The best hotels in Birmingham

Overlooking a canal, and part of the Mailbox shopping complex, the AC is a modern hotel that belongs to the Marriott group. The rooms here are stripped-back white-and-taupe spaces, with Hypnos beds and space for a desk. Wi-fi is included. There’s a restaurant and bar, a Starbuck’s concession and a gym, and most of central Birmingham is within walking distance.

This is a classy little hotel with 12 individually-designed rooms, decked out with quirky furniture, feature wallpapers and fresh, modern fabrics. They all have free wi-fi, and some even have standalone baths. There’s a guest lounge with an honesty bar, as well as a sister gastropub – also called the High Field – next door. The location – the well-heeled suburb of Edgbaston – is a more laid-back option than the city centre, and the Botanical Gardens are close by.

A particularly nice branch of the Hotel du Vin chain, this high-spec hotel is just ten minutes from the Bullring shopping centre, and only a short stroll from Snow Hill station if you’re travelling in and out of Birmingham by train. The hotel boasts luxurious rooms, its own French bistro, a bar and a humidor area for those wishing to smoke a cigar in the hotel’s pretty courtyard.  

This ultra-modern, ultra-swish four-star hotel in the centre of the city offers a luxury health spa (with pool, steamroom and sauna), chic en-suite rooms with flat-screen TVs (with satellite channels and pay-per-view films) and a gym. The on-site Aria Restaurant serves superb contemporary cooking, while the Pravda bar specialises in cocktails.  

You’ll find Birmingham’s Jurys Inn close to the International Convention Centre, Barclaycard Arena and the National Sea Life Centre – and just a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Birmingham. For a decent price, it ticks most boxes: there’s a restaurant, bar and coffee lounge, plus 20 meeting rooms. Its 445 bedrooms are relatively plain, but the décor is up-to-date, and there’s a workspace area, plus tea and coffee-making facilities and free wi-fi.

The Macdonald is one of the more architecturally appealing hotels in Birmingham, and certainly a good one for those who don’t want to stay in any old nondescript building. The rooms here have period features and comfortable soft furnishings, together with up-to-the-minute bathrooms and complimentary wi-fi; some have four-posters. You’ll also find a steak restaurant, a bar, and a lounge where afternoon tea is served. The location couldn’t be more central, especially if you’re here to shop.

This branch of the style-conscious hotel chain is in the Mailbox, a swanky shopping mall in the centre of Birmingham. There are 193 bedrooms, some of them suites, décor is gently modish and amenities include a minibar and free wifi. Refreshment options come in the form of a bar and brasserie, plus 24-hour room service. For the health-conscious, there’s a spa and small gym.

Radisson Blu is an international chain of sleek, modern hotels and the Birmingham outpost is in a 39-storey tower close to New Street Station. Many of the 211 bedrooms (and the 18th-floor fitness centre) make the most of the view, with floor-to-ceiling windows; all are equipped to four-star standard and have free wi-fi. The hotel has a restaurant and bar.

One of Birmingham’s more recent accommodation options, Saint Pauls House opened in 2016. The 34 rooms at this boutique hotel have free wi-fi, waterfall showers, coffee machines and a pared-back aesthetic. Rooms are white-painted, but livened up with colourful fabrics. There’s an equally modern restaurant and bar, and the hotel often has DJs or live music at weekends. The Jewellery Quarter location means that most of central Birmingham is a stroll away.

Stay on the 18th, 19th and 20th floors of the ’60s Rotunda building for great views of the city (or the second if heights bother you). The accommodation is close to the Bullring, and comes in the form of serviced apartments with lots of mod-cons (iPod docks, espresso machines, juicers) and free wi-fi. Décor is contemporary, and sizes go from studio up to two-bedroomed penthouse.