Best hotels in Birmingham: Where to stay for style and value for money

Brummie James Brennan shares his pick of the best hotels in the UK's second city

This is a real locals’ city – living, breathing, thrumming with creatives and entrepreneurs (istock)

With Birmingham having hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games, it’s placed itself on the map as a UK city break destination to contend with London, Edinburgh or Manchester. If anything, it’s a better snapshot of modern Britain, with a swish, trendy hotel scene to match.

This is a real locals’ city – living, breathing, thrumming with creatives and entrepreneurs who demand a dining, shopping and nightlife scene to match. This is evident from its five Michelin-starred restaurants – the most of any UK city outside London – not to mention major arenas for touring artists, and a smattering of smaller indie music venues.

After you’ve strolled the city’s unique canals, you’ll want to stay in style: enter a raft of boutique, city-slicker and stylish budget hotels to choose from. Whether you’re after Peaky Blinders-themed cocktails in Art Deco surrounds or a spa break in a futuristic glass tower, Birmingham has the bolthole for your bang-on-trend city break in England.

The best hotels in Birmingham are:

• Best for history: Macdonald Burlington
• Best for views: Staying Cool
• Best for sophistication: Hotel Du Vin
• Best for serenity: Saint Pauls House
• Best for business: Hyatt Regency
• Best for design: Bloc Hotel
• Best for style: The Cube Hotel
• Best for partying: Adagio Aparthotel
• Best for budget: easyHotel

Best for history: Macdonald Burlington

Neighbourhood: New Street

History buffs will have plenty to appreciate at the historic Macdonald Burlington (Macdonald Burlington)

Reflected in the shiny steel façade of New Street Station, this Victorian hotel retains much of its old charm. Its rooms have period features from its Midland Hotel days, but the decor, beds and bathrooms are all thoroughly modern. Famous guests have included Laurel & Hardy and George Harrison, but this was also where Enoch Powell delivered his infamous “Rivers of Blood” speech.

Best for views: Staying Cool

Neighbourhood: Bull Ring

Superb views greet guests at Staying Cool (Staying Cool)

If any Birmingham building can be called iconic, it’s the 1960s Grade II-listed cylindrical tower known as The Rotunda – and this quirky apartment hotel sits right at the top of it. In keeping with the swinging Sixties vibe, the funky serviced apartments are named Mini, Maxi and Clubman, after those other locally made icons of Birmingham. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer unrivalled views of the city’s vast sprawl, while the shops and restaurants of the Bull Ring and Selfridges are right on your doorstep.

Best for sophistication: Hotel Du Vin

Neighbourhood: Colmore Business District

The Hotel Du Vin offers gin lovers a dedicated suite complete with stocked gin bar for creating new concoctions (Hotel Du Vin)

Formerly a Victorian eye hospital, this beautiful redbrick building is now home to one of Birmingham’s swankiest hotels. Standard rooms offer sprawling mattresses with fine Egyptian cotton sheets, while luxury suites boast freestanding roll-top baths and even a private mini-gym. There’s a vaulted underground pub, a champagne lounge and a bistro to explore too.

Best for serenity: Saint Pauls House

Neighbourhood: St Paul’s Square

Those seeking some R&R would do well to rest their heads at the serene St Pauls House (St Pauls House)

This gem in the Jewellery Quarter overlooks Birmingham’s last-remaining Georgian square, containing the 18th-century church frequented by industrial titans James Watt and Mathew Boulton. Rooms at St Pauls House are contemporary and casual with a free mini-bar, but there’s a public bar and a modern European restaurant on site should you wish to emerge at some point. And you will, because it’s located in a beautifully serene spot between the hectic city centre and the unique buzz of the Jewellery Quarter.

Best for business: Hyatt Regency

Neighbourhood: Broad Street and Convention Quarter

The view from the King Room at the Hyatt Regency (Hyatt Regency)

Ideally situated for Birmingham Symphony Hall, Convention Centre, Repertory Theatre, Library of Birmingham and National Indoor Arena, this glimmering glass tower is a key feature of the Birmingham skyline. As well as dramatic views of a resurgent Birmingham and its canals, its 300-plus rooms offer all the comforts you’d expect; but there’s also a spa and pool, not to mention a fine contemporary British restaurant (Aria) and traditional English pub.

Best for design: Bloc Hotel

Neighbourhood: Jewellery Quarter

In addition to a sleek design, the Bloc Hotel is also a reasonable choice for those on a budget (Bloc Hotel)

Inspired by Japanese capsule hotels, this Birmingham-born concept offers innovative design and sleek, compact rooms without the frills and fuss associated with traditional hotels. So, you’ll get a comfy pocket-sprung bed and a nice bathroom, but the wardrobe and trouser press go out the window – provided your room has one, that is. Apartment rooms have a kitchenette – handy, since there’s no restaurant on site – but there’s also a diverse range of nearby eateries.

Best for style: The Cube

Neighbourhood: The Mailbox and canals

The Standard Model Room at Hotel Indigo (Hotel Indigo)

This slick boutique concept sits at the heart of Birmingham’s rejuvenated canal network. Perched atop the atomised biscuit box known as The Cube, rooms are super stylish, with natural light pouring in from all sides. A terrace breakfast offers fine city views, which become more alluring after dark at Marco Pierre White’s place on the 25th floor.

Best for partying: Adagio Aparthotel

Neighbourhood: Digbeth

Located close to the Custard Factory arts complex, the Adagio Aparthotel is an ideal choice for those looking to rest their head after a night on the tiles (Adagio Aparthotel)

Serviced apartments replete with kitchens, dishwashers, LCD TVs, big bouncy beds and lots of arty prints of narrowboats are the order of the day at the Adagio Aparthotel. Its location at the top of Digbeth High Street, and is a perfect base for all the bars and venues in the area, not to mention the Institute, Digbeth Dining Club and Custard Factory arts complex. This is the old stomping ground of the original Peaky Blinders gang, so Adagio makes for a bright and cosy refuge after a gritty Peaky Tour.

Best for budget: easyHotel

Neighbourhood: John Bright Street

Cheap, cheerful and located close to New Street station make the easyHotel an ideal budget option (easyHotel)

Cheap, cheerful, but oh so convenient, this is the perfect budget choice if you’re popping into Birmingham for a show, a gig or a night on the town. Rooms are basic, clean and snug, while John Bright Street offers an array of refreshments at Cherry Reds Café Bar and The Victoria pub – and New Street station is only a stumble away.

Read more of our hotel reviews:

• The best London hotels
• Best Manchester hotels
• The best Leeds hotels

Read more about England travel:

• The ultimate city guide to Birmingham
• Places you won’t believe are in England
• Why there’s more to Birmingham than the Bullring