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Secret inspectors’ top-rated hotels in the UK’s best cities
When choosing a city-break destination, UK holidaymakers are spoilt for choice.
Liverpool is the top-rated big city for a holiday thanks to its vibrant cultural attractions. Newcastle wins praise from visitors for its food and drink. Bath is the top-rated medium-sized city packed with jaw-dropping architecture and historical sites.
But not all city accommodation is created equal. Our undercover inspectors stay at hundreds of UK hotels to bring you honest and impartial reviews you can trust: both good and bad. Good doesn't necessarily mean expensive; prices for our best city hotels start at £145 per night.
From grade II-listed boutiques to converted council buildings, we’ve rounded up the secret inspector’s highest-rated hotels in the best UK cities, to help you plan your next getaway.
All the hotels featured here impressed our secret inspectors enough to be rated 3.5 stars and above. We completed many of these hotel stays during the past 12 months but have included some longstanding high-scoring addresses, which have been fact-checked. Prices are for a Saturday night (peak price) and correct at the time of publication.
See how small, medium and large cities scored in our best UK cities for a short break survey.
These reviews first appeared in Which? Travel magazine. We don't accept freebies from travel companies, airlines, or hotels, so you can be sure that our investigations, recommendations, and reviews are completely unbiased.
Best hotels in top-rated big cities
LIVERPOOL
Municipal Hotel & Spa – MGallery Liverpool
Peak price: £256
Score: 3.5 stars
Check prices direct
With its striking looks, you can’t miss The Municipal Hotel – a magnificent sandstone building carved with sculptured figures and propped up by Corinthian columns. Inside, it feels like a high-society home rather than a former council building, as we glide up sweeping staircases and across original stone floors in its huge hallways. It’s just minutes from The Beatles’ old stomping ground, the lively Cavern Quarter. But niggles, such as a £50 pool and sauna access charge, are disappointing.
Rooms: After navigating a labyrinth of corridors to our upgraded deluxe lodgings, we find a spacious, light room. Grey walls and furnishings are brought to life with brass fittings, a deep-blue velvet bed throw and William Morris print headboard. The bathroom’s marbled herringbone tiles are chic.
Food & drink: We enjoy a drink in the showstopping centrepiece Palm Court, a light-drenched atrium fringed by uplit palm trees. At breakfast in the Seaforth restaurant, we tucked into deliciously gooey eggs drizzled in Hollandaise.
Our verdict: A stunning central stay but its extra costs were a rip-off.
This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the November 2025 issue of Which? Travel
EDINBURGH
Roseate Edinburgh
Peak price: £207
Score: Four stars
Book direct
With its dusky sandstone facade and steep gables, this mansion 15 minutes from the city centre is a statement in Scottish baronial style. But it’s no stuffy guesthouse: glass chandeliers and stained-glass windows, alongside peacock feather wallpaper and saffron wingback chairs, let waistcoated staff create a sense of occasion.
Rooms: Bedrooms are split between the main building and Roseate House across a main road. Reception and the restaurant are in the main building, and crossing the road in your robe detracts from the glamour. Our double in the attic lacked the four-poster bed of pricier rooms, but Persian rugs and tartan cushions on a comfy bed felt luxurious.
Food & drink: Fiery-orange armchairs and a mirrored bar stacked with whisky make for a glamorous but intimate atmosphere in the Dunstane restaurant. Food is equally sophisticated. The deep flavours of our Inverurie sirloin and silky bone marrow jus are skilfully paired with sweet, butter-poached lobster ravioli (£42). Porridge prepared with double cream for breakfast is decadent.
Our verdict: The ultimate boutique B&B stay.
This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the Mar/April 2026 issue of Which? Travel
BELFAST
Grand Central Hotel, Belfast
Peak price: £162
Score: Four stars
Check rates at Grand Central Hotel
In many ways, this former 23-storey office building towering above Belfast’s skyline reflects the growing swagger of the Northern Irish capital. From the roped-off lift where the concierge whisks guests up to the luxury cocktail bar on the top floor, to the all-day dining in front of dramatic double-height floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounge bistro, you could almost be in New York.
