Kimpton Clocktower Hotel

Creative Tourist
The Principle Hotel Oxford Road Manchester
Image courtesy of The Principal Manchester

An historic staple of Oxford Street, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is one of Manchester’s most beautiful buildings, with its Victorian design and distinctive clocktower an iconic landmark on Manchester’s skyline.

The Grade II listed building dates back to 1890, when it first opened as The Refuge Assurance Company headquarters. It now houses 270 loft-style bedrooms, including 11 suites, which make use of the stunning, double and triple-height ceilings and period features. Glazed bricks, tiles and faience, stained glass and carved wooden staircases meet contemporary fittings and interiors, including a three-metre-tall bronze horse by artist Sophie Dickens, which sits in the lobby.

Guests here will enjoy a truly memorable experience. From check-in to check-out, every interaction is warm yet fluff-free, making this Manchester hotel a draw for international travellers and locals alike. And they don’t have to go far to find some of Manchester’s finest bars and eateries, the closest being the hotel’s own – The Refuge, which matches the luxury feel of the hotel like for like. Huge arches and marbled tiles feature heavily, with spectacular features everywhere, from the 30ft granite bar to glorious stained-glass windows and towering pillars. You can read our full review of the food and drink on offer at The Refuge here.

Suite No. 51 at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.

Back to the hotel, its latest addition is the opulent Suite No.51, which offers the ultimate VIP experience. Nestled within the original architectural style of Eclectic Baroque, the suite was originally the Director’s office. Now, it’s a sanctuary of sophistication and comfort, which sets a new standard when it comes to luxury stays in Manchester. Suite No.51 offers up to three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a large open plan sitting and dining room with custom made furniture, a marble dining table and stunning views of Manchester’s architecture.

Suite No. 51 at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.

Those staying in No.51 will enjoy access to a dedicated Kimpton Clocktower ambassador, an in-room check-in, turndown service and complimentary bar and airport shuttle service. You can also customise your experience with your favourite flowers from the Clocktower Florist and specific spirits, liquors and soft drinks. Huge TV’s in each bedroom as well as the lounge, plus a PS5 and Project T1 record player (with your choice of records delivered via hotel’s Music Concierge service) help make this suite a home from home. And that’s to make no mention of the walk-in wardrobe and dressing room including a range of Dyson hair styling tools and accessories, a luxury bathroom with underfloor heating, free-standing bathtub, double vanity stations and wireless music system.

To book this new suite, or any other room, just click the button below.

Oxford StreetManchesterM60 7HA View map
Telephone: 0161 288 1111 Visit Now
jonathan schofield giving tour
Manchester
The Kimpton Clocktower Tour

Explore the incredible history behind one of Britain’s grandest and most storied commercial buildings: Manchester’s Grade II listed Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.

from £20

What's on near Kimpton Clocktower Hotel

jonathan schofield giving tour
Manchester
The Kimpton Clocktower Tour

Explore the incredible history behind one of Britain’s grandest and most storied commercial buildings: Manchester’s Grade II listed Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.

from £20
Commons at SODA
Until
ExhibitionsManchester
Commons at SODA

Commons is a programme of openly accessible, interactive events led by digital artists, showcasing the nuances of our interactions with tech.

free entry
Saba Sams and Eley Williams
LiteratureManchester
Saba Sams and Eley Williams at Blackwells

Blackwells Bookshop is partnering with the University of Manchester’s Centre for New Writing to welcome multi-award-winning authors Saba Sams and Eley Williams to the city.

from £4.00
Wolf in Yellowstone
Until
ExhibitionsManchester
Wild at Manchester Museum

Manchester Museum explores the concept of ‘wild’ nature as a means of tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis in a new exhibition.

free entry
Roy McFarlane
LiteratureManchester
Roy Macfarlane at Manchester Poetry Library

As part of the Poetry Reading Series at Manchester Poetry Library, Canal Laureate Roy Macfarlane will be in conversation with the series curator and award-winning poet Helen Mort.

free entry

Where to go near Kimpton Clocktower Hotel

exterior of Contact Theatre building
Manchester
Theatre
Contact Theatre

Following a major redevelopment, the iconic venue on Oxford Road will be reopening its doors to welcome the public back into the building this autumn. 

Manchester
Music venue
The Deaf Institute

The Deaf Institute is a vibrant gig venue and nightclub for which it is well worth taking a jaunt out of the Northern Quarter.

Manchester
Catalog Bookshop

Find Peter and his Christiania cargo bike around All Saints Park, a hop, skip and a bunnyhop from Manchester Poetry Library.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Sandbar

Sandbar, just off Oxford Road in Manchester, is a well-loved watering hole, with a great selection of ales and some eccentric seating.

Johnny Roadhouse store
Manchester
Shop
Johnny Roadhouse

Buffeted by fried chicken outlets, legendary musical instrument emporium Johnny Roadhouse has been serving the local music community for over 50 years.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Eighth Day

Eighth Day is a co-operative shop that sells ethically-sourced food, wine and cosmetics. There’s also café that serves hearty, healthy meals in the basement.

Manchester
Event venue
The Proud Place

Based in the heart of Manchester on Sidney Street, The Proud Place houses The Proud Trust and serves as a community hub for the wider LGBT+ population across Greater Manchester and beyond.

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.

portrait of Lorsung in a dark shirt with dark hair and dark round glasses
Literature Events in the North

We've got laughs and we've got leftfield on the live literature radar this month. Something for everyone, from poets playing with form to short story writers looking long.

Sextile
Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring. 

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

Three men sit next to each other. One's head is bandaged, one holds a torch and one wears a sleepmask.
Cinema in the North

Live scores, midnight movies and the latest from Wes Anderson are just some of our upcoming film highlights.