Kimpton Clocktower Hotel

You’d be hard pressed to find a more instantly recognisable hotel in Manchester than the Kimpton Clocktower. Standing proudly on Oxford Street, this grand Victorian building — designed by Alfred Waterhouse and originally home to The Refuge Assurance Company — is as much a part of the city’s architectural identity as its music venues and mills. Now Grade II listed and lovingly restored, the hotel’s famous clocktower signals one of the most luxurious stays in the city, where high design meets grounded hospitality.

Step inside and you’re greeted with double- and triple-height ceilings, beautifully preserved tiling and woodwork, bursts of greenery and curated modern art — all topped off with a gentle soundtrack and a welcome that feels more warm than formal. There’s a bronze horse in the lobby, a nod to the space’s personality, and a glass-domed ceiling above. Across 270 rooms and 11 individually styled suites, details lean into comfort and creativity: rich textures, bespoke furniture, in-room record players and vinyl collections, and, in the case of the new Suite No.51, a genuinely jaw-dropping level of opulence. This top-tier suite — originally the director’s office — includes multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, a dining room with skyline views, walk-in wardrobe, PS5, Dyson kit and even your own hotel ambassador.

Even if you’re not staying, Kimpton Clocktower is still worth a visit thanks to its much-loved bar and restaurant, The Refuge, which serves food and drink from breakfast through to late, all within a lavish setting of stained glass, towering pillars and plush furnishings. Elsewhere, the Winter Garden offers an airy, plant-filled escape for a cocktail or two, while exhibitions and cultural collaborations keep the creative energy flowing.

It’s central, it’s striking, and it’s quietly one of the most exciting hotels in the city — especially for anyone who appreciates heritage with a healthy dose of modern soul.