Birmingham hotels

From its spiralling marble staircase to smoky cocktails at Parisian-style bar Madeleine, the Grand Hotel is one of the best hotels in Birmingham and the city’s classiest stay.

Completed in 1879, its 185 rooms are housed inside a spectacular Victorian building, while the Grand’s stone façade towers over busy Colmore Row and St Philip’s Cathedral. Not that you’d notice any noise from outside, though, as these sleek cream-coloured rooms are wonderfully soundproofed from the lively bars and restaurants below.

Hollywood A-listers enjoy staying here too, whether Charlie Chaplin back in the day or Tom Cruise while shooting Mission Impossible more recently. But despite the occasional presence of silver screen glitterati, the reasonable prices here mean a room is still within most budgets. And at less than a 10-minute walk from Birmingham’s New Street Station, The Grand is easy to reach but hard to leave.

The cylindrical Rotunda building has been an icon of Birmingham’s skyline since the 1960s, and in recent years its top floors have been repurposed into a sky-high aparthotel. At 81m tall, Staying Cool’s curving windows and balconies offer some truly cinematic panoramas of the city, with Birmingham’s green suburbs tumbling toward the horizon.

Inside, the rooms are splashed with pops of bright pink, purple and orange, while the open-plan layout gives an informal feel that’s great for sharing with friends. Rising above the famous Bull Ring shopping mall below and located in the city’s commercial heart, Staying Cool is one of the best hotels in Birmingham for its central location and is just a five-minute walk from both New Street and Moor Street train stations.

Breakfast can be added to your booking and there’s cereal in every room. You’re also within walking distance of lots of great drinking and dining spots.

Serene breaks don’t come much better than this. Birmingham ranks highly among European cities in terms of green space, and the beautiful New Hall Hotel is flanked by an oasis of lush parkland on the city’s outskirts in Sutton Coldfield.

Fringed by a moat, New Hall Manor itself dates back to the 13th century and its Medieval exterior is matched inside by oak-panelled rooms, stone fireplaces and 18th-century chandeliers. Perhaps it’s no surprise that Henry VIII once paid a visit (though he missed the spa by about 500 years).

The pretty nearby town of Sutton Coldfield has rail connections into Birmingham, but I prefer the 10-minute drive to Sutton Park, with 2,400 acres (9.7 square km) of widescreen parklands dotted by meandering ancient heathlands.

Back at the hotel, its 2 AA Rosette restaurant The Bridge serves magnificent modern British fare alongside fine French wines, making this one of the best hotels in Birmingham for foodies.

One of the best hotels in Birmingham for anyone travelling via the airport or taking in a concert, the Genting Hotel is located just a stone’s throw from Birmingham International Airport (riding the Maglev monorail from the airport is a local rite of passage) and the National Exhibition Centre venue.

Though Birmingham city centre is only a 10-minute train ride away, this hotel has more than enough to keep you occupied in between flights or events. With everything from a hydrotherapy spa to a late-night casino within its modern neon-fringed exterior, the Genting Hotel is a lively stay for anyone on the move.

178 rooms means there’s plenty of space and the on-site shopping mall, cinema, restaurants and bars only add to the feeling of a city within a city. Don’t miss the flower-strewn Sky Bar, where you can watch aircraft come and go from up above.

Broad Street was once Birmingham’s boisterous clubbing heartland, but quality restaurants, gleaming apartments and a smooth new tram line have turned the area into a more sophisticated affair.

The Leonardo Royal is one of the best hotels in Birmingham for exploring this urban evolution. It provides easy access to some of the city’s hottest entertainment venues, including theatre shows at the Birmingham Rep and concerts at the Utilita Arena. The hotel is also close to a tram stop, linking it to the city’s major train stations. Inside, the 445 rooms make it one of the city’s largest hotels and their cool grey decor is given a flourish by occasional pops of orange. Downstairs, Leo’s restaurant serves up hearty British fare, which is the perfect preparation for any big night ahead.

