- Mr Plane Guy
- 8 hours ago
- 7 min read
Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport Review: Convenient... But Bring a Feather Duster
An honest Mr Plane Guy review after staying before an early morning flight from Manchester Airport.
By Mr Plane Guy, Plane Honest Travel & Loyalty Insights
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and book, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep Mr Plane Guy airborne and the airport lounge coffee flowing.
If you've got an early morning flight from Manchester Airport, staying at an airport hotel can make travel day far less stressful.
The Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport is one of the closest hotels to the terminals, offering a free shuttle bus, restaurant, gym and early breakfast. On paper, it sounds like exactly what you need before an early departure. So... did it live up to expectations?
Here's my Plane Honest Review.
Includes taxes and mandatory fees upfront, no nasty surprises at checkout.
Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport Quick Answers
Is the Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport worth it?
Not really. The location is excellent, but there are much better Manchester Airport hotels available for similar money. If convenience is your only priority, it'll do the job, but I'd look elsewhere.
Does the Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport have a free shuttle bus?
Yes. A complimentary shuttle bus runs between the hotel and all Manchester Airport terminals. During the morning rush between 6am and 8am, allow a little extra time as traffic around Terminal 2 can slow things down.
What time is breakfast?
Breakfast starts from 5:30am, with a Grab & Go option available for the earliest departures.
Does the Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport have a restaurant?
Yes. The Grill Restaurant serves breakfast and dinner, while the Aviator Bar offers drinks and lighter meals.
Does the Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport have a gym?
Yes. There's a small fitness suite open daily from 6am until 10pm.
Does the room have a fridge?
No. My room didn't include a fridge. It did have an iron, ironing board and hairdryer, but there were no spare pillows provided either.
Looking for the Best Manchester Airport Hotel?
When it comes to airport hotels, I'm actually quite easy to please.
Give me a comfortable bed, a reliable shuttle bus, somewhere decent to eat and enough time to avoid a 4am motorway drive, and I'm happy. The Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport promised all of that.
Here's what I found after spending the night before an early flight.
Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport Location & Free Shuttle Bus
Located just a few minutes from Manchester Airport, the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle bus to all terminals, making those early morning departures much easier.
Unlike some airport hotels where the shuttle feels like a mystery, this one runs regularly on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you're catching an early Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet or TUI flight, it's one less thing to worry about. However the next morning before my flight, I stood outside waiting for the shuttle.
And waited.
Twenty minutes later... I was still standing there. In the end, I gave up and walked.
Check-in & Facilities
Check-in was quick and friendly.
Facilities include:
Complimentary airport shuttle
Restaurant
Aviator Bar
24-hour reception
Fitness suite
Early breakfast from 5:30am
Grab & Go breakfast
Room service
Exactly what you'd expect from a busy Manchester Airport hotel.
Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport Room Review ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
The room had everything I genuinely needed before an early flight.
✔ Ok Comfortable bed
✔ Iron
✔ Ironing board
✔ Hairdryer ( from the 1990's)
Unfortunately...
That's where the compliments begin to run out. There was no fridge, no spare pillows and nothing that made me think, "This is quite a nice hotel."
In fact... 2005 called... it would quite like its soft furnishings back. The décor feels seriously overdue for a refurbishment. If I had to describe the overall look... Think Co-op Funeralcare showroom.
Dark carpets.
Dark furniture.
Dark curtains.
The room felt gloomy, lifeless and lacked any personality. It was perfectly functional for one night before a flight, but there was nothing memorable or particularly welcoming about it.
Dust, Details & First Impressions ⭐⭐☆☆☆
One thing I couldn't ignore was the amount of dust around the room.
It wasn't filthy, but there was enough dust on several surfaces to make me question how thoroughly it had been cleaned before I arrived.
Then there were the little details.
The towels hadn't been folded or presented at all. Instead, they'd simply been dumped onto the bathroom shelf in a crumpled pile. It immediately gave the impression that housekeeping had been more interested in finishing quickly than leaving the room looking its best.
The drinking glass didn't inspire much confidence either.
It was covered in streaks. To be honest...I'm not entirely sure I'd have wanted to drink out of it anyway.
None of these issues ruined my stay.
But together, they made the hotel feel a little neglected.
Is the Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport Looking Tired?
The hotel isn't bad.
It's just...dated. Manchester Airport's hotel scene has moved on.
