British Airways has pulled back the curtain on a sweeping, multi-million-pound makeover of its Airbus A380 fleet—one of the most extensive aircraft cabin refurbishment programmes ever undertaken by an airline. The world’s largest passenger jet is being transformed from nose to tail, with first-class suites evoking a “luxury hotel” experience and the biggest business-class cabin anywhere in the skies.

The first refreshed A380s will take to the air in the coming months, with premium cabins seeing the most dramatic changes.
“At the heart of the transformation is our brand-new First suite, but this investment goes far beyond a single cabin,” said a BA spokesperson. “From redesigned interiors and upgraded dining to new amenities and service delivery, every detail has been thoughtfully designed with our customers front and centre—helping them enjoy a seamless, memorable experience when they fly with us.”

Club World: The Skies’ Largest Business Class

The upper deck will host the expanded Club World cabin—BA’s business-class offering—with 106 single suites, the largest of their kind in aviation. Spread across four distinct zones to create an intimate feel, the cabin features dedicated areas, refreshed galleys, and room to move comfortably during the flight.

Improved storage, smarter functionality, and amenity kits filled with products from premium British wellness brand anatomē complete the upgrade. The colour palette draws on BA’s signature deep blue, rich red, and soft cream for a cohesive, elegant look.

First Class: Five-Star Hospitality at 35,000ft

The new First cabin redefines luxury, with 12 suites designed to mirror the comfort of a top-tier hotel. Passengers will sleep on new mattresses wrapped in cotton duvets and plump redesigned pillows, alongside cool-touch navy loungewear and plush slippers. A woven day blanket and cushion add daytime warmth and style.

Centre seats can convert into a shared space for pairs—simply remove the divider and deploy stowable tables for “buddy dining” together. Each suite also features an integrated personal minibar, keeping refreshments and snacks within easy reach throughout the journey.

Dining has been elevated across the entire long-haul fleet, with a new “From the Grill” menu concept and curated beverage list available to all First passengers.

Premium Economy & Economy: Upgrades All Round

The refresh extends to every cabin:

World Traveller (Economy): Wider seats, larger entertainment screens, and improved bedding for a more restful trip.
World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy): Privacy wings for personal space, even bigger screens, and amenity kits starring Dr. Pawpaw moisturising balm.
From the most exclusive suite to the main cabin, this is British Airways reimagined—with comfort, style, and detail at every altitude.

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The Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel is a former cotton warehouse that has traded one kind of Manchester commerce for another. Where once this building dealt with the relentless movement of goods through the world’s first industrial metropolis, today it’s focused on a rather different commodity: music, art, theatre, museums and its extraordinary creative present, providing shelter and a base for visitors looking to really get into this unique, always engaging city.

Who for

The obvious guests are weekend visitors, business travellers and anyone attending one of the many events that now fill this part of the city. But the hotel’s location particularly rewards travellers who arrive with a cultural agenda.

During our stay, Manchester was in the middle of its annual Manchester Psych Fest, a one-wristband; access-all-venues city festival you can easily traverse on foot, which made the V&A feel almost purpose-built for the occasion – but more on that in a moment.

Rooms That Let Manchester Do The Talking

The guestrooms are spacious and relatively restrained, allowing the building itself to provide most of the atmosphere. Exposed brickwork, visible beams and views towards the canal and River Irwell supply the historical character, while the contemporary furniture and fittings are deliberately unobtrusive. It is a sensible balance. The building does not need faux-industrial decoration when it has spent almost two centuries being industrial.

Dining With A View Of The River

The V&A Restaurant follows a similar philosophy. Its light industrial aesthetic nods towards the building’s past without attempting to turn dinner into a heritage attraction, making it feel particularly well suited to international visitors looking for an introduction to Manchester without sacrificing the familiarity of a conventional hotel restaurant.

The food is similarly accessible, drawing on recognisable British dishes and executing them well. A baked Camembert with nduja and rocket made an indulgent opening, followed by steak and chips that delivered exactly what the combination promises. A simple fruit salad provided a suitably uncomplicated finish.

It is not trying to reinvent British cooking. Nor does it need to. After a day spent walking around museums, galleries and concert venues, there is something to be said for food that knows what it is supposed to do.

