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Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester

Oxford Street, Manchester, M60 7HA, United Kingdom. (show on map)

The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is a striking landmark in the heart of Manchester, famous for its magnificent clock tower and terracotta-clad exterior. Originally built between 1891 and 1932 as the headquarters for the Refuge Assurance Company, this Grade II listed building is a masterpiece of Victorian design by the renowned architect Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed London’s Natural History Museum.

Inside, the hotel is a treasure trove of historical detail. You’ll find stunning stained glass, glazed brickwork, and marble staircases that reflect its grand past as a corporate palace. A unique focal point in the lobby is a massive three-metre-tall bronze horse sculpture created by Sophie Dickens, the great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens. Fans of architectural curiosities might also notice the glass dome in the reception area, which was salvaged from an old Scottish railway station.

The building is as famous for its “Refuge” bar and dining room as it is for its rooms. With its high ceilings, towering pillars, and a massive 30-foot granite bar, it has become a destination in its own right for locals and visitors alike. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, some say the hotel is even home to a ghost of a grieving war widow who haunts the staircases.

Its central location makes it a perfect starting point for exploring. The iconic Palace Theatre is located immediately next door, and you are just a short walk away from the city’s best cultural spots, galleries, and the vibrant atmosphere of the Northern Quarter.

Expert reviews

New York Times review:

“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.

Telegraph review:

“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.”

Guest rating

4.4 out of 5.0

Ranked 7th in Manchester


This an aggregated guest review rating of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester. We have taken customer review ratings from hotel booking sites, search engines, the official hotel website and other travel platforms. This is the average of all those ratings. We only list places that have a guest review rating of at least 4.0 out of 5.0


What guests liked


Value for Money

88.27 %

Ranked 8th in Manchester


We use a smart algorithm to determine the value for money each hotel offers. The score is based on a combination of aggregated guest review ratings and the average nightly rate. The higher the percentage, the better the overall value you receive for the price you pay.


Location

Recent guest reviews

5.0
Spicer

3 June 2026

Everything was fab

Everything Room was spacious Amazing

Nothing

5.0
Matthew

3 June 2026

Exceptional

The breakfast was delicious. And the hotel was absolutely chocked full of character and brilliant decor.

5.0
Sophie

3 June 2026

Fabulous hotel and staff

Fabulous clean hotel with amazing staff and facilities and rooms are massive

Beautiful hotel with great sized rooms

5.0
Carol

2 June 2026

Exceptional

Location to our concert venue was perfect, Staff were so helpful Bedroom was beautiful Free social hour The best shower and the products smelt amazing Complementary snacks Fresh milk in the fridge

Absolutely nothing

4.5
Dawn

2 June 2026

Lovely hotel, great staff

The hotel is so lovely and the staff cant do enough for you and so friendly.

The bed was too hard, breakfast on 1st day was cold but was offered hot food to compensate but had to be somewhere. Cleaner didn't come to room until 5pm ish which is when we were back in room to get changed etc so turned her away.

5.0
Joanne

2 June 2026

Lovely stay

Amazing staff, great location, gorgeous room, fantastic breakfast, car parking discount

Nothing

5.0
Zara

1 June 2026

Excellent

Room was comfortable

5.0
Paul

31 May 2026

Without doubt the best hotel in Manchester. Fantastic renovation of a Manchester institution.

The breakfast was superb. Lots of choice and very attentive staff. Location was fantastic.

Nothing really.

5.0
Paige

31 May 2026

A truly wonderful stay!

What a lovely hotel. The location is great, the hotel itself is beautiful and the staff are very helpful and friendly. Our new Manchester go to! Thank you Kimpton

Nothing!

5.0
Jason

30 May 2026

Night away in Manchester to watch Puressence.

We always use this hotel when we come to Manchester, location is great for most music venues and the theatre. The bar is just superb, lovely laid back atmosphere with great music and the breakfast is great. The rooms are really nice and the staff always helpful, professional and polite.

