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To the surprise and delight of the UK and particularly the northern cities, Eurovision is coming to Liverpool! There is nowhere better to stay for the event than Manchester keeping you close to the action, while also not being directly in the chaos. It’s only 30.97 miles away making it either a 45min drive or an easy distance via train or bus to get from Manchester to Liverpool. Those who choose this option will mean you can enjoy the industrial city that became a hub for arts and culture, fantastic food and drink, quirky shops and colourful street art. There is a vast array of options to choose from whether you want to experience the Northern Quarter, trendy Spinningfields, or historic Castlefield. Discover several great places to stay for Eurovision in Manchester below.

Native Places

Native Manchester is a luxurious apart-hotels set above the character-filled Ducie Street Warehouse, centrally located, and impossibly cool. Offering the freedom of an apartment along with the facilities and services of a boutique hotel in Native Manchester will make your Eurovision stay something special. Onsite in the Ducie Street Warehouse, you’ll find a gourmet restaurant serving great food and drinks to enjoy inside or overlooking the canal, get along to a famous Ducie Street Brunch event, and even enjoy any Eurovision sessions you can’t get along to in Liverpool on the Ducie Street in-house cinema big screen. Plus there is underground parking for your car, and transport links close by. Everything you need!

YOTEL Manchester Deansgate

You can’t get much more central than YOTEL Manchester Deansgate in the heart of the city close to transport links. This venue offers innovative design, time-saving technology, and sustainability features including solar panels and water-saving showers. Enjoy the all-day restaurant and bar when you’re not out watching Eurovision or enjoy time in the TRIB3 fitness studio. Benefit from the 24/7 reception great for emergency supplies, toiletries, extra keys, or towels. While there is no onsite parking, the local Watson Street Parking is easily accessible.

The Cow Hollow Hotel

A restored turn-of-the-century textile warehouse is now an inspired boutique hotel. Each of the sixteen rooms is beautifully designed and luxurious while also being affordable. Situated right in the city centre next door to Manchester’s hippest bars & restaurants, while also being able to enjoy fabulous cocktails, wine, and food onsite. The last bonus is you’re only a 5-min walk from Piccadilly Station and there are several car parks close by making this an ideal Eurovision location.

Velvet Manchester

Located in the heart of Manchester city and only a short walk from Piccadilly Railway Station with carparks only 2 minute’s walk away, this is another wonderful central location to stay. Situated amidst lively bars and shopping there is so much to enjoy when you’re not busy watching Eurovision. Each bedroom and penthouse is individually designed to offer indulgent luxury along with the onsite Velvet Bar and Village Brasserie. Experience a warm welcome from friendly and experienced staff.

London is a great place to spend valentines day – there is so much on that it may be challenging to pick one (or a few!) things. Staying at Native London is a great place to start – our boutique apartment hotels offer all the freedom and comfort of your very own central London apartment while providing all the amenities of a luxurious boutique hotel. It sounds like a perfect recipe for a few days if you ask us and your very own kitchen or the option of endless room service means you’d never have to move if you’re not inclined to. However, when you do want to venture out, we’ve added a few favourite places to visit to turn up the heat for Valentine’s day.

Love Caffeine?

It’s a well-known fact that the basis of all good relationships is coffee… or is that just ours? For coffee lovers coming to the capital, we recommend two venues as a must-try: Fair Shot and Monmouth. Both offer great coffee and a space to snuggle up with your loved one for your romantic caffeine fix.

Fair Shot

Just off Bond Street, Fairshot Cafe’s mission is to change workplace perceptions of people with learning disabilities. The cafe trains young adults with learning disabilities in all aspects of hospitality, including customer service, food prep, and coffee making. Pop in and give them a Fair Shot!

Monmouth Coffee Company

One of the first specialist retailers to arrive at Borough Market in the late 1990s, the Monmouth Coffee Company is one of the most revered coffee shops to grace the London coffee scene. The company is known for specially selected single-origin coffee beans that are roasted in Bermondsey and finished by Monmouth’s skilled barista team. Perfection in a cup!

Fancy some Malay Flavours?

Tudkin is a well-known local neighbourhood restaurant not far from a few Native London venues. It’s the ideal place to take your beloved, try new flavours, and savour the moment. Malaysian cooking is unique in that the chefs simply know when a dish is ready by how it feels and tastes rather than following any arbitrary process. This balancing act culminates in a marriage of flavours that is aligned closely to life and relationships, making a Malaysian meal perfect for Valentine’s day.

Art, Anyone?

Along the Georgian streets around Mayfair, you’ll find Hamiltons Gallery. This beautiful venue is London’s leading photography gallery that hosts an array of exhibitions from modern masters to rising contemporaries for you to discover, enjoy, and discuss with your loved one. Check the website for the latest exhibit information or to book for a special event.

