Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel, Manchester

Manchester is one of my favourite cities and a place I visit regularly as it's only 45 minutes away from my house, but despite visiting Manchester several times a month, I've never stayed the night. This weekend I decided to book myself into the Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel near Deansgate for a 'mini staycation'. It was a chance for me to explore the nightlife in Manchester without having to 'clock-watch' and worry about getting the last train home and I had a fantastic weekend.

The Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel is a short walk from Victoria train station along Deansgate road and is situated next to the river Irwell. It is the perfect location for those who have never been to Manchester before because it's right in the heart of the museum district, with the Science and Industry museum being less than a five minute walk one way and the People's History museum being a five minute walk the opposite way. If you like theatre, a quick stroll up the road will lead you to the Manchester Opera House and if you like luxury shopping and dining out, just walk left and within a few minutes you will find Spinningfields, one of Manchesters most renowned shopping and leisure avenues.

The Victoria and Albert hotel was once an old warehouse built in 1844, which has now been transformed into a luxury hotel haven boasting a four star rating, although parts of its history still remains with the wooden beams and exposed brickwork throughout the interior. The hotel features a trendy lounge bar and restaurant, meeting rooms, an outside seating area next to the river and 148 bedrooms.  

My husband and I stayed in one of the superior deluxe rooms, which features a spacious living/sitting area, a large kingsize bed and a decent sized bathroom. The room did seem a little bit dated, but it also oozed charm with its brickwork walls and wooden beams which made it feel rather homely and gave it character. The bathroom was a really nice size, very clean and toiletries were fantastic, they all had a botanical herbal scent which I found relaxing. My husband and I had such a great sleep and both loved the mattress which was the perfect firmness for our liking, overall our stay room wise was faultless. The only discrepancy I have with the hotel is the WIFI which is a staggering £15 per 24 hours. I understand that running internet for 140 rooms can be an expensive affair for a hotel, but for me this was slightly on the steep side. However, if you're only staying the one night like myself, it is something you could probably survive without.

After our lovely lie in, my husband and I made our way down to breakfast. The breakfast was a typical all you can eat continental hotel style breakfast with cereals, fruit, toast and a cooked meal and costs approximately £16pp dependent on what you plan on having. There was plenty of variety and all it was all cooked really well and tasted fresh. We choose to have our breakfast in the seating area overlooking the river and it was lovely to sit back and watch the local wildlife and look out at the sunny morning.

Overall I had a wonderful stay at the Marriott Victoria and Albert hotel in Manchester. The staff were friendly and welcoming, the surroundings were tranquil and beautiful and the room was perfect for our little staycation. If you're looking for somewhere to stay that has an historical charm, yet is still luxurious and quite modern, I would definitely recommend this hotel.

Rooms start at approximately £110pn

For more information check out: Manchester Marriott Victoria and Albert hotel

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*I was given a complimentary stay in exchange for this review, but all views are my own