From minimalist to floating art deco
FORGET boring beige hotels and predictable pillows.
Whether you’re lounging on a luxe boutique ship, sipping cocktails in a quirky hub, or waking up in a treehouse — these unique escapes are redefining city stays.
These super-cool stays in two of the UK’s capital cities are perfect weekenders, says Sub-Editor Milcah Fajardo.
Fingal, Edinburgh
THE PAD
Roll your suitcase along the Port of Leith, and you’ll soon find yourself at the red carpet to this five-star floating hotel.
From the art deco finishings to the grand ballroom, it exudes glamour.
But even after a £5million glow-up, the former Northern Lighthouse Board ship retains its history, preserved in the Engine Room and nautical details.
Luxury cabins feature super-king beds, tartan textiles and a balcony with dock views.
Plus, the jade-green bathroom with brass taps and rain shower is like something from my Pinterest board.
Meanwhile, The Lighthouse restaurant is award-winning for good reason.
Beneath the hammered gold ceiling, we dine on truffle scrambled eggs on toast, £15, and porridge brûlée, £9.50, for breakfast.
Dinner is superb, too, as we tuck into delicate duck ravioli with wild mushrooms, sage and parmesan foam, £15, beef cheek in a périgourdine sauce, £38, and creamy Basque cheesecake with honey ice cream, £11.
EXPLORE
Visit The Royal Yacht Britannia, a stone’s throw from Fingal.
The self-guided tour will take you from the Royals’ quarters and grand state dining room to life below deck for crew.
Entry is free for Fingal guests (Royalyachtbritannia.co.uk).
And you have to visit Edinburgh Castle, even if you skip gaping at the sparkling crown jewels and just hike up for the views.
Entry costs £21.50 (Edinburghcastle.scot).
For handmade souvenirs and local eats, Stockbridge Market is open every Sunday.
We defy you to resist the hog-roast buns with apple sauce, £10, or the haggis sausage rolls, £4 (Stockbridgemarket.com).
REFUEL
Leith eatery Barry Fish does seafood so well that it landed them a spot in the Michelin Guide.
The addictive fish pastrami, £14, and flaky sea trout in a buttery shrimp sauce, £25, won’t disappoint (Barryfish.co.uk).
Also nearby is Alby’s, where hot focaccia sarnies filled with gooey ‘nduja cauliflower cheese, £12.50, and succulent chicken pakora, spiced onions and lettuce, £13.50, are to die for (Albysleith.co.uk).
Tucked away in the centre is games bar Mortal Kocktail – sink a pint with a few rounds on the vintage pinball machines (@Mortalkocktail).
Or experience Scottish cuisine like no other at Badger & Co – sample exquisite Scotsman scallops topped with haggis, neeps and samphire, £14, juicy Highland wagyu burger, £22, and rich blackberry jam teacake, £9.50 (Badgerandco.com).
DON’T MISS
The Johnnie Walker Signature Experience, from £30, is as fascinating as it is boozy.
Learn about the founder and your own whisky palate, then head to the rooftop for a wee dram while gazing at the gorgeous skyline (Johnniewalker.com).
BOOK IT
Double cabins at Fingal cost from £317 B&B (Fingal.co.uk).
Moxy Belfast City, Belfast
THE PAD
Written across the mirror in pink are the words: “Welcome, Milcah. A good story starts here!”
And they’re not wrong.
Rooms at this central spot are minimalist, but come with huge waterfall showers, Lily O’Brien’s chocs and very handy rain macs.
Refreshing welcome cocktails of gin, elderflower and cranberry set the tone, as does the vibrant lobby, where industrial chic meets playful pop art.
Later, the Wake-Up Call, £11 – a poitín-spiked espresso martini – pairs well with loaded nachos, £10.50, and saucy barbecue wings, £9, in the bar.
Come morning, we find a buzzing breakfast service with a handful of fry-up options and a continental spread.
