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Welcome to Confidential Guides. Here you’ll find the best food, drink and things to do in the North.

Luxury hotel deals Local restaurant deals

Luxury hotel deals from Confidential Guides

Rays for days: the best beer gardens and roof terraces in Manchester

10 family days out this summer in Manchester

6 family days out in Liverpool for summer 2025

24 hours in Manchester: what to do, see and eat

Where to stay for Manchester Pride

Book a stay at The Reach at Piccadilly this Pride

New on Confidential Guides: 40 North West restaurants and bars to have on your radar

Best places for outdoor swimming near Manchester or Liverpool

Beside the seaside: the best beaches in the North West

Llandudno West Shore Beach is one of the best beaches in the North West

Mall plates: the best restaurants in the Trafford Centre

Which are the best restaurants in the Trafford Centre? Bill's is one of our top picks - see where else is good to go

Access all eras: the best Liverpool vintage shops

Vintage clothing at 69A, one of our recommended vintage clothes shops in Liverpool.

Your best shot: 28 independent Manchester coffee shops

Coffee at Lupo - a recommended Manchester coffee shop

Parklife to Psych Fest: The best Manchester music festivals for 2025

RADAR Festival is one of Confidential Guides' Best Manchester music festivals. See who else is on the list.

Manchester Tattoo Convention by UKTTA

Piccadilly Festivals

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

A selection of the small plates at Voyagers, one of Liverpool's most exciting new restaurants for 2024.

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

Lock 84

Piccadilly Restaurant - Modern British

exterior of on the hush manchester church street northern quarter

On the Hush

Northern Quarter Cafes

The Reach at Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Cocktail and Manchester gin served at Spirit of Manchester Distillery in the city centre

The Spirit of Manchester Distillery

Manchester City Centre Bars

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

24 hours in Manchester: what to do, see and eat

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

A bedroom at Dakota Manchester, a hotel in the Northern Quarter, Manchester.

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The Fisherman’s Table

Marple Restaurant - Modern British

10 family days out in Manchester for summer 2025

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Hakkapo is a Japanese restaurant in Manchester's First Street district.

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Stunning views from the living room at Hyatt House aparthotel in Manchester

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Roast dinner and a pint at 11 Central in Mediacity Manchester.

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

6 family days out in Liverpool for summer 2025

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment

Albert Dock Art Galleries

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Beside the seaside: the best beaches in the North West

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Concert night at the Manchester Arena, or AO Arena as it is currently known.

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Black pudding with marinated peppers at Erst, one of the best restaurants in Manchester

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

One of the holes at Golf Fang Liverpool, a crazy golf bar in the city centre.

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Best places for outdoor swimming near Manchester or Liverpool

L’Enclume

Cartmel Restaurant - Modern British

Atlas Bar

10 magical places to watch the sunset in the North West

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

Beef tataki at Sora Manchester, a rooftop bar and restaurant in Malmaison Deansgate

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly Bar & Grill

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Mother's Day bouquet from Northern Flower - a florist in the Northern Quarter, Manchester.

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Where to watch the Women’s Euros 2025 in Manchester

Afternoon tea at The Art School Cellars in Liverpool is always a treat

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

The infinity pool at King Street Townhouse - one of the coolest hotels near Manchester Arena

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Tapas dishes at Evuna, a Spanish restaurant in Knutsford, Cheshire

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Premier Suites in Liverpool is dog-friendly for those staying for 29 nights or more.

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

New on Confidential Guides: 40 North West restaurants and bars to have on your radar

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

Grand Pacific - one of the most romantic restaurants in Manchester for Valentine's Day.

Grand Pacific

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Where to stay for Manchester Pride

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

Liverpool’s top 20 places to celebrate Father’s Day

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Two pints of craft beer at Seven Bro7hers Manchester, also known as the Ancoats Beerhouse.

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Where to celebrate Father’s Day in Manchester

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

The Ropewalks Hotel is a dog-friendly hotel in Liverpool.

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Australasia

Spinningfields Restaurant - Pan Asian

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

Quest Apartments are a dog-friendly place to stay in Liverpool.

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

A pasta dish at La Famiglia Bar and Restaurant in Liverpool.

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

The Neighbourhood Guide to Knutsford

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Rogan & Co.

Cartmel Restaurant - Modern British

24 hours in Manchester: what to do, see and eat

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

10 family days out in Manchester for summer 2025

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

Bedroom at Manchester Hall with roll-top bath - a romantic Manchester hotel for Valentine's day.

Manchester Hall

Deansgate Hotel

Trophies and famous football shirts on display at the Liverpool FC stadium tour.

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

A pumpkin patch at Speke Hall, a National Trust property near Liverpool.

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Henrock

Bowness-on-Windermere Restaurant - Modern British

Cocktails served in King Street Tavern, the restaurant and bar at King Street Townhouse hotel

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

6 family days out in Liverpool for summer 2025

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Bells of Peover, a country pub in Cheshire, just south of Knutsford

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

Bury Market

Beside the seaside: the best beaches in the North West

Halle St Peter's on Cutting Room Square - a rehearsal space and concert venue in Ancoats, Manchester

Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats Music Venues

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Cocktails at Frederiks in Liverpool

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The whimsical Flamingo Room - one of the party suites at The Shankly Hotel in Liverpool

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American