Your stay — The Alan
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The Property — The Alan
The Alan is a stripped-back, no-fuss boutique hotel in Manchester’s Gay Village. The lobby feels like a modern art gallery meets a mate’s apartment: bare concrete walls, a few mid-century chairs, and a check-in desk that’s more kitchen island than front counter. It’s aimed at travellers who want a clean, design-led room without paying for a restaurant or gym they won’t use. Think budget-conscious creatives, solo gig-goers, or couples after a city break that values location over lobbies.
Chronicles of Manchester
Manchester grew from a Roman fort called Mamucium into the world’s first industrial city, powered by cotton mills and canals. Its 19th-century warehouses and Victorian civic buildings still dominate the centre, but 1996’s IRA bomb forced a drastic rebuild that birthed today’s glassy skyline. The city’s contemporary identity is rooted in music (from Joy Division to twenty one pilots), sport (two Premier League clubs), and a fiercely independent cultural scene. It’s also the UK’s largest student city outside London, giving it a restless, young energy that mixes old red-brick pubs with new rooftop bars.
Best Time to Visit
Full Manchester guide →Best months
May and September: warm (18-20°C), long daylight, park festivals like Manchester International Festival in July but quieter outside that. June also works for good weather without peak crowds.
Peak / festival surge
July (Manchester International Festival) and December (Christmas markets). Hotel prices can spike 30-50% above shoulder rates. August also busy with Parklife festival and PRIDE.
Budget shoulder season
April and October offer mild temps (12-15°C), cheaper rooms, and fewer tourists. March can be damp but very cheap.
Weather & packing
Manchester’s weather flips in an hour—rain can arrive suddenly even in July. Pack a waterproof jacket and layers; leave the umbrella at home, the wind will turn it inside out.
Live City Briefing — Manchester
- Piccadilly Station’s major platform upgrades continue through 2026; expect occasional cancellations on Northern Rail services, check before travel.
- The new ‘Mcr: Fashion’ exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery (until September) has boosted visitor numbers—book a free ticket in advance.
- Manchester’s Clean Air Zone is now fully enforced; older petrol/diesel cars may incur daily charges in the city centre—check your vehicle before driving in.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Alan, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a rear-facing room on floors 4 or 5. These are high enough to avoid street-level bustle but below the top floor (if there's a roof terrace or plant room), and the rear elevation overlooks Back Turner Street, a quieter service lane. The building is a modern conversion, and these mid-high floors offer better sound insulation from Princess Street traffic.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms at the front on floors 1-3. Princess Street is a busy one-way route with buses and taxis; low floors get the worst of that noise, especially in the mornings (7-9am) and evenings (5-7pm). Also avoid rooms right next to the lift shaft – the central core is noisy, particularly on lower floors where the motor hum is noticeable.
Best views
Rooms facing south-west (over Princess Street) have a decent city view – the Town Hall and St Peter's Square. For a quieter view, ask for a rear-facing room that looks over the red-brick warehouse rooftops and back alleys; it's not spectacular, but it's calmer.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 and 5 – high enough to dampen street noise, not high enough for roof-level mechanical hum. Request 'upper floor, rear side' for the best chance.
🔊 Noise notes
Princess Street carries bus routes and taxi drop-offs. The hotel's ground-floor bar/restaurant can be loud until 11pm (Thurs-Sat), and there's a service door on Back Turner Street for deliveries, typically 6-8am. On weekends, the nearby Gay Village (Canal Street) adds pedestrian noise.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a room on floor 4 with a rear aspect – it's the sweet spot between quiet and city access. 2. Check-in online if possible; the front desk is small and queues form at 2pm. If driving, skip the on-site charge (£20-ish) and park at Q-Park Manchester Grand on Lower Mosley Street – it's 4 minutes' walk and cheaper.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Alan
Free for all guests; download speed ~50 Mbps, no login required (open SSID 'The Alan Guest')
One lift serves all floors (ground to 4th); no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital PressReader access via hotel app; no printed papers. Building is a former Victorian textile warehouse with exposed brick and original cast-iron columns in public areas
Standard check-in 15:00; early bag drop from 07:00 without charge; late check-out until 12:00 free, after 12:00 £15 per hour if available
Complimentary for guests before check-in and after check-out; luggage room secured with CCTV
Step-free access from Princess Street via ramp at main entrance; lift to all floors; 2 accessible rooms (1 double with roll-in shower). No hearing loops or braille signage
No on-site or valet parking. Nearest public car park: NCP Manchester Printworks, 0.3 miles, approx £25 for 24 hours; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (not charged in Manchester hotels; VAT is included in rate)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required for advance purchase rates; £50 incidental hold per night on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Central Hall (486 m · ~6 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Manchester Buddhist Centre (690 m · ~9 min walk)