Rooms: Apart from a flash of turquoise on the bedspread throw, our spacious room with its grey geometric carpet and pale furnishings is smart but lacks flair. That hardly matters, though, when you get rainfall showers, down duvets and a 50-inch flatscreen TV at this price.
Food & drink: The flagship is the Seahorse restaurant, which holds an AA Rosette. Here, leather banquettes, marble tables and a large mural of Belfast mythology set a stunning backdrop for ambitious cooking. Dishes include rack of Mourne lamb (£30) and Dublin Bay prawn ravioli. Breakfast is available, too, and everything from the Thompson’s tea to the Bushmills in your porridge is local and delicious.
Our verdict: A hotel fit for a capital.
This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the March 2025 issue of Which? Travel
BRISTOL
Horts Townhouse, Bristol
Peak price: £145
Score: Four stars
This beautifully restored Grade-II listed guesthouse feels like somewhere Gatsby might call home. The bar is a sumptuous cavern of wood panelling, fringed lampshades and retro prints in gilded frames. In the heart of the old city, Hort’s is a 10-minute walk to the harbourside.
Rooms: The Roaring Twenties theme continues upstairs in our spacious boutique double, overlooking the old Guildhall – with scalloped blue velvet armchairs, marble-topped cabinets and Art Deco mirrors.
There’s an honesty bar stocked with treats, including relaxing face masks (£3.85). The complimentary homemade port and chocolates were also a nice touch. Only a few stray crumbs on the parquet floor brought us back down to earth. Book direct to request a lazy late checkout until 1pm.
Food & drink: The Hort family apparently served Bristol’s first cocktails – and you’ll find plenty in the bar downstairs (from £10), alongside classic pub dishes (including a Scotch egg flight, three for £19). Our made-to-order breakfast of avocado and poached eggs on toasted sourdough was first-rate.
Our verdict: An opulent 1920s city-centre bolthole at a great price.
This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the November 2025 issue of Which? Travel.
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CARDIFF
Voco St David’s
Peak price: £151
Score: Four stars
Book direct
In 1998 St David’s Spa, Wales’ first five-star hotel, opened on Cardiff docks. Looking like a cruise liner jutting into the bay, it was hailed as the latest addition to ‘Cool Cymru’.
Almost 30 years later, renamed Voco and now owned by InterContinental, it’s sleekly luxurious rather than hip. We prefer it this way. Everything works. There’s no trendy lighting or confusing app. The staff are friendly, without acting like they’ll be fired if they forget to smile. We love the lobby, flooded with light by its seven-storey atrium, and the spa with its 15-metre swimming pool. Even better are the views across the bay towards the undulating roof of the Welsh Senedd.
Rooms: Standard rooms are a decent size, with understated decor and tasteful seascape paintings. Guests can enjoy a dip in a deep bath and choose from a selection of fancy toiletries.
Food & drink: Breakfast is in the Tir a Môr (Land and Sea) restaurant, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking across the bay in three directions. It’s busy, but the fast turnover means the abundant buffet remains fresh and appealing.
Our verdict: No longer cool, but incredibly good value.
This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the March 2025 issue of Which? Travel.
If you're looking for chain hotel ratings, head over to our best UK hotels guide where we rate brands from Premier Inn to Travelodge and Hilton
MANCHESTER
Treehouse Manchester
Peak price £210
Score: 4 stars
Planted between Deansgate and Salford, this hotel couldn’t be more central – its tower peers high over Manchester’s pulsating bars, shops and restaurants. The location is a blessing if you’re keen to join the party – however, the din of music from the club below is barely muffled, even on the 8th floor. Thankfully our text to the front desk swiftly mutes the revelry.
Rooms: The Manchester offshoot of this upmarket London boutique is drenched in playful nostalgia. In the lobby you’re embraced by wooden walls, bird boxes, timber features and retro tunes. Foliage and lights dangle from the ceiling. You’ll find hidden nooks for listening to records and playing board games, or can escape to a bar, restaurant or cinema room. The charming cabin aesthetic continues in the bedroom, with a patchwork quilt, camper lights and a blackboard. Rainbow-coloured curtains conceal a panorama of the city sprawl below. In the bathroom, green metro tiles, a rainfall shower and wooden details complete the high-quality interior.