If you're looking for a modern airport hotel, both TRIBE Manchester Airport and Dakota Manchester have quickly earned excellent reviews, offering contemporary interiors and a much fresher feel.
For ultimate convenience, it's still difficult to beat the Radisson Blu Manchester Airport.
It's connected directly to the terminals via the covered walkway linking the railway station with the terminals.
Cabin crew have affectionately nicknamed this walkway the "Dolly Disco Tube."
That nickname always makes me smile because I was based at Manchester Airport as cabin crew with Monarch Airlines back in 1998.
Clayton Hotel Restaurant & Menu ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
One pleasant surprise was the restaurant.
The menu is far better than I expected from an airport hotel.
Choices included:
Maple Buffalo Wings
Chicken Gyoza
Gourmet Burger
Blade of British Beef
British Ribeye Steak
Pan-Roasted Cod
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Linguine Arrabbiata
Risotto
Breakfast starts from 5:30am, making it perfect for early departures.
I actually skipped breakfast during my stay because I'd already booked The Executive Lounge, before my flight, so I can't comment on the quality of the breakfast itself. If you've tried it, let me know what you thought in the comments.
Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport Gym
If you fancy a workout before your flight, there's also a fitness suite open daily from 6am until 10pm.
It's not huge, but it's another useful facility that many airport hotels don't offer.
Plane Saver Tip: Save Money on Your Airport Hotel
Even if you're not collecting hotel loyalty points, there's another option worth considering.
I've increasingly booked airport hotels through Hotels.com because of its rewards programme. If you're regularly booking airport hotels before early flights, the rewards soon begin to add up.
Loyalty & Points
Hotels.com Rewards
Stay 10 nights → get £100 Hotels.com Cash
Use it on future bookings
A simple way to bring your hotel costs down over time
Before You Fly from Manchester Airport, Book an Airport Lounge
You've sorted your hotel.
You've avoided the 4am motorway drive.
Now don't undo all that good planning once you're through security.
It's surprisingly easy to spend:
£6 on a coffee
£15 on breakfast
another £10–£15 on snacks
...and still end up wandering around Manchester Airport looking for somewhere to sit.
Instead, I'd seriously recommend booking one of the Manchester Airport lounges.
Whether you're flying from Terminal 1, Terminal 2 or Terminal 3, a lounge gives you somewhere comfortable to relax, enjoy complimentary food and drinks, charge your devices and escape the busy departure gates.
I've reviewed several Manchester Airport lounges, and there are some genuinely good options.
For Terminal 1, I'd recommend the Aspire Lounge Manchester Airport.
Flying from Terminal 2? The Escape Lounge Manchester Airport is another excellent choice, and I'll soon be reviewing the brand-new Executive Lounge Manchester Airport to see whether it's the airport's best lounge yet.
What's the best Manchester Airport lounge?
If you're flying from Manchester Airport, I'd recommend booking an airport lounge.
My favourites include:
Executive Lounge Manchester Airport (review coming soon)
If you travel regularly, a Priority Pass Manchester Airport membership gives you access to participating lounges, including the Aspire and Escape Lounges, regardless of your airline.
Is Priority Pass Manchester Airport Worth It?
If you fly more than a couple of times each year, I'd definitely look at Priority Pass Manchester Airport.
A Priority Pass membership gives you access to participating lounges, including the Aspire Lounge Manchester Airport and Escape Lounge Manchester Airport, regardless of which airline you're flying with or whether you're travelling in Economy.
If you're a regular traveller, it can work out significantly cheaper than paying for lounge access every trip.
Would I stay here again?
No.
Not when there are much better Manchester Airport hotels available for similar money.
The Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport gets some of the important things right.
✔ Comfortable bed
✔ Free airport shuttle (if it shows up)
✔ Good restaurant
✔ Early breakfast
✔ Gym
✔ Excellent location
But the rooms feel tired, the décor is overdue for a refresh and housekeeping needs to pay much more attention to the little details.
There's plenty of competition around Manchester Airport now, and I'll be reviewing some of those hotels very soon.
Right now?
It's convenient rather than memorable... and if you do stay, you might want to bring a feather duster.
⭐ Mr Plane Guy Rating: 6.5/10
If you want lounge access without paying £40–£50 on the day,
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Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport Review: Convenient... But Bring a Feather Duster
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