EXPLORE
Nearby, St George’s Market is home to stalls selling everything from vinyl and vintage wares to Cuban street food – make a beeline for Belfast Bap Co’s humongous bacon rolls, £9.
Next, ride the hop-on-hop-off bus, £19, to stop by the peaceful Botanic Gardens, learn all about the Troubles at Ulster Museum (Ulstermuseum.org), spot incredible street murals and take in the poignant Peace Walls (City-sightseeing.com).
Finally, at Thompson Dock you’ll find Titanic Distillers – the city’s first whisky distillery since Prohibition. Discover the craft and sample it on a one-hour tour, £25 (Titanicdistillers.com).
REFUEL
Hit the bustling Cathedral Quarter for excellent pubs.
Don’t miss Kelly’s Cellars – built in 1720, it is Belfast’s oldest pub, and you can expect lively traditional performances alongside your Guinness, £5.80 (Kellyscellars.co.uk).
Head upstairs at The Morning Star, a short stroll away, for treats including stout-and-treacle-braised beef with hispi cabbage, champ and bordelaise sauce, £24, in the classy dining room (Themorningstarbar.co.uk/the-lounge).
Finish your night in opulent townhouse bar Margot, sipping an indulgent Four Storeys cocktail – a mix of bourbon, amaro, cola syrup and chocolate bitters, £13 – in the snazzy leopard-print snug (Margotbelfast.com).
DON’T MISS
At Titanic Belfast, travel back in time to the ship’s construction and even listen to the last SOS messages from its crew – it’s both immersive and compelling.
Entry costs £24.95 (Titanicbelfast.com).
BOOK IT
Double rooms at Moxy Belfast City cost from £109 B&B (Marriott.com).
Meanwhile, Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley found a tree-mendous family break in the capital of the north.
Treehouse Hotel, Manchester
THE PAD
After a stay with The Magic Faraway Tree vibes? Found!
This place is all stained-glass features, cascading foliage and cute birdhouses in the heart of the city.
Kids are given wooden tiles to illustrate, then add to the decor, while screening room Flix plays family films in the school hols.
At eatery Pip, Old Winchester gougères, £5, and Lancashire hotpot, £26, steal the show, as do the sherry-based cobblers, £11, while children will be suitably chuffed with home-made fish and chips, £9.
Come morning, roll out of bed for Derbyshire oatcakes with ham and eggs, before hitting shopping heaven on Market Street.
EXPLORE
From Squid Game to Paw Patrol, Immersive Gamebox in the Arndale Centre offers challenges to conquer as a team, and it’s quite a workout!
One-hour games cost from £28 per adult and £18 per child (Immersivegamebox.com).
Equally close is the Museum of Illusions, with its mind-bending displays and photo opps aplenty.
Entry costs £25.50 for adults, £21.50 for over-fives (Moimanchester.com).
Elsewhere, dive into a giant ballpit, crack the dazzling light maze and stand inside an actual bubble at Bubble Planet.
Tickets cost £16.90 per adult, £12.90 for over-threes (Bubble-planet.com).
REFUEL
Buzzy foodhall Mackie Mayor will please the whole crew – the barbecue burger at Mumma’s Fried Chicken, £12.50, and Pico’s Tacos’ frozen margaritas, £17 for two, are standouts (Mackie-mayor.co.uk).
Need a post-shop sugar hit?
Head to Haute Dolci Deansgate for pistachio-cream-smothered pancakes with raspberries and gelato, £12.50 (Hautedolci.co.uk).
Or scoff top-notch paccheri Genovese – large pasta tubes tossed in beef ragu – £16.90, and pizzas at Vincenzo Trattoria (Vincenzomanchester.co.uk).
DON’T MISS
Feel a piece of the moon, program an interplanetary rover and discover what the planets smell like at the Science And Industry Museum’s new Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos exhibition, £10 for over-fours (Scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk).
BOOK IT
Family stays at Treehouse Manchester cost from £190 B&B (Treehousehotels.com/manchester).