Manchester Arena and local hotels
Discussion
Going to the Manchester MEN Arena in the summer for the GB V USA basketball game. Driving up from Reading so parking at the centre. Will then stay over and drive back next day....only hotels in the area are a 5/10 min walk from the arena so do I:
Walk to a hotel(whats the area like? Will I make it alive at 11pm ish?)
Drive to a hotel - in which case I dont need to worry about it being local as once I'm on the road I'll happily drive 20 mins or so and stay a bit out of town.
Walk to a hotel(whats the area like? Will I make it alive at 11pm ish?)
Drive to a hotel - in which case I dont need to worry about it being local as once I'm on the road I'll happily drive 20 mins or so and stay a bit out of town.
Manchester city centre is pretty safe.The only hassle I've heard of is young lads clubbing who get drunk and start fighting.MEN Arena is slap bang (more or less) in the centre of town and about 10 mins easy walk along Deansgate from the Radisson,the old Midland Hotel.Very nice and you may be able to get a good deal there;I did recently when I went to the Opera House.
What sort of hotel do you want? Budget or a bit posher? There's a Premier Inn near the Arena but most hotels (Mercure, Midland, Malmaison) are around the Piccadilly area close to the station meaning you'll have to walk through Piccadilly Gardens. It is knob-head central late on but you'll be all right as it is pretty open and there are always a few coppers about.
The MacDonald Hotel is supposed to be okay (they stripped the old BT offices back to shell and rebuilt it as a hotel a couple of years back) and so is the Palace. Both are a bit further out but still within walking distance. Avoid the Britannia hotel like the plague - it is a s**t-hole with delusions of grandeur.
Don't worry about the city centre - you don't have to walk through the rough areas (Moss Side, Longsight, Levenshulme) and a small concealed handgun should be ample for self defence.
The MacDonald Hotel is supposed to be okay (they stripped the old BT offices back to shell and rebuilt it as a hotel a couple of years back) and so is the Palace. Both are a bit further out but still within walking distance. Avoid the Britannia hotel like the plague - it is a s**t-hole with delusions of grandeur.
Don't worry about the city centre - you don't have to walk through the rough areas (Moss Side, Longsight, Levenshulme) and a small concealed handgun should be ample for self defence.
Park Inn is a new hotel virtually across the road from the Arena:
http://www.parkinn.co.uk/hotel-manchester
The area is on the outskirts of town and borders on to Cheetham Hill so you can get a tasty cheap curry or visit Strangeways
I'd recommend getting something more central. We had friends visiting from America over Christmas and they enjoyed their stay at the Radisson Blu:
http://www.radissonblu-edwardian.com/manchester-ho...
It's ideally located for bars/restaurants/casino and about 10 min walk down Deansgate will get you to the Arena
http://www.parkinn.co.uk/hotel-manchester
The area is on the outskirts of town and borders on to Cheetham Hill so you can get a tasty cheap curry or visit Strangeways
I'd recommend getting something more central. We had friends visiting from America over Christmas and they enjoyed their stay at the Radisson Blu:
http://www.radissonblu-edwardian.com/manchester-ho...
It's ideally located for bars/restaurants/casino and about 10 min walk down Deansgate will get you to the Arena
I'd recommend Roomzzz Aparthotel. Central location and not very far from MEN. The rooms are well appointed and are quite plush. Decent rates too.
http://www.roomzzz.co.uk/manchester-city/
http://www.roomzzz.co.uk/manchester-city/
Tiggsy said:
Ok, if its safe to walk I was looking at the Crowne Plazza M4 4AF. Seems perfect apart from having to use the NCP carpark over the road?
Crowne Plazza is a really nice hotel (get an upgraded room if possible) and the NCP across the way is as secure and cheap as it gets in the centre. I stayed there with the wife when we went to the MEN recently and its only a few minutes walk and perfectly safe. Get some grub in the Northern Quarter which again is just around the corner. http://www.manchesterrestaurants.com/location-nort...If you are OK staying out of town then you could drive to the Marriot @ Worsley http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/mangs-wors... which has ample secure parking and then book a taxi to take you to the MEN and pick you up. I always use these when visiting friends in that area http://lynchtaxis.co.uk/# cost will be circa £15 each way.
P
Edited by paulmon on Friday 11th May 10:44
Remember you're right on the heart of the tram network so that expands your options considerably.
Agree that the area is quite safe (just don't go wandering down any dark alleys etc - same as for any big city).
I know it's a chain but the branch of Chiquito in the Printworks (5 minutes away from the Arena) does the best South American-style grub I've ever had.
Agree that the area is quite safe (just don't go wandering down any dark alleys etc - same as for any big city).
I know it's a chain but the branch of Chiquito in the Printworks (5 minutes away from the Arena) does the best South American-style grub I've ever had.
Hi pal,
As long as you apply a little street smarts Manchester city centre is fine. Any large events will have a police presence, there is loads of CCTV all around the city centre. I haven't seen any violence on the streets for years.
If you fancy a beer afterwards then the northern quarter is right next to the print works. Loads of nice bars and pubs. This is where us locals go. Print works is where most people visiting go, it's perfectly fine but you will que to get in at the weekend.
Let me know if you want anymore info
Regards
Angelo
As long as you apply a little street smarts Manchester city centre is fine. Any large events will have a police presence, there is loads of CCTV all around the city centre. I haven't seen any violence on the streets for years.
If you fancy a beer afterwards then the northern quarter is right next to the print works. Loads of nice bars and pubs. This is where us locals go. Print works is where most people visiting go, it's perfectly fine but you will que to get in at the weekend.
Let me know if you want anymore info
Regards
Angelo
sday12 said:
Tiggsy said:
sday12 said:
Don't!
You'll get stabbed, in the face, repeatedly.
I've always avoided going north of Oxford for this very reason!You'll get stabbed, in the face, repeatedly.
king soft. Premier Inn isn't far away, if you're not arsed about poshness. It's about 5 minutes walk from the MEN. And you can avoid the city centre on your way back if you want to. It's got a secure car park too.ETA: Probably more like 10 minutes walk, the wife reckons. I don't know, I was pissed the last time we used it.
Edited by One Amp Andy on Saturday 19th May 23:27
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