Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester
Expert reviews
“The Clocktower Hotel offers contemporary comfort and boutique-hotel chic for history buffs. After a renovation costing more than 25 million pounds, the Clocktower has kept intact the lovely period faience in hallways, and the glass-domed ceiling in the spacious lobby, while converting former clerks’ offices into wood-paneled bedrooms with soaring ceilings and sleek subway-tile bathrooms.”
Featured in New York Times’ 36 hours in Manchester.
“In an imposing terracotta Victorian building, with ornate original features and one of Manchester’s most popular bars, the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel combines classic good looks with a cool streak. And, despite its grand public areas, it’s warm and welcoming, with thoughtful extras for all guests, from families to dogs.”
What guests liked
- Top location
- Friendly staff
- Great breakfast
- Comfortable beds
- Free Wifi
All you need to know
With a variety of stunning spaces, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is particularly aesthetically-pleasing. Nestled in a Victorian-era building dating back to the 1890s, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel has unparalleled craftsmanship, apparent in every room. Guests can enjoy the greenhouse-like lounge with incredibly high, opaque ceilings, bold-tiled flooring, and full-size indoor trees. The hotel restaurant’s crown molding and vintage wooden floors create a space filled with character. Vintage wood paneling in many of the guest rooms adds to this historical hotel’s charm. In the hotel ballroom, you can take in the largest event space in the North of England.
There are many different floor plans to choose from throughout the hotel, but each room comes with tasteful decor, private bathrooms, WiFi, and satellite TVs. Depending on the guest room, you will likely find fun pops of color, different-textured materials, exposed finishes, and incredibly comfortable bedding.
Located on the lively Oxford Road, you will only be a short walk away from abundant attractions, shops, and restaurants. However, the onsite dining does not disappoint. The Refuge Dining Room offers a vibrant space to enjoy an eclectic meal, or check out The Winter Garden for afternoon tea in an elegant environment. You will be within walking distance from several sights during your stay, like the Palace Theater, Bridgewater Hall, Library Theater, Canal Street, and the Manchester Art Gallery.
Hotel deals & lowest price guarantee
We partner with Booking.com and Agoda. Both booking websites offer the lowest price guarantee, so you can be certain you will always get the best deal for this hotel. If you have seen a better price elsewhere, all you need to do is contact the booking website, and they will refund you the difference immediately. You can price match right up until the day before check-in.
Location
Recent guest reviews
12 January 2025
Exceptional
The hotel was perfect , the history off the build
Everything
6 January 2025
Fabulous
Breakfast was excellent. Location to theatre and train station was excellent. Staff were very helpful
5 January 2025
Exceptional
Staff were very welcoming and the hotel is beautiful
Nothing
5 January 2025
Very good
Beautiful building, very quirky
Amazing architecture
4 January 2025
Exceptional
Staff were attentive and polite and helpful
4 January 2025
A really comfortable, first rate stay in opulent surroundings in the city centre.
Well located close to the City centre with easy access to trams etc. Our room was comfortable, large and well furnished. The hotel ambience was great and for the most part the hotel staff were helpful and engaging (but not always at breakfast time!) The receptionists were very helpful and knowledgeable about the history of the building as a former insurance company. All the features have been largely retained which only adds to the overall feeling.
Insufficient ambient lighting in the room: there were bedside and reading lights or the main ceiling light. There was none over the desk area or by the two chairs - either would have been useful. Insufficient plug sockets for the kettle and the coffee machine - one or the other. This is poor for an upmarket hotel. The ironing board had not been properly checked as it was clearly broken and difficult to use.
3 January 2025
It was memorable we will definitely go back
We went for NYE & went to the event they put on which was fantastic! The management & staff were amazing! & V friendly
Nothing
2 January 2025
Clocktower hotel
The internal decor...
1 January 2025
Exceeded expectations. Would definitely recommend.
The hotel is beautiful, architecturally fascinating and well decorated. The staff were exceptional. Lots of nice little extras like resident complimentary drink from 5-6pm with hot chocolate for the children.
31 December 2024
Fabulous
Beautiful room
30 December 2024
Perfect one night stay for the theatre!
Huge room, big comfy bed, excellent staff and atmosphere! We’ll be back!
Shower was a bit of a mission but got there eventually. 😊 the room was still excellent.