A Hotel Made For Manchester’s Music & Cultural Life

The real reason to stay here, however, becomes apparent once you leave the building. The People’s History Museum is a few minutes away, the Science and Industry Museum is within walking distance, while the theatres and galleries around Deansgate, Spinningfields and St John’s make the city feel unusually compact. Aviva Studios, one of Manchester’s most ambitious new cultural spaces, is practically on the doorstep.

It makes the V&A an ideal base for experiencing the city’s cultural life, from its major institutions to its grassroots music scene. During our stay, this meant Manchester Psych Fest, a multi-venue festival that effectively turns central Manchester into one sprawling concert hall. One wristband provides access to a constantly shifting circuit of venues, from the Manchester Apollo, a converted Art Deco cinema, to Projekts Skate Park, where bands perform amid ramps and concrete rather than the conventional architecture of a concert hall. Other stops include the Ritz, YES, Gorilla and the Deaf Institute.

It’s an experience that neatly captures Manchester’s particular approach to culture: restless, decentralised and often occupying spaces never originally intended for it. You can leave breakfast in a former cotton warehouse, spend the afternoon in a museum or gallery, then walk across the city between venues before returning to the V&A’s historic walls at the end of the night.

The city’s musical pilgrimage sites extend beyond the festival circuit, too. A short walk from the V&A, Salford Lads Club remains a shrine for Smiths devotees, having been immortalised by Stephen Wright’s famous 1985 photograph of the band outside the building, later used inside The Queen Is Dead. The image helped turn an ordinary youth club into an international piece of music history, and is another example of Manchester’s peculiar ability to turn local places into global cultural landmarks.

Verdict

The Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert works because its history and its location tell essentially the same story, which makes it more than a convenient four-star hotel. It is a useful base for understanding the peculiar continuity of Manchester: a city that has repeatedly converted the physical remains of its industrial past into the spaces where its next cultural movement can happen.

For a weekend spent exploring Manchester’s museums, theatres and grassroots music scene, the pairing is almost too neat. The V&A gives you the warehouse; the city supplies the culture. And, increasingly, that is Manchester’s most interesting story.

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WIN A LUXURY GREEK ISLAND ESCAPE WITH H HOTELS COLLECTION

Dreaming of sunshine, sea views and a relaxing escape to Greece? Here’s your chance to win a fabulous three-night break at the beautiful Rodos Princess Beach Resort & Spa, courtesy of H Hotels Collection.

Set on the stunning island of Rhodes, this inviting resort is the perfect place to switch off and enjoy a taste of Mediterranean bliss. And with your stay on an all-inclusive basis, you can relax knowing that everything is taken care of, leaving you free to make the most of your getaway.

Whether you’re looking forward to unwinding by the pool, soaking up the Greek sunshine, exploring the island or simply enjoying some well-earned downtime, this prize offers the perfect excuse to escape.

Ready to trade everyday life for island time? Enter now for your chance to win an unforgettable Rhodes escape with H Hotels Collection.

Full Terms and conditions apply:

The prize is a three-night stay for 2 people at Rodos Princess Beach Resort & Spa on an all-inclusive basis. The stay can be redeemed for visits between October–November 2026, April–May 2027 and October–November 2027, subject to availability. The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. The prize does not include flights, car hire, transfers from airport to hotel, phone calls, travel insurance or any other expenses incurred.

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A hotel with a plethora of wow factors, and housed in a glorious Grade II-listed 19th-century Victorian red-brick building, the Andaz London Liverpool Street hotel stands strikingly apart amid Liverpool Street’s post-war brutalism and bold contemporary architecture.

Occupying a prominent corner plot beside iconic Liverpool Street station — at the junction of Liverpool Street and Bishopsgate — it sits within the Square Mile, London’s financial heart, and moments from the creative energy of Shoreditch and Spitalfields.

I felt compelled to stop and stare a while on the opposite side of the road to relish its splendid six-storey stature and its incredible symmetrical façades, tall sash windows set deep within arched frames, its tall red brick chimneys and gabled pavilions.

Eventually, I stepped through the revolving doors and was awed all over again by the lobby’s unexpectedly colourful, playful designs. Within moments, I was warmly welcomed, offered a drink, and soon shown to my room on the fourth floor.

Incredibly, when the lift doors opened, the visual shift was astonishing — from vivid colours of the lobby to a restrained palette of grey and white. Rooms are arranged around a six-storey glass-domed Rotunda Lobby, flooding the interior with natural light. I was led down the a corridor of various grey hues toward my room.