Fancy Getting On a Boat?

Does a boat trip sound like an ideal V-day celebration? Make memories while experiencing London from an unusual nautical perspective with GoBoat. This self-drive boating experience gives you access to stunning sections of Regents Canal around Paddington to see the world from a different perspective. Of course, as you’ll be on your own, some boating experience will be necessary, so be sure to look at the GoBoat website for details.

This January, we’re celebrating wellness. We sat on the mat with Alex our Native wellness ambassador to chat about what wellness means to her.  

What Does Wellness Means To You? 

Wellbeing to me, is an offering of kindness, compassion and love to our body and soul. It’s an opening to the raw experience of the body, its felt sense and the stories it holds. To live well, respecting our physical shell, is to listen patiently to all the messages it sends us, to nourish it with soulful, healthy food and move in a way that feels good. There is no one thing we can do to make ourselves feel our best. Well-being is such a holistic project. It’s a meeting with all parts of us, our shadows, our light, in acceptance of all that is arising. To show up for yourself time and time again in an authentic, loving way is, to me, the purest act of kindness.  

How Do You Get Out Of The January Slump? 

For me, the best medicine when I feel stagnant and sluggish is to move my body. To connect to the moment-to-moment experience of what it means to be alive in my body today. It doesn’t have to be a crazy exercise or a 10-mile run; it can be as small as a morning wiggle and a shake, a dance in your kitchen, or a roll around on your mat. I think we often overcomplicate things so much…We think January has to be this time of big promises and resolutions. What if we start with little things that make us feel good and alive? What if we chose to spend more time with people we love? more time in nature, more time feeding our souls with things that make us smile from the inside?  

What Do You Listen To When Doing Movement Practice? 

As a yoga facilitator and DJ, music has always been such an important part of my daily practice and teachings. It’s one of the most powerful tools to connect to my body. I choose music based on how I feel and what is arising for me at a given moment. My playlists change all the time, and so is the way my practice looks and feels…I think it’s all about being open and curious, allowing the sound to carry my body through shapes, and inspire the most authentic movement. Sometimes it’s a full-on party soundscape with big Jon Hopkins-like vibes; other times, all my heart needs is the melody of piano or harp to soothe my soul! 

London winters are known for the cold and damp but are also renowned for festive frivolity, more events than you can attend, and sites to see galore that are open even in the frosty times of the year. So when you’re planning a trip to London or looking for something a little different that has excellent views and sights to see, why not get out and try a few of our ideas below?

Festivities

Winter truly is full of festivals and attractions at this time of year, especially pre-christmas when the festive fun is in full swing. London has something for every taste, from markets, fairs, festivals, and art shows. We’ve listed a few of our favourites below to get you started with planning your Christmas-time and Winterfest adventures.

Canopy Christmas Market

Canopy Christmas Market is a longtime staple and longtime favourite winter festival in London. Get along to one of the many great events going on inside, including the Vegan Festival, a heap of festive workshops, and gifting opportunities.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Hyde Park transforms annually into a magical world of rides and stalls, even featuring an ice rink at the Winter Wonderland Festival. So be sure to come prepared to eat, drink and be merry as you get into the Christmas and New Year spirit, as the 2022 edition kicks on until 3rd January!

Southbank Centre Winter Festival

Set in the famous Southbank area on the Thames, enjoy sparkling lights, delicious drinks, more street food than you can eat in one evening, and a bunch of seasonal goodies outside. Indoors and outdoors, there will also be events and entertainment to keep adults and children of all ages occupied.

Get Close to Nature

There are many beautiful outdoor spaces and parks to explore in London that take on a unique seasonal magnificence in the colder months. They are certainly not to be overlooked, but be sure to wrap up warm! We’ve added a few of our favourites below that will have you ready to get out in the cold.

Hampstead Heath

The heath includes 791 acres of woodland, playing fields, swimming ponds and meadows in north London, which look even more spectacular when winter brings a little snow. Take a wander up Parliament Hill for great views.

Kensington Gardens

Find some peace in the city centre. A wintery stroll around Kensington Gardens is a stunner. Think open green spaces, woodlands, and pretty spots to see, including the Albert Memorial, the Serpentine, and the Palace.

Kew Gardens

Follow the popular light trail, Christmas at Kew, while exploring 300 acres of wintery parkland. Then, warm up in the arboretum or the tropical Palm Greenhouse when you get too chilly.

Accommodation Above It All

When you want somewhere warm and cosy, with all the perks of home, while also including all the luxury of a boutique hotel, book at one of several London Native locations. We have Apart-Hotel accommodation in Hyde Park, Bankside, and Mayfair. For more details, take a look at the Native website.