30 December 2024
Very welcoming overnight at Kimpton. Will revisit.
Staff were all attentive and friendly. Facilities are excellent although one lift was not operational meaning a short walk. Doorman reaction to an exploding glass on a table we were sharing was a little alarming but possibly understandable. The fact a glass exploded must be of concern but we would not hesitate to stay here again. The food we had was excellent too.
Nothing.
30 December 2024
Beautiful Building, Lovely Staff.
Impressive historic building, situated perfectly for the Palace Theatre, museum etc. Very friendly, helpful staff, breakfast was wonderful, rooms with good quality mattresses (fitted with toppers), high ceilings and bags of natural light coming in.
Just little niggles really, room could have been cleaned more thoroughly, there was a used tissue behind the bedside cabinet on arrival, and moving the beds to hoover underneath every couple of weeks would be a good idea. In an otherwise immaculate bathroom, leaving the toilet seat fitted askew somewhat spoiled the aesthetic.
29 December 2024
Romantic, comfortable and decadent
It’s beauty.
Nothing it was gorgeous.
29 December 2024
Excellent staff - beautiful hotel - great location
Absolutely beautiful building, the room was very spacious and immaculately decorated. The staff were on hand for anything you needed at anytime.
We were in room 123 and it was a little noisy in the night from the bar. It wasn’t an issue for us but people with younger children may have struggled.
29 December 2024
Beautiful hotel
Spacious room and bathroom. The hotel building was grand and decorated beautifully.
The bath tub was slightly small. Breakfast didn't have much veg options.
29 December 2024
Perfect!
Beautiful hotel in the perfect location, amazing staff couldn’t fault it
29 December 2024
We will definitely go back as beautiful hotel
Excellent breakfast good selection
Nothing
29 December 2024
Always a fun stay and always our go to place when coming to Manchester
Love everything the decor , the staff the location , the restaurant
Lifts are a little confusing
28 December 2024
Great hotel in Manchester, amazing buffet breakfast, recommend it
Great hotel, centrally located and really quite nice. Surprising jewel in Manchester
The room service menu was pretty limited and the internet / tv at times was a bit inconsistent.
28 December 2024
Amazing and welcoming
2nd visit and was greeted with gifts and an upgrade I never like too leave the history the staff and the rooms are captivating and will always come bk to this hotel on my visits
27 December 2024
Exceptional
Location, room, very friendly staff and helpful,
All good
26 December 2024
Very good
Spacious room, good breakfast
Have to pay extra £20 for parking. When I was making the reservation through booking.com, it was written that parking available but found out later that its not hotel’s parking. Actually it's nearby NCP car park for which have to pay extra.☹️
26 December 2024
From arrival to departure our stay was perfect,
The property was beautiful. It had architectural interest and a high specification.
Nothing. It was simply perfect in every way.
26 December 2024
Not quite worth the money not sure I would go back.
The traditional features
Some of the corridors were cold, draughty and not as welcoming as the rest of the hotel. Our bathroom had a smell of drainage so wasn't pleasant.
25 December 2024
Excellent hotel in the heart of Manchester.
Full vegan breakfast - even as room delivery
24 December 2024
Fabulous
Room was wonderful, staff very helpful and overall a lovely hotel.
Very noisy room on the first floor from the live music below. Would recommend requesting a room on a higher floor if you have children. Also the WiFi was virtually non existent.
23 December 2024
It was lovely
Absolutely gorgeous hotel
The staff using the lift throughout the day with dirty washing piled up and rubbish from the rooms not acceptable at all
23 December 2024
Festive, relaxed, family affair
Clean, comfortable beds, beautiful architecture
Long check in process and long check out process .
22 December 2024
Very beautiful hotel, gorgeous room, very comfortable
Absolutely gorgeous building, amazing room beautifully furnished with lots of space. Lovely staff. Great social hour with a free drink!
Wi-Fi wasn’t great.
21 December 2024
Exceptional
The building and the room.
Nothing it was all great
21 December 2024
Exceptional
The entrance was amazing
Nothing
19 December 2024
Perfection
Restaurant, room was perfect, gorgeous atmosphere
Nothing
19 December 2024
Beautiful hotel, convenient location, friendly staff
Wonderful rooms, clean, spaceous. Lovely full English breakfast, friendly staff. Hotel very convenient close to X-mas markets.
