The best cheap hotels in Birmingham

Part of the Marriott Lifestyle chain, the AC Hotel is located in The Mailbox: a chic mall of boutiques, upscale restaurants and bars in the centre of Birmingham. All rooms have an ensuite bathroom with a power shower; some have scenic views across the canals that criss-cross the town centre. There’s public parking available at The Mailbox itself, should you need it, while the Bullring shopping centre is only a 15-minute walk away. 

The Aparthotel Adagio is close to the Bullring, Birmingham’s gargantuan shopping mall, which means the rest of the city central is within comfortable walking distance. Accommodation comes in the form of studios and apartments (for up to four people), which all come with TVs, kitchens, blackout curtains and free wifi. Breakfast is available on-site, and there’s a small gym; handily, reception is staffed 24-hours a day. Pets are allowed for a small supplement, should you want to bring your pooch on your travels. 

A cosy, unpretentious hostel that has a range of accommodation options, from single rooms to 12-capacity dorms. The eight-person POD dormitary has individual curtains and reading lights. You’ll also find a lounge and bar here, plus a garden and a kitchen, and free wi-fi throughout. A continental breakfast is part of the deal. Not only is this place central, but it’s particularly close to the coach station and the Custard Factory, a chi-chi arts and shopping hub.

This branch of the Bloc chain is smart two-star affair that looks far more high-end than it is. Rooms aren’t large, but they’re sleek and cleverly designed to maximise such space as you do have. They also come with en suite monsoon-shower wetrooms and soundproofed windows (although some don’t have any windows at all). There are larger, higher-end apartment rooms available if you want to splash more cash, which have a living area, kitchenette and dining area. It’s centrally located in the Jewellery Quarter.

This modern spin on the no-frills format is a short walk from Birmingham New Street Station. Rooms are neat, pleasantly decorated in the brand’s signature orange, and have en suite showers. While some rooms have windows, some don’t, and there’s an additional charge for TV and wi-fi usage. (The latter is £5 for 24 hours.) There’s no bar or restaurant, and breakfast isn’t provided, so you’ll have to venture further afield when your gut starts to rumble.

Hatters hostel has a good location in the Jewellery Quarter (in a former silversmiths) and a range of lodgings. There are private rooms from around £50, including family-sized ones, and dorms with bunk beds. Communal areas are a TV room and a self-catering kitchen, plus there are laundry facilities and a book exchange scheme. A continental breakfast and wifi are included in the price.

If you’re in Brum to go to the National Exhibition Centre or to fly out of the airport, this one’s a good shout. The 300-odd parking spaces may well come in handy, too. Rooms here certainly aren’t lavish, but they do have power showers, tea- and coffee-making facilities, plus a TV and a desk. The room rate includes free wi-fi and a hot buffet breakfast. There’s a bar and lounge, where food is served; late arrivals can take advantage of the 24-hour pizza menu.

Ibis Styles hotels are cheerful, contemporary lodgings that offer a fair old amount for your money – around £90 for a midweek room. Their rooms are modest but decently equipped, with en suite showers, tea -and-coffee-making facilities and free wi-fi. Breakfast is included in the room rate. As the name suggests, it’s situated in the epicentre of town with Birmingham New Street station a short walk away. (FYI, there’s another Ibis Styles based nearer to Birmingham Airport.)

The snug but smart cabin-style rooms here don’t have windows – but they do have 32-inch TVs, plus en suite wetrooms, free wi-fi and tea -and coffee-making facilities. Serviced apartments are also available. Nitenite has a lounge, where drinks and snacks are available, and a 24-hour reception where you can borrow items such as hairdryers. The off-Broad Street location is a short walk from the Mailbox, a luxury-brand mall, and a ten-minute walk from Birmingham New Street station.

One of several Premier Inns in Birmingham, this particular outpost is located smack dab in the city’s shopping district. Rooms here are simple, inoffensive and decked out in the chain’s signature purple; they all have desks, TVs and tea- and coffee-making facilities. There are family rooms to book here, and a restaurant to enjoy. Wifi is complimentary but breakfast costs extra.