- Mr Plane Guy
- 8 hours ago
- 8 min read
Crowne Plaza Liverpool Airport Review: A Hard Day’s Night Before Your Flight?
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.
👉 Check the latest price for your dates on Hotels.com
Includes taxes and mandatory fees upfront, no nasty surprises at checkout.
If airport hotels usually make you think of beige walls, sad carpets and a £19 microwave lasagne… the Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport is a bit different.
This hotel has actual character.
Built into the old airport terminal near Liverpool John Lennon Airport, the hotel leans heavily into its aviation history with proper Art Deco styling throughout. It is not quite the full-blown aviation spectacle of the TWA Hotel in New York… but for UK aviation geeks, it absolutely has that nostalgic retro airport feel.
And honestly? That is what makes this place stand out.
You can almost imagine a different era of flying here. Back when people dressed up for flights, smoked in terminals and probably boarded planes listening to The Beatles on vinyl.
Location: Ideal for Liverpool Airport
The hotel is located just minutes from the airport and getting to the terminal is incredibly easy.
There is a public bus stop directly outside the hotel with buses running around every 10 minutes, or you can drive and park at the hotel itself for around £6 per day.
If you are searching for:
Liverpool airport hotels
Hotels near Liverpool airport
Liverpool airport hotel and parking
…this is one of the strongest options simply because of the convenience and location.
Don’t Spend £30 in Pret and Still Have Nowhere to Sit
If you’re staying at an airport hotel like this before flying from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, this is the bit most people overlook.
You’ve sorted the hotel. You’ve made the morning easier, but once you’re through security at the airport, it’s a different story.
£7 coffee.
£15 breakfast at Pret or Wetherspoons.
Nowhere to sit.
You end up spending £20–£40 without even thinking about it and you’re still stuck in a busy Liverpool Airport departure area.
If you travel even a few times a year, this is where it really starts to make sense.
Flying easyJet or Ryanair from Liverpool Airport?
Liverpool Airport is heavily dominated by easyJet and Ryanair flights, so check your baggage rules before you travel.
Trust me… Liverpool Airport is not the place you want a surprise cabin bag charge at the gate.
First Impressions: Aviation Nostalgia Everywhere
The best thing about this hotel is the atmosphere.
The Art Deco styling, old terminal architecture and aviation history make it feel genuinely interesting in a way most airport hotels completely fail to be.
The lobby and public areas feel far more premium than the rooms themselves, which are definitely starting to look a little dated now, especially the bathrooms.
But honestly… let it be.
This is not a shiny ultra-modern Dubai-style airport hotel. It is nostalgic, comfortable and full of personality.
Check-In Experience
Official check-in starts at 3pm, although I arrived around 12:45pm hoping to get lucky.
No luck unfortunately.
I was politely asked to come back around an hour later, which after travelling is never ideal, but staff were friendly throughout the stay.
One thing I will say: the hotel handled service recovery very well.
There was a slight issue with the heating system in my room, but I found a letter from the manager apologising and offering a complimentary drink. Nice touch.
Considering it was one of the hottest days of the year, the heating problem was hardly the end of the world anyway.
My Room: Comfortable, Quiet… But Slightly Dated
I stayed in:1 Double Standard Single Sofa Bed Vintage Aircraft View
The room itself was very quiet, which is exactly what you want before an early flight.
Inside the room you get:
Iron and ironing board
Mini fridge
Kettle
Tea and hot chocolate
Sofa bed
Desk space
The hotel also offers eStandby upgrades before arrival, where you can request better room categories from as little as £4 extra.
Honestly? Next time I would probably try for one of the Junior Suites because they actually look genuinely cool.
Room Types Include:
Standard Rooms
Premium Rooms
Junior Suites
Accessible Rooms
Vintage Aircraft View Rooms
Now… about that “Vintage Aircraft View”.
I would not personally pay extra for it.
It sounds glamorous, but in reality it is more aircraft scrapyard overlooking a car park than private runway views.
Why I Usually Book Airport Hotels Through Hotels.com
Personally, I often book airport hotels through Hotels.com rather than directly.
Why?
Because the loyalty scheme is simple and actually useful.
You collect stays and earn reward nights over time, plus I like the fact taxes and fees are shown upfront without nasty surprises later.
For airport hotels especially, where I am constantly booking one-night stays before flights, it adds up surprisingly quickly.
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
IHG One Rewards: Should You Join?
Because Crowne Plaza is part of IHG One Rewards, you can earn points and benefits when booking direct.
IHG One Rewards is free to join and covers brands including:
Crowne Plaza
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn Express
Hotel Indigo
voco
InterContinental
Kimpton
Regent
Six Senses
Benefits can include:
Member-only rates
Free Wi-Fi
Points towards reward nights
Late checkout
Elite perks like upgrades and bonus points
If you stay in airport hotels regularly, it is definitely worth joining.
The Unexpected Highlight: The Massive Retail Park Opposite
This genuinely surprised me.
Right across the road is a huge retail and leisure area with:
Next
JD Sports
River Island
New Look
Costa
Popeyes
Restaurants
Bowling
Ninja Warrior
One of the biggest Superdrug stores I have ever seen
It actually makes the location brilliant if:
you forgot travel essentials,
need last-minute holiday shopping,
or simply want something to do before your flight.
I forgot my swimming costume for the David Lloyd next door…
…so naturally ended up panic-buying one from Next.
