Five Hacks To Visiting The Hive

Staying at Macdonald Manchester Hotel will enhance your city. Close to everything worthy of your time when visiting Manchester. Only a 2 minute walk from Piccadilly Train Station, that's a great start. Arriving by car? No problem, secure car parking is available despite the city centre location...  

Worker bees, student bees, busy bees; Manchester is a hive of activity. It could be said that Manchester is the heartbeat of the North West; home to the cobbled roads of Coronation Street, playground for up and coming businesses and the base for two of the World’s greatest football teams. With so much to do and so much to see, a visitor needs to plan ahead!

Get your head down
When planning a trip, you’re confronted with a plethora of options; pages and pages of hotels, B&B's, apartments and the like but then you click on Macdonald Manchester Hotel, why chose us? 

• Because our bedrooms are the largest in the city?
• Because our rooms have the comfiest beds in the city (probably)? 
• Because of the hearty full English breakfast to set you up for the day? 
• Because our standards are consistent?
• Because our team are experienced?

Well yes, of course all of this, but LOCATION is key here. Whether you’re driving to us or travelling by train, we are the image of convenience. We sit proudly on London road, a minute’s walk from the well-known Piccadilly station and a stones throw from all of the major motorways. With a secure car park at the rear and a purpose built drop off spot at the front, the Macdonald Manchester has something for every traveller!

Get Fed
The Scottish Steakhouse restaurant boasts an open serve kitchen serving Instagram-able food by night and the hearty breakfast everyone needs by morning. The restaurant sits on the mezzanine level of the hotel, ensuring a snapshot of the city can be seen from every seat. If you’re assessing rates before you visit, just be warned that you’ll be disappointed you didn’t opt for ‘Bed and Breakfast’ – the range is vast and the quality is high. With the team serving piping hot tea and coffee to your table and a ‘help yourself’ policy to the entire cooked, continental and other items, you can’t get better!

Get Watered
Before heading out into the cities nightlife don’t forget the hotels’ wonderful ‘Exchange Bar’. Relaxed seating, mood lighting and televised live sport when the season is upon us. There are no formalities; this bar is made for drinks amongst friends, informal meetings with colleagues or a tense place to watch the latest game. Exchange Bar has an amazing collection of gins, flavoured vodkas, draught beers… the list goes on. Need we say more? Oh yes, well we also serve a great coffee! Take a couple of hours with you, your laptop and a latte and you’re set!

Get Out and About
Being accessible is one thing but being a good base is also important. We encourage our guests to explore this wonderful city and have ample information located in our foyer that gives you the down low on all the ‘MUSTS’ whilst in Manchester. We have a brilliant relationship with a local taxi company who are quick, reliable and reasonable, plus they pick up just outside the doors of the hotel. WINNING! But make no mistake, take a short walk and you’ll be in the centre of the fun! For shopping we recommend heading about 10 minutes walk from the hotel into the main high streets which are easy to navigate and filled with everything you could possibly need. In the evening there are a whole host of bars or restaurants to visit; just pop to reception or ask any of the staff as you pass them and let them know what you’re looking for and they will have a list of where to go.

Get Entertained
Rev up your city break with some good shows, there’s so many to choose from. You can literally see any manner of entertainment in Manchester, whether it’s comedy, drama or a musical, the city caters for it all. When you’ve planned your stay, with us of course, why not give us a call for some local guidance or if you prefer have a peek online. With the Palace Theatre, The Lowry, MEN, Apollo, The Comedy Store plus many more, there truly is something for every interest... Do something different this trip!