Manchester - where to stay

[NeverTalksToStrangers]

Going to Manchester with dh and 2*ds for city match. Have booked premier inn at picadilly (and was pretty much only looking at hotels in that area as was told it's great for transport) but now I've read the square is a total shithole, I'm not so sure.

Are the surrounding streets as bad? I know the hotel is down a bit from it? Is there any way of avoiding it if you get the train into picadilly? Or is there anywhere else I can stay (cheap and cheerful ideally) that has decent links to Etihad?

Thanks in advance!

The premier inn isn't all that close to Piccadilly gardens. And it's not that bad, it's a bit grim but really not that bad. There are loads of fab places to eat round your hotel as you're close to the northern quarter which has a lot of funky restaurants.

The Fanzone is actually really good - my United supporting DB came along with us last week and even he was impressed. Wouldn't worry about making him wear a top of the greatest team in the world - I've seen kids in Liverpool and United kits in there.

There's an indoor trampoline thing joined into the big Asda by the ground too if you're headed over that way anyway. Might be worth a look into

When they leave the football get a tram AWAY from manchester and stay on for two stops, then get off and get a tran TOWARDS manchester. It can reduce their tram waiting time by upto an hour after a game.

Look at the family tickets on the tram it costs either 7.10 a day or 9.20 for the weekend. It will cover you all for the journey from airport to city centre plus for the 2 going to the match. You can see details on gmpte website.

Near Etihad is www.flipout.co.uk/view/flip-out-manchester, you have to book in advance though. The tram is very busy before and after the game, if possible get Uber - it's about 6-7 pounds from Piccadilly.

I've changed the hotel to the Novotel on Dickinson Street. I deliberately hadn't pre-paid to see if I got anything nicer as a last minute deal. Delighted as it looks fab.

I see there's an odeon near it too, which actually doesn't look too bad price wise as well. I got burnt once in Birmingham when i had a few hours to kill before my flight home and a cinema ticket cost me £19 . I think my confusion with the other cinema is that movie times hadn't been confirmed yet. Seems to be the same with the odeon.

Am I better going onto Oxford road station from the airport then? Or, take the tram to St Peter's Square? Or uber/walk?

Ooh flipout is a definite idea for myself and ds2. Thanks.

Thanks to everyone. You've been very helpful.

OP, I could have written your post. My DS is a City fan and we are going to a match in a few weeks time and I'm looking at accommodation as well.

We are looking for a hotel with a pool. Does anyone have sky suggestions?

Would it be worth staying near the airport and commuting in?

Hi I would personally get the tram, train tickets in Manchester are stupidly complicated. You can't get a family ticket so you end up with 4 tickets depending on time of day for costs.
The tram is more sensible zone 4 family ticket costs what it costs 7.20 and gives all day travel, you can use it to just cross manchester or go out to the stadium.
If you are there all weekend the family weekend ticket is great value at 9.20 and can be used from Friday evening until Sunday.
The metro station is right next to the rail station you just pick up a ticket from the machine on the platform the trams are every few minutes, the only snag is it takes a bit longer to get into manchester.
Good choice of hotel you've moved even closer to rudy's pizza on Peter St. Best pizzas ever and really good value

Recent trips I made to/from Castlefield (about five minutes walk from St Peters Sq.) were £21 (Uber early morning to the airport) and £26 (black cab morning rush hour from the airport). That compares with rail £3-4 per adult (20 mins) and tram £4.60 (50 mins). The tram does offer family fares though.

Manchester Airport is in Cheshire, EmpressJewel. Don't stay there to visit Manchester. There's nothing there!

Piccadilly gardens aren’t that bad, it’s not a war zone. It’s not the most beautiful of places but you won’t be stabbed walking across it, It takes less than 5 minutes to walk from one side to the other.
Manchester has a relatively small city centre and you can walk from one side to the other very easily.

Joloh I just assumed the airport was local!!! Thanks.

Some great tips on this thread.

Manchester is great for children, definitely go to the Museum of Science and Industry while they’re at the match, then, if you are staying centrally TreeTop golf in the Printworks is a fab family thing to do!

Hi second poster are you flying into Manchester. There are airport hotels but they are just that. It's a train ride or metro ride into Manchester and a good distance to the stadium.
What do you want from a hotel cos there some in Central Manchester with pools but they are expensive if its a more budget option I'd go with the one picked by poster 1.
Theres loads to do in Central Manchester there's inside crazy golf at junkyard golf there's cinemas mosi the museum of science and industry football museum.,all of which might appeal. If you're doing a longer stay there's the Trafford Centre with indoor snowboarding and skiing at chill factore go ape dinosaur mini golf legoland sealife and of course shopping.

Agree about the tram away from the centre. I did this after going to the Theatre of Bad Dreams as an away fan a few years ago, and most of the glory seekers in red shirts without local accents just queued for a long time at the tram stop.

empressjewel

Are you flying from Belfast too?
Any of the hotels I looked at with a pool were either super ropey or really expensive.

Unfortunately that junk yard golf doesn't allow under 18s on fridays or Saturdays?!

The Dishoom that's recently opened is probably worth a visit if you like their food and are going to be near the SIM.

www.dishoom.com/manchester/

AC by Marriott is very pleasant inside but it's a bit grim walking there from Piccadilly.

www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/fact-sheet/travel/manaq-ac-hotel-manchester-city-centre/

I second the recommendation to avoid Brittania, Merchants etc.

Didn't realise junkyard had changed its policy there's an indoor crazy golf in the print works called treetop adventure that definitely allows children in, its next to the football museum. In the print works there's a hard rock cafe if thats the sort of thing you are looking for.
If your ds is over 10 there's a cat cafe in the northern Quarter where he could play with cats for an hour, you have to book that in advance

Never talks I was going to go with one of the ropey hotels (but admittedly, haven't done any research yet).

We are driving up from London and are only staying the night of the match, so we won't have much time in the hotel or Manchester anyway. I thought the children may like a swim on Sunday morning before we leave to go home.

I'm really keen in doing the Fanzone,thanks to this thread.

They probably would like to play with cats (how random that that is a thing) but ds2 is only 8, so probably not a goer.

Cat cafe is definitely over 10s only.
Cant think of much else for younger kids but will post again if anything else comes to mind.

Oh good lord - it's not a war zone. Far from it. Piccadilly Gardens is not somewhere I do anything other than walk through, but the city centre is compact and everywhere else you might want to visit is around a ten minute walk away.

iFly (indoor skydiving) is good as long as it appeals to everyone and the age-range is 3+.

www.iflyworld.co.uk/locations/manchester/

I-fly all booked up this weekend by the looks of it.