David Lloyd Access: Brilliant… Until It Wasn’t
One of the coolest features of this hotel is that guests can use the David Lloyd gym next door.
And honestly, the facility is excellent.
I did the mandatory Couch to 5K treadmill session, some stretching, got changed into my “cozzy on” (apparently Scouse for swimming costume), showered, walked proudly to the pool…
…and then saw the sign:
POOL CLOSED
Absolutely fuming.
Imagine all the people… standing around annoyed outside a locked swimming pool.
Still, when open, this is a huge bonus for an airport hotel.
Restaurant Review: Welcome to SPK
The hotel restaurant is called SPK, leaning heavily into Liverpool culture and local comfort food.
The vibe is:“Liverpool comfort food with a side of banter.”
Menu highlights include:
Pea Wack Soup
Corned beef hash
Ribeye steaks
Local ale battered haddock
Tiramisu
Skillet brownies
It feels much more personal than your average airport hotel restaurant.
Breakfast: Slightly Annoying for Solo Travellers
Breakfast was offered at £14 for two people.
Which sounds decent…
…until you are travelling alone like me.
Because sadly they do not magically halve it to £7.
Breakfast times are:
Monday–Friday: from 06:30
Saturday–Sunday: from 07:30
Worth remembering if you have an early weekend departure.
Personally? I skipped breakfast and headed for an airport lounge instead.
Flying More Than 2–3 Times Per Year? Get Priority Pass
If you travel regularly from UK airports, lounge access genuinely changes the airport experience.
Liverpool Airport has some surprisingly decent lounges and this is exactly the kind of airport where Priority Pass starts making sense.
Instead of:
fighting for plug sockets,
paying airport prices for breakfast,
or sitting on the floor near the gate eating a Boots meal deal…
…you can actually start your holiday properly.
I’ll link my Liverpool Airport lounge reviews here:
If you fly even a few times per year, Priority Pass can easily pay for itself.
Crowne Plaza vs Other Liverpool Airport Hotels
Crowne Plaza Liverpool Airport
Best for:
Character
Art Deco history
David Lloyd access
Shopping and restaurants nearby
Quiet pre-flight stays
Hampton by Hilton Liverpool Airport
Best for:
Walking distance to terminal
Modern rooms
Free breakfast included
Hilton Honors points earning
If you prefer newer hotels and collect Hilton points, this is probably the strongest alternative.
Premier Inn Liverpool Airport
Best for:
Budget stays
Simple overnight stop
Families wanting lower prices
The downside is it is not directly connected to the airport and is around a 30-minute walk depending on luggage and weather. Still a decent option if price matters most.
Airport Parking: Compare Prices Before You Book
Before you book airport parking, I always recommend comparing prices first.
Airport parking prices can be absolute chaos depending on dates, demand and how late you leave booking it.
Sometimes the difference in price is genuinely enough to pay for:
airport breakfast,
lounge access,
or the first cocktail on holiday.
Final Boarding Call
This is not the most modern airport hotel in the UK.
The rooms and bathrooms definitely need refreshing.
But the atmosphere, history and location make it memorable in a way many airport hotels are not.
You have:
Aviation nostalgia
Great airport access
Huge shopping nearby
David Lloyd gym access
Quiet rooms
Strong transport links
If you simply want a functional overnight stay before a flight, it works very well.
But if you are an aviation geek who appreciates retro airport glamour and a bit of old-school charm?
You may end up loving it even more.
Are you flying with easyJet from Liverpool Airport? Read my full easyJet cabin bag guide
Read my full Ryanair cabin baggage guide and find out how strict Ryanair really are with bag checks
And if you’re flying regularly from Liverpool: Check my easyJet Plus Card review, is it worth £249?
Thinking about lounge access? Read my honest Priority Pass review and whether it’s actually worth the money
Discover the hidden Priority Pass benefits most travellers never use
Flying from Manchester instead? Check my full Manchester Airport lounge reviews and comparisons
Read my guide to the best UK airport lounges and which ones are genuinely worth paying for
Staying overnight before your flight? Read my review of Hampton by Hilton Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Looking for something more premium? Read my Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport review before your next flight from Liverpool
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading Crowne Plaza Liverpool Airport Review: A Hard Day’s Night Before Your Flight?
Airport lounges, free upgrades, travel chaos and the occasional meltdown. Real travel, not influencer nonsense.
Plane Extras
The PLANE Smart Way to Take Off
Here are my go-to travel extras that help keep this blog (and me) airborne.
🅿️ Airport Parking Compare prices and save up to 75% at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and more with Compare Parking Prices UK →
🍸 Lounge Access Why wait at the gate when you could sip a pre-flight prosecco?
Get 30% off a Priority Pass membership → and access 1,800+ lounges worldwide.
🌍Travel Insurance Don’t fly without cover. Coverwise (by AXA) offers annual European cover from £10.20, including medical consultations and pre-existing conditions.
🎒 Plane Essentials My must-pack travel gear, from cabin-size backpacks to neck pillows that actually work. Shop my curated Amazon Storefront →
📱Stay Connected Avoid roaming shock. Arlo eSIMs → give you instant data in 180+ destinations, no SIM swap required.
💳 Boost Your Avios Earn faster and fly farther with my Amex Gold referral →
or track reward seats via Reward Flight Finder →.
Comments