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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

Top of the copse: woodland walks near Manchester

Woodland walks near Manchester

A student's guide to Manchester

The Warehouse Project - one of the best places to spend New Year's Eve in Manchester.

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

An insider’s guide to Stockport

Roman ruins, canalside bars, and sky-high apartments: the neighbourhood guide to Castlefield

The Coffee and Cake Boat, Castlefield, Manchester.

She's leaving home: A student's guide to Liverpool

Photo of the Georgian Quarter, Liverpool featured in Confidential's A Student's Guide to Liverpool. Photo by Deividast Toleikis on Unsplash

The Hot 20 Restaurants in Liverpool

The birthday blitz: 36 places for a kids party in Manchester

Zip World Manchester is one of Confidential Guides' recommended places for a children party.

The Hot 50 Restaurants in Manchester

Yorkshire roast chicken at The Black Friar in Salford

Sweet spots: the best places for hot chocolate in Manchester

Hot chocolate at Trove - a bakery and cafe in Ancoats, Levenshulme and Manchester city centre.

Scared witless: Halloween things to do near Manchester and Liverpool

Klaus, the Master of Journey to Hell at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Halloween 2025: What's on in (and around) Manchester and Liverpool

The Reach at Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

exterior of on the hush manchester church street northern quarter

On the Hush

Northern Quarter Cafes

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Manchester Tattoo Convention by UKTTA

Piccadilly Festivals

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

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

20 fun things to do in Manchester

Lock 84

Piccadilly Restaurant - Modern British

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

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

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

Your best shot: 33 independent Manchester coffee shops

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Atlas Bar

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Roll with it: the best places for breakfast in Manchester

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

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

The Fisherman’s Table

Marple Restaurant - Modern British

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

The birthday blitz: 36 places for a kids party in Manchester

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

L’Enclume

Cartmel Restaurant - Modern British

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

6 of the best things to do in the Peak District

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

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

Grand Pacific

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly Bar & Grill

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

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

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment

Albert Dock Art Galleries

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

An insider’s guide to Stockport

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Australasia

Spinningfields Restaurant - Pan Asian

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

10 family days out in Manchester for summer 2025

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

6 family days out in Liverpool for summer 2025

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Yorkshire roast chicken at The Black Friar in Salford

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Beside the seaside: the best beaches in the North West

Rogan & Co.

Cartmel Restaurant - Modern British

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

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

20 fun things to do in Manchester

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Cocktails at Frederiks in Liverpool

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan

Your best shot: 33 independent Manchester coffee shops

One of the rooms at Aloft Liverpool, a hotel in Liverpool city centre.

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Cured mackerel in horseradish emulsion, from the tasting menu at Skof, one of the best restaurants in Manchester.

Skof

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

Hotel Anfield

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

Roll with it: the best places for breakfast in Manchester

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

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

Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats Music Venues

Piccolino Caffe Grande Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

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

Manchester Hall

Deansgate Hotel

The birthday blitz: 36 places for a kids party in Manchester

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Discover the new food traders at Winter Island, Freight Island's festive makeover

Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global