Nothing, all good.

4.0
Hind

30 May 2026

It’s a good hotel to stay in Manchester

Location is good and hotel interior is grand. Room was spacious

The shower was stuck, too many knobs 🫠

4.5
Lesley

29 May 2026

Fabulous

Magnificant, characterful building in a prime location. Friendly professional staff. Excellant breakfast. Hotel was immaculately clean throughout. Complimentary Happy Hour was a very nice touch 😁

5.0
Chris

29 May 2026

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will definitely be back! Overall, it was a perfect mix of luxury, comfort, and outsta

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at the Kimpton Clocktower in Manchester city centre. The building itself is incredible — so full of history and character, and honestly one of the most beautiful hotels we’ve stayed in. From the moment you walk in, the architecture and atmosphere are just amazing. Our room was fantastic: spacious, comfortable, and finished to a really high standard. The hotel facilities were excellent throughout, and every member of staff we encountered was super helpful, friendly, and welcoming. The location was perfect for exploring Manchester, and parking nearby was easy to find which made everything really convenient. Breakfast was also extremely good with plenty of choice and high-quality food. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will definitely be back!

There was nothing to not like, it was super.

5.0
Tracy

29 May 2026

Best stay at an awesome hotel.

Beautiful hotel. Friendly, polite staff. Had a very enjoyable stay. Location to the train station was ideal. 100% happy with my stay. Will book again. Xx❤️

There was nothing I didn't like.

5.0
Farouq

28 May 2026

Exceptional

Fantastic building and excellent service.

5.0
Liza

27 May 2026

Beautiful Hotel, we had a lovely stay

What a beautiful hotel, the lobby is absolutely stunning. Lady at check in was lovely. Our room was great, comfortable bed and lovely bath. We appreciated the little extras in our room. The room was also nive and quiet and nuce cool air con too. Great drinks at the bar although we didn't eat there. Would definitely stay here again as the location was great.

Nothings, we had a lovely stay.

5.0
Robyn

26 May 2026

Brilliant … would stay there again

High ceilings, fantastic staff , great restaurant experience

5.0
Verity

26 May 2026

We had a great time! We had a gig in the area and because it’s been on my list of places to stay for years I thought I’d

Loved everything! Patrick checked us in, he was great, informative and friendly. We had a great time staying.

Nothing!

5.0
David

25 May 2026

Great experience

Amazing staff Comfortable accommodation Good location

Sometimes noises from nearby rail lines were noticeable

5.0
Isobel

25 May 2026

Excellent staff throughly enjoyed our visit

Central to where we needed to be

Nothing

5.0
Jamie

24 May 2026

Amazing hotel Amazing staff we will be coming back again we had a Amazing time lol thank you all

I had booked it as a break for myself and my wife as our first ever city break i knew I made the right choice when I saw the look on her face when we entered the lobby and she saw the decor and after that the room she absolutely loved the room we even went around in the evening taking pictures of the hotel just so she could show our friends and family where we stayed .

4.5
Claire

24 May 2026

I’d stay again but maybe not have breakfast

Lovely building, extremely clean

The food was lovely however, the breakfast was just warm

5.0
Joanne

23 May 2026

Brilliant stay, great location, fantastic room and friendly staff. Thank you

Looks great, brilliant facilities and friendly staff

Loved everything!

5.0
Brigitte

22 May 2026

Very nice break during a business trip

The monumental building, the space and cosyness of the room, the support of the staff.

Nothing

5.0
Rachel

21 May 2026

We had a very restful night sleep and the breakfast was delicious.

Beautiful building and very comfortable bed.

5.0
Emma

17 May 2026

Exceptional

Beautiful building, nice spacious room. Dog friendly and great location.

5.0
Chua

17 May 2026

The spacious room made for a comfortable and quiet stay

The property is superb as it was the Refuge Assurance Building and its prestigious location along Oxford Road in Manchester is second to none . The spacious Room was tastefully appointed.The Front Desk , Concierge and Housekeeping was most efficient and prompt .

