Boutique hotels in Liverpool for a city break doused in history

The Titanic Hotel has all of the atmosphere you’d expect from a Grade II listed former rum warehouse. Boutique rooms with curved brick ceilings are decorated in earthy tones, with the building’s original windows offering views across the Port of Liverpool. Your spacious bathroom, complete with cascading drench shower, offers a calming haven to freshen up in after a whirlwind day of sightseeing.

Dine at Stanley’s Bar and Grill, where you can watch the chefs prepare your meal in an open kitchen. The hotel’s industrial past is wonderfully apparent here – think towering metal pillars and exposed pipes on the ultra-high ceiling. Visiting with the girls or your mum? Dress up for the occasion and order the afternoon tea, which includes a selection of delicacies like soft finger sandwiches, freshly made scones and flaky pastries, washed down with tea or prosecco.

Dive further into this hotel’s mystique by visiting the subterranean spa, with its subdued lighting, Moroccan lanterns and mosaic tiled floors. Underneath the original vaulted ceilings, you’ll find a warm hydrotherapy pool, humid sanarium and hot steam room. Revive tired toes in a bubbling foot bath, before slipping into the herbal infusion room, which is scented with heady lavender and eucalyptus.

Named after one of the best-known Beatles’ songs, not surprisingly, Hard Days Night is a vibrant tribute to Merseyside’s most famous musicians. Needless to say, the name is not representative of the experience you’ll get after a day exploring all Liverpool has to offer – at the heart of Liverpool’s Beatles quarter, Hard Days Night sits next to the world-famous Cavern Club, where the Fab Four rose to fame. Before venturing out to explore the local area, have breakfast in the polished surrounds of Blakes restaurant. The walls are adorned with pictures by Sir Peter Blake, who created album art for the band (including the Sargeant Pepper cover).

As evening falls, take a seat on a leather stall at Bar Four, where along with wines, beers and spirits from across the globe, you’ll find an extensive Beatles-inspired cocktail menu. Think a ‘Ringo’s Star’ made with vanilla vodka and prosecco. With regular live music and lavish surroundings, including an Italian marble bar counter and leather armchairs, this bar is a luxurious way to start an evening out on the town.

Bedrooms have vibrant décor, with pop art on the walls, bright yellow armchairs and elegant oak furnishings, plus floor-to-ceiling windows providing a bird’s eye view over the surrounding streets. For the ultimate Beatles experience, book the Lennon Suite. With a baby grand piano, his ‘n’ hers sinks and original Beatles artwork, it’ll be an experience you won’t forget.

In the heart of Liverpool’s Georgian quarter, the Hope Street Hotel is steps from some of the city’s most popular attractions, including the Liverpool Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Everyman Theatre. The hotel was built in the 1860s and has the elegant façade of a Venetian palazzo, along with a modern Scandi-style interior, featuring sleek hardwood flooring, white walls and exposed oak ceiling beams.

With a Bang and Olufsen sound system, 24-hour concierge and Nespresso coffee machine, rooms provide a chic urban escape. Experience a spa treatment in the comfort of your own space, with a treatment menu that includes mani-pedis, Indian head massage and reflexology. For a truly luxurious stay, check into Suite 406 and spend the evening soaking in a freestanding wooden bathtub, complete with fragrant REN cosmetics.

Dog and child-friendly, this stylish hotel is equipped for every member of the family, with colouring books, kids’ toys and audiobooks, plus pooch bedding and water bowls. Before you depart, make time for a meal at the 2 AA rosette restaurant, the London Carriage Works. The menu here includes modern British cuisine, such as a traditional Liverpool breakfast with locally reared pork.

A double-height lobby, complete with overstuffed armchairs, flickering candles and a central fire pit, welcomes you to the romantic surrounds of Malmaison Liverpool. Climb the black metal staircase to the lounge, where you can unwind with a cocktail inspired by one of 15 cities around the country, including the honey and gin ‘Bee Have’ from Manchester.