Already set in a good location for Moor Street Station, the angular Clayton Hotel will be one of the best hotels in Birmingham for London connections when HS2 (an upcoming high-speed rail line) is completed. And for now, it’s also one of the best hotels in Birmingham for exploring Digbeth, arguably the city’s most colourful area. Less than a 10-minute walk away, Digbeth is an industrial-chic set of streets below Victorian railway arches packed with clubs, craft beer bars, quirky restaurants and graffiti-splashed canals.

Back at the Clayton, there are fine views across the Eastside district from its 174 rooms and I’d heartily recommend the stacked sandwiches and sugar-coated cakes that are part of their indulgent afternoon tea.

While lively Digbeth is close, this hotel is also an ideal choice for business travellers. It hosts some excellent meeting rooms, and simple train connections to London and Manchester are just a short stroll away.

​​​​​​​The redbrick Hotel Du Vin is surrounded by some of the city’s most handsome streets, so it’s little surprise that this former Victorian eye hospital is one of the best hotels in Birmingham.
Perhaps its former life sounds a little strange for a hotel, but this is a magnificent building and its boutique interior houses one of Birmingham’s finest cocktail bars (don’t miss their champagne cocktails if you really want to get decadent).

From the lobby’s rust-orange marble columns to the lazy king-size beds inside its 66 rooms, a night here oozes with class, making this one of the best places to stay for couples.

Though there’s easy access to the city centre’s attractions, the effortlessly cool Jewellery Quarter neighbourhood is just a short stroll away across the footbridge linking Church Street and Ludgate Hill. Soak up the easy-going atmosphere at St Paul’s Square and thank me later.

​​​​​​​There aren’t many hotels in the historic Jewellery Quarter, but the excellent Bloc Hotel is one of them. And if you’re travelling on a budget, then it’s even better. A great option for pure value, Bloc brings a fuss-free Scandi aesthetic alongside cozy Japanese pod rooms.

All of this means an easy-going stay that leaves you with more money to spend on the JQ’s (as us locals call it) many delightful vices – think breezy coffee joints, Victorian pubs, bizarre museums (including one dedicated to pens) and a mix of cuisines covering everything from wood-fired pizza to spicy Ethiopian stews.

The exposed brick walls and golden flourishes are also knowing nods to the neighbourhood’s industrial and jewellery-making heritage, making this one of the best hotels in Birmingham for local charm.

​​​​​​​Situated on Five Ways Island, the Park Regis straddles Broad Street’s many entertainment options and the leafy streets of Edgbaston Village. It’s an interesting location that can take your stay in several different directions. Even better, you’ll be a short walk from the tram line, allowing you access the city centre in a matter of minutes.

But while the city is famous for the quality of its Indian food, the hotel’s own excellent Indian restaurant INDUS on the 4th floor means you don’t need to go far to sample Birmingham’s signature cuisine. And on those long summer days, the sunlit 1565 Bar & Terrace is great for unwinding above the hum of Broad Street below. Look out for their cocktail of the month – it’s often themed by season, so it’ll match the vibe you need when preparing to head out.

Located near Birmingham University, the elegant Edgbaston Park Hotel is one of the best hotels in Birmingham for business and academic travellers. But beyond that appeal, it’s also close to a couple of the city’s finest and almost-hidden attractions.

Lined with works by the likes of Degas, Van Gogh and Turner, the nearby Barber Institute of Fine Arts is – in my humble opinion – Birmingham’s best art gallery. Don’t miss the beautiful turn-of-the-century Winterbourne House either, just a little further down the road.

Natural light pours into the hotel’s 1900 Restaurant from its high windows, making the whole atmosphere a little brighter and warmer – which is all very apt with so much fine parkland surrounding this leafy spot. If you’re missing the bright lights, then Birmingham centre is a 10-minute ride away from the University train station.