Noisy location, lots of traffic outside of my room. There were some issues with payment of my room (not possible with debitcard) but this was resolved in the end.
18 December 2024
Worth every penny
My room was huge. I used the hairdryer, iron and ironing board and yoga mat, and enjoyed the fresh milk in the fridge for making tea - a very welcome touch. When I asked to change rooms because of hearing the bass from a party's music I was given a new room without a problem - in fact Gabrielle was charm personified. The bed was big, linen was good quality and facilities everything you might hope for. All the staff in the hotel, bars and restaurants were well-chosen and well-trained: friendly, professional and nice to talk to.
My only criticism - I like a soft and yielding mattress and mine was firm. Apart from that - everything was first class. I had, however, asked for 2 single beds as I was hoping to travel with my granddaughter, but in the end I came alone. The one bed would have been unsatisfactory if she had come. Please don't assume that people asking for 2 single beds, but sharing a room, are 'a couple'. I chose the room at the hotel because it specifically mentioned that 2 beds were available. it wasn't until booking was confirmed that it appeared they were not.
18 December 2024
Very good
Stunning building, great location
We had dinner one night and would have preferred to eat in the bar or the orangery rather than the formal dining room but weren’t able to.
17 December 2024
Liked everything - nothing not to like.
In a word everything!!!
17 December 2024
Stunning hotel loved staying there will definitely be back!
Everything 👌🏻
Nothing 👌🏻
17 December 2024
Very good
Staff were lovely and hotel itself is beautiful
We didn’t have a view at all, and I didn’t realise this when booking which is a shame for the price. We just had blocked out windows, so was a shame.
17 December 2024
Superb hotel, great bar & restaurant.
Very stylish and relaxed
16 December 2024
Exceptional
Everything was amazing, what a beautiful hotel. Staff, rooms, food, drink and entertainment was 10/10. The Christmas decor inside and out really makes you not want to leave. Spectacular!
16 December 2024
Very good
Beautiful building Breakfast was lovely
16 December 2024
Very good
Lovely building, staff were excellent and room was really nice and comfy
Room service pizza wasnt that good. Would be nice to have hooks to hand coats
16 December 2024
Good hotel and decent experience
Excellent interiors, great bar, beautiful ambience, helpful to be able to have checked in early
Lack of full length mirror, bit noisy at times above the room, discount on car park wasn't great.
16 December 2024
Excellent, stunning building, looking forward to our next visit
Beautiful room and bathroom, the bed, duvet and pillows were a delight, we both had an excellent sleep. The building is stunning, we enjoyed an excellent pre show vegan dinner and breakfast was excellent. The restaurant staff are friendly and attentive.
The shower doesn't suit those over 6ft unfortunately but there was a bath.
15 December 2024
Perfect
Breakfast great Interiors beautiful Service excellent
Nothing, all good. Kids would have liked pancakes at breakfast but they’re a tough crowd
15 December 2024
Very good
Great location, great food, great all round
15 December 2024
Best Kimpton experience 24
Sharon on reception, greeted me, was very knowledgeable about the building and tailored her advice to my interest in the building. She welcomed me on my first Kimpton trip with complementary prosecco and fudge, which made it that little bit more special. I hope to make a Kimpton stay a holiday tradition going forward.
n/a
14 December 2024
Excellent
Excellent hotel great location fantastic service
Nothing
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Snack bar
- - Kid meals
- - Coffee house on site
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Family rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Packed lunches
- - Heating
- - Allergy-free room
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Designated smoking area
- - Minimarket on site
- - Pet basket
- - Pet bowls
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Business centre
- - Fax/photocopying (additional charge)
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Express check-in/check-out
- - Currency exchange
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
- - Invoice provided
Activities
- - Fitness centre
- - Games room
- - Nightclub/DJ
- - Fitness
- - Bicycle rental
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Entertainment and family services
- - Board games/puzzles
Parking
- - Parking garage
Accessibility
- - Wheelchair accessible
- - Toilet with grab rails
- - Lower bathroom sink
- - Emergency cord in bathroom
Outdoors
- - Outdoor furniture
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Access to health care professionals
- - Thermometers for guests provided by property
- - Face masks for guests available
12 January 2025
Fabulous hotel, friendly staff and great cocktails in the Refuge bar