- Mosque: Muslim Youth Foundation (MYF) (724 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Cross Street Chapel (725 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Afflecks — 521 m · ~7 min walk
Piccadilly Gardens — 285 m · ~4 min walk
Greater Manchester Police Museum & Archives — 652 m · ~8 min walk
Palace Theatre — 644 m · ~8 min walk
Play Yard — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 267 m · ~3 min walk
Boots — 391 m · ~5 min walk
Spar — 134 m · ~2 min walk
Manchester Central Coach Station — 118 m · ~1 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →British Pound Sterling, GBP
Use high-street banks or post offices for better rates than airport bureaux; avoid tourist exchange shops in city centre which charge poor margins
Contactless cards and mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are standard; most venues accept cards, but some small independent shops prefer cash
Restaurants: 10-15% for table service, discretionary for counter service; taxis: round up or 10%; hotel staff: £1-2 per service is customary but not obligatory
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Use Metrolink/buses for all transport—taxis are expensive; many museums and galleries are free or have pay-what-you-wish hours; shop in supermarket meal deals for lunch rather than tourist-area cafés
Good to know — Manchester
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · GBP
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Manchester, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Alan
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 267 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · Boots — 391 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Manchester City Centre → Leonardo Hotel Manchester Piccadilly
💡 Buy a Metrolink Day Pass (£5.30) for unlimited local transport; buses stop directly outside hotel
Manchester City Centre Districts → Piccadilly Station / St Peters Square
💡 Most convenient local transit; Day Pass covers airport train + unlimited tram/bus use; Piccadilly stop is directly below hotel
Manchester Airport (MAN) → Leonardo Hotel Manchester Piccadilly
💡 Book in advance through hotel concierge for guaranteed rates; avoid peak hours (8-9am, 5-6pm) for faster journey
Manchester Airport (MAN) → Piccadilly Station (adjacent to hotel)
💡 Most cost-effective option; trains arrive directly at Piccadilly Station, hotel is 2-minute walk away
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Alan?
Request a rear-facing room on floors 4 or 5. These are high enough to avoid street-level bustle but below the top floor (if there's a roof terrace or plant room), and the rear elevation overlooks Back Turner Street, a quieter service lane. The building is a modern conversion, and these mid-high floors offer better sound insulation from Princess Street traffic.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Alan?
Avoid rooms at the front on floors 1-3. Princess Street is a busy one-way route with buses and taxis; low floors get the worst of that noise, especially in the mornings (7-9am) and evenings (5-7pm). Also avoid rooms right next to the lift shaft – the central core is noisy, particularly on lower floors where the motor hum is noticeable.
Is The Alan noisy?
Princess Street carries bus routes and taxi drop-offs. The hotel's ground-floor bar/restaurant can be loud until 11pm (Thurs-Sat), and there's a service door on Back Turner Street for deliveries, typically 6-8am. On weekends, the nearby Gay Village (Canal Street) adds pedestrian noise.
Which rooms have the best views at The Alan?
Rooms facing south-west (over Princess Street) have a decent city view – the Town Hall and St Peter's Square. For a quieter view, ask for a rear-facing room that looks over the red-brick warehouse rooftops and back alleys; it's not spectacular, but it's calmer.
What are insider tips for staying at The Alan?
1. Ask for a room on floor 4 with a rear aspect – it's the sweet spot between quiet and city access. 2. Check-in online if possible; the front desk is small and queues form at 2pm. If driving, skip the on-site charge (£20-ish) and park at Q-Park Manchester Grand on Lower Mosley Street – it's 4 minutes' walk and cheaper.
What time is check-in at The Alan?
Check-in at The Alan is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Alan have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; download speed ~50 Mbps, no login required (open SSID 'The Alan Guest')
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Alan?
None (not charged in Manchester hotels; VAT is included in rate)
When is the best time to visit Manchester?
May and September: warm (18-20°C), long daylight, park festivals like Manchester International Festival in July but quieter outside that. June also works for good weather without peak crowds.
Top Attractions in Manchester
💡 The basement gallery often has less crowded, quirky exhibits. Check for free lunchtime talks on the website.
💡 Start at Stevenson Square and wander along Tib Street and Oldham Street. Affection is a good cheap vintage shop.
💡 Free guided tours run at 11:00 and 14:00 on weekdays. The gift shop has affordable postcards.
💡 Visit on a weekday morning to avoid school groups. The on-site café does decent coffee and cakes.
💡 The tram from the city centre to Heaton Park stop is quick and cheap. Pack snacks as park cafés are pricey.