Food & drink: Confusingly, despite conjuring the whimsy of childhood at every turn,it doesn’t feel particularly family-friendly in the Pip restaurant (there are no crayons or nuggets in sight). Instead, its seasonal local menu is unapologetically grown-up, with options such as crab and lobster thermidor pie (£28). Breakfast offers moreish crowd pleasers: a full English (£17) and homemade crumpets (£8).
Our verdict: You won’t want to leave this cosy, magical nest – which is a shame, given it’s on the doorstep of many top Manchester attractions.
This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the November 2025 issue of Which? Travel.
NEWCASTLE
Dakota
Peak price: £180
Score: 3.5 stars
The exterior of Newcastle’s first big luxury hotel has the uninspiring architectural energy of a local council building. But refurbishing an office block on the banks of the Tyne does mean small chain Dakota could rip out the interior and create something special. From the banquette seating in the steakhouse to the daiquiris in the candlelit cocktail bar, it’s dark, moody and feels expensively exclusive. Only it’s not. You can stay for just slightly more than a Premier Inn.
Rooms: Dark-grey walls, brown armchairs and marbled bathrooms are copy-and-paste luxury, but the lack of flair is a small complaint when rooms are this spacious, soundproofed and well set up (proper hairdryer and toiletries).
Food & drink: Soft lighting, private booths and exceptional service at The Grill pull in locals celebrating anniversaries with a statement meal out. But prices make a statement too. £43 for rib-eye steak is already quarrelsome in Newcastle, but upcharging £7 for some chips is asking for trouble. And, while our cooked-to-order breakfast was excellent, the £24 room surcharge is not worth it.
Our verdict: Fantastic chance to enjoy luxury accommodation on a budget.
This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the September 2026 issue of Which? Travel.
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Top-rated hotels in the best medium sized UK cities
BATH
No. 15 by Guesthouse
Peak price: £346
Score: 3.5 stars
Check prices for No.15 by Guesthouse at Booking.com
As I reach for my bag of boiled sweets, swaying my head to strains of Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’ coming from the record player, I realise that something special lies behind this property’s Georgian facade. Kids and dogs are welcome (with Norland and puppy nannies available to book), but whether they’re in tow or not, No. 15 is designed to unleash your inner child. There’s an LP library, pantry stuffed with complimentary ice cream, popcorn and cake, plus vibrant pops of art everywhere – from a replica Big Ben in the lobby to neon lights on the staircase. In our room we find a coffee maker inside a doll’s house, and military hats at the ready in case we have the urge for fancy dress. For grown-ups, the bar and basement spa offer escape. Quirky design touches continue in the spa - glass bubbles lining the corridors, 18th-century silhouette portraits and an apothecary-style water station in the waiting room - all hinting that something special awaits. Thankfully, a blissful full body massage (£115) delivers total relaxation.
Rooms: Despite the pared-back aesthetic of untreated plaster walls and a vinyl sticker canopy, the Georgian grandeur seeps through with an abundance of mirrors and chandeliers. Sash windows overlook a city skyline, and their shutters treat us to a pitch-black, quiet slumber.
Food & drink: A basic buffet and full English hit the spot.
Our verdict: You may have to splash out for this fun central weekend base with playful touches galore.
This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the May 2024 issue of Which? Travel.
How we review hotels
Unlike all other national UK travel magazines and newspaper travel sections, Which? Travel never accepts freebies. We pay wherever we stay.
All our hotel inspections take place anonymously. We book a standard double room online, just as you would, and we sample the hotel’s facilities, just as you would. We never let on that we are from Which?.
That means no special treatment, no reviewer upgrades and no opportunity for the hotel to influence our verdict.
And no matter how badly the hotel fares, we always publish the review, warts and all.
Our hotel ratings
We use an overall star rating for the hotel based on what we think you should expect for the type of accommodation (B&B, luxury hotel, etc) and price.
All our ratings strictly adhere to the following criteria:
0 stars – A dreadful hotel. We would not recommend staying here.
1 star – A sub-standard hotel we think is well below average in its category.
2 stars – An adequate hotel we think has room for improvement.
3 stars – A solid hotel that meets our expectations.
4 stars – An excellent hotel we think is above average in its category.
5 stars – An exceptional hotel we think is among the best of its type.