Nothing

5.0
Gemma

15 May 2026

Would definitely return

The thing that stood out for me was the welcome I got at reception (Kate I think her name was) on arrival. Very warm and I was made to feel truly welcome. She had exceptional customer service.

Nothing

5.0
Andrea

14 May 2026

Great central quality location

For businesss. Great location stunning hotel

Nothing

4.5
Weerakorn

13 May 2026

Good value for money.

Location

Electricity plugs are very few.

4.0
Maria

12 May 2026

Excellect location

Beautiful

Nil

4.0
Maria

12 May 2026

Excellent location

Beautiful architecture and friendly staff

Nil

4.5
Paul

12 May 2026

Love this place

It's a stunning Hotel, really enjoyed it.

This is NOTHING to do with the hotel but there are heavy roadworks on Oxford road.

5.0
Jack

11 May 2026

Brilliant really liked it. Would stay agian

Such a beautiful building and atmosphere

4.0
Maxine

10 May 2026

Good location. Reception staff were helpful

Good breakfast. Reception helpful. Room facilities were good

Noise around the rooms until 3am kept us awake

5.0
Liam

10 May 2026

Perfect Hotel, would go again 👌

The Hotel is in the perfect place for everything, shops, pubs and attractions. Really friendly staff, regular interactions to make sure we were okay, really nice atmosphere. I also love the Den, very peaceful and there is a pool table. There was a Gym included in our stay too which was amazing.

5.0
Lucy

9 May 2026

Highly recommend, facilities and staff outstanding

Walking in the hotel was spectacular, staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. Nothing was too much trouble.

That is couldn't stay longer

4.5
Sasha

9 May 2026

Excellent from arriving at reception to the moment I left, a great experience

Upgraded room, the ballroom and great reception staff

N/A

5.0
Wendy

8 May 2026

I would recommend and I look forward to staying there again.

The property was stunningly beautiful, the room I stayed in was spacious and comfortable.

There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about the property.

4.5
Joseph

7 May 2026

Fabulous

The room and bar

The price

5.0
Simon

7 May 2026

Pampered and relaxed

Service and staff was exemplary The building is amazing

Nothing

4.0
Angie

5 May 2026

Interesting architecture , friendly welcome.

Decor , location , reception staff , size of room .

Poor breakfast , very slow service - had to request veggie breakfast . Not good value. Scaffolding obscuring light and view.

5.0
Tracey

4 May 2026

Exceeded expecctations

Loved the ambience, the extras in the room , the comfort. Beautiful food.

Service at breakfast was a little slow

4.0
Alek

4 May 2026

Good old fashioned hotel

Good staff attitude

Bit of a maze

5.0
Nicola

3 May 2026

Great stay

We love staying here. Beautiful hotel with lovely rooms, great restaurant and bar.

Nothing

4.0
Katrina

30 April 2026

Very good

Staff are so friendly and helpful. Room is beautifully decorated. Breakfast is fabulous.

Bed was hard.

5.0
Sachini

30 April 2026

Characterful, high quality hotel in a great location.

Very central location. Amazing building with loads of Manchester character. Even though it has a central location the room was very quiet. Room spacious and really nicely furnished with a great bed, high ceilings and massive windows which felt very luxurious.

Struggling to find anything to complain about.

4.0
Allan

29 April 2026

Good stay. Nice room. Friendly staff.

Good breakfast. Lots of choice.

Difficult to order room service. Couldn't find number in room.

5.0
Jane

27 April 2026

Gorgeous hotel in Manchester.

Gorgeous hotel, lovely staff. Great rooms and facilities. Would defo stay again when in Manchester. Opposite train station.

5.0
Phillip

26 April 2026

Exceptional

Everything about the hotel was brilliant

Nothing

Hotel facilities

Food & Drink

  • - Restaurant
  • - Bar
  • - Breakfast in the room
  • - Snack bar
  • - Kids' 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 & 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
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