A 24-hour Travel Guide to Christmas in Manchester with Hyatt Hotels
Christmas in Manchester really is a Winter City Wonderland. The markets, the lights, the sweet roasted chestnut smells, the multiple Santa’s and the snowy cold weather come together as a magnet for Christmas fans like us. Our Manchester Girl community were very quick to pack their events schedule with a Festive Yarn Hat Decoration Workshop, Christmas Bauble Painting and Christmas Bowling.
It is therefore no surprise that when Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Hotel invited our HQ team – Steph (Head of UK Communities) and I (Founder) – to experience their version of a Manchester Christmas, we responded immediately with an astounding ‘yes’.
Why Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Hotel is the perfect hotel for a Manchester Christmas Experience
We’ve written a full review of our experience over on this article, but I’ll summarise a few points for you before I get onto our packed itinerary…
Incredible views from your own bed (and sofa bed if you’re using that too), offering a peaceful contrast to the bustling city below.
Fitted kitchens that were perfect for storing our midnight snacks and Steph’s Diet Cokes. For those who would prefer to eat in, their kitchens are fully equipped with everything you need from a microwave and stovetop to utensils and a dishwasher.
In-room beauty services, like massages to help you wind down in luxurious style, and hair, nail and makeup stylists for special occasions.
A fitness centre equipped with state-of-the-art machines, including a Peloton Bike, and free weights. This 24/7 fitness centre is perfect for maintaining your fitness routine while on the go.
Business-friendly amenities such as meeting rooms, quiet lounges, and high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
An on-site restaurant (Laureate Restaurant) and bar (The Graduate Bar) offering delicious food, drinks and a lovely space to chat.
A 24-Hour Guide to Manchester at Christmas
Day 1
8.25 AM: Travel to Manchester
It was an early start with two trains and an underground to travel from Haywards Heath – though one that I always cherish from so many amazing memories up there. It’s safe to say at this point that I was bursting with excitement. Steph was travelling from Bristol on a single-train trip.
12:45 PM: Arrive at Hyatt Hotels Manchester
We checked into our Hyatt House high-floor apartment, albeit a little earlier than the usual 3pm check in.
1:15 PM: Lunch at Caravan Manchester
Once we’d dropped off our bags, we headed over to Caravan Manchester in Spinningfields – the city’s financial district where many Manchester Girl’s work. We’ve written up a full review for you to read, but to cut a long story short: the food was delicious, the space was gorgeous and the company was utterly lovely.
3:00 PM: Explore the Manchester Festive Markets
Our next few hours were spent wandering through Piccadilly Gardens, Exchange Square, and Cathedral Gardens, browsing over 300 stalls filled with unique gifts, seasonal treats, and global cuisine. Steph, our resident sweet enthusiast, was very quick to find a colourful sweet stall, Eat Liquorice, and buy a Palma Violet flavoured giant Candy Cable. We had a lovely time meandering around the stalls and getting in the Christmas spirit, finishing with a mulled wine in a special Manchester Christmas mug that now sits comfortably in our kitchen cupboards.
6:30 PM: Pre-dinner Drinks with Crazy Gin
Back at the hotel, we freshened up and popped down to the Graduate Bar for a special gin tasting hosted by Crazy Gin. This unique spirit combines British and Indian flavors in a delightful fusion that embodies holiday warmth. We loved finding out about the story behind Crazy Gin and their desire to create a gin that reflected their British Indian heritage. You can find out more and buy their gin over on their website.
7:00 PM: Dinner at The Laureate Restaurant
We then had a delicious dinner at The Laureate Restaurant, renowned for its exquisite curry menu – with an all-you-can-eat-curry for £20 every Thursday night. Drawing from cherished family recipes, Chef Manash and his team delivers bold, authentic flavours perfect for every taste bud. You can read more over at our full hotel review.
9:00 PM: Twilight Trail at Mayfield Park
After dinner, we had a gorgeous winter wander at the Twilight Trail at Mayfield Park. This is an enchanting outdoor experience blending art and light at Manchester’s first city centre park, which opened in 2022. It’s running until 31st December and takes around 30 minutes to complete. Adult tickets cost £11 and children are £9 with a ‘kids go free’ offer at Freight Island, both of which have booking fees. There are food and drink vendors scattered across the site, though we’d recommend going slightly earlier to be able to experience them as they were closed when we got there for a 9pm visit.
9:45 PM: Drinks at Winter Island
And of course we can’t say goodbye to the night without a trip to Winter Island (a.k.a. Freight Island) right next to Mayfield Park. I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a big “makeshift” creative food market bar, and Winter Island is exactly that. With long stretches of tables for huge groups, a ‘pour-you-own-Guinness’ machine, food huts and a whole tent that’s been remade into Santa’s Grotto, this is a definite hotspot for the festive season.
Day 2
9:30 AM: Breakfast at The Laureate
Our morning activities began with a hearty breakfast at the The Laureate, offering a selection of hot dishes, fresh pastries, and fruit. We both went for bacon, whilst most of the other guests opted for an incredibly healthy and beautiful looking granola.
10:15 AM: Tour of the Manchester Museum
Six minutes from the hotel is the fantastic Manchester Museum, which we were very fortunate to get a tour around. Recently renovated and free entry, it’s one of the UK’s most innovative cultural institutions and a family-perfect trip with dinosaurs, taxidermy, Egyptian artefacts and a frog aquarium. Steph particularly loved learning about Stan the 65-million-year-old T-Rex, whose bones had been reconstructed above our heads. Make sure you buy a print by Sakina Saïdi in the gift shop on your way out!
12PM: Visit The Whitworth
A little further down Oxford Road from Manchester Museum is The Whitworth, a stunning free art gallery in Whitworth Park that’s lovingly part of the University of Manchester. The Grade 2 Listed Building was stunningly renovated in 2015 and is home to a beautiful glass cafe that’s raised up in the trees. We’d strongly recommend keeping an eye on their exhibitions and events when you visit, and enjoying a cake in the café.
1:00 PM: Lunch at The Graduate Bar
We finished our trip with a relaxed lunch at The Graduate Bar. This consisted of a buffet showcasing their very favourite offerings – with our favourites being the beef and pineapple skewers, onion bajis and sweet potato fries. The full review for breakfast and lunch at The Graduate can be found in our hotel review.
Book yourself in for a night (or two) at Hyatt Regency and House Hotel in Manchester for a great Christmassy experience!
Written by Pippa Moyle