Continue to the lavish surrounds of your boudoir-inspired room, dominated by shades of deep purple and soft grey. Inviting soft furnishings made from silk and velvet heighten the sense of luxury. For a room with a difference, book a few days of fun in the sporty Kop Suite, which comes with a playroom featuring a foosball table and state-of-the-art Technogym.

Dine in the modern surrounds of the Chez Mal Brasserie amid exposed brickwork, industrial-style fittings and jet black chandeliers. Book a table for the Sunday lunch – it comes with an impressive spread – including roast beef and Yorkshire puddings or corn-fed chicken, soup, and unlimited trips to the Chef’s table. For a truly intimate experience, reserve the secluded private dining room, where you’ll be invited to choose between a classic, different, daring and sublime menu, making it an ideal place for that special occasion.

With a colourful exterior overlooking the hustle and bustle of Liverpool’s popular Chapel Street, Hotel Indigo provides a quirky base from which to explore the city. The interior design celebrates the northern city’s rich industrial heritage, with a reception desk made from old haberdashery units, drums hanging from the lobby ceiling and piles of locally themed books.

Take breakfast at the Cotton Lounge amid vintage chairs, exposed brickwork and parquet flooring. You’ll spot familiar songs on the hotel’s retro playlist, including tunes by local musicians, like the Beatles. For a truly glamorous evening, sample a menu created by a celebrity chef at the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill. Some of the succulent dishes on offer include meat sourced from Campbell Brothers, a Royal Warrant appointed butcher.

Fall asleep in a room that celebrates Liverpool’s longstanding cotton industry, with vibrant cotton reel murals and corresponding feature walls. The oversized beds feature plush bedding, like tempting, velvet-covered cushions and silky throws to wrap up in. The funky, brightly coloured décor continues in the spa-like bathroom, where you can take advantage of a blissful rainfall shower.

Opposite a row of Georgian townhouses and next to a mural by a German graffiti artist, the Nadler offers hip hotel rooms. Positioned in the city’s party district, it makes for a calm oasis from the excitement outside, with cosy bedrooms and triple-glazed windows. The hotel’s local ambassadors will point you in the direction of the city’s hotspots, from speakeasies to upmarket boutiques.

Rooms are reminiscent of Manhattan apartments, with fashionable charcoal grey carpets and contemporary art on bare brick walls. Curl up on the snug sofa, with a treat from the nearby fridge. Order a breakfast bag from the local bake ouse – they come with fresh pastries, healthy yoghurts and juices, in addition to coffee. They can be delivered to your room, so you don’t even need to step outside.

You’ll catch glimpses of a bygone era in this regenerated urban hotel – it’s set in a building that was built in 1800s and has since been used as a print house. If you’re travelling with a group, check into the aptly named Secret Garden Suite, which sleeps up to five guests and is built across two storeys, including a private outdoor terrace.

Tucked away in a Grade II listed building, Aloft Liverpool offers modern loft-style bedrooms, with platform beds, giant beanbags and tech extras (including iPod docking stations and fancy coffee machines). Stroll down to the split-level restaurant, where you can attend a cocktail masterclass, before spending the evening at the VIP Mezzanine Bar. It’s the ideal place to sip champagne and people watch.

The building retains many of its historical features, including an original domed rotunda that provides an impressive view down from the fifth floor to reception. Time your next visit to coincide with a DJ night, so you can dance until late. For something more relaxed, grab a booth in the funky WXYZ Bar and listen to singer-songwriters busk from the tiny stage. You can order snacks like home-made bread and dips or chicken and mushroom popcorn to go with your beers.

There’s no such thing as a traditional hotel lobby at Aloft. Instead, the cavernous Victorian room contains a trendy bar area, with pool table and an eclectic mixture of furniture, including grey armchairs, black stools and barrel style coffee tables. Feeling energetic? Wander along the corridors with their stain glass windows and original wood panels, to the 24-hour gym, which is furnished with cardio equipment and free weights.