and their trademark, primary color accent walls, Park Inn hotels are, frankly, a bit sterile and boring. But they have all the necessary amenities and the rooms are modern and clean. The Manchester branch of this Radisson-owned group has a rather good lap pool too. It's close to Manchester's Victoria Station and Exchange Square, with its branches of Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.
9. The Palace Hotel Manchester
The Palace is a big old Manchester icon. A grand hotel in the old-fashioned sense, it has big rooms with high ceilings that have been refurbished with contemporary furnishings and amenities. The lobby of this 1893, Grade II listed building has the wow-factor you'd expect of a local landmark. Millions have been invested in the public areas and restaurants, and it shows. Now, if they would just brighten up the corridors. But the prices for doubles and family rooms are remarkable.
10. Castlefield Hotel in Manchester
The Castlefield is a modern, budget hotel beside the Castlefield Canal Basin in the heart of the city. It's handy for visiting Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry, the Castlefield Roman Fort and the People's History Museum. Rooms are a bit on the small side but they are modern and have everything you need for a short visit. There's free WiFi throughout the hotel, free parking and a rather nice, sunny indoor pool.