Who For

Style and convenience reign at Andaz London without the Mayfair/Knightsbridge price tag and would appeal to those who admire creative flair. It’s steps away from Liverpool Street station, probably London’s best-connected hub: direct Stansted trains, Elizabeth Line to Heathrow in ~35 minutes, and Underground lines everywhere.

Plus it’s close to the Tower of London, Spitalfields Market, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s, Tate Modern and plenty of other interesting places to explore.

Accommodation

There are 267 rooms at Andaz, with high ceilings and decked out in calming grey. My room 428, a spacious king room, had a view over Liverpool Street station and the busy comings and goings. Amazingly, the room remained peaceful and quiet all night long.

There’s plenty of storage behind black wardrobe doors, a writing table topped with plum-hued leather. The large comfy bed is flanked by a grey chaise-long at one end and a tan coloured headboard on the other. I really appreciated the ample plug points.

There’s also a huge 55 inch flat-screen TV, a complimentary mini bar with non-alcoholic drinks and a Nespresso coffee machine.

The en-suite with its walk-in shower has striking black and white tiles and came with spare toothbrushes and Byredo Eleventh Hour toiletries.

Food & Drink

There are several dining options. Miyako, the gastronomic Japanese option, was closed but looked like something I’d come back for. Rakes Parlour, reached from reception, is a place to get nibbles with a tipple in a colourful space.

This leads to Rakes Cafe Bar, also accessible from Bishopsgate. It’s a fine bar menu, but the highlight is its incredible cocktails.

A menu of signature cocktails comes with a curated playlist for each of them.

I enjoyed “Afterbeats” with Desi Daru Mango Vodka, Chilli and Elderflower. I watched as a bubble was placed on top of my drink, which then burst into a plume of smoke, a moment of entertaining theatre. After a few sips, I scanned the barcode attached to the glass, and was heady enough to sway to the Punjabi music that streamed from Spotify into my earbuds.

There’s also a pub. The Lady Abercorn pub looks as authentic in decor as any you may have seen, all packed into a single room.

I took both dinner and breakfast at Eastway Brasserie. The all-day menu offers burgers, king prawn and crayfish fettuccine, and slow-braised beef. I went for the salmon fillet.

Breakfast was interesting. As well as a full English breakfast, eggs as you like them, and various pastries, there were offerings from local businesses; for instance, bagels from nearby Brick Lane and honey from Bermondsey Street Bees.

Facilities

There’s a 24-hour gym with Peloton bikes, treadmills, weights and a place for yoga. A steam room and spa treatment rooms are available too. The area is rife with interesting things to see, so the hotel rents out Brompton cycles too.

The hotel’s highlights

Between 5pm and 6pm there’s a complimentary canapés and wine hour (Vino & Vibes) free for guests. I got my glass of white and squirrelled myself away in a cosy corner to enjoy a natter with others who have done the same. There’s also a coffee machine so anyone can help themselves throughout the day. Vino & Vibes, is on every day at 5pm, and extends to two hours on Friday with a live DJ performance.

Andaz London has its own Masonic Temple, looking gloriously Grecian in marble, leather thrones and a Zodiac gold ceiling. This hidden gem dates back to 1912 and was uncovered right here at the then Great Eastern Hotel in the 1990s. This century-old room features 12 types of Italian marble, mahogany-panelled thrones and a zodiac-adorned ceiling.

It’s often the backdrop of special performances and has been used in film. I hear Lady Gaga even used it for a photoshoot Ask at reception to take a peek.

What’s Nearby

Andaz London Liverpool Street hotel has put together an A-Z list of what you must check out so ask for more info. In the meantime, Liverpool Street station is steps away, making it easy to get around on the Elizabeth Line. Close by are Borough Market, a foodie haven, Brick Lane, famous for its bagels and curry houses, Old Spitalfields Market full of vintage fashion, crafts and food stores and trendy Shoreditch, famous for its street art. There are green spaces too such as St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate Gardens, Finsbury Circus Gardens, Aldgate Square and Elder Gardens.

Verdict: Andaz London Liverpool Street offers exceptional service, colourful, arty decor, various eateries, a small spa and a location close to plenty of places worth exploring nearby. A big thumbs up for this beautiful London hotel.

Andaz London Liverpool Street, by Hyatt
40 Liverpool Street, London EC2M 7QN

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