Mixed picture for UK hotel prices

Hotel room rates have increased in Manchester, Leeds and Bristol, but have fallen in London and Birmingham, according to data from hotel booking firm HRS.

Figures from the agency show that prices in London fell by 1 per cent to an average of £105.77 per night during the first three months of the year compared to the same quarter in 2012.

Over the same period, rates in Manchester rose by 4.4 per cent to £79.95 while there were increases of 5.4 per cent in Leeds to £73.77 and 2 per cent to £85.15 in Bristol.

The biggest year-on-year fall in rates came in Birmingham with a drop of 11 per cent to £67.28.

Across Europe, HRS said that hotel rates in Athens, Milan and Warsaw were all down by at least 10 per cent.

“The average rate of a hotel room in Warsaw is down 16 per cent compared to last year, costing travellers less than £56 on average per night,” said HRS.

“This dramatic reduction is similar to Athens – the Greek capital is still suffering from its economic crisis and subsequent decline in business travellers and city tourists, which have consequently led to lower hotel room rates.

“A visitor to Athens only had to spend £58.78 on average for a hotel room in the first quarter of 2013, representing a decrease of more than 11 per cent compared to last year.”

Moscow remains the most expensive city for hotel rates with an average of £122.70 per room per night, although this was a fall of 4.1 per cent on the same period last year.

Istanbul saw the biggest year-on-year rise in rates – up by 6.2 per cent to £71.97.

The full figures for hotel prices in the UK and Europe are listed below:

Average price per room per night in a hotel in main UK cities

Average price per room per night in a hotel in top destinations in Europe